What equipment is needed for P90x?

Carmen829

Cathlete
What type of equipment will I need to do this system? I mean besides dumbbells and barbell. Will I need to purchase additional equipment like a chin up tower?

Thanks.

Carmen
 
I have the same question. I bought Arms and Shoulders and Core Synergistics and LOVE them both. I am planning to buy the whole set but I'm very confused about pull up bars and bands. What do I need??? I can probably do a couple of unassisted pullups, but not more than a couple. Do I need the "ironwoody" bands? A pull up bar? I've seen a hook set up with bands coming from it. I'm so confused. What's the best way to go ????
 
Hi, Carmen. I just started P90X yesterday, so I am a newbie....BUT. From all the reading and research I've done (and the 2 completed workouts and 2 other previewed), all you need is dumbbells for the weight work. For pull ups, either a pull up bar, pull up tower, or bands. Personally, I'm fortunate enough to have a power tower in my workout area, so I'll be using that, but I know a lot of other women are using the bands instead. That's pretty much it. Add in a sticky mat for yoga and blocks if you're not all that flexible (I'm not too flexible, but I didn't buy the blocks). Water. Your attitude. That's about it.

Perhaps somebody else who's been at P90X longer than myself will chime in if I missed something!

Gayle
 
Do you need bands AND a chin up bar for the pull ups? I saw a picture of someone who had bands and was using them on a hook over a door. Is that effective? (because it looks cheaper and easier than a bar . . . but I want to do the best thing even if it's more expensive and more work to set up).
 
The Woody bands are to assist with pull ups if you can't do any on your own strength as an alternative to using the chairl. Here is a thread about it from VF. I may decide to purchase the Woody bands the next time I do a roatation. I also like the Krista Smash method that is also shown in this thread for someone who can't do pull ups.

http://forum.videofitness.com/showthread.php?t=96152
 
Oh, Fannie! That link is LOADED with awesome info on pull ups, bands, assisteds, etc. THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOO much for linking it here. I think I'm going to invest in a set of bands to use with my power tower. Oh.....happy day! lol

Gayle
 
Well, there are different kinds of bands, so that's what's causing the confusion here, I think.

There is a type of over-the-door band set that you can use INSTEAD of a pull-up/chin-up bar. I think you can get a good workout with these, but I have heard from several people that they felt they were missing out on something. You can buy this kind of band on the beachbody site (or elsewhere, but you probably want to start there so you can see what they're recommending).

OR, you can get a doorway pull-up bar (also called a "chin-up bar") for about $30 from any sporting good store. I have one of these and the installation was simple. The bar itself is very sturdy because it's screwed into the doorjamb - that's what makes it stable. It isn't as intrusive as it sounds, though; I think it has all of 10 little screw holes which can be easily spackled when it comes down.

Then, there are ALSO bands (the Iron Woodys pull-up assist set) that you can use WITH the pull-up bar for an assisted pull-up. Some people seem to really like these, but IMO they're kind of pricey (about $60 or so). It may be a good idea for you to get the bar installed first and try your pull-ups with a chair to see how that feels for you. If that assist feels too awkward, then you'd get the assist set.

Hope that helps. P90X is an awesome set and I am really enjoying the rotation. Like you, though, I spent a lot of time being confused about the equipment prior to purchase. It's spelled out for you really carefully in the set documentation, though.

Good luck!!

Marie
 
I use bands with an over the door attachment. They give me a good workout and my back still gets DOMS from this method. If I had my pick though, I would have a pull-up bar. My husband insists that the doorway I use is not stable enough. I need to make room for a tower. I think that will be for round 2 of P90X.

Monica
 
Hi everyone! Gosh I just don't get over here much.

I'm on week 3 of round 2 and LOVE the X. Here's what worked for me

We bought the pull up bar BB was selling last summer - SADLY they have discontinued it (i hear) for a standard pull up bar. I used the bands (green ones) and looped them over the bar. There was NO way I was ready for pullups at that point. FINALLY in week 12 I could do 1 pullup (actually chin up).

SUDDENLY in round 2 I could do 5 chinups - today (week 3) I did 10 and 5 pullups! (unassisted but the first I use the stool). This round I've "discontinued the bands". Funny I thought I was pretty strong going into this but it has taken a LONG time to be able to do these.

I'll try to check in here more often!
 

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