Most of us are familiar with the usual gym equipment; dumbells, barbells, treadmills etc. but often familiarity breeds contempt. One of the main reasons people stop going to the gym is because they hit a rut, get bored or simply aren’t seeing the benefits. Time to shake it up!
Here are some alternative items of exercise kit that build muscle, burn fat and offer something different to what you’re used to in the gym.
You’ll need a nice strong tree or joist at home but once they’re secured you have your very own gymnasium. Swing on them, perform pull ups, hanging leg raises, the list goes on.
The extra instability provided by the rings means more muscles are used which makes it more challenging and more rewarding.
Ok so you might have seen this one at the gym, but it is so cheap, small and effective its worth a mention. Obviously targets the core but it also fires up the lats and your forearms.
One that can easily be stored and used at home. This one (above) also includes a little mat to kneel on.
- Climbers Peg Board
This is a classic training tool used predominantly by climbers to improve grip and upper body strength. You can fix it anywhere on the wall (preferrably on the outside of your house) or even a tree just above head height.
The aim is to support your weight on the two pegs then one by one withdraw the peg and place in a different hole. This is quite an advanced exercise but it is a great challenge and almost unparalleled when it comes to utilising your grip and bodyweight.
If you’ve never tried this I recommend you give it a go. It is alot harder than it looks requiring ninja-like balance and excellent core strength. The main thing is it’s great fun! Watch your friends walk the tightrope, watch them wobble, watch them fall… then do the same yourself.
- Heavy Duty Kit Bag
A multi-purpose item. Can be used as an actual bag but in this case its heavy duty nature means you can load it with logs, rocks, books, anything that adds some weight. It can be used like a sandbag for shoulder carries, bear hugs, squats and many more.