If you’re anything like us, then one of your very first priorities on emerging from lockdown will be to get back in shape, and fast. Because, let’s face it: despite our best intentions, the vast majority of us have not used our time in isolation to get a six-pack, just as we have not written a novel, started a successful side-hustle or learnt a new language.

None of us should feel guilty about this. The past few months have been about survival, not self-improvement. And so, when the day comes that we finally emerge from our quarantine bunkers, our torsos pale and untoned, we will do so with no sense of shame, safe in the knowledge that as the world returns to some kind of normality, so too shall we.

Still, that’s not to suggest it’s going to be easy. Fitness is about momentum. It takes time and effort to get back up to speed after a long hiatus, and while we’re in that tricky in-between phase it can be hard to stay motivated. We could all do with a little boost, an added incentive to get us up and running again. Which is why, if you ask us, there’s no better time than right now to invest in some new workout gear.

We say this fully aware that new workout gear alone is not going to make us any fitter. Only exercise has the power to do that. What it can do, though, is make us feel a little bit better about ourselves, and help us overcome some of the apathy and self-doubt that dooms so many workout plans to failure before they’ve even begun. Plus, it’s a statement of intent. A bit like buying a new suit before starting a new job, it’s a sign to others – and to ourselves – that we’re serious about this.

Here, then, are five things you can do to get your gym bag in shape. As for your body, that bit, we’re afraid to say, is up to you. 

The humble T-shirt is perhaps the most important element of any gym kit, but it’s also the one most likely to be overlooked. Why? Because most of us have loads of them in our wardrobes already, and we’re happy in a pinch to rely on an old one rather than to invest in something new. Hence, the number of people you’ll see lifting weights or running laps of the park in a saggy old T-shirt that was once white but is now the colour of chewed gum.

For something a little more fun, not to mention fit for purpose, why not pick up a few shirts from Y,IWO? Standing for “Yeah, I Work Out”, this retro gymwear brand channels the spirit and old-school aesthetic of the 1980s bodybuilding scene, a time of mail-order catalogues, VHS workout tapes and swole Venice Beach posers. Its current collection features the quirky illustrations of bodybuilding legend Mr Ric Drasin, the man responsible for the original Gold’s Gym logo, which are printed in acid-bright technicolour.

There’s one problem with Y,IWO: if you’re new to working out, or just getting back into it after a prolonged absence, it may take some time until you’re able to fully embody the name of the brand. Until then, you’ll just have to embrace the irony.

There’s no such thing as the perfect pair of workout shorts. They vary in form according to the activity for which they were designed, so if you have a mixed exercise regimen – if you run, climb and lift weights, for example – you’re probably going to want a different pair of shorts for each. 

Generously cut cotton-jersey shorts with a drawstring waist are a great all-rounder for the gym, but if you’re on a long run you’ll want something lighter and more breathable that allows for greater flexibility around the hips. Look to specialist brands such as District Vision or Tracksmith, both of which offer a great range of running shorts made from super-lightweight mesh or quick-drying shell fabric.

Climbers, on the other hand, will prefer something made from a sturdy cotton-twill and cut closer to the knee than the hip. (Your belay partner will thank you for this when he has to watch you ascend from below.) Try a pair of climbing shorts from Gramicci or Pilgrim Surf + Supply, the latter of which is featured in our exclusive Gone Surfin’ collection.

Some form of compression is a must for any kind of extended workout, but it really comes into its own during long-distance runs. By applying a gentle squeeze to targeted muscle groups, compression tights from brands such as 2XU, Satisfy and Under Armour can reduce soreness and improve recovery time by stimulating blood flow. This is a handy benefit at any level of fitness, but when you’ve been out of the game for a while it’s vital.

They’re a good base layer for cooler weather, too, helping to retain body heat and ensure that your muscles are able to work at their maximum efficiency. Pick up a pair of shorts-length compression tights for autumn and a full-length pair for winter, worn under a pair of lightweight running shorts. (They also help to address some of the modesty issues raised in the previous section, if that kind of thing bothers you.)

When some of the world’s most elite CrossFit athletes endorse a gym shoe, you should probably take their word for it. After all, these are people whose entire lives revolve around the gym. Nike’s Metcon 5 is the latest shoe to receive such an endorsement from the brand’s CrossFit team, who described it as “the perfect shoe” after spending more than 9,000 hours testing it to its limits.

As befits the stated goal of the CrossFit program, which is to create athletes capable of both outlifting sprinters and outsprinting lifters, the Metcon 5 is designed with versatility in mind. It’s stable enough to provide you with support while lifting heavy weights, and with enough traction for high-intensity sprints. It’s even got a grippy rubber honeycomb pattern on the mid-foot that’s specifically designed for rope climbing. Imagine!

Finally, while you’re upgrading the contents of your gym bag, don’t neglect the bag itself. Choosing a gym bag can be tricky, because although its purpose is to hold your sweaty gym kit, aesthetically speaking it doesn’t really belong in the same family as its contents. You’ll be carrying it outside of the gym, so it really has to look OK in the context of your office, or wherever you might be headed on the way to and from your workout.

Stone Island’s garment-dyed nylon holdall represents a successful marriage between utility and style, and is currently reduced in the MR PORTER Sale. For a more lavish option, try  Prada’s Saffiano nylon holdall, which serves double-duty as a lightweight weekend bag.