CrossFit Games for Gym Owners: Gear, Tools & New Growth Opportunities

Last Updated on 28 January, 2026

For gym owners, the CrossFit Games are one of the few events where competition, education, vendors, and business strategy all collide in one place. 

This guide breaks down the CrossFit Games gear and tools worth packing, what accessories and equipment to evaluate on-site, how to fuel long days on your feet, and how to turn event week into real post-event ROI. 

We’ll also discuss how CrossFit management software can streamline your operations, from scheduling and member engagement to tracking performance and sales, helping you make the most of what you learn at the Games.

If you’re running a CrossFit gym and thinking beyond spectating, this is your playbook.

Key Takeaways: CrossFit Games

• The CrossFit Games are a business opportunity. Go in with clear goals around learning, partnerships, and revenue ideas.
• Pack light and plan for long days. Comfort, hydration, and mobility matter more than over-preparing.
• Use the Games to observe what holds up under real volume, not to make impulse purchases.
• Treat vendor demos and conversations as shortlisting exercises, especially for equipment and software.
• Post-event follow-through is where ROI happens. Decide what to test within a week, or momentum fades fast.

Why the CrossFit Games Matter for Gym Owners

For owners, the Games are less about hero workouts and more about pattern recognition. You get a live look at where programming trends are heading, how top gyms think about member experience, and which vendors are actually solving operational pain points.

More importantly, the Games create three concrete opportunities:

• Learning: Education sessions, coaching roundtables, and informal peer conversations you can’t replicate online.
• Partnerships: Software, equipment, apparel, and recovery vendors all in one place, often with show-only pilots or pricing.
• Revenue plays: New class formats, specialty programs, and retention ideas you can bring home and test immediately.

Learn more about the CrossFit Games spectator experience here.

CrossFit Games Gear

Long event days mean a lot of walking, waiting, standing, and note-taking. The goal is to pack light, stay mobile, and avoid hauling gear you’ll never touch.

Personal Carry vs. Ops Essentials

Split your packing into two categories. Personal carry covers what stays on you all day. Ops essentials live in a locker, backpack, or hotel room and support longer days without weighing you down.

15 CrossFit Games Gear You’ll Actually Use

Before you head to the CrossFit Games, make sure you’ve packed smart. You’ll be on your feet, moving between events, and exploring the vendor village, so these essentials will keep you comfortable and prepared all day long:

• Comfortable shoes you can stand in for hours
• Refillable water bottle
• Portable phone charger or battery pack
• Sunglasses and a hat
• Sunscreen
• Light jacket or hoodie for temperature swings
• Notebook or tablet for vendor notes
• Pen/pencil
• Hand wipes or sanitizer
• Small towel
• Minimal backpack or sling
• Electrolytes

CrossGit Games Snacks & Fueling

Fueling poorly makes everything harder, including decision-making. 

Here are some CrossFit Games snacks you should pack:

• Packable carbs: Rice cakes, granola bars, dried fruit, small portions of nuts
• Protein: Jerky, protein bars, shakes
• Electrolytes: Single-serve packets or tablets
• Hydration: Refillable bottle plus backup option

Skip anything messy or heavy.

CrossFit Games Accessories

Accessories are where small decisions make big differences, especially if you plan to test products before rolling them out to members. At the Games, that includes both physical accessories and operational tools you can evaluate in real time.

Grips, Rope, Tape Selection Criteria that Matter

Ignore branding first. Focus on durability, sizing consistency, replacement lead times, and whether the vendor can support bulk orders for affiliates. Ask about failure rates and warranty claims.

Travel-Friendly Add-Ons to Stay Comfortable and Prepared

Compression sleeves, minimalist knee support, and packable recovery tools are worth having on hand. Comfort matters when you’re networking all day.

Software Demos to Book a Pilot Plan

Not every “accessory” at the Games is physical. Vendor villages are also one of the few chances gym owners get to see business software in action, ask real questions, and compare workflows side by side.

This is a good time to explore CrossFit management software that offers an all-in-one setup for scheduling, payments, marketing, personalized training plans, and loyalty programs, especially if you’re looking to simplify operations after the event.

If you want a deeper breakdown, this guide on What’s the Best Software For CrossFit Gyms? walks through key features and comparisons.

CrossGit Games Equipment

Official CrossFit Games equipment requirements are published ahead of the event, which makes the Games a rare chance to see gym equipment used at scale. Instead of spec sheets, you’re watching how gear performs under real volume.

• What to look at first: rigs, bars, plates, rowers, bikes, flooring, and storage systems. The goal isn’t to buy on the spot, but to narrow options based on what actually holds up.
• Think in terms of class flow. Notice which setups allow smooth transitions and which create bottlenecks. If equipment slows movement or crowds athletes together, it will cause friction in daily classes.
• Layout and durability matter more than branding. Pay attention to rig spacing, flooring wear, and how surfaces handle repeated drops. Wear patterns often tell you more than sales pitches.
• Apparel deserves the same scrutiny. If you sell retail or outfit staff, focus on durability under sweat, friction, and frequent washing. Ask how items perform months in, not how they feel on day one.
• Before committing, get specifics. Specs, lead times, and warranties matter more than aesthetics when your schedule depends on reliable equipment.

Event Week Game Plan

A simple daily structure keeps the week productive and prevents burnout.

Time of Day	Focus	What To Do
Morning	Marquee events	Arrive early for athlete heats and key events. Observe programming trends, coaching cues, and equipment setups. Take notes on anything that could influence class design or facility layout.
Late morning to midday	Vendor village	Schedule demos with software providers, equipment manufacturers, and apparel brands. Compare pricing, ask about affiliate programs or bulk discounts, and collect key materials.
Afternoon	Education sessions	Attend coaching workshops or affiliate owner panels. Prioritize topics tied to your current challenges, such as retention, staff development, or marketing.
Evening	Networking	Connect intentionally with other gym owners, coaches, and vendors at social events or informal meetups. Exchange contact info and note follow-up actions.
Night	Recovery and review	Stretch, hydrate, and review your notes. Identify one or two insights to apply the next day.

Leave buffer time between each block. Some of the most valuable conversations and opportunities happen spontaneously in hallways or vendor lines.

Post-Event ROI Plan

The real work starts after you get home. Within one week, review notes, shortlist vendors, and decide what to test first. Pilot one operational improvement, one member-facing upgrade, and one retention initiative.

If you’re looking for a way to organize and implement those changes efficiently, this is a good point to explore CrossFit management software such as WellnessLiving, which can streamline scheduling, payments, staff coordination, and member communication in one system.

One example is Natural Selection CrossFit, where owner Leo Barillas used WellnessLiving to simplify daily operations and reclaim time after years of juggling systems. 

“WellnessLiving has simplified things for me. The layout works really, really well,” he notes, adding that it was easier to use than other platforms he’d tried.

That kind of operational clarity is what allows ideas from events like the Games to actually make it onto the gym floor.

Next Steps

The CrossFit Games are a concentrated snapshot of where the industry is heading. With the right CrossFit Games gear and tools, a clear plan, and a follow-through mindset, they become a growth lever instead of just a fun trip.

If you’re ready to tighten operations and support growth year-round, book a demo with WellnessLiving and see how their platform fits the realities of running a CrossFit gym.

❓ FAQs About CrossFit Games Gear and Tools ❓