Workout Accessories?

[brent]

I was always afraid of using anything that wasn't a part of me in my workouts. Then a trainer suggested a belt (which I only use for squats although he tells me to use it all the time.) About a month ago, I thought I should take better care of my hands (since I was selling Italian skin-care products at the time & my hands felt like sandpaper) so I bought some cheap workout gloves. Now I'm thinking about getting some straps. Then I know I'll buy new versions of everything to coordinate. Is there anything you love/hate about yours? Which ones do you use, and with which exercises do you think they help? do you know good places to buy?

[glammaman2000]

...mine REALLY are!I only wear a belt because,at this stage;if I didn't,I wouldn't have any waist at all.I think they encourage bad lifting habits.I like the black rubber grips,but I'm wearing gloves(Harbinger)because I like the way they look.ONLY wash black with black,because they bleed all over.Once they get really stinky,you have to throw them out.They do protect your hands.Don't get moisturizer on the barbells.

[hulkmuscle]

I say look online (froogle or ebay) for the best prices. I like my Harbinger big grip gloves, they have built-in wrist wraps, which help make me feel more secure (you can also get them without the wrist stuff). If you don't wanna go the glove route, the black rubber squares are good for giving you a stronger grip and protecting you from callouses. If you just want something to help your grip on heavy lifts, a pair of straps is sufficient. Anything above 225 me I gotta strap on or my grip'll falter before my muscles do.

I did a froogle on the Harbinger gloves, and you can get them for $25 instead of like $45.

[glammaman2000]

I prefer to train my grip by NOT using straps.If you don't do much direct forearm work,just having to hold on to everything counts.An alternating grip(one palm foreward,one back)can help on deadlifts.Keeps the bar from rolling.Everybody ultimately finds their own way.

[muscle_mastah]

I use straps and chalk. Tried using gloves once but didn't like the grip and I actually like my calouses. Generally I only use chalk on deadlifts since my gym doesn't really like us using it, so I keep it to a minimum. I could also never get used to staps on heavy deads, so I only go with chalk and the alternating grip. I use my straps on back and trap exercises where I'm upping the weight beyond my grip. In my case, I feel my grip strength will take a long time to catch up my back and at the moment, I don't want to wait.

[hulkmuscle]

I also use alternating grip on deadlifts and stiff-leg deads occasionally, but it's not good on shrugs or high pulls, so that's when the straps can come in handy.

[brent]

Thanks, I think I need to get straps as I think my back is suffering only getting the weight I can grip. I do train forearms separately, but they can't keep up with the back. I've never thought about chalk before, but maybe I should?

[optimusx]

I don't know about most guys on the board, but I HATED wearing gloves (or should I say I hated my hands getting hot). So I looked and found a pretty neat little option: http://www.newgrip.com/

Benefits: You get a wrist strap and a grip pad that can dangle once you've done your set. Additionally you can adjust which fingers you use under the strap. You get really great padding and once the padding rips or gets too thin you can keep the straps and just buy new pads.

Downside: The padding does wear rapidly with heavy use. The straps are only there for wrist support and they can become bothersom due to the metal loop.

So far I've used these for over a year and a half and haven't switched back to gloves. The pads on average last me around 2 months before I replace them (Usually due to tearing - darn heavy weights).

It's an option.

Scott

[hulkmuscle]

Ooh, new toys! I may just have to try those.

[brent]

Originally Posted by optimusx

...

Downside: The padding does wear rapidly with heavy use. The straps are only there for wrist support and they can become bothersom due to the metal loop.
...

Well, you probably have a good 60 pounds on me, so I'm sure the weights I lift won't tear them like your weight does... Although, I have yet to have the thought "hum, my hand are feeling hot." cross my mind.

[hulkmuscle]

We got some Nike gloves around Christmas time and they only lasted a week or so before they started falling apart. Luckily the store gave us a refund.

[glammaman2000]

Are there shoes that you think are paricularly suited to bodybuilders?

[hulkmuscle]

I've got a bunch of Otomix weightlifting shoes; they have very flat soles and fit real snug around the ankles. I like how they let me "feel" the floor more on deadlifts and squats. They're expensive though, but you can often find them new on Ebay. I bought a couple pairs for about $30-$40 new when they retail for $99.

I'm also hearddoing legs in army boots or work boots can be good, but I haven't tried yet. Has anyone else?

[musclewannabe]

are these weight lifting shoes about the same as what wrestlers use?????? i'm not talking about wwf but acutal real wrestlers....

[optimusx]

Originally Posted by musclewannabe

are these weight lifting shoes about the same as what wrestlers use?????? i'm not talking about wwf but acutal real wrestlers....

Most likely not. I've seen some wrestling shoes before and they seemed to be designed more for flexability than anything else (i.e. swift twisting of the feet). I've seen a guy actually try to do the Leg Press Machine with heavy weight and wrestling shoes; it looked like an accident ready to happen... I could just see his foot rolling under and the weight come crushing down. He has since stopped wearing them.

Scott