Here are some of the most common found in a lifters bag.

A good leather belt - maximuscle do a really nice one for £30


Lifting straps for heavy work(back etc)


Knee wraps for heavy leg days


Other stuff includes smelling salts and a full on power suit for the big powerlifting boys. I don't bother with salts as they make me want to heave but a few guys at our gym swear by them. I think they even take carry them round with them and sniff them through the day

I try and only use the lifting straps and knee wraps on really heavy weights. If you use these things too much they will restrict a certain amount of development, e.g. if you use the straps on every pulling exercise you won't get the forearm benefits. On the flip of that, you are only as strong as your weakest link and so if your forearms are weak, it could restrict back development. Only you will know if you are working your back hard enough without them.

 

anything for wrists Paul?

Im finding my right wrist (shut it! ) aching during barbell curls

especially on releasing the weight once re-racked

 

Trust Dave... barbell curls?@(!!really.

 

eeehhhhhh???

 

You can get things like this Dave

 

oh dear


thats a no then

 

......do they do any with Studs and Tassles!

 

I knew you'd like them

 

 

What about gloves?

Feel a bit gay wearing them as i'm only small but srugs/deadlifts etc are really fooking my hands up!!!!

I couldn't go to the gym tomoz if i tried

 

Having teh same problem now, the 30kg dumbells tonight have actually brought up welts on my hands

 

I trained with glavoes at first but I had some cheap ones that hurt more than not wearing them.

Mate has these and swears by them... comfort and grip.

http://store.maximuscle.com/epages/m...50&ProdNo=1075

 

I have to use gloves now.. currently using a pair of black golds gym ones... cut slightly in to the in-side of my thumbs

better than nothing though

 

I once saw someone putting tissue paper on a bar to do curls.

Best idea ever.

 

I always wear gloves. Without them I cannot train properly! My poor office hands get ripped to shit with certain exercises.

Dave, have you thought about wearing some decent gloves with wrist supports on them? Maximuscle do some:

http://store.maximuscle.com/epages/m...50&ProdNo=1075

They are not full support but they may help.

 

those maximuscle ones fell horrid!

i use a £4 pair out of argos lol neoprene type glove and are really comfortable

made by york

 

I personally use Ocelot ones. Like these but without the wrist supports:

http://www.fitnessnetwork.co.uk/prod...apByValeo.php#

TBH, to me the cheaper ones, with mesh backs, feel more like cycling gloves with no padding or strength in them? York may be OK though?

 

these are mine

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/3002036.htm

cheap n they do the job

 

I had some like the York ones, but with long fingers I couldn't grip and ended up having the weights slipping in my hand..

Like the look of those black ones though