Altitude tent
A sealed sleeping chamber that thins the air to simulate high altitude
The bed sits inside a tent or box fed by a generator that lowers the oxygen content of the air to mimic sleeping at several thousand feet. The idea, known as live high, train low, is to nudge red blood cell production overnight while training at full intensity at sea level by day. Specialist endurance-sport kit: it costs thousands, hums all night and makes sharing a bedroom strange.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Michael PhelpsDoes it
Olympic swimmer · Most decorated Olympian in history
Slept in a sealed chamber set to the equivalent of around 8,500 feet while preparing for London 2012, telling 60 Minutes he had to open a door inside his own bedroom to get to bed. It was a recovery aid for that Olympic cycle, not a current habit.
Source: Yahoo Sports: Michael Phelps keeps his Beijing gold medals in a makeup case, sleeps in a high-altitude chamber - Nick BareDoes it
Hybrid athlete · Bare Performance Nutrition founder
All his Leadville training happened in Texas, which is no preparation for the Rockies, so he slept in a Hypoxico altitude tent at a simulated 12,000 feet and put in Stairmaster hours to get ready for the climbing.
Source: BPN: What I Learned From My First 100-Mile Ultra
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under fitness.
- Gear$$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.
Home gym
A private training space at home, from a garage rack to a fully equipped room
On record from 7 of 62 tracked people: 5 do it, 2 recommend it - Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Kettlebell
One implement covering swings, carries and presses in a small space
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 3 do it, 2 recommend it, 1 has discussed it - Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Resistance bands
Loop and tube bands for activation work, mobility drills and travel training
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it, 1 recommends it, 1 has discussed it - Gear$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.
WHOOP
Screenless wrist strap tracking strain, recovery and sleep
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it, 1 recommends it, 1 has discussed it - Gear$$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.
Cold plunge tub
Chilled tub that holds cold water ready, instead of hauling bags of ice
On record from 4 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it - Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Heart rate monitor
Chest strap or watch that logs heart rate and estimates calories burned
On record from 4 of 62 tracked people: 2 do it, 2 recommend it
Gear entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.