FullSizeRender (1)Our motto at Recursive is: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Anyone can come in and get started with CrossFit with whatever fitness gear you already have in your closet.

There is no need to go out and buy new shoes – the running or tennis shoes you have are perfectly fine. No need to go out and buy fancy clothes – any shirt and shorts you are comfortable sweating in will be perfect. There is no need to have your own personal barbell or jump rope – we will provide those for you to use at the gym.

But once you have been CrossFitting for a bit and you cross over from that beginner stage, there are a few items you may want to consider investing in for yourself to enhance your workout experience.

 Cross Training Shoes
It’s nice to have one pair of shoes that is designed to do it all. Rope climbing running, lifting, jumping and so much more. Now that CrossFit has become more mainstream, there are several brands to choose from. The biggest two are Reebok Nano and Nike MetCons. Other brands include Inov8s and No Bull. If you would like a complete breakdown of the shoes, visit Which Shoes to Choose. Investment cost – $100 – $140

Good Undergarments
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s be supportive of the things we need to support. For the girls, a good, supportive sport bra, especially for those days with a lot of jumping, is essential. Fellas, you’re gonna want a good, quality pair of underpants to avoid chaffing and keeping the bits from dangling. Prices vary greatly on these items – underpants might be $15-$20 a pair and sports bras range from $20 – $60. Under Armour, Reebok, Nike, Lululemon, and Athleta are all good brands to check out.

Jump Rope
It’s nice to have your own jump rope that is sized specifically for you. It’s tough when you are learning double unders, eliminate one variable by using the same rope. Plus, you can take care of it and not have to use the knotted, kinked community ropes and you will spend less time before class trying to find the right rope. There are a TON of rope choices out there. As a beginner/intermediate look for one that you can adjust. You will want to play around with the length a bit as you are learning so you can find what works best for you. Height matters, but so does arm length and how high you jump. There are a variety of rope thicknesses – super thin will be faster, really thick will be slower. The handle style also varies and is a personal preference. Try a few out at the gym to see what you like the best. Price, as with option, varies quite a bit – $15 – $60+

Gym T-shirt/Tank/Sweatshirt
Become fully indoctrinated in your community and your gym! Be a part of the tribe and show your school spirit by wearing some of your gym’s gear. You work hard in those classes every day – let the world know you ARE a CrossFitter! Shirts and Tanks usually range in price $20 – $35, with Sweatshirts in the $45 – $60 range.

CrossFit is meant to be something everyone can do with a very low barrier to entry. It’s an activity where you need very little equipment to start. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on “stuff,” you just need to step into the gym and get started.

Your monthly membership may be all you can handle at first (we know CrossFit costs more than your corner 24 hour gym.) But, once you get into it more, you may find there are a few key items that you would like to have in your gym bag. (And a lot of gyms provide cubbies for your convenience so you can keep all your stuff there!)

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