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For taking part in bootcamp, you will need a few pieces of personal equipment. Choosing your equipment right the first time will save you some money in the long run. Most of the equipment can be purchased at one of the following stores in the Victoria area (Canadian Tire, Walmart, Sport Check, XS Cargo, Winners, London Drugs, Zellers, Sportstraders, Lululemon or Mountain Equipment Co-op). Prices vary significantly depending on the store and quality of equipment. It isn’t necessary to go out and spend a ton of money buying top of the line gear. However, just like anything else, you get what you pay for. Below you will find a quick guide on how to choose the equipment that is best for you-and how to take care of it too!

Yoga Mat
Price: $10-$45+
What to look for: Choose one that is made of PVC, Rubber or Polymer Environmental Resin (a PVC free mat will be more environmentally friendly, but will not last as long). These materials are durable and resist water well. Stay away from cotton, foam and Styrofoam. These will absorb water and will not dry as easily. If you have bad knees or like a little extra padding, try a thicker ‘ultra’ mat such as one designed for Pilates. Finally, although not detrimental, choose a mat that is of a darker colour, as the lighter ones will show the mud stains easily.
Care: Don’t roll the mat if it has been wet from class. Store open as much as possible or folded loosely and standing vertically. To clean, use a little mild soap (we recommend 7th Generation Dish Soap), water and a very soft brush (like a hand broom) or cloth. Rinse well as it will hold onto the soap. Dry open on a towel and stand on the mat to push the water out and into the towel. To disinfect between washes, use a mixture of water and tea tree oil. This will help maintain the mat as well as be a little more environmentally friendly.

Hand Weights
Price: $1-$1.50 per pound
What to look for: Choose a weight that is appropriate for your fitness level. At boot camp we focus more on muscle endurance to fatigue muscles. So, we do a larger number of sets and repetitions. On average, men start with 5-7lbs and women choose 3-5lbs. You can also choose to bring multiple sets of weights, so you can bounce between different weights for different exercises. For example, you might like to have heavier weights to do bicep curls and lighter one for tricep extensions. Furthermore, choose ones that have a neoprene coating. The coating prolongs the life of the weights by protecting them from drops and will be more comfortable on the hands in colder weather than weights made solely of metal.
Care: Try to avoid dropping and aggressively hitting them against hard surfaces. Even though they are forged steel the ends tend to crack and fall off.

Resistance Band
Price: $6-$20+
What to look for: Like the hand weights, choose a band that is appropriate for your fitness level. Step down onto the centre of the band with one foot and with one hand in each handle. Raise straight arms to shoulder height out in front of you (as if you’re were holding out a carpet and shaking it out). This should be challenging but possible to do. Some manufacturers colour code their bands to represent different tensions. The colour coding system is not universal, so try it out before you buy.
Care: Try to do your exercises on surfaces like grass or sand. Gravel or cement can cause early deterioration in the rubber. Inspect your band often and replace it as soon as you notice any little cuts or thinning in the rubber to avoid the band snapping and injuring you during exercises.

Headlamp* (*October-March only)
Price: $16-$30+
What to look for: The smaller the better. Choose an LED over a traditional bulb lamp. It is more compact, lasts longer and costs less. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to meet your needs. This is really for making you more visible to drivers when we go running.
Care: Remove batteries in the off-season to avoid leakage from the batteries.