I’m all about using the right tool for the job, and believe that you don’t need to go to a gym with rooms full of fancy fitness training equipment to get a fantastic workout.

Below is a short list of my must-have pieces of fitness training equipment.

Gymboss Timer – You will develop a love/hate relationship with your Gymboss. Love it for the results, hate it because you SWEAR those rest intervals aren’t nearly as long as you programmed in. It’s the perfect tool for intervals, Tabatas, and circuit training. (affiliate link)

Kettlebells – DragonDoor introduced kettlebells to the US on a large scale and provides the highest quality kettlebells in the US. Don’t assume that a kettelbell is just a kettlebell — a badly-constructed handle can rip up your hands, tearing flesh and creating blisters that will set you back weeks. (affiliate link)

Stretch Bands

Stretch bands are a great addition to any home gym or travel training kit. They are your best friend for assisted pull-ups and can be used as a substitute for your kettlebell while on the road. There are two different brands that I use and like — I’ll tell you why I like each, and then the decision is up to you.

Iron Woody – Iron Woody has been around for forever, and sell really high-quality stretch bands at great prices. I’ve had mine for probably 10 years with no issues. They are fantastic for assisted pull-ups. The only issue I have with them is that they have square corners on them, which can make them a bit rough on the hands if you are going to use them for pressing.

Joe D Bands – The Joe D Bands are of exceptionally high quality, and are a really nice product. They are more expensive than the Iron Woody bands, but also have the rounded edges on them, making it much easier on the hands to press with them and do other strength-training work.