Whether you’re looking to make some needed upgrades to your personal training studio or you’re thinking of creating your own personal workout space at home, this list will provide some great ideas. We will only list the most important and effective exercise equipment and as newer and better products become available we’ll amend the list, so please check back often.
Sleds & Accessories:
Good – HD Power Speed Sled by Titan (for reverse walk pulling)
Better – Echo Dog Sled by Rogue
Best – Tank M4 Push Sled by Torque Fitness
Accessories – Sled Pulling Belt by Spud Inc and Sled Straps by Comcor
Tib Bars:
Good – The Tib Bar Pro by the Tib Bar Guy
Better – The Isotib by HGG Performance
Best – Having both of these options is best as you can only ever truly address imbalances by isolating one ankle at a time, and if you’re goal is max ankle performance then it’s helpful to have the bi-ankle version as well.
Slant Boards:
Good – WL Professional Adjustable Steel Slant Board
Better – Tib Factory Slant Board by the Tib Factorty
Best – The Slant Board by the Tib Bar Guy
Reverse Step Up Blocks:
Good – Flat Patio Brick (12 x 8 x 2 inch) (3 bricks)
Better – The Slant Stack by The Tib Bar Guy or Step Up Wedge by The Tib Factory
Best – The Ultimate DC Blocks by Rogue (set of 6, but you only need 3…)
Squat Wedges:
Good – Any Slant Board or Wedge
Best – ATG Buddies by ATG Equipment
Power Racks and Benches:
(Your choice for a power rack is determined by your available space, needs, and budget)
Nordic Curls:
Good – Nordic Strap
Better – NordStick
Best – Nordic Bench by Rogue or P3 Poor Man Glute Ham Developer
Barbells, Dumbbells and Plates:
Technique Bar by Rogue (for light loads and learning)
Standard Budget Olympic Bar – The Beast by CAP
I prefer a solid dumbbell, but have used PowerBlock dumbbells for decades and they’re great, although slightly unbalanced.
Bowflex may have been the first competitor to PowerBlock with their version of the adjustable dumbbell. This variety has a more balanced feel.
When choosing plates to match your bars, you can spend/waste a ton of money if you’re not careful. Some questions to help you choose:
Are you training as a competitive olympic weight lifter? You’ll need the best, most precise bumper plates you can afford.
Are you training as a competitive powerlifter? Again, you’ll need precise plates, but not bumpers.
If you’re not planning on entering competitions, then you can choose whatever plates you want. If you’re looking to save money then you may have to search quite extensively for a fair deal.
Consider steel or bumper? Grip handles, ridges, or no-grips? Colors, black, or grey?
I went with these babies for my personal training studio because they were the most beautiful looking ones at the time of purchase, but they’re also the worst type to grip, pickup and hold.
If you’re looking for budget plates, try to get the cost down below $1 per pound.
Forearms 6-Way:
Good – The Wrist Axe by HGG Performance
Better – Dumbbell Bars (tape one end for grip, secure weight on other end)
Best – The Torque Bar by The Tib Bar Guy
Bands, Attachments, Etc.
Resistance Bands
Compression Band (Voodoo Floss)
Lacrosse Ball (for Tib Posterior Raise and self massage)
Gym Flooring (soft, for comfort)
Gym Flooring (dense, for performance)
Shoulder Stretching PVC Pipe (cut to your height or about 6 feet for a studio)
Body Composition Scale by Withings
