After years covering the fitness industry, here's what gear makes a real difference — and what's just expensive packaging.
The fitness gear market is enormous and most of it is overpriced nonsense. Here's what's actually worth buying — based on years of testing and covering the industry.
Worth Every Penny
Quality Training Shoes
The single most important piece of kit most people underspend on. For weight training, you want a flat, stiff sole — not cushioned running shoes. A running shoe's cushion creates instability under load. Converse Chuck Taylors still work perfectly for this. Or invest in dedicated lifting shoes like the Adidas Powerlift or Nike Romaleos if squatting is a priority.
Resistance Bands (Full Set)
One of the highest value-per-pound purchases in fitness. A full set — light, medium, heavy — lets you add meaningful resistance to warm-ups, rehab work, and accessory exercises. Useful in the gym, at home, and when travelling. No serious training kit is complete without them.
A Recovery Tool (Massage Gun or Foam Roller)
If you're training 4+ days per week, soft tissue work is not optional. A quality foam roller (firm, not squishy) or a massage gun for targeted work makes a real difference to DOMS and next-session readiness. 5–10 minutes of rolling after training is the minimum effective dose.
Good Training Apparel
Not because it makes you lift better — because comfort and fit remove one more reason to skip a session. Whether that's Gymshark, Lululemon, or any other brand that moves with you — wear something you feel good in.
Skip These
- Expensive weight belts for beginners. Learn to brace without one first.
- Pre-workout with 40 ingredients. Caffeine, beta-alanine, and creatine cover 95% of the benefit.
- Any gadget that promises passive results. No belt, vibration plate, or EMS suit replaces training hard.
Gear & Supplements
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