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Gloves, straps or chalk?
- Thread starter pechorin
- Start date
I use straps. Never liked chalk. Although I still have callouses, don't think either will get rid of those.
Chalk always. You will never develop a death grip with straps and gloves are for sissys.
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captainahole
New member
I use both straps and gloves. Gloves keeps my hands from cracking and not having hands like sandpaper.
And straps well I am a bodybuilder not a powerlifter. My hands will give out long before I fatigue the muscle group enough.
And I am not a sissy cause I use gloves. When your over 200lbs at 5'7" on stage then you can call me a sissy.
And straps well I am a bodybuilder not a powerlifter. My hands will give out long before I fatigue the muscle group enough.
And I am not a sissy cause I use gloves. When your over 200lbs at 5'7" on stage then you can call me a sissy.
none of the above. not trying to stir shit up so if you are sensitive then don't read the rest of my post ..
i used to wear gloves and my forearms and wrists didn't develop like the rest of my arm, so i ditched the gloves and now my forearms are huge.
i wouldn't call people who use gloves sissy's but it is newbish and it will become a handicap for you when you try to lift without them.
ironically it was on this very board a couple years back where we had a thread like this where everyone said to ditch the gloves, i never wore gloves back in the day but started wearing them for the sole purpose of not getting callouses, not a very good reason to wear them and i ditched them.
chalk you don't need either, just wipe your hands and the bar before lifting. if your palms and the bar are dry it won't do anything if you put chalk on except make an unnecessary mess.. and if you get sweaty palms then put chalk its just gonna stick to you and make a mess all over your clothes and you will have to put more chalk.. the guys that use chalk are always throwing on even more chalk for a reason.. cause it doesn't do shit unless you keep chalking up over and over!!! hence why chalk is banned in most non ghetto gyms..
straps you could make an arguement for but i have never had a need for them and I deadlift over 550. (got a hiatal hernia from it too) .. so lessen your weight and improve your form rather than trying to pull or push heavy weight with shitty form. you won't need straps if you do that
the only thing i take with me to the gym is my bottled water and headphones, only cause the music they play at the gym is atrociously bad. the original golds gym back in the day music was BANNED in the gym. you went there to lift weights period. now you got these young kids taking gloves, straps, wraps, belts, chalk, and half of the sports store with them and spending half their time socializing and hitting on every petite girl in there talking about how wasted they got the night before. I'm lucky though cause the gym i go to has very few douchebags in it, most of the guys are serious.
i used to wear gloves and my forearms and wrists didn't develop like the rest of my arm, so i ditched the gloves and now my forearms are huge.
i wouldn't call people who use gloves sissy's but it is newbish and it will become a handicap for you when you try to lift without them.
ironically it was on this very board a couple years back where we had a thread like this where everyone said to ditch the gloves, i never wore gloves back in the day but started wearing them for the sole purpose of not getting callouses, not a very good reason to wear them and i ditched them.
chalk you don't need either, just wipe your hands and the bar before lifting. if your palms and the bar are dry it won't do anything if you put chalk on except make an unnecessary mess.. and if you get sweaty palms then put chalk its just gonna stick to you and make a mess all over your clothes and you will have to put more chalk.. the guys that use chalk are always throwing on even more chalk for a reason.. cause it doesn't do shit unless you keep chalking up over and over!!! hence why chalk is banned in most non ghetto gyms..
straps you could make an arguement for but i have never had a need for them and I deadlift over 550. (got a hiatal hernia from it too) .. so lessen your weight and improve your form rather than trying to pull or push heavy weight with shitty form. you won't need straps if you do that
the only thing i take with me to the gym is my bottled water and headphones, only cause the music they play at the gym is atrociously bad. the original golds gym back in the day music was BANNED in the gym. you went there to lift weights period. now you got these young kids taking gloves, straps, wraps, belts, chalk, and half of the sports store with them and spending half their time socializing and hitting on every petite girl in there talking about how wasted they got the night before. I'm lucky though cause the gym i go to has very few douchebags in it, most of the guys are serious.
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I never use Gloves or chalk. I do use straps when I need to concentrate more on a specific muscle group (ie: Back or traps), but I don't always use them. Grip strength will really increase when you leave them out. Bare hand lifting is the way to go 90% of the time IMO
E
Evan Tipps
Guest
Depends on your goals in my opinion.. If your bodybuilding then grip strength doesnt matter imo. But if you powerlift then id say get the best grip strength you can have
Ifonly
Member
I use to use straps when I deadlifted, power shrugged, etc. but now I use chalk and my grip has improved so much more. I'm one that suffers from sweaty hands and even if I dry them they will soon sweat up again, normally halfway through a set! 
It is messy but I train at home so what the hell! Dnt care if I'm covered in chalk. Just my opinion. Suppose it's just personal preference.
It is messy but I train at home so what the hell! Dnt care if I'm covered in chalk.
Just my opinion. Suppose it's just personal preference.
i didnt know doing a posing routine all oiled up and painted brown made you tough...
I started no gloves/straps until my deadlift went beyond my grip strength
I just recently added gloves and can't say how I feel about them...my grip was better for sure but I wound up with blisters UNDER my callouses..which made me whine
the idea of straps kind of freaks me out because I tend to bite off more than I can chew and if I wanna lose the weight fast Im not sure how well thats gonna work out for me
I can be a sissy cuz Im a girl...jus sayin
I've only ever used chalk for rock climbing...seems like it would make my particular problem worse
I just recently added gloves and can't say how I feel about them...my grip was better for sure but I wound up with blisters UNDER my callouses..which made me whine
the idea of straps kind of freaks me out because I tend to bite off more than I can chew and if I wanna lose the weight fast Im not sure how well thats gonna work out for me
I can be a sissy cuz Im a girl...jus sayin
I've only ever used chalk for rock climbing...seems like it would make my particular problem worse
miked8c
New member
I don't know what you heavyweights are dead lifting, but at 19 YO I can pull over 500lbs. and my grip is no where near a limiting factor, I use chalk. I also have sissy wrists and a hand size that rivals that of a baby's fist.
It not an excuse to say that the "enormous" weight your pulling makes it so that you "need" to use some kind of grip accessory besides chalk. If your pulling heavy reps on a consistent basis there is no reason why your grip is not catching up to the weight the rest of your body can pull.
I'm siding with Steve on this one, if you can't pick it up off the ground without using gloves or straps, than you can't lift it. Same goes for pull ups, I see people using straps on pull ups as well, your only robbing yourself of beastly grip development using shortcuts.
I got mean calluses that girls think are gross, but I keep them filed down. Aside from that singular aesthetic disadvantage, lifting heavy weights without gloves will benefit everything from handshakes to fighting. Being able to put a solid grip on something you are trying to exert a force on is paramount. This goes back to having a strong foundation.
It not an excuse to say that the "enormous" weight your pulling makes it so that you "need" to use some kind of grip accessory besides chalk. If your pulling heavy reps on a consistent basis there is no reason why your grip is not catching up to the weight the rest of your body can pull.
I'm siding with Steve on this one, if you can't pick it up off the ground without using gloves or straps, than you can't lift it. Same goes for pull ups, I see people using straps on pull ups as well, your only robbing yourself of beastly grip development using shortcuts.
I got mean calluses that girls think are gross, but I keep them filed down. Aside from that singular aesthetic disadvantage, lifting heavy weights without gloves will benefit everything from handshakes to fighting. Being able to put a solid grip on something you are trying to exert a force on is paramount. This goes back to having a strong foundation.
I didnt mean to personally offend anyone. I do agree with bb using straps for back work as the allow you to focus on muscle development. It will significantly.hinder grip strength and that really doesnt matter to a bb. If your dropping a dl because your grip is weak than you shouldnt be wearing straps. I use my bear hands all the way up to mid 600s and only use chalk when I get around 700 or above, and I never drop dead lifts.As far as the gloves go, they have no place in the gym imo.Men are supposed to have rough hands.
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TravFlex91
New member
I fuckin love this kid!
good points above.
i will clarify if you are in a powerlifting competition then by all means use every advantage necessary. but shit as a bodybuilder you don't want to get used to a weak grip, can really cost you your forearm and wrist development.
also to mike don't worry as you get older girls will look at your calouses and know you actually workout (and don't just claim to) and they will like that about you. the younger chicks are still in that 'cute guy' phase. women might not admit it but they would rather screw a blue collar sweaty muscled guy with little money over a rich suit wearing wuss who has soft hands. (atleast the straight and mature ones).. bottom line is if a chick isn't willing to be understanding as to why you have callouses and support your lifting then she isn't the right one for you anyway.
i will clarify if you are in a powerlifting competition then by all means use every advantage necessary. but shit as a bodybuilder you don't want to get used to a weak grip, can really cost you your forearm and wrist development.
also to mike don't worry as you get older girls will look at your calouses and know you actually workout (and don't just claim to) and they will like that about you. the younger chicks are still in that 'cute guy' phase. women might not admit it but they would rather screw a blue collar sweaty muscled guy with little money over a rich suit wearing wuss who has soft hands. (atleast the straight and mature ones).. bottom line is if a chick isn't willing to be understanding as to why you have callouses and support your lifting then she isn't the right one for you anyway.
you left out shiny, hairless and posing to 80's dance music (although I think i am gonna use epic classical next year when i compete in the NPC's)
jerome simpson
New member
THIS. When i started getting excessive on pullups/muscleups, my callus situation got out of control. Filing them down after showering and taking care of them will not only keep your hands looking better, but it will prevent pinched calluses, which will keep you out of the game for two weeks. Trust me this is not a fun situation to be in when your hand rips open. If you have a blister starting to form under a callus, you might have let it get too big. Invest in an emery board or some type of file and maintain your hands.
Hand info cut and paste: fitbomb.com/2011/09/crossfit-hand-care.html
Chalk.
I can't imagine ever wearing gloves...ever. Straps if they are allowed in a contest.
We use lots of chalk in my gym...all part of being awesome! We also bleed, consume mass calories, and lift very heavy objects.
Embrace the fact that you have hands like a man.
I can't imagine ever wearing gloves...ever. Straps if they are allowed in a contest.
We use lots of chalk in my gym...all part of being awesome! We also bleed, consume mass calories, and lift very heavy objects.
Embrace the fact that you have hands like a man.
midevilironsmasher
New member
My workout partner said he might bring gloves next week on deadlift day. I almost ended our relationship right there. Like everything I've been telling him has gone through one ear and out the other. I told him i will not go to the gym with him if he ever wears gloves. MTFU or STFU. As for straps, I see the point in using them to hook both hands over if you've had some bicep injuries or if your in a freaking strongman comp and its allowed since your wrecking your grip all day.
isnt a deadlift a FULL BODY exercise?...
using an unassisted grip gives far more overall benefit than getting a tiny bit more of some muscle youre trying to get to have some certain look to...
straps are only for the last set of your heaviest lifts if you're a bodybuilder. If your're a powerlifter dont't ever use straps unless your doing like 120% or more of your 1rm. gloves are for bitches and if you wear them don't call yourself a weight lifter. Chalk is a MUST for powerlifters, and anyone who wants a solid grip. Who cares if you have to re apply chalk its like $1 for a block, and it will help your lifts more than you know. I'm currently all natural and I can dumbbell row 200 pound dumbells for 8-12 reps with chalk only about 4 reps without because my hands sweat and i lose grip. I weight 210 pounds. with chalk I deadlift 530+ without chalk I deadlift about 505.
midevilironsmasher
New member
I like throwing chalk all over the bar right before i hand it over to someone using gloves. Sometimes I put my ammonia in my chalk bag and snort is so people wonder if its really chalk in the bag. My wife doesn't like it when my hands cut her skin either but that's why i don't listen to her. We have a legal document so she has to deal with it.
zipzopzippity
New member
Theres a difference to working hard and working smart. You're targeting major muscle groups when deadlifting, not your forearm grip. Another one of those over hyped bro maniac bull-shit meat headed mentalities. Leave your ego at the door when you go to work out, do what makes sense to you, and if someone calls you out for being a sissy because you're strapping the barbell tell them to go fuck themselves and hope they swing at yah so you have an excuse to knock their ass out. Really, to use assistance on your lifts like this one should be a decision based on your own analysis and goals, not based on your fear of what other people think of you because, clearly, that type of mentality aint gonna get you very far in life, let alone women.
Straps/gloves/chalk vs raw isn't the issue here, the reason behind why you chose to do so is the issue. Sorry, just realized I typed an angry message, but I'm gonna post it anyway.
Straps/gloves/chalk vs raw isn't the issue here, the reason behind why you chose to do so is the issue. Sorry, just realized I typed an angry message, but I'm gonna post it anyway.
^^^fact is most reasons why people choose to use straps or gloves are stupid IMO. IF someone is afraid of callouses they shouldn't be working out...and that's what manicures and hand massage are for; thank you asia!
ssez222
New member
What joeblow said, men are supposed to have rough hands representative of work they have accomplished in their lives. If you want soft delicate hands because the girls like them more, it's not your hands that are the problem it's your game. Also follow Arnold's advice to train without straps or gloves. It not only increases your grip but allows your forearms to grow in size as well.
Plus there is nothing wrong with a little chalk
Plus there is nothing wrong with a little chalk
Feel like I hit a nerve here lol. I can live with the rough hands, it's just the fact I have sweaty ass hands especially with it getting warmer and my gym having no air con. I'm not a powerlifter or a bodybuilder just someone trying to gain a bit of weight and get in better shape, thanks for some of the advice anyway guys.
A Soft Koala
New member
ArcawsAccuddy
New member
Test, just a test
Hello. And Bye.
Hello. And Bye.
never knew arnold preached that but he knew his shit. not enough people give him credit for his knowledge of fitness.. they think its all about his genetics and steroids. bullshit.. the guy knew what he was doing, he was born for this. he is a victim of playing too many dumb movie roles fitting the dumb bb image, but in real life the guy was brilliant.
Ifonly
Member
hockeynut_9922
New member
Thanks for the post below Stevesmi.
I started wearing gloves when I got back into lifting, mainly so my hands didnt get all torn up for my job.
I was experiencing very bad pain and weakness in my forearms and my wrists.
Because of the post I said what the hell give it a try without gloves. After a month without gloves. I have not had a problem since then. I am amazed that the gloves could have been holding back my forearm development.
I cant figure out why, but just passing it along.
Gary
I started wearing gloves when I got back into lifting, mainly so my hands didnt get all torn up for my job.
I was experiencing very bad pain and weakness in my forearms and my wrists.
Because of the post I said what the hell give it a try without gloves. After a month without gloves. I have not had a problem since then. I am amazed that the gloves could have been holding back my forearm development.
I cant figure out why, but just passing it along.
Gary
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