9 Underrated Tools to Level Up Your Training
Here are a few pieces of kit I recommend to every client when we first start working together.
None of this is expensive.
All of it works.
Whether you train at home, in a gym, backstage, or on tour, these tools make it easier to train consistently and get more from the work you’re already doing.
1. Kettlebell
If you train in a gym, you probably have access to kettlebells already. Even so, it’s worth owning one.
A kettlebell is the most useful single tool for integrated strength and conditioning. No tool is perfect, but if you run a swing programme (and possibly a clean and press cycle), you’ll cover a lot of ground that other methods miss.
It complements almost any training style or performance skill.
Not all kettlebells are made equal. I’ve written a separate guide on how to choose the right one.
For weight selection at home:
Beginner women: 8kg
Beginner men: 16kg
If you’re already trained, add 4kg
Base this on your swing weight. You can add more bells later for presses, rows, and accessories.
2. Sliders
Every client I work with carries a set of sliders.
They let you load muscles through long ranges of motion in a joint-friendly way, increase time under tension, and demand stabilisation without heavy loading.
They’re excellent for:
Hamstring curls (with an added bridge)
Lateral lunges and cossack squats
Adductor and abductor work
Upper-body fly and press variations
They’re light, portable, and easy to use anywhere.
3. Resistance Loop Bands
Loop bands are a staple.
They’re often dismissed as “light recovery tools”, but heavy-duty bands can be brutally effective when used properly.
Because resistance increases as the band stretches, you get:
More demand at end range
Better eccentric control
A strong link between strength and real-world movement
They’re great for push-up progressions, pull-down patterns, hip hinges, and Pallof variations. They also travel well.
TRX make a solid set that goes properly heavy.
4. Mini Bands
I recommend two types.
Material glute bands
Great for lateral walks and lower-body progressions. Avoid the plasticky ones. They pinch and pull. Material bands last longer and feel better.
Standard mini bands
Useful for foot and ankle work, pull-up regressions, and lighter assistance work where you don’t want aggressive resistance.
Both fit easily into a show bag.
5. Skipping Rope
I try to get everyone I train skipping well.
It’s an excellent warm-up, a strong conditioning tool, and a surprisingly complete stimulus.
Skipping:
Trains fast-twitch fibres
Strengthens feet, ankles, and wrists
Improves rhythm, timing, and coordination
Challenges the brain as much as the body
With well-designed protocols, it becomes a serious conditioning tool. Ten minutes goes a long way.
I prefer a standard speed rope. Rush Athletics make a good one.
6. TRX (or Other Suspension Trainer)
I’ve used a TRX on and off since 2013 and still rate it highly.
It’s an entire gym in a bag.
You need to think differently about progression, but you can create demanding sessions while keeping joint stress low. Everything is bodyweight-based, stability is always challenged, and the core is constantly involved.
It’s the most expensive item on this list, but they last for years. Mine has lived outdoors for most of its life and still works fine.
7. Rope Flow Rope
Rope flow is one of the most useful additions to modern training.
Weighted ropes build rotation, timing, sequencing, and coordination. They reconnect shoulders and pelvis and improve how energy transfers through the body.
They’re also excellent for the back. Gentle rotation lubricates fascia and decompresses the spine in a way many people are missing.
Start by learning:
Overhand race and chase
Underhand race and chase
A good starting rope is around 400g, roughly 2.8m long.
8. Agility Ladder
Agility ladders aren’t just for footballers.
They train:
Speed and agility
Balance and coordination
Proprioception and spatial awareness
Timing and reactivity
They help the body feel quick and responsive again, which carries over to real life and performance.
Cheap, foldable ladders are fine to start with. Upgrade later if you want.
9. Barefoot Shoes and Toe Spacers
Modern shoes do too much work for you.
They compress the toes, reduce sensory input, and interfere with natural foot mechanics. That affects knees, hips, and even the spine.
If you can train barefoot, do it. If not, use a barefoot-style shoe. I like Vivobarefoot.
Toe spacers can also help reintroduce natural foot movement and arch function faster than you might expect.
Better feet improve glute function, posture, and force transfer up the chain.
Simple tools. Big returns.
That’s it for today!
