I have spent 15 years in the sport of powerlifting, and hundreds of hours researching and testing the best products on the market.
On this page, you’ll find my battle-tested reviews and recommendations.
My goal is to give you an informed take on what’s useful, what’s going to help your training and avoid anything that may be overhyped.
These are the product and gear that I’ve used myself. In doing these reviews, I’ve also consulted with top experts in powerlifting to figure out what really matters when it comes to quality and performance.
Is A Life Time Fitness Membership Worth It? (Honest Review)
Life Time Fitness is not just a gym — it’s an athletic resort with much more than just treadmills and dumbbells. I visited Life Time
Chalk vs Straps: Pros, Cons, & Which Should You Use?
With so many differing opinions on whether to use chalk or straps, it can be difficult to make a decision on which is better. It’s
5 Different Types of Deadlift Bars & Their Uses
With so many different types of bars on the market these days, it can be difficult to know which bars can be used for deadlifts
8 Different Types of Squat Bars & Their Uses
These days barbell manufacturers are making specialty bars for individual lifts, like squats. With different types of specialty squat bars available on the market, it’s
Bumper Plates vs. Metal Plates vs. Rubber Plates (Pros & Cons)
If you’re building a home gym, you may be wondering what kind of plates you should buy. The most common types of plates you’ll find
7 Different Types of Bench Press Bars & Their Uses
There are many bench press bars available on the market but what are their use cases and will they actually improve your bench press performance?
100 Square Foot Home Gym: Free Floor Plan & Equipment List
If you want to build a home gym but you’re not sure if you have enough space, I’m going to show you how you can
Juggernaut AI Review: Does It Actually Work? (Pros & Cons)
The Juggernaut AI app has been the biggest project we’ve taken on in terms of reviewing training programs. This is because I had to use
7 Best Squat Racks for Small Spaces (2021)
If you’re trying to build a home gym, one of the most important pieces of equipment to consider is a squat rack. But not everyone
Rehband vs. SBD Knee Sleeves: Pros, Cons, Which is Better?
Two of the most popular knee sleeve brands available today are Rehband and SBD. I’ve tried both, incorporating them into my heavy squat workouts for
Buff Dudes 12-Week Program Review: Is It Worth It?
Uh-oh, we found a program that isn’t exactly a powerlifting program. The Buff Dudes 12-Week Program is a popular program that is used to gain
Deadlift Bar vs Stiff Bar: Are They Really THAT Different?
If you lift weights long enough, you will come to realize barbells come in different shapes and sizes. Particularly in the world of powerlifting, there
7 Best Arm Blasters for Bigger Biceps (2021)
We’ve all seen people in the gym who do bicep curls with horrendous form – hips swaying back and forth as they bring the dumbbells
5 Best Lifting Shoes for Beginners (2021)
If you’re new to the gym or just getting started with powerlifting, one of the best investments you can make is a pair of good
5 Best Shoes for Both Lifting & Running (2021)
If you like to incorporate both running and lifting into your training, you’d ideally have a different pair of shoes for each activity. That’s not
7 Best Gym Bags with Laptop Compartments (2021)
When you go straight to the gym from work or school (or vice versa), you need a bag that can hold your gym essentials as
10 Best Gym Bags with Water Bottle Holder (2021)
When you’re already carrying a lot of equipment, clothes, and shoes to the gym, you don’t want to take up space in your gym bag
5 Best Gym Bags With Wet Compartment (2021)
When your clothes get sweaty from a tough workout, you don’t want to let them sit in your gym bag for too long. It can
7 Best Toe Shoes for Working Out (2021)
When you’re lifting heavy, you want a shoe that offers a stable platform and keeps you balanced. For this reason, many people like to work
5 Best Gym Bags With Wheels (2021)
Carrying a lot of gear to the gym can put stress on your shoulders and back. Gym bags with wheels make it easy to carry
Adidas Adipower 2 vs. Adidas Power Perfect: Which Is Better?
The Adipower II’s and Power Perfect III’s are lifting shoes from Adidas that are worn by both recreational and competitive powerlifters and weightlifters. I tested
Top 5 TRX Alternatives in 2021 (That Will Save You Money)
I was first introduced to the TRX in 2007 when I was working as an intern at the Canadian Institute of Sport, coaching Olympic speed
6 Best Blood Flow Restriction Bands (2021)
Blood flow restriction training (or BFR) involves placing bands around the tops of your arms or legs to partially restrict blood flow to the limbs.
4 Best Kettlebell Wrist Guards in 2021
When I first started looking into purchasing wrist guards to protect my wrist/forearm from the impact of the kettlebell, I found it hard to know
5 Best Kettlebell Gloves To Protect Your Hands (2021)
With so many lifting gloves on the market, it can be difficult to decide what products on the market are better than others – especially
Best 5 Kettlebells For Two-Handed Swings (2021)
The kettlebell swing is a staple in my program and probably every lifter’s training program at one point or another, regardless if you’re at a
3 Best Rubber-Coated Kettlebells (2021)
A rubber-coated kettlebell is the best option for those who are training in an environment that needs to be protected from damage. But it’s also
7 Best Kettlebell Apps For Both iOS & Android (2021)
When I was looking for a kettlebell app to use myself I realized just how many apps there are on the market for kettlebell training,
Top 7 Powerlifting Shoe Brands (Plus 3 You’ve Never Heard Of)
When training for powerlifting, the right shoes can make a huge difference in how much weight you can lift and how protected your feet are
Ripped Body Powerlifting Program Review: Does It Work?
The Rippedbody Powerlifting programs are founded on the principles outlined in the Muscle and Strength Pyramid ebook, written by strength and muscle expert Eric Helms.
PH3 Powerlifting Program Review: Pros, Cons, Does It Work?
The PH3 Program is one of the dozens (if not hundreds) of programs available on Bodybuilding.com with a single monthly subscription. Written by USAPL/IPF champ
Reebok Legacy Lifter vs. Adidas Adipower: Which Is Better?
The Reebok Legacy Lifter and the Adidas Adipower II are two popular lifting shoes for both competitive and recreational lifters. They are both good shoes,
3 Best Deadlift Workout Gloves (For Grip & Performance)
If you’re looking for lifting gloves for deadlifts, you’re either someone who (1) wants to protect your hands from calluses or (2) increase your grip
Kizen Training Powerlifting Program Review: Does It Work?
Without spoiling too much and getting ahead of ourselves, we are very impressed with the Kizen Training 12-week Powerlifting program. But as much as we
5 Best Competition Kettlebells (Crossfit or Kettlebell Sport)
When I first started using competition kettlebells it was a game changer; but when looking to purchase one for myself, I was overwhelmed by the
Kettle Gryp Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
As someone who has a home gym with limited storage space, I was intrigued by the Kettle Gryp because of the potential it had to
7 Best Pull-Up Gloves in 2021 (Prevent Calluses)
One of the most common problems that anyone who does pull-ups is the formation of calluses and blisters. Luckily, there are plenty of pull-up gloves
Barbell Medicine Program Review: Is It Worth It?
The programs provided by Barbell Medicine have a high reputation, so we are excited to dive into our review of their Powerlifting II program. With
7 Best Wall Mounted Dip Bars in 2021
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. A wall mounted dip bar helps you solve the problem
3 Best Doorway Dip Bars in 2021
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. If you’re building your indoor gym but you’re short on
Powerlifting To Win Program Review: Should You Do It?
Not every program is going to work for every lifter. And while there’s a lot of things we like about Izzy Narvaez’s Powerlifting to Win
10 Best Portable Dip Bars For At-Home Workouts (2021)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. A dip bar is one of the most significant parts
5 Best Cheap Dip Bars (Under $75)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. Although power towers with dip bars are a great addition
Best 5 Kettlebells For Small Hands (2021)
As someone with smaller hands who struggles to maintain their grip on average kettlebells, I know just how challenging it can be to find a
Best Powerlifting Gym Bag: Top 5 Picks (2021)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. If you’ve been part of the powerlifting community, chances are
What Mouthpiece Does Brian Shaw Wear? (And, Why He Wears It?)
Lifting heavy weights can place a significant amount of stress on your jaw, especially if you tend to clench or grind your teeth under a
What Mouthpiece Does Rich Froning Wear? (And, Why Wear It)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. More and more athletes are starting to realize the benefits
New Age Performance Mouthpiece Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. A lot of science-backed research has proven how mouthpieces can
AIRWAAV Mouthpiece Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
Mouthpieces are exploding in popularity amongst athletes due to the science-backed claims of their effects on athletic performance. AIRWAAV is the latest mouthpiece to hit
Best 5 Mouthpieces for CrossFit (2021)
CrossFitters are known for spending a lot of money on gear to protect their knees, backs, wrists, and hands. But they often overlook two of
Plastic Kettlebell vs Iron Kettlebell: Pros, Cons, Differences
Before I got more involved in kettlebell training it seemed clear to me that the iron kettlebells were of better quality than the plastic kettlebells,
Best 5 Kettlebells For The Money (That Are Still Well Made)
When I’m purchasing a kettlebell I want to make sure I’m getting the best kettlebell for the price I’m paying. However, I still need a
Adidas Weightlifting Singlet Review: Pros, Cons, Worth It?
Adidas is incredibly popular among weightlifters and powerlifters because of their lifting shoes, but I noticed that Adidas singlets do not seem as popular –
E-Coat vs Powder Coat Kettlebells: Pros, Cons, Differences
Kettlebell manufacturers are always working to create the best products on the market, and most recently this has been done by adding coatings. At first
Adjustable vs Standard Kettlebell: Pros, Cons, Differences
When I first got involved in training with kettlebells I didn’t know when an adjustable or standard kettlebell was more beneficial, but I’ve learned that
5 Best Lifting Gloves With Wrist Support (2021)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. There are several different styles of lifting gloves that are
5 Best Lifting Gloves For Small Hands (2021)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. Lifters with smaller than average hands generally have a hard
3 Best Lifting Gloves for Cold Weather (2021)
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. If you’re working out in your non-heated garage in cold
Nike Weightlifting Singlet Review: Pros, Cons, Worth It?
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases. I’ve had my eye on the Nike Weightlifting singlet ever
Powder Coat vs Competition Kettlebells: Pros & Cons
When I decided to purchase a kettlebell, I quickly realized that there are so many types of kettlebells on the market and I had no