Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
I'm brainstorming ideas for alternative equipment that will substitute for the expensive equipment here on SSL. Goal is to maximize effectiveness of equipment while minimizing cost. I believe much of these workouts can be done with very cheap alternatives.
Here is what I've bought so far:
FF/BB combo DVD
wooden Instability Discs
Here is what I'm planning on using as alternatives:
Balance Pipes – Substitute - PVC pipes from hardware store.
Slant Board – Substitute – slab of wood leaning against staircase
Dynamic training bells – Sub w/ - any ideas here?? I'm thinking I can use some 5 lb dumbbells??
Have any other members of the SSL gotten creative with cheap alternatives? If so, Id like to hear form you.
~Eric
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
For the elastic bands, try going to a physical therapy clinic, they'll even have various pounds of resistance on the band. My first band was from a clinic.
The one @SSL store is really worth it's pound in gold.
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
Thanks
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
training bells - tried homemade one's but definitely not the same. You can try putting wrist weights and hold smaller weighted fitness balls in each hand but you don't get the full benefit as dynamic bells from SSL.
balance poles, slant board, elastic band, pipes => hardware store
jump speed rope => boxing store
heavy jump rope => Thick rope from hardware store. Weighted ropes are expensive (1lb=$35, 2lb=$55).
for the slant board, consider buying 2 pieces of wood no bigger than 8''x8'', one laying perpendicular to the other. You can vary the angles and it will force you to stand using 1 foot only. It's been working out very well.
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
i've been trying to find some elastic bands at my local hardware stores (home depot, ace). the best they had for me was a diving spear rubber, which doesn't work as well cuz it's circular in cross-section, not flat. i've looked, and had help, but as descriptive as i could get, they couldn't help me find any. what are the bands you guys have usually used for, and what are they called in the store? any advice?
thanks
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
grip tape at home depot i used and it was 10 bucks for an entire roll of it. That should help you out on the slant board.
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
Pipes and poles from the hardware store is a good idea. That's what I did.
I used some 3 lb dumbells at first for bells. But for a lot of the exercises you really do need the training bells. After about a week of doing some of the exercises with makeshift equipment, and liking how my body felt, I bought the training bells and it was a very good investment. Get the non weighted ones you can fill with water.
Without grip tape, your foot will slide off of the slant board. Grip tape is expensive so I think most people are better off buying the bells, discs and slant board from SSL. The exception would have to be someone who is good at woodworking and already has some of the materials laying around unused. Otherwise the cost and time of making the slant board and discs is not worth it.
Matt
Re: Crafty substitutes for expensive SSL equipment
I had some carpenters cut me some round pieces of wood and I glued "rebar caps" to them to make my instability disks. Rebar caps are used to protect construction workers from exposed rebar, you can probably find them at your local hardware store (or anything else that would make an unstable base). For my balance poles is used wooden painter roller extesions. I would invest in a set of bells, but if you insist on going the homeade way this is what you could try.
Buy a piece of heavy duty tubing from the hardware store (similar to hose tubing but less flexible),this will be your handle; as well as some large tie wraps (aka zip ties). Put the zip tie through the tubing and tighten it to create and anchor point. Take a bottle size of your choice (1.5L-2l) and fill it with sand. Take some tie wraps and wrap them around the bottle and through the tie wrap on your handle, and pull them tight. Now you should have some nice "bells", I think they would be more versatile than dumbells!
I've never made them, it's just an idea. But if you decide to do it let me know how they turn out! I just made some homeade clubbels that turned out very well.