While all you really need is your body and a good attitude to get a great workout, here is a list of a few items that are nice to have on hand at CrossFit. Come prepared with a well-stocked gym bag and you will be ready for whatever we throw at you.
Water
Hydration is essential! Make sure you drink enough prior to working out, and bring a bottle so you don’t have to keep running to the water fountain if you get thirsty.
Athletic Tape
Our hands take a beating at CrossFit. Whether it be to wrap your thumbs for hook grip, to create makeshift grips for pull-ups or to cover up scrapes on your shins, you will use tape at CrossFit! Always keep a roll in your bag, and if you forget, we keep some spare.
CrossFit Shoes
If you want to be able to move well, you are going to need a pair of CrossFit appropriate shoes. What this means is something relatively flat and minimalist but stable, which is light, flexible and durable. Some good options include Reebok Nanos, Inov-8s and Nike Metcons. Trying to squat in running shoes is no fun; you are going to shift around and struggle to keep your heels down because they don’t offer a flat, stable base that lets you ‘feel the ground’.
Hand Care
Callus shavers, pumice stones, moisturiser, grips, and nail scissors. Keep it all together in case of a hand emergency.
Fuel
Keep an extra protein shake with you for those days where you finish a workout and are shaking so much you don’t feel like you can safely drive home. Getting fuel in you within 30 minutes of your workout is essential for results.
Long Socks
Always have a pair of long socks for rope climbs. An extra pair of tights or long pants is nice to have too. That way, there’s no excuse for not getting up the rope!
Jump Rope
We have jump ropes for everyone to use, but they aren’t ideal. If you take your double unders seriously, buy your own rope. Keep it with the member’s ropes and that way you know you always have a rope of the correct length. Most of us use the Rogue Speed Ropes or RX Custom.
Olympic Lifting Shoes
If you love olympic weightlifting and really want to get good at it, buy some lifting shoes. They provide stability and a raised heel, that while no substitute for mobility, can assist in achieving a deeper squat and upright torso. Reebok, Inov-8 and Adidas are popular brands.
Wrist Wraps
I have never personally used wrist wraps and strongly believe they should be used sparingly, rather than as a band-aid fix for weak, stiff wrists. That said, CrossFit is taxing on the wrists, and wrist wraps can provide extra support and stability when pressing overhead. Use them when you’re going heavy if you want to, but if you experience regular wrist pain, lower your weights and do targeted wrist strengthening exercises.
Weight Belt
A weight belt is not a substitute for midline stability, and should not be used everyday. You must be able to maintain a neutral spine without one, but when going for a heavy lift, they can be useful.
Knee Sleeves
They don’t provide support or make you stronger, but they do make your knees warm and snug. They feel great and they help out creaky, stiff knees like mine. The most popular brand is Rehband.