Once again I have gone too long without adding new content to this site. I’ve also been slacking off in my training as well.

However, I’ve recently decided to make some commitments, and part of that involved getting back into my training, as well as beginning to post here again.

I’ve always had an interest in “old time” stuff, and strength training is no different.  Strength athletes from the late 1800′s up to the 1950′s and 1960′s have interested me almost since I started training.

These guys built crazy strength (and also had the physiques to show it) with remedial equipment, little to no nutritional supplements, and no steroids (until the 1950′s I believe).

So, I’m thinking about maybe starting a new category just for this stuff. I’m not going to turn this into an “old time strength training” site, but do plan on posting more methods, advice, and techniques from the old days.

Basically, a slosh pipe is a length of PVC pipe that you fill with water, capping both ends (use a screw-top on one end). In his example, he uses a 9.5′ length of 4″-6″ PVC. When filled with water it weighs in at about 40 pounds. It doesn’t sound like much, but the way the water sloshes from end to end makes it harder to handle than you would think.

I haven’t actually made one yet, and I’m not sure when I will, but it certainly looks like a great tool. It would likely work your entire body from multiple angles. Obviously you’d be working the muscles you’d expect to (shoulders and triceps for overhead presses, for example), but would also bring the stabilizer muscles into play. This would make for a functional training session. I’d bet your grip/forearms would get quite a workout as well.

Although I haven’t made one, I’ve been thinking of a few other applications for this idea.

I’d try this; get a regular birthday party balloon, and cut off the skinny end. Then take the large part and wrap it over the end of the PVC pipe before attaching the endcap or screwcap. It seems that this would help keep the water in better than the caps alone.

What about a 2″ or 3″ pipe? This would be much lighter than a 4″-6″ pipe, but you would be able to grip it with a normal grip – but like a thick bar. For this idea, I was thinking something along the lines of two of them, being used for the farmer’s walk. But, one long one may still be enough for some people.

What if you filled it with sand instead of water? It wouldn’t “slosh” as much, but it would still be unstable. What about BBs (like a BB gun)?

What about two short ones used like clubbells?

When you see a tool like this, get creative. How could you make it harder? Easier (if you’re a beginner)? What about more portable?

If you want more details about Steve’s experience with the slosh pipe, visit his site: Maxwell Strength & Conditioning and click the link to his blog.