Your exercises and level can impact your choice of weightlifting gear. You can start with a few basics and, as you advance, you may choose additional types of fitness gear and accessories.
For general fitness and exercise, you need the same gear for weight training as for any other exercise:
*clothing that does not restrict your movements, and
*athletic shoes to protect your feet and offer traction.
There are options that you might consider in gear and accessories for weight training:
*Towels and sweatbands will catch and remove perspiration.
*To accurately
track your progress,
a training journal is advisable. A small notebook or composition book will work. (If you choose not to record your workouts, you will not have an accurate basis for increasing your workloads or see your patterns of improvement.)
*If you have a history of certain injuries, you may choose to use support devices (e.g., for knee, elbow, or wrist
support).
*While weight lifting belts are not all that effective for preventing back injuries, they at least remind you to maintain good low back posture (lordosis), particularly as
your weight loads increase.
*As you increase the intensity of your workouts, you may consider getting some good weight lifting gloves to minimize calluses if you lift
free weights.
*If you are executing dead lifts,
power cleans,
or other lifts where the bar moves against your legs, wear pants or shorts that cover your thighs in order to prevent chafing.
*More advanced lifters use additional accessories, such as bodybuilding gear. Chalk (e.g., powdered grip), weightlifting shoes, and weightlifting straps may be part of your gear if your sport requires significant
strength
and
power
(e.g.,
Olympic lifting,
Powerlifting,
throwing events). While weightlifting straps offer grip support, if you are competing and cannot use them in competition, you
should not become dependent upon them in practice.
