I just recently moved from an area with several great powerlifting-oriented gyms to a location with only two commercial gyms. One of those gyms has decent equipment (two squat racks, two benches, and dumbbells up to 120 pounds). However, it is only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Obviously, most of us work through the day and would never make it in the window of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The second gym has less equipment (one squat rack, one narrow bench, and dumbbells up to 100 pounds) with 24-hour key access. Any self-respecting powerlifter would choose gym number 2 to ensure they can get their training in around their work schedule.

With that being said, there are just some items that you will need or were accustomed to when you had the experience to lift at a powerlifting gym with a great group of teammates. Here are my top five items for the serious powerlifter stuck with no other options but a commercial gym.

1. elitefts Box Squat

Every powerlifter can benefit from box squatting regardless of whether they compete raw or in gear. The problem with having a traditional solid wood box is trying to haul it in and out of your vehicle every time you want to box squat. Enter the elitefts Box Squat. This 18x16x14 box is perfect for box-squatting in a commercial gym. It is lightweight with a handle for easy carrying. The three different heights allow for quickly changing heights of the box if you are lucky enough to find a training partner in the void of a commercial gym. This box is extremely durable, making it perfect for max-effort or dynamic-effort squatting. Just remember, you are box-squatting, not squatting to a box.

2. elitefts Pro Resistance Band Pack

Now that we have a box for squatting, we can add dynamic-effort or speed squats into our training program. And what better way to execute our speed squats than using bands? The elitefts band pack comes with two mini, two light, two average, and two strong bands. With this band pack, you have everything you need to get started. You can now alter the resistance to the big three lifts as well as other exercises. The use of bands will help build velocity, strength, and force production, resulting in bigger PRs. And the best part is they easily fit into your gym bag. They will become one of your favorite training tools. I use bands for something every training session.

Bonus gift: Pro Monster Mini Band, for when the mini band is too light but the average band is too much.

3. elitefts Shoulder Saver Pad

Now that we have our squatting needs met in the commercial gym, it is time to move on to the bench. One of my favorite tools for increasing the bench is boards. Any good powerlifting gym will have them. However, we are in a commercial gym. Not only will we not have boards, but we also will probably not have someone to hold the boards for us. This is where the elitefts Shoulder Saver Pad comes in. This device easily attaches to the bar without fear of it falling off. When you touch your chest with this pad, it has an authentic board feel. It doesn't compress under weight or slide on the bar. The elitefts Shoulder Saver Pad is equivalent to a two-board press, which is the most common board used. Now we have something to effectively blast our triceps and build that monster bench. Let's move on to the deadlift.

4. Small Deadlift Bar Jack

Nothing is worse than trying to add plates to the bar for the deadlift. You either use a 5-pound plate to roll the weights on slide the plate on or you do the lift and slide. By the time you have the bar loaded, you need to take a rest before you can attempt that next big PR. If you were in one of those great powerlifting gyms, you would have a nice deadlift jack. However, we are stuck in a commercial gym. Enter the small deadlift bar jack. This jack is small enough to slip into your gym bag, yet strong enough to lift whatever you load on the bar. It is very easy to use and saves all of your energy for the actual deadlift. Just make sure you don't forget to put it back in your bag when you are done. Everyone who sees you use it will be waiting for an opportunity to steal it.

5. Deadlift Mats

After taking care of our bar loading needs, we will need a way to alter the lift for various resistance. We can add the bands that we got for gift two. Or we can use deadlifts mats. These mats are sold in sets of eight, which allow you to either elevate the bar three inches or elevate yourself six inches for deficit deadlifts and anywhere in between. This gives us a huge range of leverages to pull from to help build our weak points to accomplish that monster deadlift. They also come in handy in that commercial gym that frowns upon deadlifts because they "make too much noise." One mat under each side and one mat under your feet let you pull from the same height as the floor without the loud bang when the weight hits the floor. These mats can be used for other lifts to change height and leverage as well.

Making the transition from a good or great powerlifting gym can be very difficult, but it doesn't have to be impossible. With these five gifts, you can turn your commercial gym experience into a good one. You'll have everything you need to keep making and breaking PRs in the big three without breaking the bank on a home gym. And maybe you'll also be able to create some intrigue among other lifters in the gym who might become interested in powerlifting, which could lead to a training partner or even a training group. This will give you the greatest gift of all: the chance to live, learn, and pass on.


Rob Unger started lifting 23 years ago for high school football. The strength he built carried over well onto the field, where he extended his career to the collegiate level. After college, he joined the United States Marine Corps. After getting out of the Marine Corps, Rob needed something that he could put my focus into and help provide an outlet from everyday life. This was when he discovered powerlifting. He started in a commercial gym. From there, he changed to a strength-focused gym. After training on his own for a year at the new gym, Rob finally joined a group of like-minded lifters. He made the switch to geared lifting with the help of this team, which included Dave Kirschen. He currently trains at a commercial gym where he has purchased all of these gift items to help maximize his training.