12 Pieces of Lifting Gear to THROW AWAY (and What to Replace Them With) - Part 2
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We’re back with Part 2 in our series on gear that should be avoided, gear that should be thrown away, and gear that actually works well. If you missed Part 1, you can check that out by clicking here.
Let’s get to it . . .
Bench
Specifically, don’t get a slick bench. You need to be firmly affixed to the bench when performing the bench press, and a slippery bench makes it difficult or even impossible to (a) create stability by effectively driving with your legs, and (b) keep your shoulders retracted.
We have several Rogue Fitness benches at Testify, and while I don’t regret buying them, there are probably some better options out there in terms of grip (granted, it’s possible that Rogue has improved their bench since we last purchased one).
If I were shopping for a bench right now, I would lean toward the Rep Fitness bench. I don’t have personal experience with it, but a number of our online members have it, and I’ve heard solid reviews from them.
Power Racks & Squat Stands
Stay away from the 3” x 3” uprights.
This is absolutely a champagne problem, and if someone gave me a rack with 3” x 3” uprights, I would gladly use it. With that said, all of our racks have 2” x 3” uprights, and I strongly prefer this configuration.
First, 3” x 3” racks are more expensive than 2” x 3” racks. Second, consider unracking and racking your squat on a 3” x 3” rack versus a 2” x 3” rack. By comparison, 3” x 3” uprights give you 2” less space either between the outside of the uprights and the plates or between the inside of the uprights and your hands (or a combination of the two).
If you lose space on the outside (which is usually the case), you’re more likely to bump into the uprights when unracking and racking, and losing space on the inside of the rack can be rough on those with tight shoulders (and thus a relatively wide grip).
Nathan squats 485 lb for a set of 5 reps inside the rogue r-3 rack, which has 2” x 3” uprights.
Thus, for example, I’d recommend the Rogue R-3 or Titan T-3 over their 3” x 3” cousins. With that said, the 3” x 3” racks usually have more options for customization and accessories, so if you’re looking for more than a basic power rack, you’ll probably need to go that route.
Belts
Choose wisely when purchasing your lifting belt. Here are a few considerations:
Don’t get a tapered belt (i.e., wider in the back, narrower in the front). Your belt is as good as its narrowest point, so simply get a belt that is a uniform width all the way around. A 10 mm thick belt that is either 3” wide or 4” wide will work for 99% of lifters.
Don’t get a padded belt. A belt helps you brace and create stability, and cushioning defeats this purpose.
Don’t get a cheap belt. Buy a quality belt (usually $100 or more) - it will be far sturdier than a cheap belt, and it will probably outlast you.
There are a number of quality belt manufacturers out there - Pioneer, Dominion Strength, The Strength Co., and Inzer just to name a few, and with that in mind, here are a few belt options I typically recommend:
Pioneer Cut - single prong with 1/2” adjustments, 4” wide x 10mm thick
Pioneer - PAL V2, 4” wide x 10mm thick (if you’re looking for a lever belt)
Dominion Strength - single prong, 3” wide x 10 mm thick
Dominion Strength - single prong, 4” wide x 10 mm thick
Blocks
Blocks are very useful for deadlifting from a higher position (i.e., a block pull), deficit deadlifts, and snatching and cleaning from a higher position.
DC Blocks are a specific brand of block – they are stackable and durable, which makes them very useful. However, they’re a bit on the small side (in terms of surface area), and specifically, they are quite expensive. With this in mind, I would not recommend them unless you get can get them at a steep discount as we did when we purchased over $1000 of used DC Blocks for $300 at a garage sale.
Instead, most people are better off building their own blocks from horse stall mats, or if you need taller blocks, constructing them from a combination of wood and stall mats. You can check out the videos above and below for how to do this.
Lifting Gloves
Don’t.
A glove puts a layer - it puts distance - between you and the barbell.
If you’re benching with gloves, now you have a padded surface between you and the bar, and a pad is not good for force transfer.
If you’re deadlifting with gloves, you have the same problem, and you have the significantly worse problem of effectively making the bar larger in your hands (since your hand now goes around the bar and the inner surface of your glove).
I was once silly enough (many moons ago) to use gloves. Then I started using my brain like a sane person and threw them away. Learn from my silliness and avoid the gloves (or throw them away if you have them).
Technical Shirt
A tech shirt is also known as a “dri fit” or “moisture wicking” shirt, and indeed, they are excellent at wicking moisture away from your body, which makes them great for running, basketball, soccer, etc.
However, they are rather terrible for lifting as they tend to be slick.
The last thing you want when training is a slippery surface between you and the bar when squatting or between you and the bench when benching.
Ditch the dri fit shirt and wear a basic, cotton t-shirt. It’s not high-tech, but it’s remarkably effective.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.
-Phil
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