Every person on the globe is unique. We all have our unique preferences, personalities, hobbies, etc. And we are also different when it comes to fitness. Some like full body exercises, some like to involve loads of weights and some are there just to burn calories and shed weight. That’s perfectly fine. Considering that diversity, it should go without saying that each type of gym goer packs their bag differently. Considering that you’re here, you’re probably interested in the contents of a serious lifter’s gym bag. Let’s find out what five essentials every lifter has to bring to the gym!

Weightlifting belt

You’ll often see those huge lifters wear a belt around their torso while working out. And that is no coincidence since that belt is what keeps them from seriously injuring their abs. The belt helps stabilize the core during the exercise and it also prevents hyperextension of the lower back while performing max attempts or low reps at a high volume. Lifters who are always going big with the weights need to wear a belt because a good belt goes a long way towards providing that much needed extra structural support. It is absolutely mandatory to wear the belt during various exercises such as heavy deadlifts or squats. Remember that your health is at stake.

Proper shoes

You can’t just go in and work out in whatever pair of shoes you own. A real lifter knows very well how important it is to have a pair of proper bodybuilding shoes ready in their gym bag. Due to the nature of weightlifting exercises, we have to bear in mind that our feet have to adjust somehow in order for us to have a safe and efficient workout. As you can see, people who like running on the treadmill use those lean shoes with foamy soles. Well, as a lifter, you have to pick out a pair of shoes designed for the occasion. Bodybuilding shoes have strong soles and they protect your ankles. They provide stability and support that you don’t want to lose in the middle of a deadlift. Don’t be stingy when buying your special pair of shoes – you don’t want to end up with a serious ankle or knee injury just because your shoe decided to give up on you in the middle of a squat or lift.

Gloves

Since lifters deal with heavy weights, there has to be something that will protect their skin from the hard cold bar. Gym gloves get you that comfort. If you don’t want blisters and pain during the exercise, you have to invest in a durable pair of gym gloves. Cheap gloves won’t last for more than 5 months. If you get that amount of time out of them, you can consider yourself lucky. Look for renowned brands and see if they offer gloves. You’ll want gloves that are firm and that can be strapped around your ankle well, and they need to provide extra grip. Quality gloves are usually made of good materials, one of which is leather.

Wrist wraps

Wrist wraps come in handy for intermediate lifters with a smaller bone structure who feel pain when lifting maximal weights. Wrist wraps act similar to belts. Think of them as belts for your hands: they are there for your own safety and they provide stability during exercise. Most of the lifters who wear wraps do that because they feel that they haven’t yet built their forearms enough. Some feel that they don’t have enough wrist strength. On the other hand, wrist wraps also help you with the maximal loads. They provide support that you’ll be thankful for in the middle of a huge lift. Also, people who have injured their hands really appreciate these because they let them perform a certain movement without pain.

Chalk

Proficient lifters always powder their hands with chalk. Why? Chalk is really important because it provides you with the much needed grip for deadlifting and heavy rowing. Even if you don’t want to spend much money on lifting chalk, you can go to the local store and buy the usual sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk (calcium carbonate) isn’t the same as lifting chalk (magnesium carbonate), but they are similar enough so you’ll be able to deadlift heavy weights without a problem. Some gyms even provide you with the chalk and they don’t care if you bring your own. But just to be sure, pack that chalk next time you head to the gym.

Coming ready is really important if you want to see the results and be impressed. What you do in the gym is certainly most important, so don’t cut yourself short on the gear you need to do it. Do it right with the right gear!