Barbells and dumbbells are the ultimate tools for strength and muscle, and in a world of divisiveness, this is something most can agree on. Their advantages outweigh their disadvantages, and you cannot go wrong with both unless you overuse them.
Other fitness qualities are equally important, like mobility and flexibility, and there are different ways to provide resistance that don’t involve a barbell, like a resistance band. Creative fitness entrepreneurs are constantly inventing tools that come up with solutions to the problems they see and finding novel ways to load the human body.
When you are looking to think outside the box to strengthen your body to make it move better and to be more resilient, these four unique gym tools could just be what the doctor ordered.
“The journey to develop the Mantis Grappler began as we worked closely with injured athletes,” explains Mantis creator Curt Ligot. “What I discovered was a game-changer—isometrics. These static exercises proved to be highly effective not just for recovery but also for strengthening joints.
“The Mantis Grappler now offers various movement patterns and customized programs. It’s not just athletes who should use it; it has found its way into the hands of trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists, yoga instructors, and health-conscious exercisers,” explains Ligot.
How The Mantis Grappler Works
Isometrics (muscle tension without movement) makes the Mantis Grappler go. Combining isometrics with the Mantis Grappler, you can push and pull, targeting every muscle in the body from various angles. But what sets it apart is the ability to go into extended ranges of motion, pinpointing the crucial muscle-tendon connection. This ability improves mobility and helps you better control muscle tension in these extended ranges of motion.
What does that mean for you? It means you’ll get stronger, more mobile, and injury-resistant.
Benefits And Who Should Use It
The Mantis Grappler is not a replacement for what you’re currently doing but will enhance it, mainly when used in the warmups and as part of your accessory routine. It’s a perfect complement to free weights and other resistance tools.
Unlike other exercise tools, the resistance is all you. So, whether you’re a beginner or advanced, you can generate the resistance you need. The Mantis Grappler suits everybody, from athletes who want to improve tendon health and sports performance to the general population who want to improve mobility and posture.
“As a strength and conditioning coach for professional tennis players, I was always looking for ways for the athletes to reach their full potential,” says Raja Chaudhuri, owner and inventor of Synapse. I continued to look at studies around supramaximal eccentric training (eccentric overload)—a form of exercise with a long list of benefits.”
Despite its benefits, the risk-reward ratio does not justify engaging in eccentric overload training with conventional resistance methods. Synapse solves the limitations of traditional resistance and unlocks true eccentric overload in a safe, efficient manner.” explains Chaudhuri.
How Synapse Works
The Synapse® creates a 4:1 mechanical muscle advantage, using a cable pulley system (Custom Calibrated Resistance™) that can generate the equivalent of 660 pounds. This will attach to a squat rack or can be anchored in a door. While it focuses on eccentric contraction, you can also generate force with concentric and isometric contraction. Taking advantage of a partner (or you), pulling, or pushing on one side will create a force for the lifer to overcome.
Benefits And Who Should Use It
As no ‘traditional weight” is involved, there is less stress on the joints, making it an excellent option for those suffering from joint pain. That makes it an excellent alternative for athletes who want to reduce wear and tear during the season and for the active senior population whose joints are not what they used to be.
This is ideal for athletes looking to take their game to the next level and home exercisers looking to add spice to their home workouts.
As the focus is on the eccentric, using the Synapse will improve strength gains while reducing joint stress. This leads to improved tendon and ligament strength, which can reduce injury risk. Synapse can be used as a replacement for traditional strength training methods or used in conjunction with.
“The inspiration for the F2 Adapters dawned during the challenging times of the pandemic when gyms were shut and fitness equipment became a precious commodity,” says Al Smith, inventor and owner of the F2. “Faced with the scarcity of barbells, I mentally deconstructed the standard barbell, hoping to devise a solution for myself. During this creative process, I recognized that a barbell essentially comprises a bar and a 2” Olympic-sized sleeve. So, I ventured into my garage, crafted the prototype, and paired it with a standard steel bar, effectively creating the F2 Adapter.”
How It Works
You can use the F2 Adapter on any steel bar or take your existing sleeve off and attach the F2 to take advantage of the inside collar attachment. Most barbell sleeves were only designed to fit 1-inch diameter bars, but the F2 adapter works on a 1-inch and 1.25-inch bar. Its ability to attach to different-size bars makes the F2 adapter unique from other sleeves, and it can also be used as a stand-alone attachment to perform other free-weight exercises using weight plates.
Benefits and Who Should Use It
The F2 Adapter is geared for the home workout enthusiast looking for equipment that serves multiple functions. The F2 is used on a barbell, and the inside collar attaches bands and chains without the hassle of intertwining them with the weight plates, making it easier to set up and put away. Besides being an Olympic sleeve, it’s a stand-alone tool for exercises like box squats, Yoke carries, belt squats, and upper body exercises like bentover rows.
“I’m a coach whose goal is to develop durable, injury-resistant athletes who can enjoy a level of longevity in their ability to move and perform at their highest level,” says Tim Manson, inventor and owner of the R3 Bar. Athletes cannot compete at a high level if they’re injured. The bigger, faster, stronger traditional approach is needed, but not to the detriment of healthy movement and longevity.
The R3Bar was invented inclusively for my clients and the health of my very aging yet extremely active body – which was experiencing 58 years of joint and connective tissue deterioration. Then my clients encouraged me to bring it to market, and the R3 Bar was born,” he adds.
How It Works
The R3 Bar is a bar that serves as an attachment point for looped resistance bands. The problem with looped bands is that they are challenging to hold, limiting the amount of exercise you can do. As great as it is, the barbell provides stress for your joints and locks them into a specific range of motion. The R3 Bar solves both issues using the bar, your feet, and bands. You can strengthen your body from various angles without too much joint stress.
Benefits and Who Should Use It
If you’re an older lifter, an athlete looking to train around joint pain while improving performance, or a home exerciser looking for a space-saving tool for a great workout, the R3 fits the bill.
The R3BAR is designed to improve athletic performance, mobility, and movement. It requires the exerciser to stabilize under light, moderate, and heavy loads during simple and complex movement patterns in all planes of motion. This tool provides immediate feedback to the exerciser, improving their body awareness, posture, and movement quality.
