About Us

A little bit about us...

Darren & Emma Smith founded 9 for 9 in March 2017. Darren competes in powerlifting but is taking time out of competition focussing on powerbuilding to gain additional muscle mass. Being out of competition also gives more time and energy for developing 9 for 9. Emma also powerlifts but generally loves keeping active in the gym, training 5 days a week.

9 for 9 started when Darren could not get much wanted products in the UK. Importing products directly resulted in high shipping costs and import charges which sometimes exceeded the cost of the product itself! Darren realised other fellow lifters (and others interested in fitness) would also love these products. Quick access for a fair price was the goal.

The vision for the company was to re-invest any revenues and add further quality brands. We focus on brands that we believe in and that are making products we want to use ourselves. We also focus on working and collaborating with like-minded people. We want to bring you amazing products but we have to believe in the companies that we are working with. We have also always been customer-centric, working hard to add value to every customer. We strive to offer the highest levels of customer service possible. Your experience with us is important and we always want to leave a lasting impression. These fundamental values are in our DNA.

Brands we proudly stock (and the reasons why!):

w.o.d.welder - We’ve used the w.o.d.welder hand care kit for years. Our interest started with the solid salve which is phenomenal at healing up tears and rips fast! The volcanic pumice is also fantastic. It offers a level of sharpness not seen with conventional pumice and keeps hard calluses at bay. The soap is also superb and we use it all the time. We’ve gone onto expanding the offering of w.o.d.welder products.

Brute Belt - Darren imported a Brute Belt from the USA in 2015 (as a typical dip belt with chain ripped a pair of much loved training shorts!) and loved it primarily due to how comfortable it was. Again, importing was costly but the value of the product was clear.

Pioneer Fitness (a.k.a General Leathercraft Manufacturing Inc.) - We have so much respect for Pioneer and are passionate about their products. Renowned for quality and world-class customer service working with Pioneer has been incredible and we are thankful for the partnership. They have been hand-crafting their world-class belts in the USA for three generations. Significant investment has allowed us to offer and stock most of their products. The most incredible custom belts can also be made to order.

Wild Country - We've tried lots of chalk. It is surprising how many we have tried which are slippery! Wild Country has been our favourite. It has no drying agents or additives and is very grippy. With some care the chalk blocks hold their shape and are perfect for chalking up hands, backs and benches.

Frank Daddy - We were super excited to start working with Brandon Franklin (a.k.a. Frank Daddy) adding his Choker wrist wraps, knee wraps and compression cuffs to our portfolio. We also added some of his cool tees too! Late 2019 he launched his Choker knee sleeves which we stock.

Iron Tanks - This added much asked for IPF Approved products to the focussed product portfolio. Again we knew the company and had owned many of their products ourselves. We will be expanding our range of Iron Tanks products over time.

Obsidian - On first contact, it was clear Obsidian were set on providing the best ammonia in the world. Obsidian Hype Dust uses pre-activated dry ingredients. Its shelf life is indefinite but once open it can maintain potency for up to six months. The Ultra formula is the world's first two-part ammonia inhalant. It combines wet and dry ingredients producing rocket fuel in a bottle. Going for a personal best? Try Obsidian Ultra. If you're a seasoned ammonia user then try Nose Bleach (if you are feeling brave!).

Barbell Bands - Barbell Bands provide premium quality silicone rings designed for athletes. They feature a unique knurl pattern and are available in a variety of colours. If you never wear your wedding band when training (ahem Darren) now there's a perfect option for you.

WODROD - Although callus shavers can be useful they can be tricky to use. For example, they are difficult to get in the right position especially when using your non-dominant hand! So we were very excited to start working with WODROD. This innovative little tool will sand your calluses down in no time and it's super easy to use (with either hand)! WODROD is designed and manufactured in the USA.

JUNK Brands - We were very excited to be appointed as an official supplier for JUNK Brands. JUNK design and manufacture the coolest headbands and they do everything under one roof in the USA. There are hundreds of different designs and six different styles to choose from. They do not just look awesome either; the design and fabrics used ensure consistent high-performance even during the hardest of training sessions.

FLEO - We were super excited to be appointed as an official supplier for FLEO; a strength training apparel brand for women. Designing and manufacturing in-house in the USA, FLEO make the most incredible shorts, leggings, sports bras, crop tops, singlets and joggers. Super-soft fabrics stretch in 4 directions offering unparalleled levels of comfort. Attention to detail is second-to-none. Quality of the end product is exceptional.

Kinda Fit Kinda Fat - Kinda Fit Kinda Fat is a brand close to our hearts, promoting two of our loves in life: fitness and food! KFKF encourage - and support - all to be body proud! You may be aware that this message resonates with some of our other brands too; so there’s common ground, but KFKF apparel is truly unique.

Duluth Pack - We have long been looking for the best bags and packs we can get our hands on; not only for hitting the gym but for hiking, outdoor expeditions and for the adventures of life! This led us to Duluth Pack and we cannot be happier to be working with them and bringing you their awesome products. Duluth Pack started handcrafting packs in 1882 in Minnesota. They are the oldest canvas and leather bag and pack manufacturer in the USA. The company mission is simple, straightforward and has never wavered. Handcraft the highest-quality premium American-made canvas and leather outdoor gear, packs, bags, and hunting equipment that is guaranteed for life on all craftsmanship and hardware. Buy it once. Have it for life. You can read more about the Duluth Pack story

We continue to work on many things for you and are very excited about the future. If you have purchased from us before then we want to say a massive thank you! Also, so many of you keep on coming back to us time and time again which we appreciate. Your support means a lot to us. If you are new to us then thank you so much for taking an interest in what we do.

Thanks again for your support!

Much love,

Darren & Emma
(Co-founders)