Ripped hands.
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Anyone who has done CrossFit for a considerable amount of time has the scars and stories of bloodied palms. It’s almost like a rite of passage for some. “Oh, you ripped your hands on those pull-ups? Now you’re a real CrossFitter!”
Basic hand care and right-hand protection can prevent you from losing days of training (and painful showers). In fact, I think grips are one of the best CrossFit equipment pieces you can own. That’s why I dove into researching the best CrossFit grips and compiled the list below.
I have been doing CrossFit for years, and we have two other people on the Garage Gym Reviews team – Kate Meier and Amanda Capritto – who are both avid CrossFitters as well as certified CrossFit L1 Trainers.
We researched around 25 gymnastic grips and legitimately tested almost a dozen of them over the course of 35 workouts. We performed kip pull-ups and other rig work and checked out their ease of use in making transitions between the bar and other movements. Also, we reached out to companies to talk to them about how they made their grips.
Good for: People looking for a very sticky pair of gymnastics grips
Best Overall GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4.75 Bear Komplex 3 Hole Hand Grips – Carbon Fiber No returns after they’ve been used 30-day warranty Multiple sizes available Material Carbon Fiber Design Three finger holes Multiple Sizes? Yes Durability With a carbon fiber design, these are among the most durable grips we’ve tested CrossFit Athletes The durable design is meant to be used for a variety of high-intensity exercises. Weightlifters The versatile design also works well for Olympic weightlifting. Budget Shoppers Priced under $50, these durable grips should fit most budgets. Pros of the Bear Komplex Carbon Fiber Gymnastics Grips Three-hole finger design Very sticky grip Lightweight carbon fiber Extremely durable Cons of the Bear Komplex Carbon Fiber Gymnastics Grips Not as great with barbell work as leather grips Circular finger holes stretch out and are slightly uncomfortable Designed to go over the index finger, which is a little odd to us Cost Around $45 Available Sizes Small, Medium, Large, X-Large Washable? Hand wash with soap and waterThis unique, patented Carbon Comp design from Bear KompleX offers athletes a 3-Hole Hand Grip specifically suited to slick and powder-coated bars and handles.
If you’re on social media, you’ve likely seen many CrossFit Games athletes repping the Bear Komplex Carbons. Sure, Bear Komplex sponsors a lot of athletes, but many of them use them because they also like them. The Bear Komplex Carbon Fiber Grips are a clear front-runner when it comes to gymnastic grips. We like the three-hole finger design (though there is also a two-finger option) and highly recommend them over the two-hole style.
However, the best part about the Bear Komplex Grips is the carbon fiber that is both lightweight and sticky. These are the first and only gymnastic grips we’ve seen using this material, and although we were skeptical at first, the carbon fiber sticks to the pull-up bar better than any material we’ve used. The Bear Komplex Carbon Fiber Grips are also well-built and will last longer than many of the cheaper options on the market.
The last benefit of the carbon fiber material Bear Komplex uses is its durability. We used the Carbon Grips quite a bit, and they showed very little wear at the end of testing. That said, the downside to the carbon fiber material was how it felt while using a barbell. Although we enjoyed them during all bar work, when it came to things off the bar or rings, they fell short in comparison to leather.
One improvement we’d like to see with the Carbon Grips is making the finger holes more of a rectangle shape. The circular cutouts dug into our fingers until they began stretching out during the break-in period.
Although we didn’t like the cutout holes, we did like the wrist strap. Most of the cheaper gymnastic grips are very uncomfortable around the wrist. However, the Bear Komplex Grips wrap the carbon fiber material around the wrist which keeps the velcro from digging in.
The aggressive angled design of the grips kept the material on the calluses, however, rather than the holes corresponding to the pinky, ring, and middle fingers, they are meant to be on the index, middle, and ring fingers. We’ve experienced very little wear under our index finger over the years and were a bit confused why they were designed in this way. You can adjust, but it is a bit awkward.
Good for: The budget-conscious shopper who needs hand protection
Best Budget Grips GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4 Rogue V2 Gymnastic Grips No returns after they’ve been used 30-day warranty Multiple sizes available Material Leather made in the USA Design Two finger holes Multiple Sizes? Yes Durability These grips aren’t quite as durable as high-end options, but they’re more affordable. CrossFit Athletes The durable design is meant to be used for a variety of high-intensity exercises. Weightlifters The versatile design also works well for Olympic weightlifting. Budget Shoppers Priced around $30, these are very affordable, especially for the quality you’re getting. Pros of the Rogue V2 Gymnastics Grips Affordably priced Longer grips fold over bars for better grip Suede covering is comfortable on the hands Cons of the Rogue V2 Gymnastics Grips Can get a little slippery after a lot of use/chalk Strap is uncomfortable Two-finger design Cost Around $30 Available Sizes Small, Medium, Large Washable? Hand wash with soap and waterRogue’s Gymnastics Grips are the proven accessory for protecting your hands during high-rep pull-ups, kettlebell swings, toes-to-bar, and dozens of other palm punishing movements.
If you want a decent pair of gymnastic grips that are less comfortable, durable, and grippy, but also less expensive, the Rogue v2 Gymnastic Grips will more than get the job done. I’m a fan of budget-friendly equipment when the product doesn’t sacrifice too much for the price. I’d say these grips fall into that category.
Before we set out to test the best gymnastic grips available, these are the only grips I had ever really used. I started with a short pair and then realized after watching videos of Rich Froning and Annie Thorisdottir that a majority of the top CrossFit Games athletes use extra-long grips so they can put a fold over the bar. Once you use a longer pair of gymnastic grips, it’s hard to go back to a shorter pair, which is one reason Jaw Grips and Natural Grips didn’t rank higher on our list.
The Rogue V2 Grips feature a 2.5″ wide piece of leather that has suede texture on both sides for hand comfort, as well as extra grip on the pull-up bar. In our testing, the Rogue V2 Grips proved to be a durable pair of gymnastic grips, however, after a while and lots of chalk, the grips did begin to get slippery.
The way the grips fasten to your wrist is through a velcro strap that keeps them in place but is also very uncomfortable on the wrist and can dig in rather easily. The plastic buckle also tends to dig into the skin and is on the same side of both grips.
What this means is that Rogue is not making grips that correspond to your hand, but rather the same design that causes the buckle to sit on different sides of the wrist due to them being the same. Although this is probably great for Rogue in regards to their cost, it’s a less-than-ideal design and should be addressed.
Good for: People who want a hand grip that will keep them stuck to a pull-up bar
Best for Pull-Ups GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4 Iron Bull EZ Gripz V2 30-day return policy 1-year warranty Multiple sizes available Material Proprietary Non-Slip Material Design Fingerless Design Multiple Sizes? Yes Durability These grips are very durable and secure, with a thick, grippy design. CrossFit Athletes The durable design is meant to be used for a variety of high-intensity exercises, providing plenty of grip on pull-ups, snatches, and more. Weightlifters The versatile design also works well for Olympic weightlifting and barbell exercises. Value Shoppers At $50, these aren’t the cheapest grips, but the quality is excellent and worth the extra cost. Pros of the Iron Bull EZ Gripz V2 Quick grip switch between sessions Durable construction Enhances lifts during push or pull exercises Cons of the Iron Bull EZ Gripz V2 Only available in medium and large Some reviewers say the design feels too thick Cost Around $50 Available Sizes Medium, Large Washable? Hand wash with soap and waterDesigned with a proprietary non-slip material, the Iron Bull EZ Gripz V2 accessory provides good grip, solid arch support, and enables quick grip switches in between sets. If you have smaller hands, however, these may not fit as they are only sold in medium and large.
The Iron Bull EZ Gripz V2 are a useful tool for anyone trying to perfect their pull-up game, or even those who are still at a beginner level. The non-slip material is specially designed to help with mind-muscle connection during push-pull exercises so you can focus on getting your chin above the bar instead of worrying if you’ll slip or not.
Although we haven’t gotten our hands on these, yet, we’re big fans of its versatility. The palm piece can be placed against your hand for quick grabbing, or wrapped around the bar if you want to go for as many reps as possible. The quick-release feature is also a nice touch for anyone who might be supersetting their pull-ups.
While we’re recommending these for pull-ups, we can also see them working for other movements such as rows, deadlifts, or any other move where you don’t want to lose your grip.
Yes, these grips are on the expensive side but you get a 30-day money back guarantee.
Good for: Lifters who want a secure grip that works well with chalk
Best for More Reps GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4.25 Picsil Azor Grips 30-day return policy 60-day warranty Multiple sizes available Material Leather Design Fingerless Design Multiple Sizes? Yes Durability Reviewers say the grips will last 6-9 months with regular use. CrossFit Athletes The durable design is meant to be used for a variety of high-intensity exercises, providing plenty of grip on pull-ups, snatches, and more. Weightlifters The versatile design also works well for Olympic weightlifting and barbell exercises. Chalk Users These grips are designed to be used with chalk, and machine washable for easy cleanup. Pros of the Picsil Azor Grips Multiple sizes and colors are available Designed for increased magnesium retention Machine washable Cons of the Picsil Azor Grips Some users report the grip feels too thick May need to be replaced every 6-9 months Cost Around $45 Available Sizes Small, Medium, Large, X-Large Washable? Machine washablePicsil Azor Grips are lightweight grips designed for CrossFit, gymnastics, and Olympic weightlifting. They’re designed to work well with lifting chalk, and can easily be washed with your regular laundry loads.
For those who want grips that won’t slip, allowing you to perform plenty of reps before you need to readjust your grip, Picsil Azor Grips are a great choice.
Each grip has a wrist strap for extra security, similar to lifting straps. You can adjust the velcro strap to perfectly fit your wrist, keeping it securely in place for nearly any type of exercise.
The Azor Grips are also designed specifically to increase magnesium retention, which is the most common ingredient used to make lifting chalk. This allows you to get an even better grip using chalk, a common staple in CrossFit facilities and home gyms alike.
Finally, Picsil Grips are designed to be machine washable. If you make a mess with your lifting chalk, Picsil says you can throw these grips in a regular load of laundry, and they’ll be ready to go.
The only minor concern would be the longevity. A few reviews mention the grips start to fray after a while, and even the five-star reviews say the grips should last six to nine months. While the Picsil Azor grips work great, especially with lifting chalk, just know that you may need to pick up a new pair every year or so depending on how often you’re using them.
Good for: Anyone who prefers a fingerless grip design
Best Fingerless Grips GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4 Element 26 IsoComp Gymnastic Hand Grips 30-day return policy 3-month warranty Multiple sizes available Material Rubber with Kevlar reinforcement Design Fingerless Design Multiple Sizes? Yes Durability Very durable with a Kevlar-reinforced palm, and a three-month warranty. CrossFit Athletes The durable design is meant to be used for a variety of high-intensity exercises, providing plenty of grip on pull-ups, snatches, and more. Weightlifters The versatile design also works well for Olympic weightlifting and barbell exercises. Multi-Sport Athletes These grips are designed to be used with or without chalk, on any type of bar or material. Pros of the Element 26 IsoComp Gymnastic Hand Grips Same price for all three sizes Kevlar on palm side for increased grip Neoprene wrist padding for extra protection Cons of the Element 26 IsoComp Gymnastic Hand Grips Some customer reviewers say they don't last long Short three-month warranty Cost Around $35 Available Sizes Small, Medium, Large Washable? Machine washableThe Element 26 IsoComp Gymnastic Hand Grips are made with heavy-duty materials, such as kevlar on the palm side, for increased grip on pull-up bars, gymnastic rings, and more.
If you’re looking for a grip that allows for easier transitions between moves or just prefer a fingerless design, the Element 26 IsoComp Gymnastic Hand Grips is your best bet because they’re one of the few pairs that works well with or without chalk and have a secret weapon on the palm side: kevlar. Yup, the same material used in bulletproof vested is stitched into the grip for added support.
Plus, its outer edge is rounded to protect your skin during muscle-up turnovers so there’s no shedding of skin.
It’s not just about the hands. There’s also neoprene wrist padding for protection and sweat resistance.
Good for: People who just want to try grips or don’t use them often
Best Single-Use Grips GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 3.75 WOD-N-DONE No returns once used No warranty One size fits most Material Kinesiology Material Design Fingerless Design Multiple Sizes? One size fits most Durability They’re designed for single-use only. Those New to Grips You’ll get a pack of a single-use grips, making this a perfect option to see how like grips before buying a more expensive pair. Budget Shoppers While not exactly cheap, they’re more affordable than an expensive pair for those new to grips. Pros of the WOD-N-DONE Grips Thick, supportive wrist wrap Affordably priced Three finger holes Cons of the WOD-N-DONE Grips Padded grip may be great for some but too much for others Tight fit means getting the right size is paramount Not very eco-friendly Cost Around $35 for 10 grips Available Sizes One size fits most Washable? No, they’re meant to be thrown away after one useA single-use grip that’s perfect for beginners, or those who don’t use grips often.
Single-use grips are a great option for those who have a tear and need some last-minute protection, or just want to see what it’s like to use grips.
Let’s get one thing straight, though: I’m not a fan of single-use grips for people who need grips on a regular basis. That isn’t environmentally friendly, it’s chaos on your budget, and it’s flat-out impractical.
The WOD N Done Grips are basically kinesiology tape in pre-cut packs. They come with three finger holes, which is nice because as we have covered exhaustively, we prefer three holes to two. Also, they are long enough to fit just about any hand; we have seen them on young athletes and on athletes with very big hands.
The bottom of WOD N Dones splits in half to wrap around your wrist to secure the tape in place. To prevent ripping, these actually hold up pretty well. They stay in place and definitely cover the parts of your hand susceptible to ripping.
However, these are pretty expensive for being single-use. Also, we have found them to be a little slick on the pull-up bar but perform better on wood rings.
JAW Pullup Grips: Although JAW Pullup Grips are a popular option, there’s a reason you see very few CrossFit Games Athletes use them and that’s because they simply don’t perform as well as more traditional style gymnastic grips. The JAW Pullup Grips are comfortable, in fact, they’re one of the most comfortable pairs of grips we tested, but due to their use of stretchy clots, they don’t wrap around the bar like we like to see grips used. The JAW Grips did not require any break-in time as advertised and they will help prevent your hands from ripping if that’s a large concern. The JAW Grips were also comfortable during barbell work due to their short and stretchy nature. For these reasons, we like the JAW Grips to avoid ripping but prefer the traditional style for most bar and ring work.
WOD Nation Leather Palm Grips: Priced at just $15 a pair, we don’t have much faith that these will be durable or comfortable. In truth, we haven’t worn them, as we have found with other grips that when the price dips below $20, quality suffers. These are two-hole grips, which we already don’t love. And while WOD Nation promotes that they are great for pull-ups, kettlebell work, and deadlifts, we can’t verify that.
Natural Grips: Natural Grips have been a popular option since their appearance on Shark Tank. Although the Natural Grips provide an incredible grip on the pull-up bar and rings, they rip very quickly. Although we got by with a couple of sessions using the Natural Grips, they didn’t last nearly as long as they were stated to last, and they’re pretty expensive for how quickly you’ll have to replace them. If you don’t mind spending a ton of money on grips, then the Natural Grips are a decent option, otherwise, simply make your own out of tape.
HumanX Palm Grips: This design will protect your hands, but simply isn’t as effective as the more traditional style of gymnastic grips. The wrist is somewhat comfortable, but the big leather pad simply doesn’t work very well.
RooGrips: We didn’t get a chance to test these ones out, however, based on their design and price we have a good feeling that they aren’t to the level of our picks, although we can’t say for certain without using them. They feature a thin piece of Kangaroo Leather, but for what they are, they seem to be overpriced at $50.
Fit Four F4G Gymnastic Grips: For the same reasons we don’t recommend WODies, these, which are available on Amazon, did not make our top picks.
Victory Grips Stealth Grips: The Stealth Victory Grips take all of the things we really liked about the leather versions and instead uses a very lightweight microfiber material. The Stealth’s are an awesome pair of gymnastic grips and give an almost barehanded type of feel. We preferred the leather grips in use, but have talked to many who prefer these. You can’t go wrong with either.
To compile our list of gymnastic grips, we researched all of the major manufacturers within the industry as well as reached out to industry experts and various forums. In addition to this, we went to Garage Gym Reviews HQ to rank and test all of the gymnastic grips we’ve used over the years. After researching around 25 different gymnastic grips that were worth your time and money, we narrowed it down to our top picks, all of which we acquired from companies to test out in-house.
There is an overwhelmingly large amount of gymnastic grips available for purchase today. Due to the growth of CrossFit training as well as gymnastics training for adults, the amount of people using gymnastic grips is likely more today than it ever has been.
In our search for gymnastic grips, we found options at varying price points, although it seems that anything above $50 really isn’t worth your time as are most of the grips below $20. When it comes to grips, like with other training equipment such as Olympic barbells or squat racks, you typically get what you paid for.
One thing we found with all gymnastic grips was that the lifespan and effectiveness of the grips are increased through the use of sweatbands underneath the grips during use. We highly suggest that no matter what gymnastic grips you purchase, you also get a pair of terry cloth sweatbands to absorb sweat and go under the gymnastic grips.
The gymnastic grips we picked to test could all be considered worth purchasing. Even the ones that didn’t make our list have various features that we found to be excellent.
We evaluated the overall construction, materials used, durability, warranty, and pricepoint of the best CrossFit grips.
During testing, we performed many different movements in and out of CrossFit workouts, including high rep kipping pull-ups on various pull-up bars, kipping muscle-ups on wooden and plastic rings, strict muscle-ups using a false grip, kipping toes to bar and skin the cats.
In addition to traditional gymnastic-type movements found in CrossFit, we did movements featured in metcons such as handstand pushups, burpees, and dumbbell snatches.
Finally, we asked the opinion of others on which grips they preferred.
While CrossFit recently may have popularized the use of gymnastics grips, the truth is that they have been around for decades. Competitive male and female gymnasts use dowel grips all the time, in training and in competitions. This protects a gymnast’s hands against blisters as they flip and turn around bars.
We all want to move like Simone Biles, right? So if she is using gymnastics hand grips, you might also want to consider it if you are doing cross-training that involves bar work.
By and large, we wear grips to keep our hands from suffering an injury. Simply hanging from a gymnastics bar or rings can give you calluses, but spinning around them when performing kipping movements and muscle-ups can actually cause the skin to tear. Grips shield your hands against that friction. Though be warned – you can still tear even when wearing grips. However, they do minimize those odds.
If you have ever used a slippery pull-up bar, you know how frustrating it is to hang on for a few more reps. Many high-quality gymnastics grips are constructed to actually give you a better hold on the bar. Maybe the grip provides some stickiness that your hands and chalk can’t create.
In some cases, grips help with how long you can hold onto a bar by helping to prevent grip fatigue. The strap around your wrist that holds the grip in place should take some of the pressure off your hand muscles, thus, conceivably, lengthening the amount of time you can hang onto a bar.
Lastly, some people feel a little safer with a grip in between their hands and a pull-up bar or set of rings where other people, possibly strangers, have been sweating or possibly ripping or bleeding. A grip is by no means intended to be a guardian against germs and shouldn’t replace sanitizing and hand washing. However, if it gives you a little bit of comfort, then rock on.
There are a few key components of grips you should consider when looking at gymnastics equipment grips:
Although the gymnastic grips we recommend aren’t the absolute most expensive available, they need to be constructed well to provide a reliable experience over the product’s suggested lifetime. The quality of materials and workmanship of the company plays a large part not only in the performance of the grips but also in how long they will last.
One of the key things to look at is how many finger holes there are. We recommend you go with a three-finger pair of grips as opposed to grips with two-finger holes. Three-finger gymnastic grips protect the areas of the hand in which calluses are most likely to form and, therefore, rip; after using the three-finger design, you’ll have a hard time going back to the older style.
Although we found that we preferred durable leather, there were other materials that worked great with varying abilities to withstand high-volume workouts. Our runner-up pick features a carbon fiber material. Victory Grips Stealth Grips – which we also love – use synthetic microfiber that was ultra-light and thin. Genuine leather tends to be extremely comfortable but has its drawbacks, like how to keep it clean. There are products that use silicone and other materials, but we prefer the materials in the products above.
Gymnastic grips are not designed to last a long time; in fact, a majority of the experts we consulted recommended people who use them often, to replace their grips at a minimum of once a year and most people would be best off replacing them every six months. So while we wouldn’t say that there are many heavy-duty grips, there are grips that can last that long.
There are many “disposable” gymnastic grips available, and although they are effective during use, their life is much too short, and we don’t see a reason to produce so much waste for a product that is inferior to our top picks if you’re going to use grips long-term.
Although gymnastic grips have a short lifespan, they should at least live up to six months’ worth of use, and if they don’t, the company should have procedures in place to rectify the situation.
The price of the gymnastic grips should be in alignment with the quality and features offered in the gymnastic grips. Value is important, but in seeking the absolute best gymnastic grips for CrossFit, it was of less importance than our other specifications. We found that the ones we liked best fell between $20 to $50 for the pair.
Starting a CrossFit Affiliate can be costly and one of the most expensive parts is outfitting the equipment. This guide should help you determine the equipment you need along with the costs.
So… You’ve decided to venture out on your own and start a CrossFit Affiliate.
You think you have what it takes and don’t mind living in a smelly gym, mopping floors, picking up equipment, and cleaning toilets.
Oh, you also get to teach people how to become healthier and live a better life.
One of the biggest obstacles you will face in the beginning is deciding what equipment to buy. Similar to those that are starting a garage gym, you have a million and one companies vying for your hard earned or hard qualified (face it, most people take out loans) dollars.
Well, let this be your guide.
I’m going to detail the top companies packages including details, specs, my opinions, and more.
But before I go through what companies have to offer, I’d like to go over some things you need to start.
Some gyms start with the bare minimum, while others come out with a bang. In my opinion it has a lot to do with your marketing strategy and long term view.
If you’re starting a gym and unsure whether you’ll make it, then you may not want to drop a lot of money.
But, if your feeling is that of a captain of a ship and you’ll ride that sucker through any storm till the walls fall on you, then you should start with equipment that is built to last.
That being said, you don’t have to start off with buying 5 Ski-Ergs and havingrecovery station with Normatec Boots and Marc-Pros. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. (Seinfeld reference ???? )
But there are some essentials. My suggestion is to make sure you have any piece of equipment that could possible come up in the CrossFit open. Those are:
Pull Up Rig
I don’t know where the term “Rig” came about, but I really like it. Essentially, you need a big structure made up of metal uprights where you can do pull-ups, muscle-ups, squats, everything. And one of the most important features when purchasing a Pull Up Rig is to make sure its expandable. You don’t want to get a few years down the road and realize you’ve maxed out the most essential piece of equipment of a CrossFit Gym and have to sell it on Craigslist.
I’ll go through the various companies offerings, but you mainly want something that is sturdy, spacious enough for many stations, and has the ability for people to do rope climbs and muscle-ups if your facility accommodates that height.
Barbell
CrossFit programming has a lot of barbell work. Whether its squatting or pressing your members are going to expect barbells. And this is an area I would suggest not skimping out on. You don’t have to have a bunch of Eleiko Barbells, although that would be nice. But I would highly suggest going with manufacturer that has a lifetime warranty and you think will be around long enough to honor any warranties.
I see affiliates start out and just go for a local company, and I’m all for local businesses but what happens if you have a bunch of sleeves slide off your crossfit barbell and the company went under the week prior? You’re S.O.L my friend.
I do think it’s important to get women’s bars as well. It is something I’ve seen women leave a gym because of, and you want women at your gym. They build the gym more than anyone, because they talk about CrossFit more than anyone. Also, men will come if women are there.
Bumper Plates
Once again, get bumpers that last. They don’t have to be super thin, or nice and colorful, but they should be able to take the beating they inevitably will. In my opinion, a crumb rubber bumper such as Rogue Hi-Temps are your best bet when it comes to starting an affiliate. They aren’t the prettiest, but my goodness can those things get beat up and keep on trucking.
Also, the 10 pounder’s will last a long time too. If you aren’t aware of why this is important than you probably shouldn’t open a gym yet.
Flooring
Although this isn’t equipment, this is going to be very important. Rubber mats are the name of the game at CrossFit facilities and can run you a pretty penny depending on how you buy them.
My suggestion is if you don’t care too much how they look, run down to your local Tractor Supply and pick up some Horse Stall Mats. They’re what I personally use in my garage, run about $40 a sheet and will last you the life of your gym.
Medicine Balls
Wall balls show up in the CrossFit Open every year and are versatile piece of Equipment. At one time, your only option was to go with Dynamax Medicine Balls but for that past year or two, nearly every equipment manufacturer has started making their own that are as good, if not better than Dynamax. Just make sure you have a few of the 14 and 20 pounders as those are mostly what show up, and also throw in some 10 and 30 pounders for the weak and strong.
Jump Ropes
Buy some cheap jump ropes for the new people and those that forgot their own. Eventually just about everyone in your gym will have their own rope, but it’s nice to have some cheap ones in the beginning for those that are just beginning foundations classes.
Rowers
Yes, I think you need Rowers. Do you need a lot of them? No. But in my opinion you should have at least two. They have been used in the past two years of the CrossFit Open and are one of the best conditioning tools in my opinion.
There’s definitely some off brand rowers out there, but I would stick to the tried and true Concept 2 Rower. They’re built to last, and are the rower used in the CrossFit Games and Open. I don’t even know if you’d be able to use an off brand rower in the CrossFit Open as they would probably calculate mileage differently.
Plyo-Boxes
Box Jumps are a staple in CrossFit training. I’m big into DIY Equipment, however, I would not suggest making too much DIY Equipment for a commercial facility.
For legal reasons, if a box broke and hurt someone, I would want to point the finger at a large corporation for the faulty box, not your amateur wood working skills.
Be safe, and protect yourself against lawsuits.
Gymnastic Rings
In the beginning, you won’t have a lot of members who can do muscle-ups, but it will give them a goal to shoot for. And any respectable gym will have some rings hanging from the ceiling.
Don’t purchase the welded metal rings.
I repeat, DO NOT PURCHASE METAL GYMNASTIC RINGS.
They’re cool in theory, but they really just suck in real life applications. Get a couple sets of wood rings and make sure people chalk up before they use them and they will last you a good while.
Gym Timer
3.2.1. Go!!!
This will haunt your members nightmares and they will love it. Get a nice timer with good features and you won’t ever have to buy another. The main timers are MDUSA’s and Rogue. I would go with Rogue simply because MDUSA’s customer service pails in comparison to Rogues. You can find it here: Rogue Echo Gym Timer.
Barbell Collars
I personally don’t like using barbell collars all that often, but If I were running a facility I would make it a requirement. This is once again for legal reasons. The Rogue HG Collars are nice, I have a pair. But, OSO has come out with a collar and it is the absolute bees knees.
Climbing Rope
Rope climbs are awful and are certainly something your gym members will want to overcome. Go to your local Army Supply and purchase this. You can purchase them fromRogue here, but I think you’re paying more than you should.
Chalk
Buy a big box of chalk. Your members are going to run through it and will expect it to always be within arms length. It’s more important than water to some people. Rogue has a box here for about the same price as anywhere else.
And those are the basics.
There are some other things you’ll want to get as you grow, and I’ll detail those below with the different companies, but overall the above is what you need to get started.
Now that you’ve seen the basics. Let’s check out what the various companies have to offer and how they stack up.
Expect to spend in the beginning any where from $20,000-$60,000+
Rogue Fitness
I’m going to start off with Rogue. Why? Because they’re the best. Bar none, Rogue Fitness is the best equipment and customer service in the industry.
But, that comes at a price.
Most of my personal Garage Gym is filled up with Rogue Equipment.
One of their biggest features is their lifetime warranty. You just can’t beat that. Especially when your user base will not care nearly as much as you do about the equipment.
I’m going to list their different features, but I would suggest giving them a call and explain what you’re looking for. They’ve outfitted thousands of gyms and would definitely be able to help you out.
Rogue 15 Alpha – 15 Person Affiliate Package
Package contents:
(2) LB ROGUE HG 2.0 Bumper set for a total of LBS of Bumpers – You choose the weights you want up to LBS
(15) Ohio Bar – Black Zinc Shaft, Bright Zinc Sleeves – 28.5MM Bar with Dual Knurl – Guaranteed for Life!
(5) ROGUE Bella Bar – 25.0MM Women’s Bar with Dual Knurl
(5) ROGUE 15LB Technique Bar – The Go to bar for technique training, same distance between collars as competition bars
(3) Rogue 9 Bar Holders
(1) 500LB Rogue Kettlebell Set – Choose your own variants up to 500LBS
(25) Sets of Rogue HG Collars
(15) Set of ROGUE Wood Rings
(15) Rogue Medicine Ball – Can choose the weight up to 20lbs
(10) Rogue D- Ball /Slam Ball- Can choose the weight up to 30lbs
(5) 25’x1.5″ Climbing Rope with Eyelet – No bracket required
(15) Games Multi Side Boxes with 20/24/30 Inch Sides
(8) S-1 Squat/Press Stands
(6) Rogue GH-1 Abram GHD
(10) Rogue Flat Utility Bench
(1) I-44 Infinity Rig – Now you can get pull-ups and squat racks with the same unit
(15) Rogue SR-3 Speed Rope
(15) Abmat
(10) Concept 2 Model D with PM5 Rower
(1) Rogue Echo Gym Timer
This is going to give you just about everything you need and then some. I think this is a good, quick option, but some of the stuff I don’t think is needed. So I would simply order my own.
For a beginning facility I would order from Rogue:
For more information, please visit Zechen Fitness.
(1) I-24 Infinity Rig – Now you can get pull-ups and squat racks with the same unit
(2) LB ROGUE Hi-TempBumper set for a total of LBS of Bumpers – You choose the weights you want up to LBS
(15) Ohio Bar – Black Zinc Shaft, Bright Zinc Sleeves – 28.5MM Bar with Dual Knurl – Guaranteed for Life!
(5) ROGUE Bella Bar – 25.0MM Women’s Bar with Dual Knurl
(25) Sets of Rogue HG Collars
(5) Set of ROGUE Wood Rings
(15) Rogue Medicine Ball – Can choose the weight up to 20lbs
(1) Rogue Echo Gym Timer
(2-5) Concept 2 Model D with PM5 Rower
(15) Games Multi Side Boxes with 20/24/30 Inch Sides
(15) Rogue SR-3 Speed Rope
This is going to cost you right around $19,000 with shipping. For the amount of equipment you’re getting, in my opinion this is a pretty good deal considering the warranty and customer service Rogue has.
I’d say this is the bare minimum equipment you would need to start and you could build from here without much replacement.
Fringe Sport
I like Fringe Sport. I think they are the best price point manufacturer. Is there equipment as good as Rogue’s? No, and they don’t claim it to be. But they make good equipment at a good price, and for some, that’s the perfect combination.
Fringe Sport has a package that tailors smaller gyms but can be increased depending on your size. Once again for specific questions, just give them a call.
Fringe Sport’s Silver level package consists of the following:
BARS
15x Bomba Men’s Bar (28.5mm)
2x Bomba Women’s BarV2
5x OneFitWonder Training Bar(28mm)
BUMPER PLATES
15x 45lb OFW Bumpers(Pairs)
7x 35lb OFW Bumpers(Pairs)
15x 25lb OFW Bumpers(Pairs)
7x 15lb OFW Bumpers(Pairs)
15x 10lb OFW Bumpers(Pairs)
METAL PLATES
8x Troy Barbell Premium Plate Set(2.5/5lb Pairs)
COLLARS
22x Spring Clips(Pairs)
SQUAT STANDS
8x OFW Commercial Squat Rack
BENCHES
5x PowerMax Flat Utility Bench
KETTLEBELLS
2x 8kg OneFitWonder
2x 10kg OneFitWonder
2x 12kg OneFitWonder
4x 16kg OneFitWonder
2x 20kg OneFitWonder
4x 24kg OneFitWonder
2x 32kg OneFitWonder
RINGS
8x Wood Rings(Adjustable)
SLAM BALLS/MEDICINE BALLS
4x 10lb OFW Medicine Ball
5x 14lb OFW Medicine Ball
6x 20lb OFW Medicine Ball
PLYO BOXES
5x Bomba 3-Sided(20/24/30″)
3x Bomba 3-Sided(16/20/24″)
2x Bomba Traditional 12″
SPEED ROPES
15x Cable Speed Rope
TIMER
1x OFW Medium 6-digit Timer
ABMATS
15x Abmat
ROWERS
5x Concept 2 Model D w/PM3 Monitor
If you want to add a rig, you will have to do so here:
Fringe Bomba Rig
In my opinion, there’s a lot of stuff in this list that I don’t think you need. Compare it to my Rogue modified list to remove what you don’t need and add what you do need.
In my estimates it would be about $5,000 less than Rogue Fitness for a similar package.
Again Faster
Again Faster was at one time a big competitor to Rogue. Since then, they’ve fallen off a little but they still produce some good equipment.
Again Faster does not have any pre-built packages.
They do make good equipment for affiliates and have a price point between Fringe Sport and Rogue Fitness.
Some top CrossFit Affiliates utilize Again Faster for their equipment so they must be good enough to survive the abuse of a lot of traffic. Once such gym is Reebok CrossFit One.
Their rigs especially intrigue me because of their pullup bars. They use a Zinc coating and you can see my review of their Home Pullup Bar that utilizes the same coating here.
Get Rx’d
I haven’t used a ton of Get Rx’d Equipment, but have used their barbells. They’re okay, not my personal favorite, but would work well in an affiliate setting. I may have just been spoiled by my Eleiko.
Their 15 at a time affiliate package consists of:
Stations:
– 44′ CrossRig SINGLE Bar (36 Pull-up Stations a& 10 Racks)
– (8) 1pc Squat Racks
– (10) Power Flat Benches
– (6) Linear Bearing GHDs
– (3) Olympic Bar Rack: 9 Bar Holder
Weightlifting
– # Premium Bumper Set:
(20) 10#, 25#, 45# and (8) 15# and 35#
– (15) Men’s + (5) Women’s WOD Bar 5.0 Hard Chrome
– (5) Training Bars
– 50 Spring Collars
– (5) 53#, (1) 44#, (4) 35#, (2) 26# Premium Kettlebells
Conditioning
– (6) 20#, (6) 14#, and (3) 10# Premium Wall Balls
– (2) 30#, (4) 25#, and (4) 15# Slam Balls
– (15) 3-n-1 20x24x30 Wood Plyo Box
– (15) Ez Speed Ropes
– (10) Xebex Fitness Rowers
– (5) EZ Gym Sleds – (5) Power Sleds
Gymnastics:
–(15) 1.25 Wood Rings
– (5) 23′ Manila Climbing Rope
– (15) Back Support Pads
– (1) No Limits Timer
This once again has a lot of things that I don’t think are needed. Compare it to my revised Rogue list to compare the price.
For a comparable list of equipment to Rogue, Get Rx’d will be about $5,000 less and hits a similar price point as Fringe Sport.
Most of their equipment is made in China and source back to the US, but that doesn’t mean bad equipment, just cheaply made.
You can find the Get Rx’d 15 Delta Package Here.
Maverick Athletic Company
Maverick Athletic Company is very similar to Get Rx’d. In fact, I would bet they use the same manufacturer for their equipment and just slap their logo on it.
Maverick’s Elite 15 Affiliate Package includes:
1 44’ Free Standing Rig with 10 Rack Stations
8 Maverick SR-1 Squat Rack
6 Maverick Glute Ham Developer
10 Powermax Flat Bench
6 Maverick Push Pull Wheelbarrow Sled
15 Powermax Oly Bar 28mm 20kg Chrome LIFETIME WARRANTY
5 Powermax Oly Bar 25mm 15kg Chrome LIFETIME WARRANTY
5 15lb Aluminum Training Bar
20 Muscle Clamps
12 Warrior 45lb Bumper Pair
5 Warrior 35lb Bumper Pair
12 Warrior 25lb Bumper Pair
5 Warrior 15lb Bumper Pair
12 Warrior 10lb Bumper Pair
5 5lb Steel Pair
5 2.5lb Steel Pair
8 Concept 2 Model D PM3 Black Rower
10 Abmat
4 Rage Medicine Ball 20lb
4 Rage Medicine Ball 14lb
2 Rage Medicine Ball 10lb
2 #2 Red 40lbs Resistance
2 #3 Purple 60lbs Resistance
2 #4 Green 95lbs Resistance
2 #5 Blue 120lbs Resistance
10 Ultra Speed Jump Rope Assorted Colors
10 Wood Gymnastics Ring w/strap
5 20’ 1.5 Dia Manila Climbing Rope
10 Maverick 3N1 Cube Plyo 20-24-30
5 Maverick 2N1 Cube Plyo 16-20
1 No Limits Timer
3 Cast Iron KB 15lb
3 Cast Iron KB 25lb
6 Cast Iron KB 35lb
6 Cast Iron KB 55lb
4 Cast Iron KB 70lb
5 1lb Boxes of Chalk
3 Vertical Bar Storage Holds 10 Bars
8 Rolling Plate Storage
There’s lots of filler items here, per usual. Their pricing is very similar to Get RX’d, surprise, surprise.
The package listed above can be found here.
Hammerhead Strength Equipment
Hammerhead is once again like Get Rx’d and Maverick in that I believe their equipment is on a similar level, and so is their pricing.
Their Gold Level Package that is designed for 10-13 athletes includes:
I have never used any of Hammerhead’s Equipment. But, if their price is better than Get Rx’d and Maverick, they’re certainly a good option.
The package listed above can be found here.
Rep Fitness
I think Rep Fitness has some good equipment. Specifically I’ve seen some good things said about their barbells.
Their 15 person Affiliate Package for CrossFit includes:
lbs of Rep Black Bumper Plates – choose the weights you want
(10) Rep Gladiator Bars – 20kg
(5) Rep Sabre Bars – 20kg
(2) Rep Sabre Bars – 15kg – 25mm women’s bar
(5) Rep 15 lb Technique Bar
(20) Sets of Spring Collars
(1) 224 kg Rep Kettlebell Set – choose your own sizes up to 224 kg
(15) Rep Wall Balls – choose the weight up to 20lbs
(8) Sets of Rep Wood Rings
(10) Rep 3-in-1 Plyo Boxes – 30″x24″x20″
(5) Rep Squat Stand
(5) Rep or Rage Flat Bench
(10) Rep Slingshot Jump Rope
(10) Rep Ab Support Mat
(8) Concept 2 Model D Rowing Machine
(1) Rep Timer – 6-digit programmable interval timer with 4″ LED numbers
This set is ~ $20,000 and has a lot of your essentials. Out of all the pre-built packages, this one seems the most thought out.
You can find the Rep Fitness 15 Person Affiliate Package for CrossFit here.
The companies listed above are really the ones I would focus on. There are certainly many others, but these are the top of the bunch.
Extra Equipment for a CrossFit Affiliate
Now I’ve listed the essentials, but I’d like to discuss some of the extra equipment that can give you a competitive advantage against other gyms in your area and really make you look like a premier facility.
You will eventually buck up and buy some GHD’s. They aren’t essential, but they sure are nice to have and there isn’t one much better than the Rogue Abram GHD 2.0.
This GHD is stout, and will last the life of your facility. Many members will after getting into CrossFit for a while and binge watching YouTube videos will wonder why their gym doesn’t have them.
At that point you will need to purchase them, but I don’t think you will from the beginning.
Many of the CrossFit Girls workouts utilize kettlebells. The price for them can add up quick, but I enjoy using them and I know many others do as well. Buy a few of the most used weights and add as you go.
I like theRogue Kettlebell because it’s a basic kettlebell that is priced well and has a great warranty.
Your members will eventually get very into weightlifting and you may want to set up a barbell club. I suggest making your own (check out my DIY Weightlifting Platform here) but if you’d like to buy one, Rogue has a pretty one here.
If you have a strength focused gym, or plan on doing dumbbell snatches a good set of dumbbells can be very attractive to potential clients.
I would first check craigslist to see what you can get used.
Otherwise, Rogue has a good option here, although a bit pricey.
These can be a very fun training tool. I made my own that you can see here, but I would suggest purchasing your own so they will last longer.
Rogue’s can be found here.
These are awesome conditioning pieces of equipment. If you have regional level competitors, I think you should invest in at least one of these to keep them around.
You can order them here.
Parallettes are great for L-sits and deficit hand stands. I don’t think you need a lot of them and you can always make your own out of PVC pipe. But, protect yourself and just buy them.
You can order Parallettes from Rogue here.
Nobody likes monkey butt. Buy some Ab mats for your members. They’re cheap and are great for sit ups or using as a knee rest.
You can find the Abmat Pro from Rogue here.
Have some masochists at your gym? Get them some sleds. These will take a beating and keep on going.
You can find the Rogue S-25 Fat Boy Sled here.
So there you have it. The complete guide to CrossFit Facility Outfitting. I will update this as new equipment comes out. But for the most part, the basics will stay the same. My advice is always, “if you’re going to buy something, buy it once.” Good luck growing your facility and feel free to comment with any questions or inquiries.
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