Even when exercising at home with adjustable dumbbells many people still think of purchasing equipment which they don’t need, like gloves and straps. Nowadays in most gyms you will see a number of people wearing gloves and straps, which I personally believe they don’t need. In this blog post I want to tell you why you don’t need gloves or straps.
Why I hate gloves
When I first started lifting weights I used gloves like everyone else I knew, they seemed like the smart choice. When you start to lift heavy barbells without gloves your hands will take some time to adjust, it will hurt and you will develop catalyses which can be very annoying, not to mention painful. So therefore like most “smart” young fitness enthusiasts I decided to buy a pair of gloves. My gloves were great, even though they stunk and they significantly dampened the pain I felt when I was lifting dead lift or doing heavy barbell shrugs. However, one day my gloves ripped and I could no longer use them anymore. I didn’t have the money or time to buy a new pair at the time and so I just decide to exercise without them. Most people will probably see where this story is leading: Even though I had the muscular power to lift dead lifts, do pull-ups and pull those heavy adjustable gym dumbbells for shrugs, my hands didn’t. After a few reps I had to rest because my hands were killing me. Why? Because I developed my body unevenly, I developed my muscles but I didn’t toughen up my palms to lift them properly. After this experience I never used gloves again, I believe you shouldn’t either.
Gloves are an accessory that you don’t need. What is the point in being able to lift a heavy barbell with gloves if you can’t do it without them? Arnold didn’t use gloves and neither do most top rated trainers. Sure your hands may hurt early on, but this will pass and they will be better for wear.
Why I also disagree with straps
If you are going to find a workout partner you don’t have to listen to everything they say. My training partner recently told me that we should buy straps, I have to disagree. I think straps play a very similar role as gloves , they make your muscles grow faster than the strength of your palm and grip. Straps are normally used to get an extra few reps in after your grip has given out in an exercise like dead lift or pull-ups. But I really believe that your muscle strength and your grip strength should grow evenly, not lopsidedly. What if we looked at this in reverse? Imagine your grip is so strong that you can hold 300 pound dumbells no problem, but you can only lift 250, what is the point of that?
Now these are just my personal opinions and some may disagree with it, but I firmly believe what I am saying is true. Whether you agree or disagree I hope this article helps you.
Remember to keep those adjustable dumbbells handy!
