THE CROSSFIT NEWBIE’S WISH LIST

So you are new to CrossFit, and your loved ones are wondering what they can give you for Christmas/ Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa/ Birthday/ Enter Gift-Giving Occasion Here. Fear not! Here is a list of items every CrossFitter should have in his or her arsenal. Make gift giving easy. Share this list with your loved ones so you don’t end up on the receiving end of a Thighmaster or Ab Lounge.

Photo by Box Stalker

1. Weight Lifting Belt: I love using a weight lifting belt. Not only does it provide support to my lower back and core, but something about it gives me the confidence to go for a new PR. One of my favorite belts can be found at Box Stalker. It is affordable ($36.99), comes in a ton of colors (black, blue, lime green, pink, red, yellow, and orange), and has a velcro closure for easy access during a workout.

http://www.box-stalker.com/product/box-stalker-weight-lifting-belts/

2. Knee Sleeves: I was slow to try out knee sleeves because I thought they were only for people who squatted mega-weight. Boy, was I wrong! These babies keep my knees nice and warm. I hate to take them off some days. I love them for squatting and for my least favorite movement- wall balls! You can spend a lot on knee sleeves, but Rehband is a popular, affordable brand with CrossFitters ($36.95). I personally use a cheaper pair from Box Stalker ($20.00), and they work great for me.

http://www.roguefitness.com/rehband-7751-knee-support.php

http://www.box-stalker.com/product/knee-sleeve/

Photo by WOD Style

3. Wrist Straps: Someone once told me that she got a 30-pound PR on her jerk after using wrist straps. Well, I can’t say the same thing happened for me (because you know I tried it!), but I do find wrist straps indispensable for overhead movements. There are several alternatives to choose from in a wrist strap. If you prefer cloth straps which are easy to tighten and loosen during workouts and allow you to make a fashion statement, try WOD Style ($25.00). For a more utilitarian look with velcro closure, you can’t go wrong with Rogue Fitness wrist straps. I recommend the 12″ small straps, and for $12.00, they are a bargain.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thismomasews

http://www.roguefitness.com/lifting-straps-wraps/straps-wraps/wrist-wraps.php

4. Jump Rope: If you ever hope to conquer double-unders, investing in your own jump rope is a must. Double-unders take practice! By having your own rope, you can work on them from home. You can also use your rope on the road for a great travel WOD. And let’s face it, the public jump ropes at the gym have usually seen better days! I am a big fan of RX Jump Ropes ($34.95). They are a little pricey, but your rope is custom-fitted for your height, you can design your rope with different color handles and cables, and you can pick out a cable weight based on your experience (I prefer the Elite or Ultra weight).

http://rxjumpropes.com

5. Mobility stuff: You are never too young to start working on your mobility. By using mobility techniques now, your body will thank you later. I love the Trigger Point Therapy line of products, especially the Total Body Kit ($179.99). Yes, it costs A LOT, but it is worth it. It comes with with several mobility tools, but the best part is the book that explains exactly what to do and where to do it. They also make an awesome foam roller ($39.99) which every CrossFitter needs. A more affordable option by another company is the Mobility Kit ($95.00). It includes a foam roller, massage stick, 2 lacrosse balls with sleeve, stretch band, and poster- everything you need to keep that body moving! While we are talking about mobility, every CrossFitter should have Kelly Starrett’s book, Becoming a Supple Leopard ($30.79 on Amazon). This incredible book not only discusses proper movement for just about everything you do in a CrossFit gym but offers a ton of mobility exercises based on the area you need to target. While you are at it, go ahead and order a couple of voodoo floss bands ($24 for 2 7’ bands) as discussed in the book. You will not be sorry that you did!

Photo by Mobility Kits

http://www.tptherapy.com/Shop-Online/All-TPPT-Products/Total-Body-Kit.html

http://www.tptherapy.com/Shop-Online/All-TPPT-Products/The-GRID-Foam-Roller.html http://mobility-kits.myshopify.com/collections/all

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Supple-Leopard-Preventing-Performance/dp/1936608588/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386018989&sr=8-1&keywords=supple+leopard

http://www.roguefitness.com/voodoo-floss-bands.php

6. WOD Book: Whether you use an app on your phone or you go old school, every CrossFitter should be logging his or her workouts. I happen to be a fan of writing my workouts down on paper. There is something satisfying about flipping through my WOD book and seeing my progress over time. I especially love my added comments such as “Died,” or “Destroyed,” or “New PR!” Sport Journals puts out a nice WOD book specifically for CrossFitters ($14.99). It has a place to keep track of your strength PRs and your times on the benchmark CrossFit WODs. If that’s too fancy for you, you can use what I prefer- the old-fashioned composition book ($2.59).

http://sportjournals.com/portfolio-view/wod-double-2/

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/250985/National-Brand-Composition-Book-7-78/

7. Shoes: Reebok has flooded the CrossFit market with its popular Nanos, a minimal shoe perfect for lifting, running, jumping, and all things CrossFit. I have recently discovered the Nano Speeds which provide a little more support and are more comfortable for running. Either way, you are sure to spot a fellow CrossFitter across the room by his or her brightly-colored Nanos ($99.99- $119.98). If you don’t want to join the herd, a nice alternative to the Reebok Nano is the Inov8, an even more minimal shoe than the Nano. It comes in a lot of different colors and models and costs $100 and up- though you can often find some great deals on them online.

http://shop.reebok.com/us/shoes/_/N-sv?searchTerm=Nanos

http://www.zappos.com/inov-8

8. Lifting Shoes: I once read that lifting weights in running shoes is like lifting weights on a mattress. For the CrossFitter who wants to take his lifting to the next level, lifting shoes are a must. Reebok has a popular option with its Lifter at $149.99. Again, it comes in fun colors, and you can even customize a pair on the Reebok website. For a cheaper alternative, Adidas makes a nice line of lifting shoes starting at $89.95 with its Adidas Powerlift.

http://shop.reebok.com/us/shoes-lifter/_/N-svZ1z121q3

http://www.roguefitness.com/shoes/weightlifting-shoes/adidas.php

9. Gym Bag: You got all the stuff, but now you need something to put it in. There are several companies that make some great gym bags perfect for CrossFitters. Datsusara has a great light-gear bag, and I found an awesome deal on it at WOD Superstore for $79.99. The King Kong bag is also a nice option with lots of pockets for storage ($99.95). For greater variety such as backpack-styled bags, Fitmark makes a high-quality line of bags ($138.00).

http://wodsuperstore.com/products/datsusara-light-gear-bag

http://kingkongapparel.com

http://fitmarkbags.com

Or you could go with an ALL IN CrossFit T-shirt… Everyone is wearing them.

10. Clothing: If all else fails, CrossFitters can always use another t-shirt or pair of shorts! There are so many options out there now, but here are some of my favorite sites for apparel:

http://www.lifeasrx.com (Home of the WODKILLA shirt, $26.00)

http://www.roguefitness.com/gear-apparel.php (Great looking tees and hoodies from the official equipment supplier of the CrossFit Games, starting at $25.00)

http://www.rokfit.com (One of my favorite shirts, “Bacon, Coffee, Fitness,” can be found here for $26.00)

http://store.lovefitnation.com (Clothing and accessories for women, including shirts with my favorite slogan, “Better Than Yesterday,” on them, starting at $26.99)

http://www.forged.com/collections/men/shorts (You can’t beat Forged’s board shorts for men, starting at $54.99)