What on earth is functional workout, and why the heck are we trying to sell you on the best functional training gear? Basically, a functional workout is anything that mimics everyday movements—picking things up, carrying stuff, moving things overhead—so that you can build up your strength, mobility, and stability. It’s just a cool way of doing fewer movements to hit a wider array of muscle groups so that daily tasks end up being way easier, especially if you’re working out for longevity. The good news about a functional workout is that you technically don’t need much equipment: Your own body weight and a decently heavy kettlebell could get you much of the way towards your functional destination.
However, just like any hobby worth its salt, there are plenty of ways to maximize functional gains and specific pieces of equipment to help you do it. Below, we have compiled a comprehensive list of some of the best functional training gear in a variety of categories. Hopefully, it will help you wade through the noise and better understand what you need to achieve your functionally fit dreams—now all you have to do is get after it.
The Best Functional Training Gear, According to GQ
The Best Functional Workout Gear for Cardio
Improving your cardio is a major piece of the functional fitness puzzle, and there are myriad ways to do it. The easiest way is to strap on some running shoes and get outside—either for a run, ruck, or walk. Cycling is great, as is pretty much any sport that will raise your heart rate and keep it raised for an extended period. However, if you are constrained by time, weather, or a desire to incorporate cardio more directly into your workout, then these cardio machines are a great place to look.
The gold standard of indoor rowing machines—and a staple of CrossFit gyms the world over—the Concept2 Rowing Machine is bare bones and ready to torch your quads, hamstrings, arms, and back in one of the best low-impact, full-body workouts around. It has a small screen to provide real-time performance data, can link with various fitness apps via Bluetooth, and has adjustable resistance. If you’re new to rowing, I would recommend doing a bit of research to make sure your form is dialed.
The Concept2 Ski Erg operates in a very similar way to the rowing machine, except you use it while standing. It mimics the motion of pushing off the ground with a pair of ski poles, and provides a great full-body workout that is both strength- and cardio-intensive. I’ve also seen it be used to build surf paddling strength when away from the water.
Full disclosure, you might grow to hate this thing, but it will get you in incredible shape. Assault bikes operate off of a giant resistance fan that you power by pedaling, as well as pushing and pulling the bike’s handles. One minute on, one minute off intervals are a great way to build VO2 max. The Echo Bike from Rogue is a category leader with unrivaled durability and just enough tech to track your workout without getting away from the essence of what an assault bike should be: a (reluctantly) embraced implement of torture.
Assault Fitness
Assaultrunner Pro
Functional fitness is all about removing barriers and getting us closer to our best and most well-rounded physical selves. As a rule, functional workouts lean toward full-body movements and away from seated muscle isolation. The AssaultRunner Pro applies that principle to treadmills, whereby you provide the motor that powers the belt. There is no setting of speed; it will go as fast or slow as you are willing to run, thus providing a much more natural and focused experience.
The Best Kettlebells
Kettlebells are like the poster child of functional fitness gear. They best embody what I see as the functional fitness ethos: accessible, full-body workouts that build a more well-rounded and athletic version of yourself. A single kettlebell at the right weight is more than enough equipment to get in good shape. Here are a couple of options to consider.
REP Fitness
Kettlebell Set
We named this kettlebell from REP as our choice for the best all-around kettlebell. It is made with a gravity die-cast process that delivers an indestructible ball of iron that’s perfectly balanced. They come in a range of weights, and the handles are nice and wide to ensure a clean grip.
This sand kettlebell from GoRuck distinguishes itself as a kettlebell option that is both loadable and portable. GoRuck is known for making some of the highest quality training and travel backpacks around, and the same attention to detail is applied to their sand kettlebell. It is basically indestructible with Velcro and zippered closures for the sand compartment. It can pack down small and be thrown in a bag for functional training on the go.
The Best Maces
Mace training involves lifting and swinging a weighted mace through various movement patterns. It’s a great way to build grip strength, shoulder stability, and rotational strength. Most maces are made from steel and have a round, weighted end with a long handle, and come in a variety of weight options.
This Quad Mace from Onnit features a specially designed “Quad God” sculpture based on the artwork of Alex Grey. It looks like a training implement used by some cult of ancient warriors, and is guaranteed to get you just as ripped. Also, the extended length handle allows for extra leverage in a variety of movements.
Straightforward and constructed from high-quality powder-coated steel, the steel mace from Tacfit comes in a variety of weight options and will last for a lifetime of gains.
The Best Medicine Balls
Ever feel like you want to throw something on the floor as hard as you can? Ceramic dishware makes a mess and is expensive to replace—medicine balls, on the other hand, are essentially indestructible, and slamming them on the gym floor actually constitutes a pretty good workout. And they can be used for a lot more than that, since anything from ab training to the CrossFit favorite “wall balls” is fair game. Here are a couple worth checking out.
These Rep Slam Balls come in a full range of weights (from five to 70 pounds) and are designed to be durable with just the right amount of grip.
If you want to maximize grip, the Hex Grip Medicine Ball from TRX is a great option. It features hundreds of tiny Hex nodes that provide a grippy surface well into the depths of your workout, no matter how much sweat has been lost.
The Best Bulgarian-Style Bags
Remember when Rocky disappeared deep into the Russian tundra to train for his fight against Ivan Drago? I’m not sure that he had a Bulgarian Bag with him, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. This implement of body sculpture is based on the shape of a lamb, traditionally swung overhead and onto the back of Bulgarian folk-style wrestling champions. It is well suited to creating high-intensity workouts that build full-body muscular endurance and rotational strength.
Bulgarian Bag
Suples Original
Suples is the leader in popularizing this style of training, and their Suples Original Genuine Leather Bulgarian Bag is a high-quality example of exactly what a Bulgarian bag should be. They are made of leather and filled with wool and sand to create a balanced weight distribution. There are a variety of weights offered, but around 40 pounds is a good, challenging weight for someone with an existing athletic background.
The Hydrocore Bag from Onnit is shaped just like your standard Bulgarian bag; however, instead of the weight being provided from sand and wool, the Hydrocore bag uses water. This creates a few interesting benefits. First off, the bag can easily be emptied out and packed down for travel. Additionally, the use of water and the suggestion to only ever fill the bag about halfway means that the empty space creates a sloshing motion while moving the bag. This provides an additional stabilizing challenge.
The Best Balance Trainers
A huge part of functional training is boosting your overall agility and balance. These balance trainers can help you do that. Whether you want to get better at stand-up paddleboarding, try surfing on your next vacation, or just lower the risk of unnecessary injury from a fall, having better balance is going to help you move through the world with greater ease and enjoyment.
BOSU
Sport Balance Trainer
You probably recognize this half-inflatable yoga ball with a plastic base from the physical therapist’s office, or maybe you’ve seen it sitting next to a foam roller in the corner of your local gym. It might be time to knock the dust off because this is a great, approachable balance trainer to incorporate into workouts. Use it for squats or put your lead foot on it while lunging, and it will add a significant yet manageable balance challenge.
Revolution Balance Boards
Revbalance 101 v2 Balance Board Sports Trainer
Ready to take balance training a step further? Balance trainers like the Rev Balance incorporate a solid skateboard deck-sized board that is placed on a foam roller-esque cylinder. Your objective: to stay on as long as possible. There is a small learning curve, after which it becomes a great tool to improve balance from the comfort of your living room—just make sure to give yourself a decent radius that is free of breakable objects.
The Best Pull-Up Bars
Pull-ups and dips are a great exercise to incorporate into any fitness program. They’re very effective at building upper body strength and shoulder alignment. Your local park might have a contingent of extremely shredded guys who hang out by the jungle gym, showcasing impressive displays of isometric strength. However, if you want to work on your pull-ups and dips from the comfort of your own home, these options are a great place to start.
ProsourceFit
Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar
Ahh, the doorway pull-up bar, a staple of bro apartments nationwide. Along with the XL tub of whey protein, it forms the starter pack seemingly given to every college-aged male who wants to get jacked. All jokes aside, these pull-up bars are so prolific because they really do work. Popping one of these in a doorframe is an affordable way to have access to pull-ups from the comfort of home, and it’s easy to work them into your routine by knocking out a set every time you walk by. (I would recommend checking that your doorframe can indeed support one of these before jumping up there.)
Baseblocks
The Big Bar Pro
The Big Bar Pro from Baseblocks is a high-quality, at-home solution for pull-ups and dips, offering the perfect solution for a home gym. At 89 inches high, the pull-up bar has plenty of space for taller users, and the dip bars offer both parallel and angled sections. Setup was easy and only takes a few minutes.
Slightly smaller than the big Bar Pro, the B-Bars from Baseblocks are a great option if you live in an apartment or anywhere that space is more restricted. The base folds in so that they can be stored flat against a wall. When set up, they provide an incredibly stable and durable platform for pull-ups, dips, and inverted rows.
REP Fitness
Wall Mounted Pullup Bar
Looking for a standalone pull-up bar that is more stable than the doorframe options? This wall mount pull-up bar from REP requires a little more effort to install, but will serve you for years to come.
The Best Jump Ropes
For decades, jumping rope has been a go-to exercise for athletes, notably boxers, looking for a portable full-body workout that boosts cardio as well as agility. Sounds pretty functional to me. A jump rope can go with you anywhere, only requiring a small open space and about 20 minutes to deliver an effective training session.
Elite Jumps
Muay Thai 3.0 Heavy Jump Rope
Weighted jump ropes like this one from Elite Jumps have been popular with Muay Thai fighters for decades. The extra weight, provided here by a thicker PVC rope, builds muscular endurance along with cardio and agility. If you thought that extra weight would make this rope unwieldy, think again. They use a dual ball bearing design that replicates the smooth motion of a speed rope while also building strength.
RPM Training
Session4 Jump Rope
If speed and fancy footwork are your goal, check out the Session 4 Jump Rope from RPM. It is beautifully designed with diamond knurled grips and a patented dual-axis rotation. The cable is also easily adjustable to ensure a proper fit. You will be repping out double-unders in no time.
The Best Weighted Vests
Weight vests are a great way to add an extra challenge to many of the workouts that make up a functional fitness program. Plus, throwing on an extra 30 pounds turns an evening dog walk into a dog ruck, a great form of cardio, and weight vest is going to make many of the exercises you already do just a little bit harder—and that’s a good thing.
5.11 Tactical
TacTec Trainer Weight Vest
The TacTec Trainer is exactly what you want in a weight vest. Made from highly durable 600D polyester, it has plenty of padding to keep you comfortable as well as two side pockets for storing a credit card or headphones. 5.11 sells a variety of weight plates, and the vest is compatible with weight plates from most major brands as well.
Goruck
Rucker 4.0 20L Backpack
Technically not a weight vest, the Rucker 4.0 is an indestructible backpack designed specifically for rucking workouts. It can be loaded with upwards of 60 pounds and is touted as a “gym on your back.” It will serve the same purpose as a weight vest, but can also be taken off and squatted, rowed, or overhead pressed via convenient carry handles.
The Best Resistance Bands
Similar to the jump rope, a set of resistance bands is a great piece of equipment to keep in your bag for a great workout on the road. You can add them to movements like squats and push-ups to lower rep ranges and go beyond the strength-building capability of calesthenics alone. Loop one around the pull-up bar for some extra help and to ensure proper form. You can also use them to inject some complexity into weighted exercises you are already doing. Use a pair of bands to attach the squat bar to the rack on your next leg day. You will find that it gets a bit easier at the bottom of the squat while building extra intensity at the top. Bottom line: Bands are an affordable piece of gear that provides endless opportunities.
This Bandit Pro Kit from TRX has everything you need for a killer band workout. It features four bands of different resistance levels and universal-fit handles, which attach to the bands, providing a better grip.
Looking to buy individual resistance bands? These ones from REP come in seven different sizes and are made with layered elastic to ensure maximum durability.
