Proverbs

I'm starting this week's discussion early due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday.

This weeks discussion ... Gloves, Lifting Straps, Lifting Belts, etc.

Let's hear what everyone has to say ...

• Do you use them?
• Are they necessary?
• Other thoughts, opinions, etc.

__________________

Big H

I don't use any of those. The only time I think they are necessary is when you are maxing out on deadlifts or squats. Not when you are repping with them though. So, you should rarely use belts, and never use gloves and straps, only if you lift some heavy weight on backday.

__________________
WWW.NUTRIBEAST.COM

Sholiz

As of late, I've been trying to ween myself away from using straps. I use straps for heavy deadlifts or shrugs. I find it hard to do behind the back shrugs with sweaty hands and 3 plates to a side. Even deadlifts, I find it hard to dead my heaviest set without straps. I need to ween myself off this, so I'm going to keep strapping shrugs but leave deadlifts bare grip.

I think gloves suck, perod. I can't get a good grip on a bar (or anything) while wearing them. Belts, well, I don't find them comfortable but I see how they are useful when working extrememyl heavy. As Big H said, maxing. Other things like wraps or sleeves, well, they serve their purpose. I use knee wraps for my heaviest set only, seems to amke a difference and my knees don't feel so bad afterwards. I only use it on leg press aswell, that tends to tear my knees up easily.

__________________
You hear me before you see me, I got King Kong in the trunk

Gappa238

i use gloves a lot but only because my hands often get sweaty. straps i only use when going heavy on dl and shrugs. ive never used knee wraps. i use to use a belt when i squat all the time because my lower back would always hurt when i was done but now i use this thing called proper form and back pain is no more.

Fresch

Gloves - yes. I don't think big calluses are something to be proud about. May also be a hygiene measure.
Straps - yes, becuase the small wrist muscles can be the limiting factor in exercises designed to target other larger muscles. Of course, there is the argument that you should just train forearms more, or plan your program better.
Knee wraps - not sure here, good reasons for and against. May be useful for being able to train heavier and gain mass, but may cause functional imblalances and limitations. So, depends on your priorities.
Back belts - potential to cause more problems than they *may* prevent. Much better ways to support the back, i.e. develop core strength, and use form and technique.

Shilling

I think you'll have a better physique if you don't use aides and such in your training. If your back is always supported by a belt, it will just become the weakest part of your body. I think it should just be you and the iron. No straps or gloves. I've never used straps, but then again, I don't lift that heavy of weight, but my friends who lift heavy iron never use straps.

DarkFalcon

I don't use any of the above and the negative I've suffered is heavy calluses. Unless the next girl I date says I can't touch her with my rough hands I won't be changing anytime soon.

Tron

I don't use gloves and enjoy the calluses. I use straps sparingly and a belt only on heavy squats and deadlifts. I always get a kick outta these guys that come to the gym wearin their belt and never take if off the whole time.

Tron

Trick D

Well, I am one of those pansy's you see in the gym. I use gloves about 80% of the time. Sometimes I don't but most of the time I do. My hands get really bad calluses, and also bad dry skin, that just turns nasty if i don't use gloves. Also I am one of those pansy's that wears a belt on all my back exercises. With 3 bulging discs in my lower back, i am scared to do anything else.

__________________

AnabolicFreak

I always use gloves or my hands get really torn up after awhile. I don't think this make you a pansy, in fact it makes you smart. I like having a better, safer grip so I can lift with confidence and keep those 100lbs DBs from slipping onto my feet.

__________________
100% Anabolic 100% Freak

crazycacti

IMO....

no gloves - let ur hands get used to it

no straps - big no no - if u can't lift it - dont! ur asking for an injury. Let ur body adapt full to the weight

Belt - only in some circumstances such as a bad lower back - (which is almost always caused by an imbalance between the spinae erector muscles and the abs - ie. normally week abs - also the reason why many get shoulder injuries - anterior delt stronger than rear delt - too much emphasis on pushing and not enough on pulling)

hibiscus09

Gloves -- yes -- no callouses on my purty hands. :p

Straps -- well, I've been having a heck of a time getting my SLDL weight up because my grip would give. I don't think my grip strength will be matching my hamstring strength anytime soon, and I was more concerned with hamstring strength for that exercise. I didn't really care for straps and my nutrition/contest diet lady told me to try Versa Grips. I tried them today for the first time and LOVED them. Very much. I went up 20lbs on my SLDL today to 145lbs and I know now I'll be able to get those on up in weight.

Belt -- Nope, but I did use one when my squats were 200lbs+. No can do anymore. Doctor's orders. If I were still squatting heavy, however, I'd use a belt for the heavier lifts.

Knee Wraps -- Never have used those.

chris2489

Gloves- Good to protect hands i dont use them.

Straps- A must for certain exercises

Belt- Always good to have when squatting for extra protection if you go heavy.

Knee wraps- Also a must when you get to real high weights.

__________________
For the highest quality at the rock bottom lowest price go to

trueprotein.com 5% discount code-CHK284
trueproteincanada.com 5% discount code-CHK284

Diab0lic

Used to use gloves but I feel like i have better control without them. Gloves arent so good for exercises where you have to grip weights with your palms facing down coz they limit your grip and cause the weight to start slipping. Chalk is t3h bestestest!!!1

Dont use a belt but I have one

Never used straps, Ive got a strong grip and forearms and want to keep it that way

__________________

Brinn

I don't use any of those although I can understand why some people would. I do deads, then SLDLs, then shrugs on one day. My forearms really feel it.

__________________
"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." - Jebediah Springfield

RIP New and Improved! (Formerly Known As Just Shoot Me!) - 05/05/05

Fresch

Why do you have bulging discs?? Did you have an injury??

Fresch

And what do you base that theory on??

Trick D

It was from a car wreck that was from no fault of my own. I was in my pickup truck at a complete stop. Woman hit me going 60 mph's. My head hit off the back glass, and then the stearing wheel. Leaving me with post concussive syndrome and a bruised brain. Three discs in my lower back bulged (L4, L5, S1), and i have some slight knee problems.


I was only 17 years old. I am 21 now.

__________________

crazycacti

I have 2 relatives that are chiropractors, unfortunately not bodybuilders but this is almost always their assessment, a muscle imbalance causes bad posture which can also affect further misalignments in both the spine and os coxa - there are of course other reasons that may be the problem, but these are due to sport or other injuries - some due to needless rounding of the back during exercises such as BB rows and T-bar rows and sometimes just due to lifting far too heavy on deadlifts with bad form therefore rounding the back into the worst position possible