Knee Sleeves

• What do they do? Knee sleeves are simply compression sleeves; they give your knees a nice “hug” when you wear them. They keep your knees warm and fluids moving a bit easier.  Nice accessory, good for mental blocks. Some people swear by them, but they are expensive (about $40 a sleeve, not a pair).
• Good for: Squats on squats on squats. Pistols (a type of squat)
• Coach says –  “Knee sleeves are designed (in part) to keep knees warm and not necessary to stop them from cave in in under too much weight. Never to be used as a crutch, but only as support for proper technique!” – Coach Megan

• What do they do? Wrist wraps provide support for the wrists. If you have weak or  lack flexibility and mobility, these might be good. HOWEVER, these should not be used as a crutch. If you cannot do the lift without the wraps, you should reconsider the load. Good and cheap investment.
• Good for: Anything overhead (jerks, presses, bench, snatches). Some people thing everything.
• Coach says- “I use wrist wraps only from time to time. If you have wrist pain or have trouble stabilizing the bar overhead, they can be a welcome addition to training. I contend, though, that overuse might not allow an athlete to address underlying write weakness, instability, or range of motion issues.” – Coach Jess Floyd

• What do they do? Help keep core tight under load. Keeps everything in line and tight. Much like other gear, this can help people mentally, but a lot of people rely on their belt. If you cannot do the lift without the belt safely, you probably shouldn’t be doing it. Use as a tool, not a crutch. Also a cheap and good investment. Look to share with a friend.
• Good for: Anything really. Mostly heavy lifts, squats, deadlifts, cleans.
• Coach says- “Belts are a great piece of equipment to have at your disposal, especially for heavy lifts. They help support and stabilize your mid-line; however, i would be careful to make sure that core instability is addressed.” – Coach Jess Floyd
  “Belts are awesome. They are a great accessory, but you shouldn’t rely on them. They are there to assist you, not to do the work for you. Work on lifting without the belt to ensure you have the core!” -Coach KP

• What do they do? I truly believe in wearing a sport specific shoe. I see many new crossfitters trying to workout in running shoes. Running shoes are for running they help push you to your toes. In our sport we try to stay in the heels, we want to be sturdy. You wouldn’t run in soccer shoes (unless you’re running in a soccer game) so don’t try to lift in running shoes etc. Some good brands are Reebok (Nanos), Nike (MetCons), No Bull, InoV8. There are constant improvements. If you are wondering about OLY shoes, these are good if you are interested in weight lifting more, but can also be used as a crutch. These are not made to WOD in. My suggestion is to invest in some CrossFit shoes. More questions? Ask a coach.
• Good for: CROSSFIT
• Coach says- “Running shoes are made to propel someone forwarn, making it harder to “stay in your heels”. Think about wearing shoes for multi modal workouts for better form in those lifts”- Coach Marcie
  “Shoes tend to wear out sooner than you think, be good to your feet and replace worn out shoes before they cause issues! CrossFit (or cross training) shoes are geared up for everything we do: zig, zag, jump, sprint, crawl, climb, and lift heavy stuff!” -Coach Paul

• What do they do? The jump ropes we provide are a good start. We have a few different heights. However a jump rope personalized to your height and comfort level could mean all the difference. If this is an area you struggle with, invest in a personal rope and have a coach help you size it!
• Good for: Double unders, single unders, triple unders, throwing when frustrated, double dutch
• Coach says- “Having your own rope is a must in my opinion. It provides a consistent length and feel to the skill that will allow each person to excel at the movement.” –Coach Star of David

• What do they do? Gloves/grips provide a layer between your hand and the bar, most likely in place of callouses. This is strictly a personal preference. Some people don’t want callouses, the hands natural way of providing a cushion. Some people don’t want to rip (take care of your callouses). Some hate not being able to feel the bar (me). Try them out, but don’t spend a ton of money unless you know you like them.
• Good for: Mostly things on the rig, maybe rings and some like it for the barbell.
• Coach says- “Grips can be used for two purposes- 1) hand protection and 2) better grip. If you’re utilizing grips for grip help, make sure that you’re getting the correct size. You’ll know you have the right size when you close your palm and there is additional fabric folding over the top (which is what will be used to grip the bar better). Fun fact: you can purchase grips online, but you can also make them out of tape!” – Coach Kristin
  “Gloves, you mean b*#&h mittens?”- Coach Kevin