Enhance Your Strength with Top Functional Training Equipment
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Functional training is all about mimicking everyday movements to build strength, mobility, and stability. Here are some essential pieces of gear recommended by reputable fitness sources to help you improve your cardio, strength, mobility, and stability.
Kettlebells
Kettlebells are a popular choice for functional fitness, offering full-body workouts that help build a more well-rounded and athletic physique. The REP Fitness Kettlebell Set, made with a gravity die-cast process, comes in a range of weights, making it an ideal addition to your functional training arsenal.
Medicine Balls
Medicine balls are versatile tools that can be slammed on the gym floor or used for a variety of exercises such as ab training and wall balls. The Hexgrip Medicine Ball from TRX features hundreds of tiny Hex nodes, providing a grippy surface well into the depths of a workout.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are great for mobility work, joint stability, and progressive resistance training for strength improvement. The TRX Training Bandit Kit includes four resistance bands of different resistance levels and universal-fit handles, providing a versatile set for band workouts.
Balance Equipment
Balance equipment like balance balls, tennis balls, and the Revbalance 101 v2 Balance Board Sports Trainer help improve proprioception and core stability. The Revbalance 101 v2 requires staying on a skateboard-sized board on a foam roller-esque cylinder, while the BOSU Sport Balance Trainer is suitable for squats and lunges, providing a manageable balance challenge.
Weighted Vests or Sandbags
Weighted vests or sandbags add resistance and challenge your cardiovascular workload while improving overall strength and stability. The 5.11 TacTec Trainer Weight Vest is a durable weight vest with padding and side pockets, compatible with weight plates from most major brands.
Jump Ropes
Jump ropes are effective for improving cardiovascular conditioning and coordination. The Elite Jumps Muay Thai 3.0 Heavy Jump Rope is a weighted jump rope popular among Muay Thai fighters, building muscular endurance, cardio, and agility.
Suspension Trainers (TRX)
Suspension trainers like TRX integrate bodyweight training to promote strength, mobility, and stability by leveraging core engagement. They are a compact option for pull-ups and dips, folding in for storage and providing a stable and durable platform for smaller spaces, as shown by the Baseblocks B-Bars.
For a more affordable home fitness solution, the ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar is a doorway pull-up bar that offers an affordable way to have access to pull-ups. For taller users, the Baseblocks Big Bar Pro provides a stable and durable platform for pull-ups and dips.
Mace Training
Mace training involves lifting and swinging a weighted mace through various movement patterns to build grip strength, shoulder stability, and rotational strength. The Quad Mace from Onnit features a unique design and extended length handle for extra leverage in a variety of movements.
Bulgarian Bag
The Bulgarian Bag is based on the shape of a lamb and is used for high-intensity workouts that build full-body muscular endurance and rotational strength. The Suples Original Genuine Leather Bulgarian Bag is a high-quality example of a Bulgarian bag and is made of leather and filled with wool and sand to create a balanced weight distribution.
Functional Workouts for Longevity
Functional workouts are beneficial for longevity. The Concept2 Rowing Machine is a staple of CrossFit gyms and provides a full-body, low-impact workout. The Concept2 Ski Erg operates similarly to the rowing machine but is used while standing and mimics the motion of pushing off the ground with ski poles.
For a more natural and focused workout, the AssaultRunner Pro is a treadmill that requires the user to provide the motor power. The Echo Bike V3.0 from Rogue provides a full-body workout and is known for its durability and resistance. The Hydrocore Bag from Onnit is shaped like a Bulgarian bag but uses water instead of sand and wool, allowing for easy travel and an additional stabilizing challenge.
The Goruck Sand Kettlebell is portable, indestructible, and can be thrown in a bag for functional training on the go. The Tacfit Steel Mace is straightforward and constructed from high-quality powder-coated steel. The BOSU Sport Balance Trainer is a balance trainer suitable for squats and lunges, providing a manageable balance challenge.
Functional workouts are not only about building strength and mobility but also about improving coordination, cardio, and agility. With the right gear, you can take your functional training to the next level and achieve your fitness goals.
- The TRX Suspension Trainer, like other functional training equipment, integrates bodyweight exercises to promote style, strength, and stability by leveraging core engagement, making it a great addition for fashion-conscious fitness enthusiasts.
- For health-and-wellness enthusiasts seeking a versatile tool for their fitness-and-exercise routines, the REP Fitness Kettlebell Set offers a full-body workout that helps build a more athletic physique, while the TRX Hexgrip Medicine Ball provides a grippy surface well into the depths of a workout, perfect for fashionable workouts in sports and everyday life.
- The Suples Original Genuine Leather Bulgarian Bag offers a unique style with its lamb-like shape, while providing high-intensity workouts that build full-body muscular endurance and rotational strength, suitable for both fashion-focused fitness enthusiasts and those prioritizing scientifically backed exercise techniques for longevity.
