Simple, Effective Gear & Supplements for Parents


No fluff, no gimmicks—just the tools we trust and recommend to train effectively

Everything listed here is gear and supplements I personally use and recommend. Whether you’re training at home, outfitting your garage gym, or just trying to recover better—this page is your shortcut to simple, effective tools that support real-world strength.

Home Gym Essentials

Train effectively from home with just a few key tools—no fancy setup required. These are the essential pieces I recommend to build strength, stay consistent, and complete every workout in our home training program.

Powdercoated Kettlebells

  • Kettlebells are one of the most versatile tools in any training setup—perfect for swings, squats, carries, and presses. They pack a huge strength and conditioning benefit into a compact, parent-friendly piece of equipment.

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    1 Light Kettlebell (Men - 25-40lbs, Women - 15-30lbs)

    1 Heavy Kettlebell (Men - 40-70lbs, Women - 25-45lbs)

Hex Dumbbells

  • Dumbbells are the backbone of functional strength training—simple, effective, and endlessly adaptable. From presses and rows to lunges and loaded carries, they let you train your entire body with minimal space and setup.

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    2 x Medium Dumbbell (Men - 25-45lbs, Women - 10-35lbs)

d-ball

  • A D-Ball adds power, explosiveness, and fun to your training. Whether you’re slamming, shouldering, or carrying it, this awkward, heavy ball mimics real-life strength tasks in a way barbells and machines can’t.

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    1 x Medium D-Ball (Men - 25-50lbs, Women - 10-40lbs)

Adjustable Bench

  • An adjustable bench opens the door to pressing, rowing, step-ups, and more—all from a stable, supportive surface. It’s a space-efficient upgrade that adds major versatility to any home setup.

Plyo Box

  • A sturdy plyo box adds endless versatility—use it for step-ups, box squats, elevated push-ups, and conditioning work. It’s a simple tool that helps you build single-leg strength, explosiveness, and confidence with dynamic movement.

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    1 x Plyo Box (Men - 30" x 24" x 20", Women - 24" x 20" x 16")

slamball

  • The slam ball is your go-to tool for power, conditioning, and stress relief. Whether you’re doing overhead slams, rotational throws, or carries, it trains explosiveness in a way that’s low-impact but highly effective.

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    1 x Medium Slamball (Men - 15-20lbs, Women - 10-15lbs)

Exercise mat

  • A high-quality mat adds comfort, grip, and support for everything from mobility work to core training. It’s a must-have for any home setup—especially if you're training on hard floors or need a quick, clean surface to drop into work mode.

Resistance band Set

  • A set of long resistance bands is one of the most useful and portable tools you can own. Perfect for assisted pull-ups, added resistance on lifts, mobility work, and warm-ups—they give you gym-level versatility with zero footprint.

Theraband Set

  • TheraBands are lightweight, low-resistance bands ideal for warm-ups, activation drills, and joint-friendly mobility work. They’re especially useful for shoulders, hips, and core control—making them a go-to for prehab and performance.

Level-Up Tools

Upgrade your setup with powerful tools for even more strength, variety, and progression.
These aren’t essentials—but if you’ve got the space and budget, they’ll take your training to the next level.

  • A barbell and EZ bar combo brings classic strength training into your home setup. From deadlifts and squats to curls and presses, these tools offer heavy, progressive loading with clean mechanics and endless variation.

Barbell/ez BAr Combo

Bumper Plates

  • Bumper plates let you lift heavy, drop safely, and train with confidence. Whether you’re deadlifting, squatting, or pressing, they’re durable, garage-friendly, and essential for barbell-based strength work.

Power Rack

  • A cage-style squat rack is the anchor of any serious garage gym. It gives you the safety and flexibility to squat, press, pull, and even do pull-ups—all from one sturdy setup. Add a bench and barbell, and you’ve got a complete strength station.

Pullup Bar

  • The Assault Bike is a brutally effective conditioning tool that trains your heart, lungs, and grit all at once. Its full-body resistance makes it perfect for short, high-intensity intervals—one of the most efficient ways to boost anaerobic capacity, burn fat, and build mental toughness. It is my #1 tool for building conditioning capacity.

Gymnastics Rings

  • The Concept2 SkiErg delivers powerful, low-impact conditioning that lights up your core, lats, and lungs. It’s perfect for anaerobic intervals, metabolic finishers, and building total-body endurance—without beating up your joints. A go-to for efficient, orthopedically-friendly cardio.

Ultiroll mobility Kit

UltiROLL UltiROLL UltiROLL

  • The Concept2 Rower is the gold standard in rowing machines—trusted by athletes, coaches, and fitness pros worldwide. It delivers smooth, full-body conditioning that strengthens your legs, core, and back while building serious cardiovascular endurance. If you’re going to row, this is the one.

assault bike

  • A wall-mounted pull-up bar is a rock-solid addition to your setup, perfect for serious upper body strength. Pull-ups are one of the best movements you can do—building your back, arms, shoulders, and core all at once. Add hangs, leg raises, or tempo reps, and you’ve got a powerhouse tool in minimal space.

concept 2 rower

  • The UltiRoll Mobility Kit is your all-in-one solution for recovery, mobility, and prehab. With a foam roller, lacrosse ball, and other targeted tools, it helps reduce soreness, improve tissue quality, and keep your joints moving the way they should—so you can train harder and recover faster.

concept 2 skierg

  • Gym rings are a portable, versatile tool that builds serious upper body strength while challenging your stability. Great for rows, dips, push-ups, and core work—rings also train the smaller stabilizer muscles in your shoulders, making them a powerful tool for injury prevention and joint health.

Supplements that actually work

Carefully chosen, personally used, and backed by science—these tools help you recover faster, train harder, and show up stronger. Want to dive deeper? Learn more about the benefits and specifics of a daily routine in our free guide, Fueling Strong Parents.

Methylated Multivitamin

  • This blend of Vitamin D3, C, zinc, and elderberry is designed to boost immune resilience, reduce inflammation, and help your body stay strong under stress. As parents, getting sidelined isn’t an option—this is an easy, daily way to support your energy, immunity, and overall recovery.

creatine monohydrate

  • Creatine is one of the most studied and effective supplements for building strength, power, and brain function. It supports muscle recovery, energy production, and even cognitive performance—all crucial for training hard and staying sharp as a parent.


    No need for overpriced blends—plain creatine monohydrate is all you need, and it works.

Immune Vitamin

  • A high-quality daily multivitamin that supports energy, metabolism, immune health, and recovery—without any of the synthetic junk found in typical store brands. It’s designed to fill the nutrient gaps most parents face, helping you stay sharp, strong, and resilient through long days and longer nights.

whey protein

  • A clean, fast-digesting protein powder with just two simple ingredients: whey protein and natural flavors. No fillers, no chemical junk—just what your body needs to recover, build muscle, and hit your protein goals.
    Perfect as a quick shake between work, workouts, or when the kids are climbing on your back.

Vitamin k2

  • Vitamin K2 is essential for proper calcium metabolism—it helps keep calcium out of your arteries and in your bones, where it belongs. It also works synergistically with Vitamin D3 to support cardiovascular health, bone strength, and immune function. If you're supplementing with D3 (which you should be), K2 isn't optional—it's necessary.

Methylated b-Complex

  • This B complex uses bioavailable forms like methylcobalamin (B12) to support natural energy production, nervous system health, stress resilience, and brain function. It’s especially important for busy, under-recovered parents who need steady energy without relying on caffeine or sugar.

Sleep Stack

  • This trio—L-theanine, Magnesium L-Threonate, and Apigenin—works together to calm the nervous system, improve deep sleep quality, and support nighttime recovery. It helps you fall asleep faster and wake up more rested, without grogginess or dependency.
    Because when you're a parent, sleep is a superpower—and you need every edge you can get.

Daily Electrolytes

  • This combo delivers a full spectrum of electrolytes to support hydration, energy, and muscle function—plus essential amino acids to promote recovery, preserve lean muscle, and fuel your day.
    It’s the perfect way to start your morning, especially for parents who need to rehydrate fast and feel sharp without reaching for another cup of coffee.

Alphabrain nootropic

  • Alpha Brain is a nootropic supplement designed to support focus, memory, and mental clarity—without the crash. With clinically researched ingredients like bacopa, alpha-GPC, and L-theanine, it’s perfect for parents balancing work, workouts, and a million daily decisions.
    Think of it as a brain boost for when you need to be sharp, present, and productive.