The right fitness gear can help improve your health and appearance faster than you ever thought possible.
Many of these fitness ‘tools of the trade’ helped me lose 75 pounds in 6 months and get a new lease on life.
My results are not unique; they will do the same for you, no matter your age or how out of shape you are now.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
Fitness Gear – Table of Contents
- 531 for Beginners Workout Plan
- Beginner Powerlifting Program
- Body Composition Gear
- Flexibility & Balance Gear
- Smart Body Composition Scales
Weightlifting & Fitness Gear
While there is nothing wrong with training with no added weightlifting gear, doing so could limit your performance and make your workouts less productive.
You might also experience more aches and pains as a result.
Using the fitness gear and equipment mentioned won’t take anything away from your workouts.
Instead, they will allow you to train at your limit, making better progress.
If you are serious about getting the best from your workouts, it’s worth learning about Weightlifting Gear You Need and adding some of these weightlifting gear items to your workout wardrobe.
Best Weightlifting Shoes
Buying a pair of dedicated weightlifting shoes might seem like a waste of money but, the moment you slip them on and pick up a heavy weight, you’ll feel so much more stable that you will quickly realize that you made an excellent investment in your health and fitness.
Take your strength training workouts to a new level with one of the 5 Best Weightlifting Shoes Available For Men And Women In 2020 and 2021.
Best Deadlift Barbells
Deadlifts are one of the best exercises you can do with a barbell.
With nothing more than an awesome bar and some bumper plates, deadlifts work every muscle on the back of your body, and many on the front too.
See the entire report in the 5 Best Deadlift Bars on The Market Today
Best Kettlebells
Best Shoes for Deadlifts
Deadlifts are one of the most transformational full-body exercises you will ever do.
As a result, many serious strength trainers and powerlifters wear specially designed shoes for deadlifts and squats to optimize their performance.
See my complete review of the 5 Best Deadlift Shoes On The Market Today In 2020 and 2021 for more important details.
Best Deadlift Socks – Shin and Back Protection
If you plan to compete in powerlifting competitions, you must wear deadlift socks.
So, always use deadlift socks at the minimum for safety and hygiene.
Also, wearing long pants will give you more confidence to keep the bar close to your legs while you deadlift.
See my full review in the 5 Best Deadlift Socks to Protect Your Shins and Back from Injury for more details.
Best Deadlift Shin Guards
Deadlift shin guards will give you extra shin protection over socks and help you perfect your deadlift form as well because you will be less fearful of scraping your shins or hurting your back.
See the 5 Best Deadlift Shin Guards on the Market Today in 2020 and 2021 for more details.
Best Shoes for Squats and Deadlifts
While deadlift shin guards are an optional piece of weightlifting gear, the right shoes for squats and deadlifts are not!
Lifting heavy weights in squishy running shoes is not a good idea; they will distort and collapse beneath you, limiting your performance and leaving you vulnerable to injury.
Specialized shoes for squats or deadlifts may not be convenient or necessary for general gym-goers, and in that case, it is possible to use one pair of shoes for both squats and deadlifts.
See my entire review in the 5 Best Shoes for Squats and Deadlifts: Buying Guide for 2020 and 2021 for additional details.
Best Foam Rollers
A foam roller will help you identify and fix muscle imbalances, helping prevent deadlift lower back pain.
You can use a foam roller both before and after workouts. An excellent foam roller will increase the blood flow, and range of motion in the areas rolled.
Foam rolling is an effective tool to minimize your risk of injury. Also, foam rolling promotes recovery after a workout.
Best Knee Sleeves for Squats
Squats are the best lower body exercise, bar none.
However, if squats have a downside, they can be hard on your knee joints and even cause knee pain.
Fortunately, a pair of squat knee sleeves can help provide pain relief while reducing joint wear and tear.
The 7 Best Knee Sleeves for Squats on the Market Today in 2020 and 2021 will help you decide which one best suits your fitness goals.
Best Treadmills
Recommended Gear for Compound Exercises
Use the following to make your workouts more effective:
Best Weight Benches
Best Dumbbell Sets
Recommended gear for Compound Exercises for Weight Loss – The Workout Plan:
Marcy Adjustable Olympic Weight Bench with Leg Developer and Squat Rack
- ASSEMBLED DIMENSIONS: 65.75"L x 65.50"W x 64.50"H | Maximum weight on...
- EXTRA COMFORT – This workout bench has padded vinyl foam seats and...
- ADJUSTABLE DESIGN – The Marcy Diamond Olympic Bench has an...
This bench press/squat rack combo is ideal for home workouts if you don’t have space for a full squat or power rack. It’s well-priced and robust enough for most exercisers. Just add a barbell and some dumbbells, and you’re good to go!
SimpleL Adjustable Dumbbells/Barbell Set
This versatile dumbbell weight set is ideal for beginners. It’s compact and portable, but there is enough weight to challenge most newcomer lifters. It’s not as strong as a dedicated deadlift or squat barbell, but it’s a good option if you are just starting out or don’t want to lift heavy weights.
BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat
Protect your floor with these interlocking mats. Made from hardwearing foam, they’re also suitable for floor-based exercises, like push-ups and crunches. Floor mats also reduce noise, so they’re useful if you live in an apartment with downstairs neighbors.
Body Composition Gear
Here are a few items of gear that will help you measure or improve your body composition:
1. Omron Body Composition Monitor with Scale
- Measures 7 different fitness indicators: Body fat percentage, BMI,...
- Accurately measures body fat percentage using proven bioelectrical...
- Easy to read digital screen displays body weight up to 330 pounds in...
This step-on scale doubles as a bioelectrical impedance monitor to estimate your body composition. With its handle, the Omron Body Composition Monitor with Scale passes a mild electric current through both your arms and legs to produce a reasonably accurate estimate of your body fat percentage.
2. Slim Guide Skinfold Caliper
- Only low-cost caliper which meets all of the requirements for jaw...
- It meets or exceeds specs of the Harpenden and Skyndex units for a...
- Instruction book included.
Slim Guide Skinfold Calipers are the model used in a lot of gyms. They’re robust, easy to use, and reliable. Best of all, every pair is supplied with an informative user manual so you can teach yourself how to estimate the body composition of your family and friends.
3. GreaterGoods Nourish Digital Kitchen Food Scale
- A PREMIUM CHOICE: Between the design and quality, this kitchen scale...
- THE FRESHEST FEATURES: All of the qualities you need and expect in a...
- THE BELLS AND WHISTLES: Not only will this scale give you accurate...
If you want to improve your body composition, you need to reduce your calorie intake so that your body is forced to burn fat for fuel. One way to do this is to weigh and measure all your food. This GreaterGoods Nourish Digital Kitchen Food Scale doesn’t just weigh your food; it also tells you how many calories and how much protein, carbohydrate, and fat it contains. This makes controlling your food intake much easier and more accurate.
4. Crossrope Get Lean – Weighted Jump Rope Set
- First weighted jump rope system built to help you achieve your weight...
- Highly-rated workout app gives you access to fast and effective...
- Fast-clip connection system lets you switch between light and heavy...
Jumping rope is one of the most accessible ways to exercise at home for better body composition. A few minutes per day will burn excess calories and help you shed fat. This Crossrope Get Lean Weighted Jump Rope isn’t the cheapest jump rope you can buy, but it’s arguably one of the most enjoyable to use.
See What Is Body Composition; Why It’s Vital for Health & Fitness for more details.
Make your body transformation workouts more effective and enjoyable with the following exercise gear:
5. 20-lbs Slam Ball
A slam ball is a virtually unbreakable medicine ball. You can use it for a range of body composition exercises, including throws, slams, and thrusters. You can also use them for core exercises and for making bodyweight lunges and squats more challenging.
This BalanceFrom Slam Ball is one of the best on the market to build strength and explosive power, even in your backyard!
6. Wavemaster Punching bag
- 🥊 MADE IN THE USA - When You Buy A Wavemaster Punching Bag You Are...
- 🥊 PORTABLE BAG - The Wavemaster Can Be Moved, Tip It Onto The Side...
- 🥊 ADULT FREE STANDING KICKBOXING BAG - Works on even floors in...
This freestanding punching bag is ideal for home use. Just fill the base with water and/or sand and get to work. With no need to hang it from your ceiling or a wall bracket, this Wavemaster Heavy Punching Bag is easy to install and use and provides a very effective home workout.
7. Kettlebell Grip Handle
Kettlebells are very useful training tools, but they can also be expensive. Convert your dumbbells into kettlebells with this handy Kettle Grip Handle. It’s perfect for body composition transforming kettlebell swings.
Best Smart Body Composition Scales
Flexibility & Balance Fitness Gear
1. Foam Roller
- Patented foam roller design offers a superior, multi-density exterior...
- Constructed from quality materials that won’t break down or lose...
- Includes access to free online instructional video library on foam...
A foam roller is an indispensable tool for correcting muscle imbalances. Every single compensation for the overhead squat assessment uses SMR to lengthen tight or overactive muscles.
This 13-inch TriggerPoint GRID foam roller will help you roll through and relieve tight muscles and knots that can hamper your athletic performance.
2. Stability Ball
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A stability ball is an essential piece of equipment for stabilization and strength endurance phase exercises of the NASM OPT Model.
This anti-burst exercise ball is an excellent choice for stretching, core stabilization, and yoga stability ball exercises.
See the Overhead Squat Assessment for more details on why you need these fitness gear to correct balance and flexibility issues identified in an assessment.
531 for Beginners Fitness Gear
Recommended Gear
Here are a few items of gear that will help make 5/3/1 even more effective.
1. 5/3/1: The Simplest and Most Effective Training System for Raw Strength
- Jim Wendler (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 133 Pages - 02/28/2021 (Publication Date) - Jim Wendler LLC...
Learn everything there is to know about the 5/3/1 program from Jim Wendler himself. This classic strength training book contains everything you need to start and progress on this classic strength training and muscle building program.
2. Nordic Weightlifting shoes
- POWERLIFTING SHOES - Maximum Lifting Performance - by Premium...
- PROVIDES OLYMPIC STABILITY - Good foot support ensures a powerful...
- LONG-LASTING QUALITY - Built to last, even under immense stress. Our...
Available in two colors, these high-quality shoes will provide a stable and supportive base for heavy squats and overhead presses. Excellent quality and well-priced, these Nordic Weightlifting shoes should give many years of faithful service.
3. Iron Bull Powerlifting/weightlifting belt
- ✅ PREMIUM 10MM THICK LEATHER: Our PowerLifting Belt features a...
- ✅ MAXIMUM SUPPORT: Our 10mm thick weight lifting belt conforms to...
- ✅ ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE PRONG: The double roller buckle prongs are...
Squat and deadlift with more confidence by wearing this wide, stiff, Iron Bull leather belt. It’s well-priced, hardwearing, and will help you produce more intra-abdominal pressure for increased back support. A must for heavy training.
4. Wrist wraps and straps set
- Wrist Wraps & Lifting Straps Bundle from Nordic Lifting™ - Premium...
- One Size Fits All (Both Men and Women)
- Made of Durable Heavy Duty Cotton
Support your wrists and reinforce your grip with this set of wraps and straps. Perfect for all pushing and pulling exercises and available in eight colors/designs.
5. Under Armour over the knee deadlifting socks
- Dynamic arch support helps reduce foot fatigue
- Ventilation channels enhance breathability
- Anti-odor technology helps prevent odor in the sock
Protect your shins from bangs and scrapes while deadlifting. Available in six colors and a range of sizes, these Under Armour Over-The-Calf socks will prevent the all too common shin damage that often accompanies a hard deadlift workout.
See 531 for Beginners; How to Set Up this Classic Strength Program for more details.
Best Beginner Powerlifting Program
Recommended Gear
You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to be a good powerlifter, but there are a few things that can help.
1. Powerlifting belt
- ✅ PREMIUM 10MM THICK LEATHER: Our PowerLifting Belt features a...
- ✅ MAXIMUM SUPPORT: Our 10mm thick weight lifting belt conforms to...
- ✅ ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE PRONG: The double roller buckle prongs are...
A powerlifting belt will help you create more intra-abdominal pressure to stabilize your spine during squats and deadlifts. You don’t HAVE to wear a belt but doing so can significantly increase your squat and deadlift performance.
2. Chalk bag
- Includes non toxic , pigment free , fine powdered white gym chalk
- Premium grade cotton sock with drawstring is less messy than loose...
- Enhance your grip , keep your hands bone dry , and has no scent
Deadlifts and bench presses require a firm grip. Using chalk helps keep your palms dry so you can focus on the lift you are doing and won’t have to worry about the bar slipping out your hands.
3. Starting Strength
- Mark Rippetoe (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 347 Pages - 11/11/2011 (Publication Date) - The Aasgaard Company...
The squat, bench press, and deadlift are challenging exercises to master. This book contains an in-depth analysis of all three lifts and detailed instructions on how to safely and effectively do each one. Starting Strength one of the best powerlifting guides around!
Fitness Gear – Final Thoughts
I recommend these weightlifting gear and fitness equipment items because I have relied on and still rely on them in my fitness journey.
Or I have heard outstanding reviews from other health coaches, personal trainers, bodybuilders, weightlifters, powerlifters, and fitness enthusiasts.
So, if you are serious about making the best progress possible, the fitness gear mentioned above will make your workouts more comfortable, safer, and even more productive.
Rich is a NASM-CPT (Certified Personal Trainer), an