The 3 pieces of recovery gear that actually move the needle (and 2 that don't)
Most athletes over-invest in the wrong gear. After years training climbers and outdoor athletes, here's what's actually worth the money:
Worth it:
Cold plunge / ice bath — nothing beats it for reducing DOMS after heavy sled or grip sessions. The data on inflammation reduction is real.
Weighted vest — turns any bodyweight session into progressive overload. One piece of gear, infinite programming.
Grip trainer — climbers and lifters both neglect grip until it becomes the limiting factor. Cheap, small, high ROI.
Skip (or downgrade):
Fancy resistance band sets — a $15 loop band does 90% of what a $150 kit does.
Branded foam rollers — any dense roller works; you're paying for the logo.
If you're building a home setup for mountain/trail training, prioritize gear that trains the qualities you can't get from bodyweight alone: load (sandbag/vest), grip (fingerboard/trainer), and recovery (ice bath). Everything else is optional.
What's in your current setup? Curious what's actually getting used vs collecting dust.