Top 10 Gifts for the Wannabe 5/3/1 Acolyte

This list is for all of you out there who are tired of walking into the weight room with no clue what to do. Should you do 5×5, 10×3, a heavy single, or just go for the pump? With Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 Training System there will no longer be a question as to how you will push your body to its limits that day. Everything on this list are either things recommended by Wendler or are necessary for the program.

1. 5/3/1: The Simplest and Most Effective Training System for Raw Strength

This is a no brainer. If you want to follow your 5/3/1 religion you need the 5/3/1 bible. After reading this book, your entire training philosophy will be changed. I cannot express how simple the program is to follow and reap huge gains from it. Even if you’ve purchased 5/3/1 for powerlifting or football, I believe that you still need the book that started it all.
$19.99
531: The Simplest and Most Effective Training System for Raw Strength (E-book)
The book that will make you strong.
Jim Wendler EBOOK-WENDLER-531
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2. Texas Power Bar

5/3/1 is based around four main barbell lifts. You can’t use the leg press, chest press, leg curl, and pulldown machines as your primary lifts. That being the case, you need a bar that will take a beating and hold some serious weight. People don’t realize the value of a really good bar until they have held one in their hands. It will hold up to 1500lbs so prepare to have a LONG 5/3/1 cycle!

$328.00
Texas Power Bar
The best all around bar
USA Sports DSTBB-AOB-2000B
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3. Build Your Own 3×3 Professional Rack

So far this list is going in order of importance. You can’t follow the program without the book (don’t look it up for free online…) or a bar. However, unless you only want to deadlift or clean and press, you need a rack to squat and bench out of! This rack offers 1.5 to 2 inch hole spacing so you’ll be able to set up the J-Hooks and spotter pins for lifters or all shapes and sizes.

$1,449.99
Power Rack – Build Your Own 3×3 Professional Rack
This is the ideal rack for you, because you get to build it!
Custom made for EFS DSWS-EF-PRR3
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4. EFS Super Heavy Wrist Wrap

Wendler recommends using wrist wraps for bench pressing and military pressing. He uses 24 inch (60cm) wraps. These wraps will not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but they will give you support like a cast and make the weights feel light in your hands. They’re perfect for setting a pressing PR!

$22.00
EFS Super Heavy Wrist Wrap
For those that need maximum wrist support.
Custom made for EFS A-EFSSUPERHEAVYWW
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5. Gym Chalk

Jim says that if your commercial gym does not allow chalk, sneak it in anyway. Also, you should probably cancel your membership, buy everything on this list, and put it in your garage. Commercial gyms don’t want you to be safe or strong.

$14.95
Gym Chalk
8 blocks per pack
A-CHALK
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6. Rack Dip Attachment

According to Jim, if you’re ever at a loss for what to do on upper body day, do dips – lots of them. This dip attachment will fit right into your elitefts™ rack. You can even order it WITH your 3×3 rack seen above. This will be good for after your Friday military press session to get a wicked awesome pump for the weekend!

$195.00
Rack Dip Attachment
Rack Dip Attachment
Custom made for EFS DSWS-DIP
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7. Rack Chin Bar Attachment

This can also be purchased along with your elitefts™ rack. Wendler’s Official Scientific Exercise Description is to “just bring yourself up to a bar and back down again.” Use this in conjunction with the Rack Dip Attachment for maximum pump.

8. Prowler® 2

The Prowler is an essential tool in both Wendler’s N.O.V. template and his 5/3/1 for Powerlifting Conditioning Assistance Template. What can I say about the Prowler® that hasn’t already been said? We have all experienced, or at least heard of the pain, agony, and suffering that this evil metal frame on skids will unleash. I got a lower back pump just taking mine out of the box and putting it together. Then, as a measure of my intelligence, I put 90 pounds on it and pushed it for half a mile! It only took me 75 minutes. Never again…

$369.00
Prowler® 2: The Prowler®
You’ve heard of it, now try it for yourself.
DSWS-R-P2S
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9. EFS Foam Roller 36×6

Since nearly everything I listed above causes general wear, tear, and abuse to your body, some form of rehab and recovery is necessary (not the kind needed from Jim Beam). Wendler recommends foam rolling before every workout and sometimes up to three times per day.

$19.95
EFS Foam Roller 36×6
Work out the kinks with our tough roller.
A-EFSFOAMROLLER-366
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10. EFS Lever Belt 10mm

Jim recommends wearing a belt for your work sets on all four main lifts. Some people do not believe in wearing belts because they think your lower back and abs will become weak. If you’re training these areas hard, then this is nothing to worry about. Lift heavy and lift safely.

$76.00
EFS Lever Belt 10mm
Easy open, easy close.
Custom made for EFS A-EFSLEVERBELT
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This list has everything you need to follow a simple, effective system for raw strength. Even if you don’t want to follow Jim’s program, every lifter can benefit from the items on this list. Chalk up, put the Texas Power Bar in your hands or on your back, and go for some PRs. Small, slow, and weak is no way to go through life!

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