I am really tempted to buy a sled but is it worth the dough? How many times per week do you guys like to use it for GPP?
I have one. I think it’s great, but I only use it during certain times of the year.
You can definitely have someone make you one for much less than it costs.
Are you talking about the sled pull thing? I stole my neighbor’s trash can lid and fixed it up a bit, threw some heavy rocks in it, tied a rope around the hole (make one in near the edge of the side you plan to pull, but not too close or it will break), and start running, or pulling.
sled dragging is very addicting, there’s something powerful about pulling weight with your body, just don’t overdo it a couple of times per week to increase your GPP is enough.
I do it twice a week and I love it and my wife and daughters do it (occasionally) as well.
heres a tip before you spend 200 on a commerical sled.
Put together a make-shift one-just about anything will do. Get a rope and length of chain and secure it to your belt and see if you like it. I made a sled out of an old coke crate-It works very, very well and I am not sure I will ever get a commerical one-but we all love our new toys.
Keith
I just use a 44 gallon drum lid with a hole drilled into the rim with a carabina attached. Its works great and cost about $5 to make !
For another cheapy…
Find an old tractor trailer tire (badly damaged ones have no value and a tire store will gladly give you one). Punch a couple of holes in it and attach a rope.
If you are creative you can fabricate a harness out of a 1" wide nylon sling (tie down strap) like those found at Home depot, harbor freight, Lowes, etc. My harness cost $1.25 and I would put it up against any commercial unit. I did have a pop rivet gun to make the attachments easier however.
These old tires are pretty heavy (I’m guessing between 100 and 125 pounds for my smaller one and about 150 pounds for the larger one. The shape of the tire also works well on uneven ground. I wouldn’t recommend on asphalt/concrete however.
Back to your other question, 1-2 times per week, depending on weather…
I second the ‘twice a week’ and ‘build a cheap sled’ advice. A small homemade wooden pallet and a few $5 bags of sand or salt from the home supply store are all you need.
Since sled work is for recovery/GPP I don’t include it as part of a workout session. I keep mine in my vehicle (avoiding the need to lug plates in/out of the house) and drag in the work parking lot during lunch hour.
The sled aids my recovery more than increasing work capacity since I am less than huge (5’10 ~195lbs). However, I have noticed slightly less hyperventilation after 20-rep squats.
I use mine two to three times per week. I made it with a simple design in mind and about 40 bucks of materials from Home Depot. I way overbuilt it, could have probably made it with the same design in mind but for about 15 bucks had I scrounged some.
Is it worth it? Its the cheapest and most versatile piece of training equipment I own. So hell yeah its worth it.
[quote]G. McCormack wrote:
I use mine two to three times per week. I made it with a simple design in mind and about 40 bucks of materials from Home Depot. I way overbuilt it, could have probably made it with the same design in mind but for about 15 bucks had I scrounged some.
Is it worth it? Its the cheapest and most versatile piece of training equipment I own. So hell yeah its worth it.
[/quote]
Right on! I use skids on a dirt track and when I’m finished I have a beautiful sprint track. On grass or indoors use a piece of old carpet folded in half and toss some weights, sandbags, logs, or concrete blocks inside for weight.
Instead of a harness, I fashioned 2 rings out of garden hose with rope inside. Pulling the rings uses more core and shoulders. You can also put them around your ankles and do ankle drags, forward or barckward. These are brutal. Great for developing sprinting muscles. Side pulls (like a 2 - handed tennis backhand) is great for the core.
Use a 5’ piece of pipe with an eye bolt in each end and you’re good for rows, incline bench press, curls, overhead tricep extensions and you can even do a hang snatch. The added bonus is that you can do these movements ballistically.
Agreed, the best all-around piece of training equipment. Teaches force development from the ground up. If you do it wrong…you fall down and look stupid.
TNT
Why use standard gym equipment which is highly accessible, when you could delve into the esoteric to get the same job done?
[quote]Jones wrote:
Why use standard gym equipment which is highly accessible, when you could delve into the esoteric to get the same job done?[/quote]
‘Standard gym equipment’- which standard gym equipment?
‘Same job done’- what job?
Show me another tool which I can use as effectively to replicate the forces involved in a thai clinch (dragging by the back of the head), greco clinch head use (dragging by the front of the head), inside control with changing or shuffling footwork (pushing by the hands), work my gluts (pull-throughs), abductors (lateral walking, strap on lead ankle), adductors (strap on back ankle), hip flexors (walking, nl gait), knee split (shuffle, lead leg), and any other variant you care to come up with, while upping my work capacity, doing active recovery, and doing energy system work- for $150, at the most expensive.
If can show me that tool, I’ll buy it. As it is, sleds are a bargain, and much fun, and past all the practicalities, fun workouts are workouts you’re much more likely to do.
Andrew
“If can show me that tool,”
A training partner.
A training partner who’s that reliable and able to conform to my schedule? Hell, a reliable training partner, much less a reliable heavyweight.
I wish you were right. I’d truly love to have someone of comparable size and skill, completely on the same page, willing to drill at any time, living next door, on a similar schedule.
For the moment, I’ve got my sled, my squat rack, my heavy bag, and the practices I can make it to.
Andrew
[quote]Robert Monti wrote:
I am really tempted to buy a sled but is it worth the dough? How many times per week do you guys like to use it for GPP?[/quote]
I made a terrific sled from and old tire that i drilled a plywood bottom into, drilled holes and attached ropes, and just load with wieght (plates, bricks, my kids, or all three)
I tie it to my belt for straight dragging, but i can do all other variations as well. It literally has done wonders for increasing my work capacity. Build or buy one bro.
Seeing as I don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around and I’ve been wanting a sled, I’ll probably put one together myself soon.
Thanks for all the great ideas.