Top 5 Sporting Equipment to Hire
Here we are in a brand-new year — Happy 2026 to all our valued customers!
As is customary at this time of year, following the festive overindulgence of Christmas, we’ve decided to collate our Top 5 Sporting Equipment Hires to help inspire any get-fit campaigns or creative projects you may have on the horizon.
We’re well versed in knowing what sporting equipment works best on set. Whether you need help choosing which sporting equipment would best suit the time-period you’re dressing. Or if you need a prop that will compliment and elevate the product you are selling, we’re more than happy to help you find the perfect fit.
Below is a selection of our most popular sporting equipment, all available to hire from Stockyard North.
- Crash Mats
Our extensive selection of crash mats is by far one of the most popular ranges in our sports section. They’re ideal for background dressing and covering unwanted items, while also serving an invaluable practical purpose—keeping people safe during stunt work.
Our crash mats are available in a range of shapes and sizes, including:
- 8 ft x 4 ft – 8 inch thick
- 8 ft x 4 ft – 12 inch thick
- 6 ft x 4 ft – 8 inch thick
- Judo mats – 6 ft x 4 ft – 2 inch thick
- Red Exercise Bike
This small but mighty retro red exercise bike was a surprise hit throughout 2025. It went out on hire for a variety of projects, including sports brand photoshoots and 1980s-era productions. Its classic design and lack of obvious branding make it a perfect styling option.
- Vintage Pommel Horse
Hard to source and difficult to store, our vintage pommel horse is a staple item in the sports section. Nothing says “old gym” quite like this piece. Featuring beautifully worn leather handles and a well-used suede body, it’s a truly lived-in prop with a story of its own.
- Changing Room Benches
Our locker room benches are one of the best starting points when dressing a gym or workout studio. Perfect for models to sit and strike a pose, they’re also great for showcasing products, hanging clothing, or displaying equipment.
For TV and film sets, these benches can span a wide range of eras—from the early 19th century right through to the present day.
- Sports Smalls
No rundown of our most popular sports items would be complete without our sports balls and smalls. Popular hires include non-branded footballs and basketballs, vintage leather boxing gloves, vintage tennis rackets, and football agility training equipment.
These items work perfectly as interactive action props for models or as finishing touches when dressing a gym set.
Honourable mentions:
Click through to see a few more items that didn’t make our top 5 list. But are still great sports props that are ideal for your next photoshoot. These include bikes, ski gear and skateboards!
Written by Lucy Sykes
