do you put a 600 lbs prowler on your back and run with it?
Yoke is 1000000000x worse than prowler pushes. Prowler pushes are pretty much the easiest thing I do in my training. Yoke is the worst.
Ok, so as far as equipment goes: I’ll start with wrist wraps. That was pretty much the first thing I ever bought, even before a belt. It’s a good idea, mostly because they are cheap. I recommend not getting the stiffest ones you can find. Find some with some give. You’re not moving weights that require very stiff wraps, they’ll just be uncomfortable.
I don’t think you need a soft belt. I use one, but I’m also 34 years old and totally broken down, lol. I use my soft belt in the following ways: front carries, stone loading, and under my hard belt for log and axle press. I use it on the presses because I kept pinching my skin on the cleans, and i just didn’t want to deal with it anymore. I use it on carries and stones for the obvious benefit of support without restricted mobility. It’s nice to have, but something you don’t need right away, UNLESS you’re doing a lot of axle clean and pressing already. Then I’d probably look into it.
To be honest, most of the equipment I own is because my joints hurt. Neoprene sleeves are a good example of that. They’re something of a luxury, and probably not necessary at your age. Sleeves won’t really do much for performance. They just keep my joints warm between sets/events.
As others have said, straps are necessary. The only thing you can’t really go without in strongman. I only own figure 8’s. I don’t believe the brand matters at all. Mine are cheap, and I’ve lifted 800 lbs with them. I think they’re pretty much all coming out of the same factory.
EDIT: forgot to mention my thoughts on ‘regular’ straps. I don’t like them. They’re not appropriate for deadlift medleys, because it takes too long to wrap them around the bars. Figure 8’s are far more efficient. They also won’t slip on high reps. I’ve also seen regular straps slip completely off an axle bar that didn’t have knurling. I saw a guy miss 540 with regular straps in a comp, make the jump to 580 with figure 8’s, and get the lift. Don’t be that guy. Figure 8’s are better, period. I would only use regular straps if figure 8’s were banned.
oly shoes are not necessary. Just another luxury. Flat, hard soles are all you need. You can try different shoes for events like yoke and other moving events. People have different preferences on that.
