With the growing interest in running outdoor fitness classes while the status of gyms is uncertain, we made this list of kit you’d need to run a brilliant Bootcamp.
It’s worth remembering that having all the bells and whistles equipment doesn’t necessarily make the session any good. Bootcamps are all about getting creative with the kit you’ve got and making the drills fun.
Small Bootcamp Kit List
If you’re looking to start a Bootcamp but you only want to invest in the essentials, there’s a lot that can be done with only bodyweight movements.
We kept things minimal for those of you who don’t want to invest in Bootcamps long term and want to be cost-conscious. For those of you who need to travel light, this can be packed up and carried away in a rucksack.
Whiteboard & station cards: A whiteboard can really cut down the time you spend explaining the workouts, meaning that you get your Bootcampers moving as quickly as possible. Small A4 ones are available that can be carried easily. You can get A5 ones too, which are smaller again, and use them as station cards. This saves the hassle and waste of printing out cards for each exercise station and throwing them away after each session - or keeping and laminating them.
Cones: Plastic cones which can be stacked on top of each other for easy transport are usually sold in packs of 25 or 50. You can get creative with these and use them as markers for stations, points to run between as agility drills, or even as part of a fun warm-up. There are usually several colours, with several cones of each colour, so that can add another layer of creativity to how you use them. These are pretty durable and can take being thrown around and even stood on without breaking.
Mini resistance bands: These were the staple of every home gym since the coronavirus lockdown so it may be that your Bootcampers will already have their own. If they don’t, they are relatively inexpensive. You can think of resistance bands as doing some of the work that weights would do - except they fit in your pocket, and are easy to carry.
Skipping rope: This presents a challenge of not only fitness - but also the mental challenge of staying calm if your Bootcampers trip over their feet! For many people, this is a throwback to the fitness of their childhoods. For others, it might be a new skill that makes them feel as fit and as coordinated as a boxer. Inexpensive and weighs next to nothing.
Large Bootcamp Kit List
Perhaps you’ve enjoyed the outdoor training so much, you’re thinking about sticking with it even after gyms do reopen. In this case, you might want a few more bits and pieces to give people more variety or challenge in the sessions.
Kettlebells: these range in weight significantly, so keep portability your main consideration with these. When you’re considering which weights to invest in, think about the exercises you’ll use them for. It’ll be very different to have a station for kettlebell deadlifts or a bottoms-up press. It’s useful to have external weight, and kettlebells are probably a little more flexible than dumbbells because they allow for a broader range of dynamic movements.
Slam balls: These come in a variety of weights, and can be used to great effect. Slamming straight down to spike heart rate, slamming in a rainbow arch to rotate the core, or used with a partner as a co-ordination activity. They double as simply weight too so you could hold them or drag them during other activities like squats and planks. You could even throw them if your athletes are looking to develop some explosive power.
TRX: The TRX could be useful if you’re running your Bootcamp where they can be hung. You’d need a tree, or a climbing frame, or some goal posts - they are quite flexible, but if all you have is an open field there may be a better choice. The TRX allows a wide variety of movements, but one that’s particularly useful and hard to replicate with bodyweight alone is an upper-body pulling movement. You could use the TRX to be a comfortable handle for a pull-up, or inverted row - as well as the more traditional pressing and suspension purposes. They fold away into a backpack and give a lot of options provided your environment allows them to be strung up.
Luxury Bootcamp Kit List
In the luxury Bootcamp, you might be willing to spend a little more money to create some more variety. You may also be able to store some of this equipment at the site, as it can get quite heavy.
Wreck bags: These are soft bags with handles which can be used in place of weights. They’re comfortable for use in squats and lunges across the shoulders, but also can withstand a bit of rough use. Flexible enough to be used instead of a barbell - and can be combined with other pieces of kit for a really challenging stimulus.
Wreck bags: These are soft bags with handles which can be used in place of weights. They’re comfortable for use in squats and lunges across the shoulders, but also can withstand a bit of rough use. Flexible enough to be used instead of a barbell - and can be combined with other pieces of kit for a really challenging stimulus.
Battle ropes: These come in a variety of lengths and thicknesses - which change the overall weight. You can wrap them around a tree, or a goal post. Or tie them to a wreck bag or kettlebell to create something you can drag. Depending on your Bootcampers - this could even make for a fun game of tug of war!
What Clients Can Bring
Boxing gloves & pads: ideally, clients will have their own boxing gloves and pads that they can bring with them to your Bootcamp. They can be bought at a relatively low cost and it maintains a good standard of hygiene for people to have their own. In an ideal world, this could even be a joining up gift when they pay a membership fee to you.
Bootcamps are about fun sessions with the support of the group. The equipment is secondary, and a “nice to have” but you could get started running a Bootcamp with nothing other than a location. With the right attitude, you could still put together a brilliant training session!
Bootcamps are about fun sessions with the support of the group. The equipment is secondary, and a “nice to have” but you could get started running a Bootcamp with nothing other than a location. With the right attitude, you could still put together a brilliant training session!
