3 Fitness Products Invented by SEALs

The Perfect Pushup and Pullup

My former SEAL buddy, Alden Mills, has created awesome fitness products that capture the most beloved and most hated exercises we do in the SEAL teams and at BUD/S.

The rotational motion of his products challenge the best pull-up and push-up performers. His products cut my reps in half, and after a year of using the Perfect Pushup, they still work like new and continue to make my push-ups tougher. For $39.95, you cannot beat the price for an actual fitness product that you will use several times a week.

With him, I created the Perfect Pushup Bible that challenges the push-ups, pull-ups, abs, running and swimming workouts of old. Supplemented with some weights, the Perfect Pushup and Pullup are great additions to a home weight room.

​​​​​​​Read Stew's Review on The Perfect Pushup

The TRX

Fitness in a bag! Former SEAL Randy Hetrick has created a device that is easy to carry and so versatile that I still cannot name all the exercises you can do with this thing. My latest count is more than 200 exercises. In an article, I compared his TRX to a universal weight machine, and for a tenth of the price, it easily outperforms the machine tenfold.

Check out any Youtube.com video, and you will see an arsenal of homemade videos from people performing their own challenging workouts with the TRX. The TRX is great for travelers; the straps are easy to pack and unfold in seconds.

On a personal note, I never have performed ab exercises and been winded until I tried suspended plank poses and pike push-up variations. I use this product near daily.

• Read Stew's Review on the TRX

• Slideshow: TRX Suspension Training

The FitDeck

Former SEAL Phil Black is probably the most genius of the bunch to take an idea and turn it into a successful business. When on a deployment or just bored, the SEALs and other military groups do a workout with a deck of cards.

It usually required some imagination: face cards = 10 push-ups, aces = 25 push-ups/25 abs, jokers = 50 reps of anything ... but what FitDeck does for you is to take out the mystery. When you shuffle the deck and start to flip the cards, you are told what you need to do. Now he has Pull-up Decks, Kettlebell Decks, Navy SEAL Decks, Combat Sports Decks and so many more -- even some for kids. When bored with your workout, throw out a deck of cards and create some excitement.

Shop for FitDeck

NavySEALs.com has grown into a huge store for the person seeking fitness, gear and accessories related to the military and law enforcement. Former Navy SEAL Mark Divine's creation has evolved into a premier online presence in the military news and information business. When people ask me where they can get boots, dive gear, books and other cool Navy SEAL stuff, I say go to NavySEAL.com. You can find anything quickly for the future, present or past military person.

Any of these make great gifts for the fitness guru in your family or those seeking a profession that requires some form of fitness test. I only like to write about products I use and traditionally have been a pull-up bar and some floor space-type of guy, but these products definitely add to the workout variety.

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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