It’s that time of year again, folks. Christmas and the holiday season are just around the corner. Now, you could go out and buy that special someone in your life a flat-screen TV, computer, M-4, Coach handbag, or you could get them something to inspire and aid in their endeavor to become healthier with this thing we call CrossFit.
Now, this is a list of things I not only think are cool, but also things that are very useful to have in your gym bag (whether it be Lululemon, Coach, or a Trader Joe’s brown sack)…and if you don’t have a gym bag, maybe add that to the list as well.
- Weightlifting Shoes: In my opinion, this might be the piece of gear where you get the most bang for your buck. Now, I’m not saying if you get a pair for Christmas you will immediately be snatching 200kg, but believe me you will notice a big difference with your lifts. Another great thing about these is, as long as you take decent care of them they should last you several years. There are a lot of options out there, so you should decide if you want something purely for lifting or a hybrid that you can use for WODs with Oly lifts in them. If you are going the “just lifting” route, I have heard great things about the Adipower and Adistar by Adidas (these are on my list), Romeleos by Nike, or the Do-Wins by Pendlay. If you are looking for a hybrid shoe I would recommend the Reebok Oly Shoes.
- Jump Rope: It was a tough call not making this the #1 gift idea, because I think having your own rope is extremely important. I continue to see a lot of people struggling to be consistent with their double unders, and I know a big part of that sometimes is not having their own rope. Having a rope that is sized correctly, familiar to you, and your favorite color (okay that’s not really important for double unders, but nice nonetheless) is very important in my mind. I have tried a lot of ropes since starting CrossFit, and the one I finally got consistent with and highly recommend is the Rx Jump Rope. I know a lot of people like the speed ropes by Rogue Fitness, along with the RPM Speed Rope.
- Mobility Gear: We provide these tools for you at the gym, but I would highly recommend at least a foam roller at home as well. I know a lot of you are short on time and make it to the gym at 4:59:59pm and need to leave exactly at 6pm. Unfortunately, this doesn’t leave you anytime for mobility work at the gym, so you really need to be knocking some out at home or wherever you do have free time. You can do a lot with a foam roller, lacrosse ball, and resistance band. And again they will last a long time if taken care of.
Bonus item: Get a pair of long socks and keep them in your gym bag or vehicle! Rope climbs will be a part of what we do ad infinitum, so thank your grandmother for those long socks this year.
First- jump rope color is key, good for like at least 10 more d/u’s! Second, if we’re lucky enough to have everything on the list already, can I still ask for the M4, complete with a Coach range bag?
Joe, most definitely! And if I win the lottery, Santa Booth will get that for you.
Don’t forget the ammo Santa Booth a M4 without ammo is like a toy without batteries…..
Ha ha. Good point, Duran. I’ll be sure to throw in a few 1000 rounds as well.
Good point, 1000 rounds sounds like a Tuesday afternoon!
nice list. thanks Matt