The 6 Essential Strongman Training Equipment For Your Gym Bag
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The 6 Essential Strongman Training Equipment For Your Gym Bag

You can tell a lot by the size of a man’s gym bag. 

Take me for instance. I was a mere mortal with a bag that could only hold my belt, shoes, sleeves, and wraps.

Recently, however, I’ve evolved into a larger creature in need of a larger bag with wheels!

Now I prowl through the gym with my gigantic hold-everything-I-need bag, and people know I’m the real deal. I’ll even bring my butler in when I can’t be bothered to load my own weights.

I kid, I kid!

The size of my bag indicates that I’ve spent so much on equipment that I needed to spend more on a bag to hold it all. This ensures that I never forget any of it at home, which probably indicates that I need therapy. 

All kidding aside, there are essential pieces of strongman training equipment that you may not need as a beginner, but they’ll keep your joints healthy and help you lift more weight as you gain more experience.

Here is a complete list of strongman training equipment you need in order of priority.

Best Strongman Equipment for Your Gym Bag

1. Flat Shoes

The first and most important thing you can invest your money in is what connects you to the ground: shoes! 

If you are new to lifting, consider this: If you are doing a maximal deadlift, would you rather lift barefoot or while standing on a stability ball?

The stability ball will help you go viral online for gym fails, but going barefoot will allow you to exploit your strength potential.

The average shoe minimizes fatigue when walking by absorbing shock. While great for long days on your feet, this actually makes them unstable under heavy loads – like the stability ball! This is the LITERAL opposite of what you want when you are lifting.

Studies have shown when instability is found in a lift, like under your feet, your body downregulates force production by as much as 20%.

That’s wild! 

So, what kind of shoe can get you out of lifting mediocrity? You guessed it, it depends!

Everyone has different-shaped feet and ankle anatomy. On average, a minimalist or barefoot shoe is best for most lifts.

My recommended flat shoe is the TYR Drop Zero Barefoot Trainer. 

TYR Drop Zero Barefoot Trainer

These shoes are $150 and come with free shipping! My favorite features are:

  • The straps without laces for easy shoe swapping
  • The flexibility of the shoe gives it more of a barefoot feel
  • The low profile design ensures maximum force transfer on big lifts.
  • The grippy bottom is essential for heavy push/pulls.

TYR Drop Zero Barefoot Trainer get you as close to the ground as barefoot, but with solid grip and a flexible design. TYR is developing a reputation of quality and design that is hard to ignore.

Product Price Pros Cons Bottom Line
TYR Drop Zero Barefoot Trainer $150 (free shipping)
  • Virtually barefoot which is great for most lifts in the gym.
  • Velcro straps rather than laces are optional for easier shoe swapping.
  • Good grip for pulling/pushing event.s
  • No high top version available.
They get you basically as close to the ground as barefoot, but with solid grip and a flexible design. TYR is developing a reputation of quality and design that is hard to ignore.
Nobull Outwork $139 (free shipping)
  • High quality and durability.
  • Not as low to the ground as a barefoot style shoe.
I switched to these a few years ago. They are comfortable, made well, and last longer than other lifting shoes I’ve owned. I’ve owned three pairs, and they are fantastic.
Bearfoot Ursus Canvas $109 ($11.84 shipping)
  • The thinnest sole available for maximum force transfer.
  • Expensive for such little material.
Popular amongst pro strongmen, these basic barefoot shoes perform well with deadlifts and moving events, but for me, they seem too flimsy and simple to pay over $100 for.
Chuck Taylor All-Star $65 ($8 shipping)
  • CHEAP!
  • Stylish as hell!
  • Low quality.
  • Not very comfortable.
I started wearing Chuck Taylors when I started powerlifting “back in the day” and have owned roughly 20 pairs over the years. The quality has dropped since Nike bought them. However, if you’re on a budget and need good gym shoes, Chucks are still a good choice.

2. Weight Lifting Belt

Sticking with the theme of stability, a high-quality lifting belt is almost as important as shoes. Many fitness influencers try to say you don’t need a belt, and even wearing one will weaken your core!

There’s just one problem with that: they’re wrong.

When worn and used properly, a lifting belt’s job is simply to stabilize your torso under load, and, as mentioned before, stability is KING! It’s not just about safety but force production.

“What about making your core weaker?”

A study showing equal muscle activation in the abdomen with or without a belt has debunked this.

Wearing a belt doesn’t mean you can relax your core while the belt does the work for you. It’s the opposite! When bracing correctly, your core stabilizing muscles work harder than a one-legged dude running from a bear–or is it hopping?

Now that we’ve established a good belt is a worthwhile investment, which one is right for you?

Pioneer PAL Lever Belt

The price point gives your quality without breaking the bank at $169-174. 

What makes this belt my top pick from a fantastic company are:

  • The highest-quality leather on the market.
  • Their patent-pending PAL lever design.
  • You to make quick size adjustments within ½ inch without taking a screwdriver to the belt.
  • The ability to upgrade any lever belt with the purchase of the lever mechanism.

They can also customize your belts with literally anything you have in mind. As the owner said, “If you can imagine it, we can make it.”

Product Price Pros Cons Bottom Line
Pioneer PAL Lever $169-174 (shipping: $15 flat rate)
  • Great versatility for the price.
  • No tools needed for adjustments under 1/2 inch.
  • Endlessly customizable (mo $ for this).
  • Must have screwdriver to make adjustments of 1/2 inches or greater.
If you don’t mind adjusting the lever when you’re bulking or cutting and don’t often use a soft underbelly, this can be your forever belt for reasonable price.
Silverback Soft Belt $86 (Free shipping over $50)
  • 1/2 inch adjustments.
  • Solid beginner belt for smaller framed lifters.
  • Very low price.
  • Great for lighter moving events when worn by itself.
  • Added core stability when worn under a hard belt.
  • Only 1″ adjustments.
  • Not supportive enough by itself for big lifts.
For strongman/strongwoman athletes who want next level core stiffness under heavy loads, adding this belt to your gym bag is a no brainer.
SBD Lever Belt $280 (free shipping at time of this blog)
  • Maximum Versatility.
  • Extremely durable.
  • Unmatched convenience.
  • $$$$$$$
The only hard belt you will ever need if you are willing to mourn the loss of $280…or bulk into the hulk.
Pioneer Lever Powerlifting belt $139.95 (shipping: $15 flat rate)
  • Great beginner bel.
  • Upgradable to PAL lever for $75.
  • Endlessly customizable (mo $ for this).
  • Must have screwdriver to make any adjustments.
I would spend an extra $40 and have the more adjustable PAL or grab the Pioneer cut single prong if the budget is tight.
Pioneer Cut Single Prong $114-148 (shipping: $15 flat rate)
  • Great beginner belt.
  • Low price.
  • Takes longer to tighten or loosen than lever belt.
If you haven’t drank the lever belt cool-aid yet and just want to save money, This simple and convenient belt can be your belly’s buddy for life!
Pioneer Leather Deadlift Belt (6.5mm) $70-90
  • The most durable belt style.
  • Provides far less support than 10mm or 13mm belts.
Unless you are a complete beginner who weighs less than 130lbs, this belt won’t provide enough support for continued strength gains.
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3. Olympic Lifting Shoes

Olympic lifting shoes are a vital piece of equipment in my bag at all times.

These shoes are typically found on the feet of Olympic weightlifters (hence their name), and their purpose is threefold:

  1. Weight distribution: Every shoe of this type has an elevated heel from 15-35mm to help you achieve mid-foot balance on your squat with a more vertical torso angle and lean back on overhead press while maintaining your balance. I never overhead press without them during Strongman competitions.
  2. Ankle Mobility: For those who can’t achieve squat depth due to an ankle mobility issue, a squat/Olympic lifting shoe will allow you to reach a deeper squat immediately.
  3. Stability: Are you starting to see a theme here? These shoes are far more rigid than your average shoe, which allows more force transfer during your lift.

My recommended Olympic lifting shoes are the TYR Lifters and The Nordic Lifters.

Olympic lifting shoes TYR Lifters and The Nordic Lifters

These two pairs are in my gym bag now, and I currently recommend them to my clients. There is a bit of a price difference: $200 for the TYR and $99 for the Nordic. Each has some great benefits!

Benefits of the TYR Lifters:

  • Have a 21mm heel.
  • Good for most applications.

Benefits of the Nordic Lifters:

  • Have a higher heel.
  • Offers better ankle mobility for those who need it (or if your ankle is made of a blend of titanium and carbon fiber like mine).
Product Price Pros Cons Bottom Line
TYR (Effective Heel-height: 21mm) $200 (free shipping)
  • Wide toe box.
  • High quality
  • Price.
These shoes burst on the scene recently and have become very popular for their funky designs and colors as well as the wider toe box. For beginner lifters, I would go with a lower price shoe but these are well worth the price for the serious lifter.
Nordic (Heel-height: 35mm) $99 (free shipping)
  • Great value for money
  • Quality sometimes suspect
Great beginner shoe if you want a more aggressive heel height. I’ve been using mine for several years now and they have held up very well.
Velaasa Strake (Effective Heel-height: 22mm) $249 ($20 shipping)
  • High quality.
  • Price.
These are easily the top of the pack in terms of quality and popularity among high level olympic lifters. They strike me as a company built by and for athletes with a focus on quality over anything else.
Do-Win Weightlifting Shoes (Effective Heel-height: 19mm) $95 (free shipping)
  • Great value for money.
  • Quality is sometimes suspect.
Great beginner shoe if you want a moderate heel height. Despite the price, if you take care of them, they should last for years.
NoBull (Effective Heel-height: 18.5mm) $250 (free shipping)
  • High quality.
  • Price.
I’m a huge fan of the OUTWORK high top from this brand and I’ve been really impressed by the quality. I can only assume their lifters are just as high quality, though I do not own these. Though style is a personal thing, I think these are the best looking of the bunch.

4. Elbow/Knee Sleeves

Another vital piece of kit in my gym bag is my elbow and knee sleeves.

I don’t rush my newer clients to buy sleeves in the early days, especially if they need a belt and good shoes first, but if it’s in the budget, go ahead and do your joints a favor and grab some sleeves. 

The job of elbow/knee sleeves is to relieve pressure on the joint at the highest degree of flexion, such as the bottom of the squat, overhead press, or bench press.

Silverback Fortis XMOTION or XMAX sleeves

The Silverback Fortis ranges from $58 to 93 and has some great benefit

Benefits of the XMOTION: 

  • Available in 5mm for the elbows and 7mm for the knees. 
  • Great for a beginner or smaller lifters

Benefits of the XMAX:

  • Available in 7mm for the elbows and 9mm for the knees. 
  • Perfect for larger or more experienced lifters. 
Product Price Pros Cons Bottom Line
Silverback Fortis 5-7mm Elbow/7-9mm Knee $58-93 (free shipping over $50)
  • High quality and durability.
  • I may be a tad biased, but truly couldn’t think of any cons.
Silverback is newer to the scene but their elbow and knee sleeves are every bit as high quality and durable as the tried and true brands with free shipping to boot!
Rehband Rx 5mm/7mm Elbow and Knee $25-45
  • Lowest price for 5mm elbow/ 7mm knee sleeves.
  • 7mm elbow sleeves are $60 PER SLEEVE!
  • No 9mm knee sleeve option.
Rehband has long been trusted in the strength world and has very affordable options for newer lifters.
Cerberus Power/Extreme 5-7mm Elbow/7-9mm Knee $55-80
  • High quality and durability.
  • Easy returns.
  • Shipping cost hurts for small orders.
Cerberus sleeves are very high quality last a long time. You will pay more for shipping but these are a great option for all levels.
Evolution Xtreme Power (adjustable) $77
  • Adjustable straps for added support.
  • Quality control issues. Mine lasted 3 months, and no refund or return allowed.
Having owned a pair of these, they were fantastic for the first two months. I loved the adjustable supports. However, after two months they started falling apart.
Inzer Sleeves XT (adjustable) $65
  • Adjustable straps for added support.
  • Shipping cost hurts for small orders.
These sleeves are made by sewing knee wraps together and use velcro straps to adjust stiffness. When strapped down, they provide incredible support for massive lifts.

5. Wrist Wraps

In my opinion, wrist wraps are equal in priority to sleeves; they are not mandatory at the beginning of someone’s lifting journey.

I usually recommend my clients buy wrist wraps when they also get their sleeves. 

I’ve used many different brands over the years. I’ve found that for the most part–unless we’re talking about those wimpy, ace bandage-like wraps you buy at your local sporting goods store–most wraps will do the job for your average lifter.

Experienced lifters typically buy longer and thicker wraps for more support, but I wouldn’t worry about getting fancy unless you’re lifting more than 300 lbs on a press.

Silverback Fortis Wrist Wraps

For a high-quality wrist wrap at $43, these are my top picks because:

  • They are high-quality.
  • They have rubber woven into the inside face to avoid slipping.
  • Perfect for all lifters as an everyday wrap
Product Price Pros Cons Bottom Line
Silverback Fortis $43 (Free shipping)
  • Fantastic all-around performance for most situations and most lifters.
  • Rubber is woven into the inside of the wrap to prevent slipping.
  • With about the level of support as the Cerberus Ultra and Inzer Iron Z wraps, you may want a stiffer wrap for really big lifts
Fantastic option for all levels, but for really big lifts, I would have a stiffer wrap on stand-by.
Cerberus Performance $19.99 ($12 shipping)
  • Great for beginners of a smaller frame.
  • Not supportive enough for larger framed lifters of past the beginner stage
Unless you are a total newbie who is also less than 130lbs, I would opt for a stiffer wrap.
Cerberus Ultra $22.99 ($12 shipping)
  • Great for beginners or intermediate lifters.
  • Supportive yet still pretty stretchy.
  • Potentially won’t provide the necessary support the more experienced, larger lifter needs for big lifts
If you are a newer lifter or bodybuilder who doesn’t need tons of support, these are great for every day training.
Cerberus Elite $32.99 ($12 shipping)
  • Provides an almost cast-like stiffness for big lifts.
  • A bit too aggressive to use all the time, and certainly too aggressive for newer lifters
If you are a serious powerlifter or strongman athlete, these wraps are great to have in your bag for a big pressing day, but I would have something less aggressive for your lighter workouts.
Cerberus EXTREME $39.99 ($12 shipping)
  • Perhaps the stiffest wraps on the market, you will never want for more support than these can give.
  • NOT for beginners.
If you don’t rep out 350lbs overhead for breakfast, these wraps are definitely not for you.
Inzer $17-$40 ($12 shipping)
  • Great all-around wrap for lifters of most levels.
  • May not be supportive enough for massive lifts
These were my first wrist wraps when I got into powerlifting 20 years ago and they are still the favorite wrap of many powerlifters today. You can’t go wrong with Inzer wraps.

6. Lifting Straps

This is the lowest priority when buying strongman equipment.

I believe that newer lifters should spend a good amount of time training without lifting straps to build up grip strength and the fundamental skill of alternate grip deadlift (where your dominant hand is over and your non-dominant hand is under).

However, once you’ve developed these and want to get the most out of their deadlift, lifting straps can be a game-changer!

This one is pretty simple. Your options are either a traditional strap or a figure 8 strap.

Traditional straps require you to wrap the strap around the bar 1-3 times.

The figure 8 strap takes less time and locks you in more securely.

A note of warning here: Unlike traditional straps, the figure 8s don’t let you let go of the bar during the lift. If you lose balance, you’re going down with the bar.

Silverback Fortis Lifting Straps

At only $35 and with free shipping, these are my top picks because:

  • They are high-quality.
  • Available in traditional and figure 8.
Product Price Pros Cons Bottom Line
Silverback Fortis Figure 8 $35 (free shipping)
  • Figure 8 straps provide a quick and secure grip for squeezing everything out of your deadlift potential.
  • Not all strongman comps allow them.
  • If you lose your balance, you are locked and at risk of serious injury (Very uncommon but worth mentioning).
  • Sizing is essential to get the most out of these.
For the seasoned deadlifter trying to exploit every way to improve their lift, these are great! I don’t recommend it to newer lifters until they have more experience.
Silverback Fortis Lifting Straps $23 (free shipping)
  • All strongman comps allow them.
  • Easy to drop the bar on a failed deadlift.
  • Takes longer to set-up than figure 8 straps.
All serious strongman competitors should know how to use classic lifting straps, just in case they are all that is allowed at your competition.
Cerberus Elite Figure 8 $35.99 ($12 shipping)
  • Figure 8 straps provide a quick and secure grip for squeezing everything out of your deadlift potential.
  • Not all strongman comps allow them.
  • If you lose your balance, you are locked and at risk of serious injury (Very uncommon but worth mentioning).
  • $12 shipping hurts on such a low cost item.
  • Sizing is essential to get the most out of these.
Similar to the other Figure 8s, I only recommend these for experienced lifters.
Cerberus Elite Lifting Straps $19.99 ($12 shipping)
  • All strongman comps allow them
  • Easy to drop the bar on a failed deadlift
  • Takes longer to set-up than figure 8 straps
  • $12 shipping hurts on such a low cost item
Important to know how to use, since all strongman competitions allow them.

Conclusion

Remember, investing in quality strongman training equipment is an investment in your performance and safety. Focus on getting good shoes and a quality belt.

As you progress and your lifts get heavier, you can add the gear that will help you take your lifts to the next level.

And hey, who knows, maybe one day you’ll be wheeling around a giant bag full of gear, too. Don’t forget to bring your butler to load the weights!

Strongman Training Equipment FAQs

What Equipment Do I Need for Strongman?

For beginners, focus on buying the essentials for your gym bag first. The purchase priority is:

  1. Flat Shoes
  2. Weight Lifting Belt
  3. Olympic Lifting Shoes
  4. Elbow/Knee Sleeves
  5. Wrist Wraps
  6. Lifting Straps

Start with good shoes and a quality belt, then add the more specialized gear to your gym bag.

Where to Buy Strongman Equipment?

For strongman training, your best bet is to buy directly from manufacturers, typically through their online stores, like Silverback. You can also buy used gear from local Strongman gyms.

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