When it comes to getting the most out of your training there are often a few gadgets that can help in the process aside from the obvious; diet and supplements. While there is a place for everything in your training, the more serious you get the more baggage you seem to get. When you 1st start out you might have your gym clothes with just your gym gear in it, then the protein powder and shaker creeps in, then some lifting straps, then a pre workout supplement, and the list continues. This is by no means a bad thing, if anything this is a good thing. You are getting more serious about getting yourself in serious shape and thus have invested your money in things that will help and aid you in reaching your goals far quicker. Better than spending it on the Saturday night binge right?
So when it comes to training what “essentials” can you consider buying to help improve the quality and level of your training sessions:
Gloves: I would personally consider gloves a totally personal piece of kit to have. They will offer no benefit in terms of your lifting (possibly adding a bit of false grip in some lifts), but they will protect your hands.
Gloves are very popular for female trainers who want to avoid the pitfalls of hoisting barbells around, callasts and rough bits of skin on the hands. Gloves will protect the skin, so no direct lifting benefit, but definitely a personal benefit. A pair like these will do the job nicely:
http://sportandsupplements.com/products/Gold%27s-Gym-Max-Lift-Training-Gloves.html
Lifting straps: now there is definitely a direct advantage to getting some lifting straps in your gym bag, but knowing when to use them is also of key benefit. Lifting straps will aid the grip in the lift so you can potentially lift heavier, but be aware that good training practice will see you use straps on your big final lifts, like when hitting a heavy deadlift. It would be poor practice to use them all the time as we still need to train the grip and arm as a unit, but on the big lifts these will help no end:
http://sportandsupplements.com/products/CNP-Pro-Cotton-Lifting-Straps.html
Lifting belt: just like lifting straps there is a time and place for a lifting belt. Standing in the corner hitting your biceps or delts is not a good excuse for wearing a lifting belt, but going for a heavy squat or deadlift and hitting a new PR is. Be wary that a lifting belt will teach the “core” to brace and activate itself in a different way, offering extra support, so while a lifting belt can be of huge benefit it’s not something you should use for warm up or working sets, but the heavy and hard sets. This Gold’s gym lifting belt is perfect:
http://sportandsupplements.com/products/Golds-Gym-Deluxe-Nylon-Belt-Large-4-Inch.html
Knee and wrist straps: as we age the joints might not be in the best condition, but the aesthetically minded still wants to keep on top of their physique with some added support for safety. Knee and wrist wraps can add extra support just like a weight belt can on the bigger lift, so while it is not advisable to wear wrist and knee straps for every lift, when going hard and big they can definitely help your joints stay in tip top condition:
Knee wraps:
http://sportandsupplements.com/products/Golds-Gym-Knee-Support-Wrap-Pair.html
Wrist wraps:
http://sportandsupplements.com/products/CNP-Pro-Wrist-Wrap.html
