Recommended Functional Fitness Gear for Endurance Athletes (2026)

HYROX and functional training in general continue to boom. Particularly in the off-season, many triathletes, runners, OCR athletes and other multi-sport athletes want to try out this style of training to see if it improves their race performance. And to do that, they need access to the right gear.

I’ve spent two decades training athletes to perform in the mountains, deserts, and other harsh environments. I have an extensive endurance sports background and have used functional training extensively to prepare for life, play and performance in the Alps, deserts, jungles, and other adventurous places. I also ran a CrossFit gym for 5 years and have coached for SEALFIT, SEALGrinderPT, and at military events in several countries. This is a domain I know well, which is why I’m selective about what gear and training is the most useful for multi-sport athletes and what is a waste of time and money.

Start Here

If you’re building out a home setup, be sure to first check out my comprehensive home gym guide. It covers foundational gear like barbells and squat stands. This post focuses on portable, multi-use tools that are perfect for hybrid athletes and space-conscious training setups.

One quick thing before the gear list: the free Green Supercharger is the mental-training side of what I coach — it pairs with everything below. Grab it whenever.

Gear Picks That Earn Their Place

1. Kettlebell

If I had to choose one piece of strength gear for an endurance athlete, it’s the kettlebell. It takes up almost no space, travels well, and opens the door to powerful compound movements. My top pick: the Rogue Competition Kettlebell.

In honor of my buddy John, who was a beast on the kettlebell and a damn good man. #fuckcancer

2. Suspension Trainer (TRX)

Highly portable, brutally effective. Great for travel, run-to-gym workouts, or core work at the track. You can hit every weakness with a TRX or try a JungleGym alternative.

3. Sandbag

One of my all-time favorite tools for real-world strength. Train lifts, carries, climbs, and mental toughness. Make your own DIY sandbag or buy one from Rogue, GORUCK, or others you can find online. 

4. Jump Rope

Still unmatched for cardio + coordination + portability. I pack one whenever I travel.

5. Bands + Pull-up Bar

Bands unlock strength scaling and mobility work. Combine with a P-4 pull-up bar or similar, and you’ve got a complete upper-body station.

6. Slam Ball

My favorite stress relief tool. Slam it, lift it, twist with it. 

7. Plyo Box

Jump. Step up. Sit down and curse the next set. Great for combining with kettlebells or sandbags. I’ve built my own, bought flat-pack wooden ones, and use resign. So many options these days, including padded versions. 

8. Weight Vest / Ruck

Crank the load, boost your capacity. Train hills, long rucks, or brutal stair climbs with weight. I wrote a book on this exact topic — Running Heavy.

GORUCK and Rogue both make solid vests and plate carriers. Use water containers, sandbags, or weight plates to dial your load.

9. Foam Roller & Recovery Tools

You break it, you fix it. Active recovery keeps you moving forward. Use a foam roller, Supernova, or Voodoo X bands.

That’s the body side covered. The head side is its own work — the free Green Supercharger is where I’d point you: one color, four formats, the same tool I’ve coached for twenty years.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a fancy setup to get brutally effective work done. Start with one piece of gear. Train with it. Own it. Then add the next. Build it right, build it strong, and get after it.