If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
The Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar truly is the best of the best as far as CrossFit barbells are concerned. This versatile Olympic barbell can be used for all sorts of metcons, ranging from Jackie to DT to the 2016 Ranch Deadlift Ladder at the CrossFit Games.
Actually, if you’ve ever dropped into a box and thought, “Dang, this bar is nice!” odds are it was this exact barbell. Many affiliate owners fill their racks with this barbell because of its longevity. Its strong bushing innards and high tensile strength make it durable enough to withstand the force of being dropped from overhead over and over and over again.
Manufactured with the precision you know to expect from Rogue, this 20-kilogram barbell features moderate knurl markings that give you good grip for barbell cycling, but don’t threaten to tear up your hands. Said differently, it can be used just as well during high-rep, low-weight and high-weight, low-rep workouts.
The main downside of this barbell is its price, which varies depending on what finish you get. A black zinc or e-coat finish will cost you a little over $300, while the stainless steel option will run you more than $460.
Rogue Fitness OSO Barbell Collars
Why CrossFit athletes will love these: You won’t have to worry about your weights shimmying while you cycle, but you also won’t waste energy wrestling with these aluminum collars in the middle of a snatch ladder.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
The Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar truly is the best of the best as far as CrossFit barbells are concerned. This versatile Olympic barbell can be used for all sorts of metcons, ranging from Jackie to DT to the 2016 Ranch Deadlift Ladder at the CrossFit Games.
Actually, if you’ve ever dropped into a box and thought, “Dang, this bar is nice!” odds are it was this exact barbell. Many affiliate owners fill their racks with this barbell because of its longevity. Its strong bushing innards and high tensile strength make it durable enough to withstand the force of being dropped from overhead over and over and over again.
Manufactured with the precision you know to expect from Rogue, this 20-kilogram barbell features moderate knurl markings that give you good grip for barbell cycling, but don’t threaten to tear up your hands. Said differently, it can be used just as well during high-rep, low-weight and high-weight, low-rep workouts.
The main downside of this barbell is its price, which varies depending on what finish you get. A black zinc or e-coat finish will cost you a little over $300, while the stainless steel option will run you more than $460.
Rogue Fitness OSO Barbell Collars
Why CrossFit athletes will love these: You won’t have to worry about your weights shimmying while you cycle, but you also won’t waste energy wrestling with these aluminum collars in the middle of a snatch ladder.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
Whether it’s your spare bedroom or garage that you’re outfitting with home gym equipment, the Titan Fitness T-2 Series Power Rack should be on your radar. Just 72 inches tall, it fits nicely into any fitness space—even those with short ceilings—which can’t be said for other popular power and squat racks, most of which run 82 to 92 inches in height.
Its base is also only 42 inches by 46 inches, which means it’s not so big and bulky that you won’t have room for other CrossFit equipment, too. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating this rack’s small frame. Made of high-quality 12-gauge steel, this rack can withstand more than 2,000 pounds of weight.
The Titan T-2 rack comes equipped with a pull-up bar, reinforced J-hooks, and weight storage. Another perk is that this rack can be outfitted with additional accessories, such as strap safeties, a rack-mounted lat tower, and more.
The main downside of this power rack (and all power racks) is that it should be bolted into the ground in order to support kipping movements. Unfortunately, that means it won’t work for all CrossFit exercises in certain indoor spaces (bolting machines to the ground gets wanky in carpeted spaces).
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: As far as barbells are concerned, the iconic Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar is the crème de la creme for multi-purpose use.
The Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar truly is the best of the best as far as CrossFit barbells are concerned. This versatile Olympic barbell can be used for all sorts of metcons, ranging from Jackie to DT to the 2016 Ranch Deadlift Ladder at the CrossFit Games.
Actually, if you’ve ever dropped into a box and thought, “Dang, this bar is nice!” odds are it was this exact barbell. Many affiliate owners fill their racks with this barbell because of its longevity. Its strong bushing innards and high tensile strength make it durable enough to withstand the force of being dropped from overhead over and over and over again.
Manufactured with the precision you know to expect from Rogue, this 20-kilogram barbell features moderate knurl markings that give you good grip for barbell cycling, but don’t threaten to tear up your hands. Said differently, it can be used just as well during high-rep, low-weight and high-weight, low-rep workouts.
The main downside of this barbell is its price, which varies depending on what finish you get. A black zinc or e-coat finish will cost you a little over $300, while the stainless steel option will run you more than $460.
Rogue Fitness OSO Barbell Collars
Why CrossFit athletes will love these: You won’t have to worry about your weights shimmying while you cycle, but you also won’t waste energy wrestling with these aluminum collars in the middle of a snatch ladder.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
There is no shortage of CrossFit-style WODs you can do without any equipment. To mention a few miserable metcons: 400 meters of walking lunges, a 5K run, and death by burpees.
But purchase a piece of CrossFit equipment or two (or 10! We won’t judge) and your options truly become endless. Plus, you’ll need access to some bumper plates, barbells, and other gear to enjoy the full range of CrossFit workouts.
To save you from the monotony of bodyweight workouts day after day, we put together this expert guide on the best CrossFit equipment.
We’re a team of CrossFit equipment savants. We’re the enthusiasts who fight tooth-and-nail (er, muscle-and-callous) to get our hands on Rogue’s latest barbell drop; the ones who ordered a FlipSled immediately after learning it’d make an appearance at Wodapalooza; and the FITAID chuggers who will endure a commute to the nearest box with the latest rower or ski erg.
Excuse us as we toot our own horn and put it clearly: We know CrossFit equipment better than anyone else in the game. (Pats self on back.)
Whether it’s your spare bedroom or garage that you’re outfitting with home gym equipment, the Titan Fitness T-2 Series Power Rack should be on your radar. Just 72 inches tall, it fits nicely into any fitness space—even those with short ceilings—which can’t be said for other popular power and squat racks, most of which run 82 to 92 inches in height.
Its base is also only 42 inches by 46 inches, which means it’s not so big and bulky that you won’t have room for other CrossFit equipment, too. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating this rack’s small frame. Made of high-quality 12-gauge steel, this rack can withstand more than 2,000 pounds of weight.
The Titan T-2 rack comes equipped with a pull-up bar, reinforced J-hooks, and weight storage. Another perk is that this rack can be outfitted with additional accessories, such as strap safeties, a rack-mounted lat tower, and more.
The main downside of this power rack (and all power racks) is that it should be bolted into the ground in order to support kipping movements. Unfortunately, that means it won’t work for all CrossFit exercises in certain indoor spaces (bolting machines to the ground gets wanky in carpeted spaces).
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: As far as barbells are concerned, the iconic Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar is the crème de la creme for multi-purpose use.
The Rogue Fitness Ohio Bar truly is the best of the best as far as CrossFit barbells are concerned. This versatile Olympic barbell can be used for all sorts of metcons, ranging from Jackie to DT to the 2016 Ranch Deadlift Ladder at the CrossFit Games.
Actually, if you’ve ever dropped into a box and thought, “Dang, this bar is nice!” odds are it was this exact barbell. Many affiliate owners fill their racks with this barbell because of its longevity. Its strong bushing innards and high tensile strength make it durable enough to withstand the force of being dropped from overhead over and over and over again.
Manufactured with the precision you know to expect from Rogue, this 20-kilogram barbell features moderate knurl markings that give you good grip for barbell cycling, but don’t threaten to tear up your hands. Said differently, it can be used just as well during high-rep, low-weight and high-weight, low-rep workouts.
The main downside of this barbell is its price, which varies depending on what finish you get. A black zinc or e-coat finish will cost you a little over $300, while the stainless steel option will run you more than $460.
Rogue Fitness OSO Barbell Collars
Why CrossFit athletes will love these: You won’t have to worry about your weights shimmying while you cycle, but you also won’t waste energy wrestling with these aluminum collars in the middle of a snatch ladder.
Almost every CrossFitter has their own jump rope, Olympic weightlifting shoes, and grips. But there’s one essential piece of equipment for barbell movements that few athletes do, but all athletes should, invest in: Barbell collars, also known clips.
Clips are designed to keep your weights in place on the barbell sleeves while you lift. Without any clips? Well, you risk your weights going rogue (pun intended).
Despite the common belief that all clips are created equal, there are clips that enhance performance and clips that detract from performance. Slippery clips that move around too much will disrupt high-rep cycling workouts like Isabel or Grace, while stubborn, sticky clips will disrupt workouts with increasing weights like 22.3 or 16.2.
The Rogue OSO Barbell Collars have a rubberized interior that keeps them from shifting while you cycle. But the latch has an easy lock/unlock mechanism that makes switching weights almost too easy.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Its wooden frame keeps things sturdy, while the foam that surrounds all its edges keeps your knees and shins safe in the event of a box mishap.
Maybe you don’t want to add another scar to the constellation on your shins. Maybe you’ve got a sexy shin tattoo you want to protect. Maybe the rigidity of a wood plyometric box is tough on your knees. Whatever the reason, if you’re on the market for a soft plyo box, this is the one you should get.
The Rep Fitness 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box features a strong wooden inner core that makes the box as stable as the simple wooden plyo boxes that populate affiliates. However, a soft foam cover makes the box soft on your joints and shins, should you miss a box jump.
The material that surrounds the box is a thick, grippy vinyl that reduces the risk of your feet slipping during movements like box jump overs. The textured cover also keeps the box from sliding all over the ground. (But don’t worry, the texture won’t rip up your turf or carpet.)
The main downside of the box is that it has a 400-pound weight capacity. If you’re a bigger-bodied person or someone who is looking for a box to do weighted step-ups, you may need a different option.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Titan Fitness Wall-Mount Pull-Up bar can be mounted to your wall or ceiling, and its dimensions allow even the tallest athletes to safely kip and butterfly.
No home CrossFit gym is complete without a pull-up bar. After all, chest-to-bar, pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, toes-to-bar, L-hangs, and knees-to-elbow make an appearance in the majority of WODs. Luckily, if you’re on the market for one you don’t need to look further.
Far sturdier than a doorway pull-up bar, this steel wall-mounted bar should be screwed into a concrete wall or wood wall studs. Once in place, you can do everything from strict pull-ups to bar muscle-ups with ease. With a 500-pound weight capacity, you can also attach gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and ropes to the bar. Cheers to versatility!
The downside of this bar? For optimal safety, it should be mounted into a concrete wall or wood studs in your ceiling or wall. That means it probably isn’t a good option if you’re renting your space or want something more portable. That said, it only requires six screws, so any wall damage can be fixed with a little putty.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: With a 1% weight tolerance and 90 Shore A durometer rating, these are the best value bumpers on the market.
No doubt, it’s possible to get a good workout with an empty barbell. Case in point: Jackie. But given that lifting heavy is a big part of CrossFit, if you want to progress in the sport, you’re going to need to invest in some weight plates—specifically bumper plates, so you can drop your barbell without worry.
The Fringe Sport Black Bumper Plate Set is a great start for beginners and for anyone of any fitness level looking to keep costs lower (but still prioritize quality strength training equipment) as they build out their CrossFit garage gym.
For less than $300, you can get a set of 10s, 15s, and 25s. The plates are constructed from durable rubber with a high durometer rating, which means they have low bounce, too. Even the 10 pound plates can handle being dropped from overhead. Seriously, they won’t bend! (And Fringe Sport is one of the only brands that warranties their 10-pounders against being dropped and used outdoors.)
Keep in mind that this specific set tallies to just 100 pounds. So if you want to lift more than 145 pounds on a 45-pound bar or more than 135 pounds on a 35-pound bar, you’ll need to buy a bigger set or purchase them in pairs.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Tried-and-true, these dumbbells feature grippy chrome handles that make them easy to hold onto as hands get sweaty, and rubber-coated heads protect your floor if you drop from overhead.
If you’ve ever dropped into a box and done devil’s press, dumbbell box step-overs, or any other dumbbell movements, this is probably the type of dumbbell you used.
Manufactured by Rogue Fitness, the most famous manufacturer of CrossFit equipment, these rubber hex dumbbells feature chrome-plated handles and rubber-encased heads. That means that the dumbbells are easy to hold, but if you happen to drop them from overhead, you won’t wreck your floor.
Really, buying these dumbbells is a no-brainer. The only thing you will have to noodle on, however, is which weight to get. If you RX most workouts and can only get one pair, get a pair of 35s or 50s. If you frequently scale, dial it back 10 to 20 pounds and opt for something lighter, but know that as you get stronger, you will have to purchase more.
The only real downside of this purchase? If you have a set of dumbbells you’ll have no excuse not to do 17.1…
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 fits comfortably in your palm while also offering smooth rotations and knurled handles.
Between Rx Smart Gear, RPM Training, and the variety of options on Amazon, you might be wondering which CrossFit jump rope to invest in. If you’re looking for your first-ever personal rope for CrossFit training, the Rogue Fitness SR-2 Speed Rope 3.0 is a solid pick.
The 6.75-inch handles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum that is light enough to keep your traps and shoulders from fatiguing, but heavy enough that you’ll be able to feel the beat of every rotation. The handles also feature mild knurling so even the sweatiest of WODs won’t get the best of you.
The 2.3-millimeter thick, PVC-coated cable attaches to a high-precision, ball-bearing swivel design that whips effortlessly. You’ll have to do the leg-work of cutting this rope down to the size that’s best for you, but that’s nothing a pair of wire cutters can’t handle.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the most popular weight vest amongst CrossFitters thanks to its adjustable, customizable, and breathable design.
If you’re surprised that the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier wins gold for best weight vest, you’ve never done Murph at an affiliate. (No shade! It’s just facts.) Hands down, this is the most popular weight vest on the market. For good reason, too: It’s adjustable, durable, and somewhat sweat-resistant thanks to the tightly knit 500D nylon construction.
The vest can be secured tightly to your frame with the help of velcro closures. The TacTec Plate Carrier is also as comfortable as you’ll get in a weight vest, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and elastic side panels.
The big downside of this vest is its price—the plate carrier alone will put you out $200, and you’ll have to purchase the weight plates separately.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: This rower is the gold standard in CrossFit, and it’s the only one that can be used to post official competition scores.
The Concept2 RowErg (also known as the Concept2 Model D rower) is the one that populates the local affiliates, the Flagler Stage during Wodapalooza, and the Alliant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games. Yep, this was the rower athletes used during the notorious marathon row back in 2018, and it’s been the same since the very first workout of the very first Games.
No matter how many athletes a box circulates throughout its doors, this rower can keep up. If you’re building out a home gym, you can rest assured a Concept2 RowErg will carry you through the many seasons of your fitness training.
Another perk of this rower is that its display is easy to read. With some intuitive clicking, you can see calories, meters, watts, pacing, and more, as well as choose from a handful of built-in workouts or connect it to your favorite streaming platform.
The real reason the Concept2 RowErg is the best rower for CrossFit, however, has much more to do with the fact that it’s the only acceptable cardio machine for logging rowing workout scores during the Open.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Made from heavy-duty steel, this beast of an air bike will get you aerobically conditioned unlike anything else.
If you want to try out that gnarly Syndicate Crown Semifinal triplet of Echo Bike calories, dumbbell movements, and tank push, you’re going to need an Echo Bike. Hell, for a number of CrossFit workouts, you need an Echo Bike these days. (If you want to log official scores, that is.)
This air bike excels at getting your aerobically conditioned. It will have you near your max heart rate every. single. time. The Echo Bike features wind resistance and is powered entirely through the rider’s stamina and strength. The harder you go, the more resistance you create. Put another way: This bike is not for the faint of heart.
Notable is how adjustable the bike’s seat is, as well as how easy-to-read and program the digital display is. It also has wheels up front so you can easily maneuver it around the gym.
Why CrossFit athletes will love this: Wall balls are a staple in CrossFit, and this two-in-one package sells you two, conveniently in the RX men’s and women’s weights.
If you want to do Karen, you’re going to need a medicine ball. But 150 wall balls for time isn’t the only thing you can do with this weighted device: Medicine balls are also great for med-ball cleans, partner AbMat sit-ups, and wall throws. They also make good targets for squat and single-legged squat practice.
Regardless of how (or how often) you use these balls, you can trust that they’ll keep their shape. The inner bladder distributes the weight to prevent egging, and the durable PVC outer shell with double stitching stays healthy slam after slam.
The main downside of this product is its price. Sure, $167 is a great price for two medicine balls. But given that a single ball can be bought for around $90, if you don’t actually need two, you may be better off with a single. However, this package is a great deal for men who only sometimes RX the wall ball weight, women who sometimes go above and beyond, or anyone who does other exercises with a medicine ball.
For all of our gearheads who just can’t get enough, here are some other items you might want to stock in your gym for home workouts.
The weight bench made the equipment list for Quarterfinals in 2022, so it’s a safe prediction that we’ll continue to see bench press in future online and in-person comps. Do your future Open scores a solid by investing in (and using!) a weight bench.
A flat bench is adequate for practicing the standard bench press. Actually, a flat bench can also be used for step-ups, pistol prep, triceps dips, and decline push-ups.
But an adjustable option is useful for movements like incline chest press, shoulder press, and seated bicep curl accessory. So ultimately, whether you opt for an adjustable bench or not will depend on how much you prioritize accessory work.
Sandbag ground-to-shoulder made an appearance in Wodapalooza in 2022, but that’s not all sandbags can be used for. Actually, this unwieldy fitness tool can be used for all sorts of odd object work, including: bear hugs, sandbag marches, sandbag over the shoulder, sandbag carry, sandbag thrusters, and more.
All in all, they’re a great purchase for anyone looking to improve overall strength and get better at grunt work.
If your gym is on the first floor, you’re going to want to invest in a slam ball or two. Available in a wide variety of weights—usually between 10 and 50 pounds—slam balls can be used to build explosiveness and increase overall power output.
Slam balls can also be used instead of a barbell for many movements. Sandbag thrusters, squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses are all great scaling options for athletes intimidated by barbells.
If you’re ever planning to do Annie (the “Girl” workout featuring ab mat sit-ups and double unders), this is a non-negotiable. Designed to simultaneously protect your rear and enable full range of motion, these simple mats do work! And of course, ab mats also come in handy if you’re doing handstand push-ups on a hard surface.
As far as product variation goes, ab mats differ very little across brands. Though, there are a few options that offer additional crack (yep, like butt crack) protection for those easily assaulted by monkey butt.
If you’re a scaled athlete, kettlebells are a must. That’s because kettlebell swings are common scaling options for many movements. Kettlebells are also great tools for teaching athletes how to front squat, deadlift, or sumo deadlift high pull.
And of course, this tool can be used for a variety of movements such as American swings, Russian swings, front-rack lunges, overhead walking lunges, farmer carries, cleans, and snatches.
In general, it’s best to have a variety of weights on tap. But keep in mind that 35 pounds and 55 pounds are typically the RX weights you’ll see.
Knee sleeves are basically a hug for your knee. There are a few different styles, but basically they are designed to compress, warm, and support the knee and knee joint. If heavy or high-volume squatting tends to agitate your knees, you might consider investing in a pair.
Knee sleeves are sold based on how thick they are. A 5-millimeter neoprene sleeve is perfect for most CrossFit athletes because they offer good compression, but aren’t so thick that they interfere with high-rep workouts. If you’re looking for something to wear exclusively when you max out, you might prefer a 7-millimeter option.
As much as CrossFit enthusiasts love outfitting themselves and gear bags with accessories that support their training, few own lifting straps. A staple in the sport of weightlifting, lifting straps are designed to simultaneously wrap around an athlete’s hand and the bar. The idea? That the strap will help you pull weights your grip isn’t yet strong enough to handle.
TBH, the average CrossFit participant doesn’t need them. But, if your grip is seriously limiting you during pulling lifts, there’s no harm in checking them out.
There are practically more types of wrist wraps on the market than there are people who CrossFit. In other words, there are many! While wrist wraps vary in material, thickness, and style, they all work to offer extra wrist joint support during heavy front-rack and overhead lifts. Most all do double-duty by absorbing trickling arm and hand sweat, so that you don’t slip while you handstand walk or lose your grip on the rig.
Our crew of athletes, coaches, and CrossFit enthusiasts sports calloused hands thanks to our use of a ridiculous amount of CrossFit equipment over the years.
Personally, I’ve probably gotten to try out more barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights than you’d find in a Rogue or Titan warehouse. As a fitness journalist who specializes in writing about CrossFit and spends my free time doing CrossFit, I’ve gotten to use most of the equipment included in this guide.
But I’m not the only product tester who signed off on the gear and gadgets included in this guide. Every aforementioned piece of equipment was awarded gold in its category by at least two other fitness equipment dorks.
No doubt, there is a ton of equipment included in this round-up. Luckily, you don’t need all of it to have a functioning at-home box that will help you reach your goals.
Keep the below factors in mind while loading up your shopping cart.
Unfortunately, unless you recently won the lottery—or are winning first-place checks left and right like Tia-Claire Toomey or Haley Adams—your bank account is probably going to limit exactly how much equipment you can invest in.
Our recommendation: Sit down and think through exactly how much you can afford to spend. Ideally, before perusing the interwebs. (It’s easy to be swayed into dropping more coin than you want to!).
What are your fitness goals exactly? Do you want to be able to pull as much as Brooke Wells? Do muscle-ups as well as Alec Smith? Absolutely murder cardio machine workouts the way Haley Adams does?
Spend some time thinking about your specific fitness goals. If you’re building a gym out for just yourself, these goals will influence your first purchases. For instance, if gymnastics is your focus you’ll want to prioritize getting a pull-up bar and rings. But, if strength is where you want to improve, a barbell, plates, and squat rack should be your first three picks.
When figuring out what weights to buy, ask yourself: If I had to sign up for a local competition right now, what division would I choose?
If you’d sign up as an RX athlete, you’re going to want to have access to classic RX weights such as a 35-pound dumbbell, 36-pound kettlebell, and at least 95 pounds of weight plates if you’re a woman. That would be a 50-pound dumbbell, 55-pound kettlebell, and 135 pounds of weight plates if you’re a man.
(Though you’d be wise to get even more plates than that, given that movements like the deadlift and clean are typically loaded heavier than that.)
If you’ve got a two-car garage you can fill with equipment, you can go wild, ordering all the odds and ends you could ever want. But, if you’re short on space you’re going to have to prioritize the basics: barbell, rack, plates, a jump rope, and pull-up bar.
Before you start ordering things willy-nilly, take the time to carefully measure your gym space. No, eying the space isn’t enough.
What equipment do you need for CrossFit?
The beauty of CrossFit is that it can be done without any equipment at all, if needed. Yep, functional fitness really is that accessible. That said, if you want to continue getting better at the sport—which incorporates gymnastics, monostructural movement, lifting, and bodybuilding—you’ll need to invest in some gear.
For the purposes of ease, we’ve divided the different gear into different categories based on how essential it is to the sport.
How do I set up a CrossFit gym at home?
Good news: It actually doesn’t take much. Start with the must-haves and organize them in the way that makes the most sense to you. Then, as you start moving and grooving in your space, you’ll figure out which additional pieces of equipment you’d like and where you can accommodate it.
How much space do I need for a CrossFit gym?
Not much! For a frame of reference: most boxes were taping out 6-foot-by-6-foot boxes on the floor during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage social distancing. And that was more than enough space for individuals to do CrossFit workouts!
That said, you probably want a smidge more space if possible. After all, a barbell is 6 to 7 feet long. So, you’ll probably want at least 7 to 8 feet in one direction and 4 to 5 feet in another. Your guest room, one-car garage, or driveway all have potential to be crafted into a great CrossFit box.
[ad_1] “Damn you Netflix, how did I just watch 10 episodes of Stranger Things, I have stuff to do!” We’ve all been there. There are the things we know we SHOULD do, the things we NEED to do, and the things that we WANT to do. More often than not, the WANT wins out over the NEED […]
[ad_1] Gum is helping North Korea run the table in the women’s lightweight divisions. Last updated on April 1st, 2024 North Korean weightlifters may not be eligible for the 2024 Olympic Games, but that isn’t stopping the People’s Republic from rewriting the record books. On Apr. 1, 2024, during the Women’s 49-kilogram event at the […]
[ad_1] We receive free products and receive commissions through our links. See disclosures page. Your gym bag is probably packed with some of the best supplements for building muscle, including protein powder, creatine, and pre-workout. Crucial for boosting energy and strength during a gym session and reducing muscle soreness afterward, you wouldn’t dare train without […]
