2011 Garage Gym Christmas buying guide.

Year two of my CrossFit Garage Gym Christmas buyers guide is here. Not much has changed over the last year except that I found a bunch of links on Amazon that sell the same stuff I use everyday and at lower prices than when I bought my gear. Plus I added photos as well so you have an idea of what you'll be buying. If you're unsure as to what to buy that elite athlete in your life here is a pretty good start. Oh and if you don't have anyone to buy for I am always open to free gifts from strangers. 

1. Bumper plates –They are made of rubber and are “supposed” to cause no damage to either the weight or floor when dropped onto a proper lifting surface. I recommend buying a decent amount of weight, but not going to crazy. A few hundred lbs and your athlete should be content for quite awhile. I got mine from Rogue, but these are the same brand and cost alot less. $$$$
   
   
2. A nice weightlifting bar– No explanation here. The Rogue fitness has nice bars. I use one and it has been abused daily and still looks brand new. $$
   
   
3. Rings – Without these your elite athlete might be missing out on some great workouts. They are pretty inexpensive and easy to hang. I use the ones from Rogue fitness. They have a nice powder coated surface and have an easy to use strap system for hanging them just about anywhere.  $$
   
   
4. Paralletts – The WOD’s for CrossFit use these a few different ways. Another must have for your CrossFitter. Rogue sells these as well. They are well constructed.  $$
   
   
5. Medicine Ball – For wall balls. I use a 20 lb Dynamax, which is pretty much the standard weight for most WOD’s. $$
   
   
6. Speed rope (Jump rope) – This is not your grandma’s jump rope. It is designed for speed and a must have for any garage gym.  $
   
   
7. Kettlebell – Get them a 35lb kettlebell and make them happy. If they have been doing this for a while they also have 53 lb and a 70 lb, which are also designated as 1, 1.5, and 2 pood.  $$
   
   
   
8. Climbing rope – A 20’ rope is great. Make sure to buy an outdoor rope if your athlete intends on mounting it outdoors.  $$
   
   
   
9. Rower – They need one of these, if they don’t have one they’ll be missing out on many a WOD. I use mine at least three times a week! The cardio is fantastic, it is gonna set you back some cash, but it is well worth it.  $$$$$
   
   
   
10. Abmat – I got mine from Rogue but the one pictured is essentially the same with a different logo. It’s simple yet effective. $
    
    
    
11. Collars – Just a safety thing, they keep the weight from falling off the bar. You can use almost any brand. Rogue sells some nice quick release ones that I really like.  $$
    
    
    
12. Flat bench press – For building a big chest doing bench press. $$
    
    
    
13. Squat rack –Don’t buy a piece of junk from K-Mart or you’ll regret it. It needs to be sturdy! Rogue offers a package with a bench (for doing bench press) and squat rack (Legs) all in one. Amazon also has some great deals. $$$
    
    
    
14. Pull Up Bar – Another must have, they must have one. There are many on the market, you need to find one that can support your athletes weight. $$$
    
    
    
15. GHD – (Glute Hamstring Developer) Another thing they should have. If you’ve ever used one you’ll know how it builds your lower back. Reverse your body and you get crazy ab burning sit-ups. $$$$
    
    
    
16. Dumb bells – They should have pairs from 10 lbs on up to 45 or fifty’s. Plus don’t forget a dumb bell rack either or the weights will be lying all over the floor. These can cost around twenty bucks for a small pair of tens. Dumb bells usually cost around a dollar per pound, but that all depends on design. If you’re buying a full set new, get ready to spend some bucks. I suggest finding some of these on Craigslist if you don’t mind giving a used present. Other wise check Amazon. $ - $$$$$
    
    
    
17. Weight tree – Unless you want the bumper plates you bought lying on the floor get them one of these. $$
    
    
    
18. Plyo Box – A bunch of the WOD’s call for 24” box jumps. They are a must have for many of the CrossFit WOD’s.  $$
    
    
    
    If those ideas don’t fit the bill maybe you could look into getting them some of these accessories.
    
    
19. IPod and speakers – In addition to the IPod you need a speaker set. From experience it is kind of hard to keep earphones on when you’re doing most WOD’s. $$$
    
    
20. Climate Control - Maybe an air conditioner or heater in colder climates. You don’t want them to uncomfortable do you? $$$
    
    
21. Gymnast Hand Chalk – The bars and kettle bells get very slippery when you’re sweating, unless you want to spend some time in the E.R or fixing a wall when the weight slips from their grip get them some, it’s cheap and easy to find on Ebay. $
    
    
    
22. White Board - Chalkboard or something to write down their WOD times. $$
    
    
    
23. Stop watch – Gonna need this, The CrossFit WOD’s are pretty much all timed. Without an accurate timekeeper they can’t track their progress.
    
    
    
24. Rubber floor mats – You like your floors? Protect them from the weights and more importantly keep your athlete from slipping and falling. Depending on your space these could cost a little to a lot. Some people prefer horse stall mats because they are durable and cost a lot less than actual gym mats. $$ - $$$$
    
    
    
25. New running shoes – These are the latest and greatest that numerous CrossFit athletes swear by INOV 8. I don't own a pair YET, but am getting ready to purchase some. I have held them and the seem super light and comfortable. I found some on Amazon for a reasonable price when I was thinking of getting a pair. $$$
    
    
    
26. New Workout Clothes – I have some of the shorts and tops made by Under Armor and they are fantastic. You can’t go wrong with their athletic clothing line. $
    
    
    
27. New camera – If your athlete wants to track their progress, nothing tells the truth like a photo. You can pick up a nice point and shoot pretty cheap these days or go for a more expensive DSLR. I prefer Canon DSLR’s, but there are many nice models out there. $-$$$
    
    
    
28. Foam Roller – These are really nice after a hard workout. They help to relieve muscle soreness that every CrossFit athlete will get one time or another.$
    
    
    
29.  Level 1 Trainer Course – If your CrossFitter is new and wants to get the basics down maybe taking the Level 1 Cert course is just the ticket. $$$$
    
    
    
30. Olympic Lifting Cert – Another class you might consider is an Olympic lifting certification course. This can help greatly for those who are unsure of proper lifting techniques or those that want to fine-tune their lifts. $$$$
    
    
31. Kindle Fire - What about a Kindle Fire? I don't know what apps will be available for WODS but it is still cool. My wife loves her Kindle touch and uses it everyday. This one is in color and has all sorts of bells and whistles. * I do not own one of these yet, do your research before buying!

* Disclosure Per FCC You need to know that certain links from this article are to affiliate products for sale. What that means is that if you click on the link and later purchase a product from the site I could get paid. In all cases I will tell you if I have used a certain product when I provide a link to it for purchase. On this page the only link to a specific product I have not tried is the INOV-8 line of shoes, This is a product I have purchased but intend to. You can read a more in depth disclosure here if need be. So why would I tell you this? Well first it’s the law, second it’s the right thing to do and third I ain’t got nothing to hide. Since this site don’t pay the bills by itself, I figure providing a link to product you might want could benefits both of us.

Hope the list helps a few of you out there who are unsure of what to get that athlete in your life.

See you in the hills.

Lance