Most gyms are stocked with the usual suspects Olympic bars, kettlebells, dumbbells, and benches. They’re staples for a reason. But if you’re looking to expand your training toolbox without taking up much space or breaking the bank, there are a few lesser-used pieces of equipment that offer surprising versatility. These tools can slot into almost any training program and bring a new dimension to your strength and movement development.
Rings: The Ultimate Bodyweight Tool
Gymnastics rings are one of the most versatile and powerful tools you can use. With just this one piece of equipment, you can target every major muscle group pull, push, and even legs. They’re scalable for beginners and can be progressed endlessly for advanced lifters.
If you’re experienced and looking for a new challenge, rings open the door to gymnastic-based movements that require strength, control, and coordination. Developing your false grip strength alone will give a huge boost to your pull-up game, and from there, you can progress to ring muscle-ups and beyond. The learning curve is steep but rewarding master one skill and a whole new set of challenges opens up.
Slings: Rotational Power and Freedom
Often overlooked, slings are fixed-length loops that can be used with cable machines or anchored to stable points. They provide a unique freedom of hand and arm movement, making them ideal for combining pushing and pulling in a single fluid sequence.
The real magic of slings, however, lies in their ability to wrap around the shoulder to create rotational resistance. This makes them especially useful for paddlers or athletes looking to simulate sport-specific actions like the kayak stroke in a strength training context.
Landmine: A Compact Powerhouse
Think of the landmine as a “gym in a can.” With just a barbell and a landmine attachment, you can press, pull, squat, hinge, and rotate. Landmine exercises naturally encourage unilateral movement, which makes them excellent for developing balance, core stability, and real-world strength especially for sports like paddling that require power on one side at a time.
From rotational presses to split squats and rows, landmine setups let you train in transitional planes and angles that traditional barbells don’t always allow.
Full-strength programs are available on the website. As a member, you’ll get full access to paddling-specific training resources and gym programs using versatile equipment like rings, slings, and the landmine designed to build the rotational power, core strength, and muscular balance that paddlers need to perform at their best
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