The CrossFit Open is the worlds biggest international fitness competition. The 2023 CrossFit Open runs for 3 weeks from February 16-March 6. Anyone can sign up for the Open and compete against CrossFit’s biggest stars in the weekly workouts. A good result in the Open is the first step towards qualifying for the NOBULL CrossFit Games. The Open is also a great opportunity to compete against your friends, and against yourself. Luckily, you can complete The Open from your own home gym, provided you have the right equipment and follow the guidelines highlighted in this article.
If you are looking to qualify for the semi-finals or eventually make it to the CrossFit Games, then you may be interested in how strong Games athletes are. I’ve complied all of the 1 rep maxes of the 2022 Games athletes and identified the strength values of the average Games-qualifying athlete. You can read this breakdown by clicking here.
The Concept2 Rower sometimes makes an appearance in the CrossFit Open. Photo Credit: Trainingdaymedia.com/@amyaldw/@deltatrainLV
What Equipment Do You Need to Do the CrossFit Open at Home?
We won’t know exactly what equipment you need for the 2023 CrossFit Open until CrossFit HQ release their list near the end of January 2023. We can use historical workouts to get an idea of what you will need.
I went through every Open workout from 2017-2022 to determine what equipment typically shows up in the Open. Thankfully, CrossFit HQ picks workouts that do not require a lot of speciality equipment. Most CrossFitters with a well-stocked home gym will have the equipment they need to participate in the CrossFit Open at home.
The equipment you will need to do the CrossFit Open at Home:
- A pair of 35 lbs (women)/50 lbs (men) dumbbells
- A barbell (35lbs for women, 45 lbs for men)
- Bumper plates up to 205 lbs for women, 315 lbs for men
- A wall ball (14 lbs for women, 20 lbs for men)
- Pull up bar with room to perform muscle ups
- Skipping rope
- Gymnastic rings with room to perform muscle ups
- A plyometric box (20 inch tall for women, 24 inch tall for men)
- A programmable timer
- Video camera or phone
- Concept 2 Rower
Rogue Fitness has a few CrossFit Home Gym Packages available. The Bravo Package has most of the equipment that you’ll need to do Open at home, except a plyo box and rower. Rogue’s Warrior Package has a few extras compared to the Bravo Package, including a rower. The Warrior Package is missing a plyo box as well, though.
A full piece-by-piece buyer’s guide is also included at the bottom of this post.
Recent Changes in Programming and Equipment Needed
We saw the Concept 2 Rower come up in about 1 Open workout per year from 2017-2020 but haven’t seen it since. I would attribute its removal to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people would have performed the 2021 and 2022 CrossFit Open from their home. CrossFit HQ probably realized that most people don’t have access to a rower, so they kept it out of their programming. It will be interesting to see if the Concept 2 Rower will make a return in 2023, as more people return to their box’s on a regular basis. I’d also keep an eye out for Echo Bikes/Assault Bikes making an appearance in 2023.
The Equipment Free CrossFit Open
CrossFit HQ implemented an equipment free version of the CrossFit Open in 2021. This was in response to the difficulty of training in 2020 due to COVID, and because most boxes were closed in 2021. The equipment free version was continued in 2022. I would expect the equipment free version will be a yearly option going forward as it allows more people to take part.
In this case, you just need a large open space like a garage or driveway.
How to Compete in the CrossFit Open from your Home Gym
You can compete in the CrossFit Open without having to go into a CrossFit gym. Competitors that perform Open workouts at home need to submit a video of the complete workout via their CrossFit.com account. The videos may be audited by an internal review team to ensure movement standards were met and reps were counted properly. Your score may be modified as a result of the review process.
In 2022, you could perform the Open with a registered judge. Registered judges had to be certified by CrossFit by completing an online Judges Course. This was essentially the same as having your score judged in a CrossFit gym, but allowed for people to complete their workout at home. Performing the Open workouts in front of a registered judge was not included as an option in the 2023 CrossFit Games Rulebook.
For now, it appears that you must submit videos of your workouts if you do not complete the Open at a CrossFit gym. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the registered judge option comes back into play depending on the COVID situation in early 2023.
CrossFit Open Equipment Buyers Guide
Dumbbells:
Barbell:
- 45 lbs: Rogue Ohio Bar
- Budget option: Synergee Games Barbell
- 35 lbs: Rogue Bella Bar
- Budget option: Synergee Open Barbell
Bumper Plates:
Wall Balls:
Pull Up Bar:
Skipping Rope:
Gymnastic Rings:
Plyometric Box:
Programmable Timer:
Video Camera + Tripod:
Concept 2 Rower:
Now you’re all set up with what equipment you will need to take part in the CrossFit Open from your home gym. You may be interested in some further reading about CrossFit, which you can check out below.
Read More CrossFit Related Content:
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