When beginners become members at a gym, many of them seem to think that the weights are all that’s need when it comes to strength training. Sure, there’s also the bench and various resistance machines, but that’s all about gym equipment. None of these newbies seem to realize (at least not right away) that they might need some accessories for their personal use.
Here are some accessories that you might need for when you’re lifting weights:
Shoes
When you know better about the absolute usefulness of the right weightlifting shoes, you’d wonder how so many people still lift weight with everyday shoes. It’s not really a good idea to lift weights barefoot, and that’s not just because you might injure your foot if you drop a dumbbell on it.
No, the main reason why you need the right pair of shoes is that you must have a secure grip to the floor. Sliding around is simply too dangerous. Running shoes aren’t even recommended, as the soft, thick soles don’t offer enough of a grip on the gym floor.
There are plenty of marketed weightlifting shoes out there, all of them promising special features. Get the ones that strike your fancy, but even a basic Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars will do. Just make sure that the shoes won’t slide around the floor, and you’re good to go.
Gloves
Gloves can be very helpful for lifting barbells. It offers a more secure grip and even adds some protection to your hands. With the gloves, you’re able to lift the weights for a longer period of time, and you reduce the risk of accidentally dropping the weights.
Gloves are made from a variety of materials. Leather gloves are a good choice and they offer years of use, but your hands may sweat inside. Neoprene is another option, as it absorbs sweat and it’s easy to clean.
Wrist Wrap
This looks like a belt, but as the name indicates, you wrap it around your wrist. It supports your wrist as you lift heavy weights, and lets you maintain proper form and alignment during the lift movement. It reduces the risk of injury to your wrist as well.
Lift Strap
This is another strap accessory that can be useful for lifting very heavy weights, as it provides additional support. Its main purpose is to keep your grip from slipping when you’re exerting maximum effort during the lift. If your grip fails, the strap can take over and let you do a few more reps.
Just make sure you put it on right. Aside from offering additional wrist support, lift strap also reduce grip fatigue. You’re able to train harder as the lift strap lets you lift heavier weights. And you’re more likely to reach true muscle fatigue when you use it.
Lifting Belt
Some people might think that a lifting belt doesn’t seem all that necessary, but that’s not really the case. When you use a belt and you’re lifting in an upright position, it supports your abdominal cavity and reduces the shear stress on your spine. With the reduction of stress on your lower back, it also reduces the chances of back injuries during lifting.
It also forces you to lift more with your legs than with your back, and that’s exactly what you need to do when you’re lifting something off the ground. In fact, wearing a belt basically boosts your strength, power, and overall muscle growth.
Knee Sleeves
It’s true that you don’t absolutely need knee sleeves for squats. But they can reduce the chances of injury. While these knee sleeves can offer a bit more support, their real purpose is to provide compression and heat retention around the joint muscle. It also helps with form awareness.
Try out any (or all) of these weightlifting accessories, and you might just improve your performance next time you’re in your local In-Shape gym.