I've coached thousands of clients on Tonal.

Funny enough, the question I get most isn't about programming, progressive overload, technique, or even nutrition.

It's "Coach, which accessories should I actually buy?"

Fair question, because some of these are genuine game-changers, some are nice-to-haves, and some will collect dust next to your ThighMaster.

So I ranked every single one, S tier to F tier, so you can spend your money where it matters.

Quick key:

• S = game-changer
• A = excellent
• B = useful
• C = meh
• D = pass
• F = upgrade immediately

Let's dive in 🚀

🏆 S TIER: The Game-Changers

1. Adjustable Bench​

The best accessory you can buy, full stop.

It unlocks incline press, incline flies, chest-supported rows, seated overhead press, incline curls, and about a dozen other exercises your Tonal can't touch without it.

The Titan is my pick for most people (my Rogue bench is an absolute tank, but it weighs 125 lbs and Anya has strong feelings about moving it).

Here's a full breakdown of the 3 options I recommend.

2. T-Locks & Carabiner​

Not glamorous, but required.

Most of the accessories on this list won't connect to your Tonal without them.

Think of these as the cover charge to the accessory party.

3. Dip Belt w/ Hooks​

The best accessory under $100.

​Belt squats, lunges, and split squats go completely hands-free.

No more fumbling for the button at the end of a set while your legs are wobbling.

Bonus: way less stress on your spine, wrists, and elbows.

4. Ankle Straps & Wrist Cuffs​

These open up an entire catalog...

Glutes, adductors, abductors, hamstring curls, weighted lower abs, plus lateral raises and rear delts without ever holding a handle.

The $9 Amazon pair does the same job as Tonal's $60 version.

I'll let you do the math.

5. Hip Thrust Pad​

It's $9 and it saves your pelvis.

Heavy hip thrusts on a foam roller is a pain tolerance test, not a workout.

With this you won't have to say "no pain, no gain" anymore.

💪 A TIER: Excellent (For the Right Person)

6. Pull Up Bar (Rogue or this doorframe version)

At a certain point, you get too strong for lat pulldowns.

The weight starts pulling YOU off the bench, and your technique goes out the window.

A pull-up bar fixes that and unlocks real supersets (bench press into chin-ups without adjusting Tonal's arms).

I mounted mine directly above the Tonal in my old garage gym and it was so money.

7. Versa Grips​

For heavy rows, pulldowns, and deadlifts, these save your forearms and elbows from tapping out before your back does.

Unlike lifting straps, they actually grip Tonal's tacky handles.

If you battle tennis or golfer's elbow, these are a godsend.

8. Extra Long Rope​

Lets your elbows travel behind your body on pushdowns so you actually hit the long head of your triceps. See my demo here.

Also turns face pulls from a shoulder-pinching mess into the corrective exercise they were meant to be.

Jeff Cavaliere Shows Andrew Huberman the "Face Pull" in this video.

9. Aftermarket Flat Bench (Rogue or Titan)

Firm, stable, safe, and actually built for step-ups and hip thrusts.

If you already own the adjustable bench, skip it. You don't need both unless you're a psycho like me.

👍 B TIER: Useful, Not Game-Changing

10. V-Bar​

Solid for going heavier on tricep pushdowns.

I own one and mostly forget it exists.

11. Lifting Belt (Rogue / Amazon)

Great tool, just not on Tonal, where you're rarely loading heavy enough to need it.

Earns its keep on Deadlifts, RDLs, and heavy Squats. I use mine mostly off-Tonal.

If you've had back problems previously, I'd highly recommend it.

12. Wrist Wraps (Rogue 12" / Amazon)

Stability for heavy push days, especially with vulnerable or painful wrists.

You can't wear these and Versa Grips at the same time, so pick your battles.

I'm a maximizer so sometimes I'll wear these for Bench Press then switch to VersaGrips for a deadlift or heavy row.

Most would find that annoying. I use it as another reason why I get results others won't.

13. Pilates Loops (Amazon / Tonal)

Our female clients enjoy them. I do not.

Fair warning: Tonal's resistance isn't at its best in the 5–12 lb range, so temper expectations.

Save $60 by buying them on Amazon.

14. Knee Sleeves (Rogue 5mm / Iron Bull 7mm)

Warmth and support for heavy squats, lunges, and Bulgarians. I like 5mm; go 7mm if your knees have a history of pain or injury.

Keep in mind, sleeves are a band-aid for knee pain, not a fix. Find the root cause.

15. Extra Large Floating Shelf​

Fits the bar, rope, both handles, AND your extra accessories so your home gym stops looking like a chaotic mess.

16. Foam Roller​

Great for warm-ups, thoracic mobility, and the Bretzel stretch.

My favorite pre-workout warmup stretch on Tonal. Not just because it sounds like a tailgate item from Wisconsin where I went to school.

A worthy upgrade over the original.

17. Yoga Mat​

Cushioned, grippy, and it actually lays flat on the floor. That's the entire job description, and this one nails it.

Unlike the original, which fails on all accounts.

😐 C TIER: Meh

18. EZ Curl Bar (Double / Single)

Only worth it if wrist or elbow pain forces you into that angled grip.

Otherwise, skip.

19. Double D Handle​

Close-grip pulldowns let you pull heavier... which means you pull yourself off the bench even sooner. Mine collects dust.

20. Double to Single D Handle​

Required for #19, and rigging both cables into one attachment mid-workout is a coordination project.

The juice isn't worth the squeeze.

👎 D TIER: Pass (For Most People)

21. Lifting Straps​

Fantastic in a regular gym, useless on Tonal handles. The tacky rubber won't let them tighten.

Save them for barbell work.

22. Foot Pedal Activator​

Some people swear by it.

I've gone through two bar control modules from stepping on it too firmly, and I'm always hunting for it at the end of a set.

23. Heavy Duty Exercise Handles​

They feel great in the hands, but no on/off button means no way to kill the weight, and that's a real safety issue.

I use mine; I don't recommend them to clients.

🚫 F TIER: Upgrade Immediately

24. Original Tonal Bench​

Too soft and too low to do step-ups safely, and it feels like it's made of plastic.

It's like buying a Ferrari and finding out the seats aren't leather.

25. Original Tonal Foam Roller​

It's not made for muscles.

Mine broke in under three months.

Nuff said.

26. Original Tonal Mat​

It won't stay flat on the ground.

When we filmed on the Tonal set, we had to tape it down.

Make it make sense.

Here's the truth about all 26 accessories above: none of them will transform your body on their own.

The right gear removes friction, but the results come from the system behind it.

The programming, the progressions, the nutrition, and someone holding you accountable when life gets chaotic.

That's what me and my team does.

We've spent thousands of hours coaching clients on this machine. We'll build you a personalized Tonal program that turns that hardware (and yes, those new accessories) into an actual transformation.

​Learn more about my Tonal coaching here.

Time for action,

Coach Jackson

P.S. We've helped over 721 Tonal owners lose an average of 18 lbs, 6% body fat and gain 1.5 lbs of muscle in just 16 weeks. Learn more here.