Equipment

Adjustable incline calf stretcher with non-slip surface.

Whenever I allow my calves and ankles to stay tight, it always leads to pain further up the body. (Lookin' at you, knees and hips.) And for some reason, doing a calf stretch on the flat ground just doesn't hit the spot. But this slant board does. You can change the angle and make it as steep or shallow as you need to get the right stretch. The grippy material keeps your feet in place whether you use it with or without shoes. Sometimes I'll get on it barefooted first thing in the morning and the stretch feels glorious. You can also grab some dumbbells and do some standing calf raises with it when the mood strikes.

– Dani Shugart

All steel construction, fits 2" Olympic barbell, 3 grip positions.

Landmine-style attachments are becoming more and more popular. Why? Because they're challenging, versatile, and add a new angle (literally) to tons of different barbell exercises. This attachment ramps up the versatility even further. Now you can do strongman-style Viking presses, neutral-grip floor and shoulder presses, and much more. If your wrists and elbows are bugging you, just switch grips. This attachment gives you three different options. Bonus: It has wider spaced handles so you don't smack your noggin when doing incline presses and shoulder work. Smart.

– Chris Shugart

1.75 inch diameter, made from a military-grade compound similar to heavy-duty rubber.

I bet you already own a classic pair of blue Fat Gripz. You know that thick-grip lifting activates more muscle fibers, builds your forearms and crushing strength, and adds a challenging progression to basic lifts. But did you ever wish they could be just a little LESS fat? That would be great for certain exercises... or for those of us who don't have paws like Andre the Giant. Enter the One Series. Instead of the standard 2.25" outer diameter, these are 1.75". That just feels better for some movements, and you'll still get all the benefits of thick-grip training.

– Chris Shugart

5mm neoprene bonded to a 4-way-stretch synthetic backing.

I'm done with scabby shins. I know, bruised and bloodied shins prove you're a hardcore deadlifter, right? And chicks dig scars. (Pro tip: Not attractive chicks.) But I'm over it. So I picked up a pair of these neoprene guards. RockGuards give you just enough padding to make deads, box jumps, Olympic lifts, and rope climbs less ouchie. Hey, your workout is supposed to hurt a little, but banging your tibias is distracting. That type of pain doesn't make you stronger, it just gives you a staph infection.

– Chris Shugart

14-inch diameter, hard rubber textured shell

Ever wanted to play around with Atlas stones and do platform lifts, shoulder carries, and bear-hug walks? Well, you're gonna need something besides that 10-pound medball your gym has to offer... or you're going to have to buy a mold and a whole lot of concrete mix. Luckily, Titan Fitness makes some heavy-ass balls. While most medballs are designed for velocity/power work, these bad boys are made for strongman-type workouts and go up to 150 pounds. And forget about those "do not slam" warnings on most cheapo balls. These are built to take it.

– Chris Shugart

Two-pack, 3 ounces each, pocked-sized pouch

The commercial gym I attend frowns on using chalk. I use chalk anyway. (Cue "Breakin' the Law" by Judas Priest.) I'm not an asshole about it though. I totally understand why they wouldn't want a fine mist of magnesium carbonate wafting through the air and dusting up all the surrounding equipment. What I do is sneak in a chalk sock. This is a small permeable sack filled with lifting chalk. Just squeeze it a few times and you'll get the perfect amount of magic strength dust onto your sweaty palms. No waste, no mess, no crop-dusting everything (and everyone) around you. These made by Spider Chalk are refillable and come with premium chalk that's extra tacky and long lasting.

– Chris Shugart

Weight range from 5-90 pounds per hand.

Have you ever purchased dumbbells for your home gym? Even cheap ones average out to about a dollar per pound. A 50-pound dumbbell? That'll be 50 bucks. Oh, and you probably want two, right? Now imagine the cost of buying a complete set. Also, I hope you have a very spacious garage or basement. But PowerBlock solved that problem years ago with their clever adjustable dumbbells. With this particular set, you can go from 5 to 90 pounds in less than two seconds. And space won't be a problem. Your mini fridge full of Natural Light has a larger footprint. The Elite set replaces 28 pairs of dumbbells or 2565 pounds of free weights for a fraction of the price.

– Chris Shugart

Solid rubber, 19 degree gradient, up to 35 MM heel elevation

There's a time and place for elevating your heels during squats, like if you're working around a mobility issue or you just want more quad emphasis. So what do you do? Well, you probably grab two weight plates and stick them under your heels. Problem is, it's uncomfortable and slippery, and that sharp drop-off is unnatural. Enter these awesome little ramps, recommended to us by T Nation contributor Calvin Huynh. These rubber wedges are damn handy. Unlike a lifting shoe, you can adjust how high you want your heels by just moving up or down the ramp. The high-density rubber won't compress even under heavy loads. Bonus: They'll easily fit into your gym bag.

– Chris Shugart

14-inch diameter, durable vinyl soft-shell, moisture resistant

Those discount medicine balls your gym has sitting around are probably too small and yet too heavy for true velocity work. And most of them flatten like a gluten-free pancake every time they hit the ground. See, most medballs are under 10 inches in diameter. That's okay for some movements, but unnaturally narrow for others. All standard Dynamax balls are 14 inches, no matter the weight. That just feels right ergonomically. It probably has something to do with the natural "power position" of your body. Every Dynamax medball is handmade in America. The soft-shell is grippy and ridiculously durable. I've even used mine outdoors on rough terrain without a single tear. These things will absorb thousands of high-velocity impacts and retain their shape and balance.

– Chris Shugart

Set includes two bands: 45 and 65 pounds of total resistance at full stretch. Proprietary Dura-Stretch technology.

Whether you're training at home or adding accommodating resistance to your big lifts at the gym, bands are a must-have accessory. Problem is, most latex bands have limited uses and they uncomfortably dig into your body. Standard bands can even wear out, lose elasticity, break, and snap the ever-lovin' shit out of you.

But not these bands. Designed by T Nation contributor Nick Tumminello, NT Loops are made of a practically bulletproof fabric. They're 3 inches wide so they won't pinch, cut into your body, or move around during training.

At 50 inches, these are the most versatile bands on the market. Throw this two-loop set into your Amazon cart and you'll be throwing them into your gym bag forever. – Chris Shugart 

Double-walled vacuum insulation, won't sweat. 18/8 stainless steel.

You people who carry around a plastic milk jug full of water look silly. And if you reuse that cheap jug, you may even be ingesting obesogens and mucking up your hormones. And you look silly. Did I mention that?

If you really need to be THAT hydrated, at least ditch the plastic jug and grab yourself one of these bad boys. Yeti is known for its premium, almost indestructible line of coolers and now they're getting into the drinkware market.

This big beast will keep your fluids ice cold (or piping hot) for hours. And if you drop a weight plate on it at the gym, it'll probably survive, stand back up, and punch you in the throat for being clumsy. – Chris Shugart

Includes suspension training strap, indoor/outdoor anchors, travel pouch, and a 35-page workout guide.

When Christian Thibaudeau was training a pro bodybuilder at the T Nation gym, we were surprised to see him pull out the TRX. Weren't these things just for grannies and people who train in their spare bedrooms? Nope. Turns out that anyone can benefit from the challenge of suspension training.

You can pretty much train your whole body with the versatile TRX. And unlike most of the other copycat suspension trainers on the market, the TRX is built for abuse and able to handle 350 pounds of resistance. So it's even good for fat powerlifters. Um, I mean STRONG powerlifters. – Chris Shugart