Ready to take your home fitness to the next level? Our friends at Fringe Sport offer the best prices we’ve found online, but make it even better than already low prices. How?
Free Shipping
Read it again if you like. Free shipping in home fitness is unheard of.
Take for example a 35 lb kettlebell. At your local big box store, like Dick’s Sporting Goods, it cost $80 + $16 shipping. Again Faster, an online retailer, sells for a solid $47, but then tacks on $19 for shipping (hey, it’s heavy). Rogue Fitness, a leader in home gym equipment, sells for $65 + $17 shipping.
Fringe Sport sells for $55, plus free shipping both ways. So if you don’t like the weight, be it light or heavy, put it back in the box, slap the shipping label back on, and you’re good.
To recap, you’re saving at least $11, even more if you want to swap it for a different size.
I’ve bought the vast majority of my equipment from Fringe Sport, and what I didn’t buy from them was simply because I hadn’t found them yet.
If you’re thinking about purchasing equipment, consider these options, listed in order of what I believe is most effective. I personally use everything listed, so don’t hesitate to ask me about something, preferably on the Facebook page. Oh yeah, and I don’t make any money off this, I researched this like crazy and compared 5 different retailers, and Fringe Sport was the best. I want to pass that along to you guys too!
Kettlebells
Far and away the most important, effective, and useful piece of equipment I own. I use a 25 lb KB pretty well now, but women just starting out should probably get a 15 or 20 lb KB. Guys, start out with 30-35 lbs, depending on your strength, 45-50 lbs is a good weight to work up to. Only experienced kettlebell users should go over 50 lbs. If you go heavier than you can handle, you’ll severely limit the versatility of the KB, and will only be able to do a couple of exercises. When you’re ready to upgrade, these normally sell quickly on Craig’s List.
Heavy-Duty Medicine Balls
Big, hulking med balls. Not the little ones with handles you find at big box gym. I’m talking about med balls to throw off the wall, squat with, and toss to training partners. Rage MBs are well stitched and have held up well in the rough pavement, gravel, and trees I use them on.
Ab Mat
The Ab Mat gives vital support to your lower back when doing crunches. It also helps when you’re doing super mans or side crunches. You may think it’s making the crunch easier, and in a way it is, but it helps by taking the pressure of your freaking spine and allowing your abs to do the work. Call me a sissy, but I like my spine to be in tip-top condition. Plus it’s affordable and stores easily.
RX Jump Rope
Ok, the only piece on the list not sold by Fringe. RX jump ropes are that good. My husband and I have bought and tested several ropes over the years, and this one spins like a dream. If you’re at all serious about speed work and even progressing to double-unders, this is the rope. RX ropes are double the cost, but so worth it. You can match the rope length to your height, another great feature, and also buy a replacement rope down the road. Literally, this is the last jump rope you will buy.
Slam Ball
Even though it’s far down the list, a slam ball is the most FUN I have while working out, and is a wonderful stress reliever! Basically, you lift the ball high over your head… and SLAM! it on the ground. Try and catch on the minimal bounce, then repeat! It’s wonderful after a long day, if you’ve done poorly on a test, work was draining, or you’re mad at your spouse…
Jump Box
I usually like to find something outside I can jump on, like a bench, rock, or stairs. But if none of these natural alternatives are available, consider a jump box for your box jumps. Box jumps help build explosive power in your legs and core, combined with the benefit of feeling like you’re 5 years old again and are allowed to jump on stuff!
Gym Rings
Even though they are lowest on the list, gym rings are a ton of fun and even more functional. You can do pull ups, dips, muscle ups, knee ups, and then many other gymnast moves. Two reasons they’re at the bottom though. One, you need to be really dialed in to your fitness and have developed a very solid functional baseline. Two, you need something to hang them from! If you meet both of those criteria, gym rings are a great investment.
There’s a ton of other equipment on the Fringe Sport page, I encourage you to go check them out. Remember, if you have any questions about any of the equipment I talked about, please let me know. Thanks!
Free Workout Plan
I have put together the first month of workouts for you, easy to follow and quick delivered to your Inbox.