Meet the Coaches Who Tested FITZEN First: 5 Aussie Trainers on What Worked
Before we sold a single FITZEN towel, we sent 30 prototypes to 30 lifters across Australia. Five of them were strength coaches. We asked each of them to use the towel for six weeks — in their own training and with their clients — and to give us honest feedback.
No scripts. No suggested quotes. Just real opinions from real coaches who actually used the product.
This post collects what they said. We've kept their words as close to the original as possible. The only edits are for length and clarity.
Coach #1: Sarah K. — Strength Coach, Sydney
Gym: Inner West Strength Co.
Trains: Powerlifting, general strength
Years coaching: 8
What she said:
"I got the FITZEN in the second week of January, which is peak client season in my gym. I used it for every session — my own training and my client's sessions when they forgot their towels. Six weeks in, here's what I noticed:
The magnetic hold is the standout. I've been coaching for eight years, and I've never had a towel that just stays on the equipment. My clients kept asking me about it. They'd see it stuck to the rack and say 'wait, what is that?' It's a great conversation starter, but more importantly, it's actually useful. It keeps the towel off the floor and the bench clean.
The hidden zip pocket is bigger than I expected. I thought it would be one of those gimmicky features that doesn't work in practice, but I put my phone, my keys, and a credit card in it during a heavy deadlift session and forgot they were there. That's the test of a good pocket — you forget it's there until you need it.
Two things I wasn't sold on initially: the price (AU$79 is more than most gym towels, but after six weeks of daily use the towel still looks and feels new, so I'm coming around to it being fair value) and the fabric texture (the first time I touched it, I thought it felt almost too plush — after using it, I get it).
Would I recommend it to my clients? Yes, but with the caveat that it's a premium product at a premium price. If you want a towel that lasts for years and actually performs, the price is fair."
Coach #2: Marcus T. — Gym Owner, Brisbane
Gym: Fortitude Strength Club
Trains: Powerlifting, Strongman
Years coaching: 12
What he said:
"I run a commercial gym. I bought 12 of these for our loaner towel program because, frankly, our previous loaner towels were a disaster — they smelled, they fell apart, and members kept complaining.
Six weeks in: zero complaints from members. We've never had that with a towel before.
The magnetic hold works on all our equipment, but it works best on newer metal surfaces. On older painted equipment, the magnet still holds but you can feel it sliding a little. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.
The standout for our gym is durability. We wash these towels 3–4 times a week. After 24 washes, they still look brand new. The anti-odour treatment is real — these don't develop that gym-bag smell our previous loaners had after a few weeks."
Coach #3: James L. — Powerlifting Coach, Melbourne
Gym: Melbourne Strength Centre
Trains: Powerlifting, bench press specialist
Years coaching: 6
What he said:
"I'm a bench press specialist. I spend more time on a flat bench than most people spend at their desks. Towels matter to me.
I was sceptical of FITZEN because the price is high and the marketing is premium. I've been burned by premium gym products that don't deliver. But this one delivers.
The magnetic hold is the feature I didn't know I needed. I've been pressing for 15 years, and I've never had a towel that just stays on the bench. With FITZEN, I press, I sit up, the towel is still on the bench. It sounds small. It's not. It's the kind of small that compounds across hundreds of sessions.
If I had to nitpick: the towel is a touch shorter than I'd like. I prefer a 70cm length for full back coverage. The 60cm is fine, but I notice it on a wide stance. Not a deal-breaker — just a preference."
Coach #4: Priya M. — CrossFit Coach, Perth
Gym: Coastal CrossFit
Trains: CrossFit, Olympic lifting
Years coaching: 5
What she said:
"CrossFit is a different beast for towels. You're switching between barbell, kettlebell, rower, bike, and floor work. You need a towel that can keep up. The FITZEN did, but with some caveats.
What worked: the hidden zip pocket (having a pocket that holds my keys and earbuds while I'm on the rower is genuinely useful) and the anti-odour treatment (we train in a hot box — after 6 weeks, the FITZEN still smells like laundry detergent).
What didn't quite work: the magnetic hold is amazing on metal racks and barbells, but it doesn't work on the rower or the bike (plastic, not metal). For CrossFit, I'd love a small clip or carabiner for non-metal equipment. But that's me asking for a different product, not a flaw in this one.
Overall: I bought one for myself, and I bought three more for my partner. We use them every session."
Coach #5: Tom W. — Online Coach & Content Creator, Gold Coast
Gym: Online coaching + home gym
Trains: General strength, content creation
Years coaching: 4
What he said:
"I'm an online coach, so I do most of my training in my home gym. I film a lot of content for Instagram and YouTube. I need a towel that looks good on camera and performs well in training.
FITZEN is the first towel that checks both boxes. The colours are clean and minimal. The texture photographs well. The branding is subtle but visible.
The magnetic hold is what gets the most questions on my posts. Every time I post a clip using the towel, someone asks 'where did you get that towel?' The magnet is visually distinctive — people notice it.
My one piece of feedback: the towel is a little shorter than ideal for yoga or stretching. For bench press and general gym use, it's perfect. For a dedicated yoga practice, you'd want a longer version. (I'd buy that.)"
What We Learned from the Coaches
Three patterns stood out from these five reviews:
- The magnetic hold is the most-talked-about feature. Every single coach brought it up unprompted. It's the feature that gets attention, that gets questions, that gets shared on social media.
- The hidden zip pocket wins over sceptics. Most coaches were initially sceptical of the pocket, but all of them changed their minds after using it. The pocket's value isn't obvious until you use it.
- The price is the main hesitation, but the value becomes clear with use. Every coach initially questioned the price. By the end of the six weeks, all five said the price was fair.
We've taken all of this feedback and used it to inform our product roadmap. The coaches' insights have shaped what we're building next.
Want to Join the Coach Test Program?
We're setting up a permanent coach test program. If you're a strength coach, CrossFit coach, or personal trainer in Australia, you can apply to test future FITZEN products before they launch. We provide free samples; you provide honest feedback.
Apply at info@fitzen.com.au.
Keep an eye on our website for launch updates and availability.
— The FITZEN Team