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BY DANIELLE ZICKL, Men'sHealth
Although we don't like to admit it, sometimes our workout routine can get a little boring — we get stuck in a rut, just doing the same exercises over and over again. Not only is that not exciting, but it can also prevent us from making gains.
[post_ads]“Too much stress, repetitive patterns and no rest, and you can overtrain and limit progress,” David Jack, Men’s Health fitness advisor and owner of Activlab in Phoenix, told us in 2017.
Translation? It's good to switch things up every now and then. And what better way to do that than to start utilizing equipment that will take your training to the next level?
From weighted vests to gymnastics rings, here are seven things that will upgrade your workouts, help you build some serious muscle, and be on your way to becoming the fittest guy you know.
HYPERWEAR HYPER VEST PRO ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTED VEST
Looking to make exercises like squats, pushups, and lunges into more of a challenge? Wearing a vest loaded with steel weights will definitely do the trick. This one from Hyperwear isn't bulky, so you'll be able to move freely during whatever you're doing, and it's even moisture-wicking and odor-resistant. So put one on the next time you hit the gym to help make some serious gains.
Starts at $190, Buy It Here
Build muscle with this lunge to pushup combination:
ROGUE FITNESS SPEED ROPE
[post_ads]Jumping rope is one of the best total-body exercises out there, and adding it into your workouts on a regular basis will improve your cardiovascular system as well as build muscle in your shoulders, arms, and legs. A speed rope is great if you want to boost your endurance, speed, and agility, and this one's length is adjustable depending on how tall you are.
Once you've got the basics down, try variations like alternating your feet or double unders. Though jump ropes are a simple piece of equipment, there's no limiting what you can do with them.
$20, Buy It Here
XDFIT KEVLAR MEDICINE BALL
Soft medicine balls are great for things like wall balls and various ab exercises like regular situps, V-ups, and overhead slams. This one from XDFit is available in weights up to 50 pounds, and is made from Kevlar — a material that withstands impact and is easy to grip. You won't regret adding it into your workouts, that's for sure.
Starts at $95, Buy It Here
Related: Torch Your Core and Upper Body Using Just a Medicine Ball
TRX SUSPENSION TRAINER KIT
One of the best ways to kick your muscles into overdrive? Force them to work with an unstable base, which is exactly what using a TRX does. Moves like chest presses, burpees, planks, and more instantly become harder thanks to this suspension trainer you can set up pretty much anywhere. This kit even comes with a guide of more than 300 exercises, so you'll never get bored with your workouts ever again.
$100, Buy It Here
IRON BULL STRENGTH GYMNASTICS RINGS
While you may not be performing the exact moves as elite gymnasts do in competition, there are still plenty of ways to use rings to your benefit, like doing pullups, dips, rows, and muscle ups, all while engaging your core at the same time.
You can bring these guys with you anywhere to hang up, so they're a great option for when you're traveling for work or on vacation with the family.
$40, Buy It Here
BODYBLADE
If LeBron James uses it, then it must be good. Basically, it's a thick piece of plastic that, when you move it, contracts your muscles up to 270 times per minute. It's really good for targeting small muscles — the ones that can be more vulnerable to injury if you don't train them frequently, according to Men's Health fitness editor Ebenezer Samuel. So using the Bodyblade to warm up with before you do any bigger lifts is never a bad idea.
$79, Buy It Here
XDFIT CLAYMORE LANDMINE
Landmine exercises — where one end of a barbell is anchored on the ground at an angle and you use the other end to do all sorts of exercises like squats, mountain climbers, and presses — are some of the most underrated workout activities, and this contraption lets you do them anywhere.
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All you have to do is place it against a wall and jam a barbell into it, and you're ready to go. It really doesn't get any easier than that. (And if you're in need of ideas, check out these four landmine exercises that will shred your entire body.)
$50, Buy It Here
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