If you know me, you know I have a lot of gear for CrossFit. There is a ton of gear crammed into my gym bag. I’ve got knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, ankle sleeves, a weight belt, wrist wraps, sweat bands, and the list goes on. Jokes have been made that if they made “chalk goggles” or a “CrossFit cape,” I’d probably have it. Admittedly I’ve gone overboard.

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After seven years in the sport, I’ve drastically cut back on the gear I wear for several reasons. That said, there are three pieces of gear every CrossFit athlete should get from the start.

Shoes

The first piece of gear I suggest is a good pair of CrossFit shoes. That’s right, shoes. If you think about it, every sport has shoes specific to it. Football and soccer have their cleats, basketball has their shoes, and runners have shoes to make those distances easier on themselves. We do so much on our feet and demand a lot of our shoes in CrossFit. Whether it’s the Olympic lifting, rope climbs, strapping in on the rower, box jumps, or running — the right shoe makes a huge difference.

My first couple of pairs of CrossFit shoes were the Nike Metcons. Great shoes that held up to the rigors of our sport. I kept my 2nd pair of Metcons until a few months ago when I noticed holes were wearing in the sides from rope climbs. After reading reviews of the newer Metcons and watching videos from Squat University, I decided to look around at different brands. I ended up going with the NOBULL Trainer+. I’ve been very happy with the switch — a larger toe box for lifts and no double-under or box jump issues. I did have an issue with the construction of the shoes; however, NOBULL customer support was able to resolve the issue quickly and get me a replacement pair.

Talk to other athletes in your box when looking for a pair of CrossFit shoes. Ask them about their shoes, what do they like about them, what don’t they like about them, and would they purchase the same brand/model again? There are a lot of different brands out there, including Nike Metcon, Reebok Nano, NOBULL, R.A.D., and Innov8. Find a shoe that is comfortable and works for you.

Lifters

A quick thought on lifters. If you plan on getting serious with Olympic lifting or competing in CrossFit competitions, getting yourself a good pair of lifters isn’t a bad idea. For the average CrossFit athlete, I don’t think they are needed. I still don’t own a pair; however, I’ll admit that I have looked at getting a pair — not because I need them, but because I have a gear addiction.

Jump Rope

Whether you’re doing singles or already have double-unders, getting your own rope is a necessity. Having your own rope provides consistency in your training. Our box provides a plethora of ropes to choose from; however, you’ll probably never get the same one twice. Having the right rope and consistency will help to improve your jump rope skills.

Don’t make the same mistake as I did by purchasing a cheap rope from Amazon. No matter how many good reviews they get, they don’t compare to a speed rope specifically for CrossFit. I’ve heard the same from some of the athletes I coach who have made that mistake, “it looked good and had a lot of good reviews, but I still can’t get double-unders.”

I recommend the Rogue SR-2 Speed Rope. Yes, it’s almost $50, but it is the only rope you’ll need. But Dave, it’s not like the ones the Games Athletes use! Yes, they use ropes with smaller handles. They’re elite athletes. Most of us are not. That extra long handle allows us to generate a lot of force with very little movement in the wrist to get that rope around faster. The CrossFit Jump Rope Workshop uses long-handled ropes to help train coaches and encourages coaches to provide long handles to athletes.

A note for taller athletes, you may need to order a longer rope (11’) to accommodate your stature.

Grips

In CrossFit, we do a lot on the rig, including pull-ups, toes-to-bar or knee raises, and bar muscle-ups. Our box has tape on the rigs for those movements. In my travels, dropping in at other boxes, I’ve found that’s a rare thing. Most CrossFit boxes prohibit the use of tape on their rig. It leaves a sticky residue, needs to be replaced every couple of months, and if people tear, there’s blood to be dealt with. Tape on the bars ends up being a pain to maintain.

The original tape used on our rigs was great. I could chalk up, do my pull-ups, and T2B, and didn’t have to worry about tearing my hands up. In the past couple of years, the tape used in our box has changed. It doesn’t stand up as well as the previous tape — pulling apart, tearing easily, and ends up leaving a sticky residue on your hands while you’re using it. For the first time in a long time, I started to tear my hands on it, specifically when doing T2B.

I had tried grips when I first started CrossFit. They didn’t help. My hands still tore under the grips. Again, my mistake was finding some cheap grips on Amazon with good reviews and expecting them to perform. You get what you pay for. This second go round with grips, I asked athletes in our box, what were they using and if they were happy with them. The most common answer was Victory Grips, so I ended up ordering a pair. What a huge difference the Victory Grips were from that first pair I got. I can’t believe I went so long without these grips.

There are other grips out there, including Bear Complex, and for something really different, the Monkey Grips that don’t have a wrist wrap on them. Regardless of the brand or style you get, you won’t be disappointed in the protection you get from a good set of grips.

Runner Up Items

So, now you know I’m a bit of a gear junkie when it comes to CrossFit. I’ve got more knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, and wrist wraps than I know what to do with. But after years of trial and error, I’ve narrowed down the top 3 pieces of gear every CrossFit athlete should get from the start: shoes, a jump rope, and grips.

But wait, there’s more! While those items are my essential MVPs of CrossFit gear, some other runner-up items are worth a shoutout.

Thumb Tape

For some time, I wasn’t willing to hook grip on my lifts. Smaller hands make it difficult to grip the bar, not to mention the pain of yanking on my thumb during a lift. It wasn’t until recently that I started to hook grip after learning proper hand placement to lock in my grip in and understanding that the thumb pain would only be temporary until I got used to the hook grip. Thumb tape significantly reduced the pain of hook gripping and made it easier to hang on. If you plan on trying to hook grip, get yourself some thumb tape.

Knee Sleeves

At some point, I probably would have said Knee Sleeves are necessary for CrossFit athletes, particularly for masters athletes. I’ve changed my tune a bit. I do wear knee sleeves quite a bit but have started to ween myself off them. If we’re doing burpees or wall walks, you’ll likely see them on. I don’t like my knees slamming into the floor repeatedly—the sleeves protect me from that happening. I’ll also use knee sleeves pulled down to help protect my leg from getting burned on a rope climb.

Although I’ve used knee sleeves, over time, I’ve realized that the sleeves can get in the way of common movements like rowing, double-unders, and running. On particularly hot days, the sleeves' restrictions have led to cramping in my calves with DU’s and runs.

Wrist Wraps

Like the knee sleeves, I would have said these were necessary earlier in my CrossFit journey. I still use them, but not as often. They’re great for supporting wrists when you’re trying to hit heavy lifts (1 rep max), but for me, everyday use was a crutch to achieve bigger lifts. Wrist wraps are a great tool but not a necessity.

Your Gear List

Now that I’ve provided my must-have gear list for CrossFit, what’s yours? Do you agree with my list? Am I missing anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts on your must-have CrossFit gear.

Our Range of CrossFit Gym Equipment

Take your fitness to the next level with our range of specialised equipment for CrossFit workouts. Suitable for multiple training styles, this versatile gear is an effective way to build up key CrossFit skills, including strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, and balance.

Here’s what you can expect from our range of CrossFit workout equipment.

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Bumper Plates 

Ideal for barbell exercises found in CrossFit, these weights are sold in pairs ranging from 5kg to 25kg. 

Each plate is compatible with Olympic barbells and manufactured from rubber for increased durability and shock absorption. This helps protect your equipment and floors from damage and is perfect for Olympic weightlifting moves that involve dropping your barbell. 

Rubber weight plates also offer extra security in the case of a failed rep, giving you the confidence to push your limits with heavier... Read More

Our Range of CrossFit Gym Equipment

Take your fitness to the next level with our range of specialised equipment for CrossFit workouts. Suitable for multiple training styles, this versatile gear is an effective way to build up key CrossFit skills, including strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, and balance.

Here’s what you can expect from our range of CrossFit workout equipment.

Bumper Plates 

Ideal for barbell exercises found in CrossFit, these weights are sold in pairs ranging from 5kg to 25kg. 

Each plate is compatible with Olympic barbells and manufactured from rubber for increased durability and shock absorption. This helps protect your equipment and floors from damage and is perfect for Olympic weightlifting moves that involve dropping your barbell. 

Rubber weight plates also offer extra security in the case of a failed rep, giving you the confidence to push your limits with heavier weights. Our robust range is available in plain black or with colour flecks to help organise and identify different weights more easily. 

Barbells

Our durable cerakote barbells are designed for high-intensity, explosive moves. Without central knurling, this type of bar promises maximum comfort during multiple reps. We also offer slightly lighter and more compact designs for beginners and female CrossFit athletes. 

Our pump bars are perfect for endurance-based strength training. With a relatively small and lightweight design, these barbells are perfect for high-rep workouts. They also boast padding for a more comfortable and secure grip.

Lifting Belts & Squat Wedges

Unlike more traditional lifting belts, our CrossFit belts are both flexible and supportive. This makes them the perfect choice for high-rep movements and heavy lifting. 

Boasting textured, non-slip surfaces, our squat wedges offer a great way to enhance your squatting game. Not only do they enhance your range of motion for intense quad engagement, but they also help strengthen and protect your knees.

Gymnastics Rings

Perfect for countless targeted and full-body workouts, our gymnastics rings offer unbeatable versatility. Using just your own body weight as resistance, you can perform variations of common exercises like rowing and push-ups. This is great for improving essential CrossFit skills like flexibility and strength. 

Boost your CrossFit performance and maximise results with our range of specialised CrossFit gear. Shop online for robust equipment that is built strong! 

FAQs

For more information about CrossFit training and equipment, read our answers to some frequently asked questions below. 

What’s the difference between CrossFit and cross-training?

Both CrossFit and cross-training are popular gym workouts. However, there are some major differences between them.

CrossFit is a high-intensity functional fitness and conditioning program that involves set workout plans based on a variety of training styles. On the other hand, cross-training involves different types of exercise to improve overall fitness and performance in a specific sport or activity. 

Who can do CrossFit?

Everyone can! CrossFit programmes are suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Depending on your strength and fitness levels, you can simply modify the set daily workouts to match your abilities. 

Learn more about our range of CrossFit equipment for sale and how it can enhance your workout routine. Contact our friendly team for expert information and advice. 

Factory Weights: Leading Gym Equipment Suppliers in the UK

At Factory Weights, we supply home and commercial gym equipment throughout the UK. Our comprehensive product range guarantees durability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. 

Besides CrossFit, we offer products for a variety of other workout styles. Browse our collections for robust conditioning equipment, Olympic weightlifting gear and more.

Ordering & Delivery

We offer standard UK-wide delivery, with express shipping available from £5. Please note that large orders may take up to 3 working days to arrive. Order your CrossFit training accessories before 3pm on a weekday and enjoy next-day delivery!

Maximise your strength and endurance with specialised CrossFit products. Shop our online range for CrossFit equipment that’s heavy on quality and light on price!

Want more information on Crossfit accessories factory? Feel free to contact us.