What Equipment Do I Need For P90X?

One of the biggest benefits of P90X is that it does not require an expensive gym membership. However, that does not mean that you don’t need any equipment. P90X strength training does involve resistance work, which means some body weight work, like pull ups and push ups, but there is also a need for dumbbells and/or bands.

I should also say that you have to prepare your kitchen as much as you prepare your exercise equipment, however that is the subject of a future entry.

My Ideal Recommendations

A Pull Up Bar

There are a lot of pull up exercises in three of the P90X DVDs; Chest and Back, Legs and Back, and Back and Biceps. While you can do pull up alternatives with bands, I strongly recommend a pull up bar if your circumstances allow them. Having a pull up bar provides for both maximum resistance and the most consistent resistance.

Pull up bars are actually very simple; literally they are a bar. With rare exception, pull up bars install in a doorway. Most of them involve drilling into the doorframe to attach supporting clips, and the bars are permanently installed. However, there are some bars which are removable and don’t require damaging the frames for support.

The P90X Chin Up Bar is a removable bar that can install in most door frames. It is a great quality product that grabs the top of the doorframe to hold it up. It also has multiple handles to allow for varied workouts.

Dumbbells

P90X uses resistance training three days a week. For that you should use dumbbells. The question then becomes what weights? While the answer is typically dependent on the individual, I would recommend that you get at least 3 pairs of dumbbells; one light, one medium, one heavy for you. However, the more you can get, depending on what you can afford, the better. You can also get a good band to make up for a few dumbbells.

For Men

If you can only afford 3 sets of dumbbells, I would recommend that the three minimal pairs would be are 5, 15 and 25 lbs. Ideally, I would recommend that you fill in the 5 lb increments and go up to 35 lbs. If you have limited money, buy the three recommended and fill in the lower holes first. Then you can buy more as you need them and can afford them.

There are also the adjustable dumbbell sets, which are easier to deal with. The two common choices are the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells and the PowerBlocks.

 

 

 

For Women

Women can generally try pairs of 5, 10 and 20 lbs. As you have the money, you can buy the 15 lb weights, and any heavier weights as you believe you need them.

Bands

I want to be very clear that there is nothing wrong with bands, and if they are your only options, you will get a great workout from them. The biggest recommendation is that not to get cheap bands. Cheap bands can snap, and when they snap, it hurts and they can injure you. While you can get a single band, a set is better as they are more versatile. Compared to dumbbells, they are also much less expensive.

The Beachbody sets are the best that I have found to this point. They sell three sets, and are described at this link. For the purpose of doing pull ups, you need an attachment to put it up high enough so that you can use a pull down motion. There is a Band Accessory Kit that has a strap that lets you use a standard doorframe for the purpose.

Other Equipment

There is a variety of other equipment that you might want to consider, but is not as critical as the other equipment. The first thing you might need is a yoga mat, if you do not have a good floor surface for yoga and stretching. A yoga block can also help as it provides some extra stability for people who are beginners to yoga, as well as add extra challenge for those who are more experienced or limber.

PowerStands were invented by Tony Horton to give you a fuller range of motion with push ups. If you want to get the most out of your chest work, you might want to consider these.

Conclusion

I know it seems overwhelming to buy a few things after you spend money on the P90X. However, consider that you have these costs as a one time payment, as opposed to spending many hundreds of dollars a year on gym memberships. More important to consider is the improvement in the quality of your life. It works out being a very small cost to pay.