Fitness

8 Strange But Surprisingly Effective Pieces Of Home Fitness Equipment

A medieval weapon repurposed for fitness is way more interesting (and fun) than plain old dumbbells.

by Billy Brown and Jon Gugala
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Dumbbells get boring after a while. It’s time to think outside the box when it comes to stocking your home gym. This gear might look weird, but it’ll get you fit. And you might even have a good time doing it.

5.11 Tactical
PT-R Weight Kit 100

No weights? No problem. This extremely durable nylon bag can hold up to 100 pounds of sand, and each has got handles on every side so you can bang out a heavy full-body workout in your backyard. Plus, the two 50-pound liner bags have handles so they can be used separately.

$165
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Set For Set
15lb Steel Mace

Not only does this steel mace look badass, it’s also a great way to work stabilizer muscles. The uneven weight distribution makes even a lightweight mace a brutally challenging workout.

$54.95
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Gorilla Bow
Gorilla Bow Travel

Combining a weightlifting bar with resistance bands, this bow is shockingly versatile. This setup packs down small enough to bring almost anywhere, plus the varying band resistances mean you can do everything from high rep curls to heavy bench presses.

$250
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5.11 Tactical
TacTec Trainer Weight Vest

Yeah, you’ll be walking around looking like you’re in a music video. But adding a weight vest will turn everything from pushups to runs into a resistance workout. This one from 5.11 can add up to 20 pounds to your routine.

$108
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GORUCK
Sand Kettlebell

Reinforced, double-stitched ballistic nylon and a padded handle hold pure sand for a total body workout. Empty it into your child’s play area when not in use.

$59
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Theragun
Theragun Mini

Cheaper than a massage therapist and completely lacking the awkward conversations, this tool thrums out aches and pains for better recovery.

$159
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Normatec
Normatec Pulse 2.0 Leg Recovery System

A one-time Tour de France curio, air-compression boots like the Normatec 2 are now common, reducing inflammation and aiding blood flow to speed recovery.

$699.99
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Chirp
Chirp Wheel+ 4-Pack

You can toss your old foam roller. These wheels are 5 inches wide to put pressure exactly where it’s needed along the sides of the spine and between the shoulder blades. Four different sizes let you choose how intense you want your recovery to be.

$125
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