Unnecessary grunting. Not racking weights. Peacocking. Inconsiderate fitness influencers. Nothing ruins a workout faster than inconsiderate gym-goers, but what are the top 5 most irritating gym habits of 2025?
Nutrition Warehouse has the answers. The New Zealand supplement shop collected a year’s worth of feedback from gym-goers to discover their top complaints and teamed with fitness enthusiast and etiquette expert Jo Hayes to offer helpful advice on how to handle the most irritating of gym members.
The findings offer a guide for newcomers looking to master gym etiquette—and maybe even a much-needed nudge for seasoned members who may have strayed from gym decorum.
Without further ado, here are the top 5 most annoying gym habits:
#1 Bad Hygiene
The top complaint among gym-goers? Poor hygiene and unsavory habits—like nose-picking, leaving towels and personal items in shared spaces, and failing to wipe down equipment after use.
“Doing our best to maintain good hygiene is essential for the physical health of all gym-goers,” fitness enthusiast and etiquette expert Jo Hayes says. “Ensure gym clothes and towels are clean (this means washing after every workout). Wipe down your face/skin/body with your towel during your workout, so you’re not putting drenched-with-sweat skin on gym equipment.”
She also advises that gym members use antiperspirant deodorant.
“This should go without saying, but it must be said,” Hayes adds. “As per number one, no one wants to work out near a smelly person. Use body spray as appropriate, but make sure it’s not too overpowering. Make use of hand sanitizers stationed throughout the gym and wipe down gym equipment after use.”
#2 Slobs & Mess Monsters
Following poor hygiene are messy gym offenders who use equipment and leave it on the floor or in the wrong spot, turn the locker room into a pigsty, and spill drinks.
“A messy gym not only makes workouts more difficult with things not being where they should be, but it creates visual chaos for gym-goers – making the gym experience unpleasant,” Hayes says.
She suggests approaching offenders kindly and calmly to explain how their behavior is impacting others.
“Clear up your belongings, put gym equipment back after use, and if you see some things in places they shouldn’t be, it doesn’t hurt to put it back in its right spot regardless of who left it out,” Hayes advises. “Look out for each other. Most importantly, if you see a hazard, like water spills near a treadmill, alert the staff at the gym to clean up the spillage as this could be a potential hazard.”
Some gyms, like Dallas-based Recess Fitness, have a $50 re-rack policy which members appreciate, according to its owners.
#3 Being a Machine Hog
Another common complaint from gym-goers is those who park themselves on machines, doomscrolling, texting or take selfies while others are waiting to use the equipment.
“A person hogging machinery shows a supreme lack of self-awareness, courtesy and consideration for others,” Hayes says. “If there’s a queue for a piece of equipment, this is not the time to check your socials. Do your thing, and get moving. People hovering nearby or lining up near you, and giving you sour looks, should be a telltale sign that you’re hogging a machine. Be kind, calm and clear. Use your words. Don’t hover, huff and puff, and give them sour looks – communicate your needs in a nice way.”
As for the selfie kings and queens, some gyms are embracing fitness influencers, like North Carolina’s Core24, where it’s commonplace to find mindful gym-goers equipped with tripods and cameras. Colorado’s Revlutn Gym has taken a similar approach with a private room for filming content, three different lighting tones, four different mirror angles and a phone stand with ring lighting.
#4 Chatty Cathys & Talkative Toms
Some see the world as a stage…but the gym is not it. Coming in fourth on the list of most annoying gym habits are those who just won’t pipe down—whether they’re chatting loudly, singing or shouting.
“The gym is often time-out—’me-time’—for gym-goers,” Hayes points out. “They’ve had a long day at the office and just want to get pumping, running or cycling without people chattering loudly around them. Again, loud conversation, singing and generally impacting others with one’s behavior are supremely poor gym etiquette. It demonstrates a lack of courtesy, consideration and respect for others.”
For those seeking connection and eager to chat at the gym, Hayes suggests joining a group class or run club, where conversation is encouraged.
#5 Space Invaders, Exercise Interrupters & Smooth Talkers
Securing the #5 spot on the list of most annoying gym habits is a mix of disruptive behaviors—from those constantly in the way of your workout, to those who interrupt your routine without good reason and the Cardio Casanovettes or Dumbbell Don Juans who use the gym as their flirting ground.
“Being disruptive in the gym, showing a lack of courtesy and consideration for others, makes for an unpleasant experience for other gym-goers,” Hayes says. “It’s rude and demonstrates poor manners and a lack of awareness of appropriate gym etiquette. I like to remind clients that most people are not intentionally being rude. They may simply be unaware, and communicating to them how their behavior is impacting those around them is the charitable thing to do, both for them, yourself, and others. Speak up. Communicate clearly. But, again, if you’re not comfortable speaking to someone about their behavior, speak to the gym staff and ask them to intervene.”
In order to combat unwanted attention, some gyms, like Jersey Girls Fitness, cater exclusively to women.
