Useful Gear for Tactical Training
Below is a list of gear that can be added to your workouts. Not only is this gear useful to add to your training program, but sometimes it is the only gear you may have at your disposal due to lack of gym facilities, if you are deployed to remote areas, or if you simply lack regular gym equipment. Here is a list of all-time favorite additions to your Tactical Gearbox and what exercises you can replace with them.
Log
Several people holding up a log weighing 250 to 300 pounds will build a team effort quickly. Or you can use it yourself by performing the one-man log PT (push pressing, dead lifting, etc.). Replace barbell/dumbbells when performing military press or the more dynamic exercises like dead lift, clean, and push press.
Tire
Tires can be used to carry, flip, or jump over. Add a challenge to any workout by placing a tire in front of you.
• Depending on the weight of a tire, you can throw car tires like a medicine ball when doing thrusters, walking overhead lunges, and other lighter weight exercises.
• The heavier tires can replace barbells when doing dead lifts and cleans by flipping them.
• Adding box jumps or step ups on the tire can be useful as well.
Backpack
A backpack will be a necessary tool for any rucking workouts. We use the Go Ruck backpacks and have found them to be great in water, throwing, dragging, and carrying long distances.
Adding weight to your exercises and cardio with either a weighted vest or a ruck (backpack) can help you prepare for moving with 50 to 60 pounds of gear up and down steps, over walls or fences, and carrying equipment either as a military, SWAT Team member, or firefighter.
Sand Bags
Sandbags should be a staple to any tactical fitness program as they are light bags to travel with and when you are away from home, you can fill up a variety of different-sized sandbags to add multiple exercises to your regimen.
The exercises you can do with sand bags are the following: Thrusters, throws, body drag simulations, fireman carry simulation, dead lifts, clean, push press combos, farmer walks, grip exercises, and even the old bodybuilding basics like curls and triceps extensions. The uses for sandbags are only limited by your imagination.
Sledgehammer
Using a sledgehammer is a skill needed in military, police, and firefighting. Hit against a tire or other indestructible piece of gear for a full body tactical workout. Swing both vertically (up and down) on the tire or horizontally (side to side) to simulate breaching doors, which works the rotational power relays of the torso and core muscles.
TRX Suspension Trainer
This is the ultimate tool in tactical fitness. Add this device for a strong core and to improve balance and strength for any profession. You are only limited by your imagination as this device can literally replace any weight machine and enhances calisthenics to a new level.
Bucket of Rice
Get a five gallon bucket and fill it with rice. Open and close your hand and dig your way to the bottom of the container. You can also just stay about an inch deep and open and close your hand 50 times for an incredible forearm and grip workout.
Ropes
If you have a climbing rope, learn to use the J Hook method to climb (see photos on this page). If you do not have a climbing rope, simply secure a rope to the ground, grab both ends of the rope, and shake up/down and left/right as fast as you can for another grip, forearm, shoulder girdle, and core workout.
Boots
Running, rucking, and walking in the gear you will be using is critical. Get used to wearing your boots prior to training and learn skills to break them in and avoid getting blisters.
Pants
During your tactical training, you will often work in pants. Get used to exercising and running in them.
Scuba Fins
Get your ankles used to training in fins if your training requires lots of miles of swimming in open water.
Other helpful equipment for your Tactical Gearbox includes:
• Mask/goggles
• Swim trunks
• Running shoes
BREAKING IN NEW BOOTS FOR WALKING, RUNNING, AND RUCKING
When you buy or get issued a pair of boots, you have to break them in before you can comfortably run or ruck for miles in them. Over the years I have tried many methods and here is one method that has worked for me for at least ten pairs of combat boots.
Get them soaked and walk in them for a day. Soak your feet and boots in some form of water (ocean, lake, river, bathtub, or even shower with them). Get them soaked, then take them off after about 30 minutes of walking in them and replace your wet socks with dry socks so your feet do not get too soft.
Wear a pair of thin socks under a pair of thick socks. I personally like to use a polyester/rayon blend that clings to your feet and lower legs like a pair of stockings. (If you have ever played baseball and used baseball socks you will know the kind I am talking about.) Then put on the outer sock (this would be whatever you are issued—Army Green or Navy Dive socks, for instance).
Continue walking, occasionally picking up the pace to a slow trot to start breaking them in for the way you walk, run, and ruck. If you can keep a pair of boots strictly for rucking and one for running, you will see a difference in the way they feel because you ruck differently than you run. This is not essential, but it could save you from some overuse injuries over time.
Also make sure to do a freshwater rinse and polish your boots with leather softener or shoe polish for extra protection and comfort. Take care of your boots and they will take care of you!
