Welcome to Wellness Wednesday where in-house nutrition coach, Coach Diana Leigh, answers YOUR questions about health.
Got a question you want to see answered here? Submit it on the AMA form.
Let’s jump into it!
Q: What gear do you recommend buying for a beginner/intermediate level? I’ve been told I need shoes without cushioning and it would be great to get an introduction of different types of gear to help with the workouts!
A: I actually love this question because CrossFit becomes so expensive just because everyone tells you all these things you need to buy. Some things are necessary… others not so much.
BEGINNER OR CASUAL CROSSFITTER
First 6 months of CrossFitting and/or you attend 3x a week or less.
SHOES
Shoes are going to be the most important thing for you to invest in your training (outside quality coaching). Most beginners come in with running shoes but this can negatively impact lifting form and technique because of how cushiony the sole is, so I recommend a cross training shoe. Cross training shoes provide more support in the heel and the midsole, and as a result will be more firm than your typical running shoe.
Popular brands for CrossFitters on the market include the Reebok Nano, Nike Metcon, NOBULL trainer, and Inov-8. If you’re not looking to spend a lot, hit up a Nordstrom Rack or the likes for better pricing on prior year models (they work just fine!).
Don’t get rid of your running shoes though – trainers are not good for running long distances so it’s helpful to bring your running shoes to class when you see a run >400m programmed or if you like to run on your off days.
CHALK
Unfortunately with COVID we temporarily had to remove communal chalk buckets, so until we can do that again it’s worth investing in your own chalk to help with gripping barbells and rigs. Powder and block chalk is the classic variety but tends to be messier, while liquid chalk works just as well and won’t get everywhere but you do have to wait for it to dry after applying (only 10s or so).
INTERMEDIATE CROSSFITTER
Over 6 months and under 3 years of consistent CrossFitting and/or attending 4-5x a week.
SHOES
If you’re loving the clean, snatch, and jerk and find yourself regularly hitting ATG, it can be worth investing in a pair of lifters. The brands I mentioned above for training shoes will also make decent lifters. They tend to be pricier so I really wouldn’t bother buying them unless you’re doing a lot of OLY work. These shoes are also great for heavy squatting, but don’t whip them out on deadlift day.
JUMP ROPE
Since the gym’s ropes are communal, they get pretty beat up over time and it’s worth investing in your own rope at this point in your CrossFit journey. My personal preference is RPM, but another popular brand is Rx Smart Gear (this is what we have at the gym). When shopping for a rope it’s important to note that speed ropes should be purchased by those proficient in double unders, and heavier ropes are better for beginners learning to do double unders.
KNEE SLEEVES
Knee sleeves are good for two reasons: joint support and joint warmth. If you have no issues with your knees and you’re lifting up to moderately heavy, you don’t need to spend your money here. If you feel your knees just don’t feel their best especially under load, it can be helpful to add these to your gym bag. You should be training light loads without your knee sleeves otherwise you end up using them as a crutch and reserve them for heavier loads instead. Rehband and Bear Komplex make quality sleeves.
WRIST WRAPS/SUPPORTS
For those with weak or sensitive wrists, it can be helpful to have a good set of wrist wraps. To be honest I was torn between putting this in the beginner or intermediate section because I hear a lot of newbies comment about discomfort in their wrists when they start CrossFitting, but I also believe it’s mostly due to doing something new that their body isn’t used to. I personally use Strength Wraps because they’re affordable and do the job just fine without any bells or whistles.
GRIPS
Here’s why I don’t believe you need to invest in grips:
- You should allow your hands to build up their own calluses, and you can go a long way with a pumice stone and some simple callus care.
- If you’re ripping often it can possibly be due to a technique issue and can be solved with greater grip strength and/or technique work.
I’ve been CrossFitting for over 6 years and I don’t use grips, so I’m biased. If you decide to get grips, Bear Komplex is a popular brand for this. For one-time use to protect ripped hands, you can get WOD & DONE tape.
ADVANCED CROSSFITTER
Over 3 years of consistent CrossFitting and/or training 5+ hours per week, possibly even competing.
WEIGHTLIFTING BELT
Weightlifting belts are intended to be used for heavy lifting, specifically over 80% of your 1 rep max, hence why you don’t need it unless you’re pretty advanced in the sport. I wrote up a post recently about how to properly use weightlifting belts that you can read here. I find a tapered belt to be best for CrossFitting, especially one with velcro so you can tighten and loosen mid-WOD.
THUMB GUARDS
If you’re using hook grip (as you should be) when you OLY lift, then you may develop calluses on your thumbs and it can help to have thumb guards. I personally use JerkFit Nubs because they’re reusable (I used to tape my thumbs each lifting session).
IN SUMMARY
Like anything else, it all comes down to your personal needs. These are my recommendations
Before you go shopping, note we have some discount codes you can use with some of the brands listed in today’s post.
Coach Diana Leigh is a Precision Nutrition certified coach who uses habit-based coaching to help her clients get stronger and feel amazing in their bodies without the restriction and overwhelm of dieting. For more helpful tips, follow her on Instagram @coachdianaleigh.
Want to work with Coach Diana Leigh? Fill out her application here.