I’m all ‘all the gear and no idea’, are you?
Have you ever wondered what the best gear to buy for your workout is? Whether you are a yoga practitioner, a marathon runner on the treadmill, or just enjoy the free weights area, it’s essential to choose what you are comfortable with. This article gives great insights and tips on choosing the right gear to help make your experience more enjoyable and even more productive.
*Let’s skip over clothes. You can work out in a hoodie or in fabletics, whatever is functional and comfortable. Today let’s just look at what will help your gym time.
Lifting shoes
Edward Cooper writing in Men’s Health, suggests that you can tell the serious weight lifters not by their muscles but by their shoes.
The idea is that the spongey sole that takes the brunt out of impacts while running is not helpful when lifting weights. A softer sole can absorb some of your lifting power and allow movement around your ankle, which will not work out well.
These shoes are function over form and are specific to lifting. They aren’t going to give you the cushion that we are used to. However, if you are lifting, they are worth the investment.
Gloves
Caliber has a great article on the pros and cons of wearing workout gloves.
In short, the article explains that gloves can add grip in some instances, reduces grip in some exercises and will not stop your hands from developing calluses. I very much recommend reading the full article.
Straps
The next level of grip is straps. It can be a little difficult to figure out how to use straps the first time. This video will help. Straps can be cheaper than gloves and may give you better results.
Chalk
Chalk is the bain of everyone who has had to clean the equipment. The crusty substance left on bars worldwide is counterintuitive. Chalk, or magnesium carbonate is a powder (or liquid) that is used to aid grip. I questioned whether adding a powder or liquid should add grip but it does!
The real question is whether you should. The chalk stays on your hands and whatever you touch. In theory, helping the next person… to develop an OCD about cleaning.
Gymfo 