Gym Merch Ideas That Members Wear Outside the Gym
By The Merch Counter team · Updated · 3 min read
Gym merch works when members want to wear it while training and outside the gym. Start with a lightweight tee or tank for workouts, a hoodie for before and after, and a water bottle. Then add shirts for challenges and milestones; nothing motivates like a shirt you have to earn.
For training
1. The training tank. Light and loose. Example: $28, you earn $11.40 †.
2. The training tee. A soft, lightweight tee. Example: $30, you earn $12 †.
3. The motto shirt. Your gym's catchphrase or the line your coaches always shout.
For before and after
4. The hoodie. The thing members live in on the way to and from class. Example: $55, you earn $20 †.
5. The crewneck. A more relaxed look for studios. Example: $45, you earn $16 †.
6. The hat. For outdoor sessions and the walk home.
Accessories
7. The water bottle. Used every session, seen by everyone. Example: $34, you earn $12.20 †.
8. The tote or gym bag. For shoes and a change of clothes. Example tote: $26, you earn $9.80 †.
Shirts people earn
9. Milestone shirts. "100 classes", "1 year". Meant for people who hit the milestone. It's an honor system: anyone who finds the shop can buy one, so announce it when a member earns it.
10. Challenge shirts. For a 30-day challenge, a competition or a charity workout.
11. Coach shirts. A design for coaches that members can also buy.
12. Event shirts. For the gym's 5K team, competition team or anniversary.
Why members wear it
Members are coming in to train several times a week anyway, so a gym shirt gets worn. It also says something they're proud of: that they show up. That's why gym merch does best when it's tied to effort — milestones, challenges, the coach's catchphrase — and why the hoodie travels: to the coffee shop, to work, on the run home.
Design directions that work
- Performance-first. Clean, minimal prints on lightweight fabric for anything worn to train.
- Bold back prints. Your gym name across the shoulders is visible across the room and in class photos.
- Motto shirts. Your coach's favorite line, in strong type.
- Milestone and challenge marks. A number, a date, a name of a challenge. Simple and meaningful.
- Lifestyle pieces. A softer, more relaxed design for hoodies and crewnecks worn outside the gym.
What those earn, from today's catalog at our suggested prices:
| Product | Customer pays | Printing and blank | Our fee (20%) | You earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unisex Staple Tank Top | Bella + Canvas 3480Tanks | $36.00 | −$14.25 | −$7.20 | $14.55 |
| Unisex Basic Softstyle T-Shirt | Gildan 64000T-shirts | $25.00 | −$9.63 | −$5.00 | $10.37 |
| Unisex Heavy Blend Hoodie | Gildan 18500Hoodies | $57.00 | −$22.63 | −$11.40 | $22.97 |
 Unisex Garment-Dyed Sweatshirt | Comfort Colors 1566Sweatshirts | $77.00 | −$30.59 | −$15.40 | $31.01 |
| Stainless Steel Water BottleWater bottles | $61.00 | −$24.39 | −$12.20 | $24.41 |
Today’s catalog at our suggested prices. Larger sizes cost a bit more to make; your dashboard shows every size before you list, and you can price higher or lower.
Launch it with a challenge
- Order samples and have every coach wear them for a week before launch.
- Tie the launch to a challenge: "Finish the 30-day challenge, get the challenge shirt."
- Put a QR code at the front desk and on the whiteboard.
- Post class photos with members and coaches in the merch (with permission). If you thank members with a free shirt for posting, they should say so: the FTC expects free or discounted products given for a post to be disclosed.
- Add milestone shirts after launch, and congratulate each member who earns one.
Common questions
Should coaches get free merch?
Many gyms give coaches a shirt or two. Order one of each product at cost as a test order, then order the rest through your shop like any customer.
Can I limit milestone shirts to members who earn them?
Not technically. There are no hidden products or discount codes, so anyone who finds your shop can buy one. Treat it as an honor system: name the shirt for the milestone, announce it to the members who hit it, and most people won't buy a "100 classes" shirt they haven't earned.
Which sells better, tanks or tees?
It depends on your members and your climate. Start with one of each and check your dashboard after a month.
Related: Merch for gyms · Yoga Studio Merch Ideas
† Worked examples. They use our real 20% fee and suggested 2.5× price on an illustrative cost to make; real costs vary by product, size and print. Bulk-order figures are illustrative too. Today’s numbers for every product are in the profit calculator and in your dashboard before you list anything.