News

Do you ever watch the Olympics and wonder 'What does it take to get on their level?' We sure do. When we met Chari Hawkins, 2020 Olympics hopeful, we had a million questions. She was kind enough to give us the scoop - which we now share with you! We are impressed with all of her hard work and tenacity and can't wait to see her through her journey to the Olympics. Enjoy!

VR: What were your favorite things to do growing up?

Chari: I have always been into make-believe. I played with barbies until I was in seventh grade (maybe eighth can’t remember 😉) and would act out every movie in the bathroom mirror. I’ve also always been into sports. I grew up playing basketball, volleyball, and competed in gymnastics and cheer-leading.

VR: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Chari: I’ve always wanted to be a movie star, but when I was young I used to tell people that I was going to be an anesthesiologist or brain surgeon.

VR: When did you get started in track?

Chari: I started doing track in seventh grade, and to be honest, I only did it because my friends were all doing it (thanks peer pressure!) I only did the high jump and long jump, and started doing the hurdles in ninth grade. I didn’t start the Heptathlon until I was in college, mostly because before that I had no idea what it was!

VR: What inspired you and kept you motivated?

Chari: Potential. Whether it be the potential to get college paid for, the potential for getting a better score, or the potential to make a world or Olympic team, I’ve always let future opportunities become goals and really pushed myself to let them become realities and fulfill my own potential.

VR: When did you decide to set your sights on the Olympics?

Chari: I think I did so in 2016. I had a really unfortunate experience that I felt really hindered my ability to make the Team. I knew it was something I wanted to accomplish, and so I really set my sights to make the team in 2020. It definitely takes a lot of hard work earlier but it’s making me see that you don’t have to be better than everyone else to make the Olympic team, you just have to have a specific goal and show patience and trust in the process to achieve it.

VR: How do you prepare to compete in the Olympics?

Chari: With such an enormous event, it’s so important to prepare mentally as well as physically. Mental training is something that a lot of people don’t take enough advantage of. But something that will change the game itself.

VR: How is the competition as a heptathlete?

Chari: I have to say it is absolutely draining. Every single time you do an event you get a little bit more exhausted. You have to warm up, cool down, warm up, cool down, several different times. It’s so tiring. But with so many different things to focus on, it is also such a thrilling event. There is never a dull moment, and it is so much fun!

VR: What is Olympic training like? (When do you start, how many hours per day, etc.)

Chari: My long days we'll go about five hours, and my short days we’ll go about two. Play practices will start around 10 AM and will finish mid afternoon. Play training is so much more than just practice. Every morning and night, I will do my rehabilitation and core strength. My supplements need to be taken twice a day, and everything I eat should be regulated and carefully calculated so that I’m getting enough calories and nutrients and good stuff in my diet to thrive and be successful!

VR: Is there a specific diet that you need to go on when prepping for the Olympics?

Chari: When it comes to diet, the only thing I really need to do is make sure that I am getting enough calories, protein, carbs, etc. I just want my body to be healthy and have enough energy to make it through my grueling practices.

VR: What are some of your best tips/tricks you use to help you keep in shape and ready for the Olympics?

Chari: Consistency is the best trick for anything sports-wise. Whether it be training for the Olympics, or training to be healthy. Working out and doing the “little things” all the time every day consistently will mean the difference between seeing the results you desire and hoping to see the results you desire.

The long-awaited Alana is here and we are SO EXCITED to share it with you! Our most luxurious bag to date, packed from head to toe with features that we love in a smooth neoprene exterior - we know you will adore it just as much as we do.

The exterior boasts a hidden phone pocket to keep your phone close enough for easy access in it's own tucked-away quarters. And yes, to those who are wondering, this pocket will indeed fit an iPhone Plus (necessary). 

Each Alana also includes a clipped in mesh accessory pouch to store all the valuables that you would like to keep from swimming in your bag. We've been there, the lost lip gloss and hand sanitizer from yonder years are no more with this sweet addition! 

With the extended zipper, getting things in and out (and cleaned up) are simple, and the storage size, though compact, at 20L is remarkably spacious (for all the Mary Poppins out there). 

The exterior is also home to four large pockets - whether those will house snacks, water bottles, chocolate bars, etc. is completely up to you! (We prefer a cold water and a some pistachios, but this is a judgment free zone.)

All packed up and ready to go? Throw your Alana over your shoulder using the included shoulder strap, or clip in the sides for a more compact, handbag look. Need a new look? Switch it up the next day! 

Shop our Alana Collection.

One question we get asked frequently is how our story began. Like most stories, ours has been a journey. We began specializing in clothing, specifically tees and hats - but it never really felt like the right 'fit' (no pun intended). Early in 2015 we had an epiphany. We had a need for a new gym bag, so we set out on a quest.

If someone had told us at that point that we would eventually specialize in fitness bags and accessories, we would have laughed! But what our search helped us realize was that there was a HUGE gap in the market. There were several "premium" athletic bags with outrageous price points.

The bags were okay quality and they were well designed, but we could not get over their expensive price tag. So we continued our search, looking at bags that were more affordable. What we found was not much better.

The quality of the 'affordable' bags was poor, and the designs/styles were not much better. We realized that if we really wanted to find the perfect gym bag - we were going to have to create it ourselves.

In the Fall of 2015 we released our first line of bags, the Roadie Gym Duffel & Trepic Weekender. They immediately became our top selling products and our main focus. We had filled a void that had been empty for so long and there was so much more that we could do. We eventually stopped making clothing altogether so we could throw all of our energy into our bags. 

From our original two lines, we have added dozens of new bags to our assortment, and we have plans to launch several more new lines this year. We've developed such a passion for performance and design, and we can't wait to show you all what we've been working on for the past year! Stay tuned! The next lines drop in less than a month!

First thing's first - we test for functionality.

Next step - we test for durability.

Last, but certainly not least - we make sure your bag will look amazing.

We consider ourselves experts in the 'gym-bag creating' industry. So, you might wonder, what are our gym bag essentials? The go-to items that we need stocked in our bag 100% of the time? WE ARE HERE FOR THE BIG REVEAL!

Our first essential - a good pair of sneaks. We like to have a separate pair that we keep in our bag designated for the gym.

Chapstick, hair ties & a good (cold) water bottle are basic items that EVERYONE needs in their gym bag, all the time. We throw in some chewing gum as well for good measure. And if you are hitting it hard, it is always good to have a sweat towel close by.

We are only human, and we don't always have time to hit the showers, so we stay fully stocked with some cleansing, deodorizing wipes & dry shampoo to freshen up post workout. 

We keep a few makeup essentials, keys & wallet in our Sidekick. (BEST THING EVER.)

Because nobody wants to walk out in sweaty gym clothes, we always keep a clean tank in our bag so we can walk out of the gym feelin' fresh! And no need to worry about stinking up your gym bag, we always keep a travel size odor removal on hand to kill the stench. 

We would get seriously hangry without our post-gym snack. You will ALWAYS find one in our gym bag.

Our absolute FAVORITE bag choice for gym is the Burner Gym Duffel. Small enough to tote around (and stick in those pesky gym lockers) but large enough to carry all of the essentials. 

 Now get out there and slay your #EverydayHustle!