GRIPAD ® Blog

Is Your Workout Gear Helping You…Or Holding You Back?

Depending on your chosen workout goals, the right gear can mean the difference between astonishing success, frustrating struggle, and easily preventable failure. But there’s no reason to let your gear choose your destiny. If you work hard and show determination and patience, a simple piece of faulty gear shouldn’t have the opportunity to stand between you and the weight loss or athletic performance you deserve. Let’s take a look at some of the key culprits when it comes to gear-related sabotage.

Choose the Right Workout Gear

Shoes

If your workout relies on heavy cardio, you need proper shoes. And if your workout goals are based entirely or almost entirely on running, you REALLY need proper shoes. Don’t cut corners. The care and attention you invest in your running goals should be directly reflected in the amount of research and cost you’re willing to invest in your shoes. Don’t be taken in by magical promises, but get online and find out what experts have to say about the shoe options for your specific sport. And when you invest in great shoes, take care of them properly.

Weight Equipment

Great weights and machines can help you reach your goals faster, and shoddy ones can actually increase your risk of injury. To stay on the safe side, let the professionals at your gym or training center choose the machines…but make sure you choose the right gym or training center. Before you buy home gym equipment, get recommendations from a professional trainer.

Hand Protection

Leather and synthetic gloves can offer adequate hand protection as you lift weights, but traditional gloves are not ideal. Gloves collect moisture, which can form a breeding ground for bacteria. They can also restrict your range of motion, compromising your results. Instead, try moisture-wicking neoprene Gripads. They allow your hands to move and breath naturally, and they stand up to rough use at the gym.

What to Wear for an Effective Workout, from Running Shoes to Weight Lifting Gloves

Your gear can be a very important aspect of your workout, and the items you bring with you to the gym can sometimes mean the difference between great and mediocre results. Quality gear can also mean the difference between a fun, pleasant workout experience that leads to good memories versus a negative gym experience that can dampen your motivation down the road.

So how can you make sure your gear is supporting your goals? Start by taking a look at your clothing.

What to Wear When you Work Out

If you engage in high impact cardio activities, your shoes should be in excellent shape and should be carefully chosen. Long distance running shoes should be replaced every six months, even if they still look fine. The cushioning can become compressed over time in ways that aren’t visible, but this compression can increase the impact on your joints as you run. For less intense activities, shoes don’t need to be replaced as often, but they should still be chosen to match the sport you play the most.

Your pants, shirts, socks and outerwear should be made of either natural fibers or moisture-wicking synthetics. They should fit tightly enough to stay out of your way, but not so tightly that they constrict your range of motion or prevent your skin from breathing properly.

If you dedicate a portion of your workout to weight training or resistance work, make sure your hands are adequately protected. But skip the gloves, which can trap moisture and collect mildew. Instead, use strap-on pads specifically designed for weight training.

Flexible, moisture-wicking Gripads are made of durable neoprene and they cover only your vulnerable palms, not your whole hand. This means your skin can breathe and your hands don’t feel constricted as you lift. Gripads also have a non-slip grip that can help you maintain a safe grip on heavy bars, ropes, and other equipment.

Choosing the Right Gear for Your Winter Workout

The right gear is an essential component of a successful workout plan, no matter the season. But during the winter, staying warm and wicking moisture away from your skin while maintaining a full range of motion can be a challenge. It’s also a good idea to protect your face and hands from dryness and chapping. Chapped dry hands and abrasive gym equipment can lead to blisters and injuries that can get in the way of a positive workout.

First, consider your clothing and shoes. Modern synthetic fabrics can provide powerful protection while staying close the body and adding very little weight. During the summer, it’s always a good idea to choose natural fabrics like cotton whenever possible, but in the wintertime, synthetics may be a better fit. If you’re working out indoors, make your decision based on comfort. But if you’re planning on going outside for a run or a turn on outdoor exercise equipment, choose your gear carefully and dress in layers. Make sure your socks are warm and your shoes are suitable for the weather. And don’t forget to protect your ears. The heat of a workout can make you forget about your extremities.

Second, consider your skin. This means moisturizer for your lips and face, and suitable protection for your hands. Even indoors, dry air can increase chapping and make your hands vulnerable to abrasions. Your palms deserve the protection of a workout glove that’s durable, lightweight, moisture wicking, and easy to slip on and off. Gripad weight lifting gloves can protect your hands in ways that regular gloves can’t. While providing a tough neoprene pad that stands between your skin and rough equipment, Gripads also allow your hands to breathe freely and move naturally. Forget about sweat build-up and bacteria growth, and stay focused on your workout goals. Try Gripads this winter, and keep your exercise routine on track.

Protect Your Hands While You Work Out

If you’re planning to add an element of weight lifting or resistance training to your regular workout, there are a few things you’ll need to hear before you begin. First, congratulations! Strength training can be a highly rewarding challenge and a great way to balance your growth, tone and tighten your major muscle groups, and double the benefits of your existing routine. Second, make sure you take the right approach and obtain all the gear you need before you begin. In addition to a set of weights, appropriate machines, or a suitable gym, you’ll also need a way to protect your hands from rough bars and equipment. And your hand protection should help you maintain your grip, so bars and weights don’t slide out of your control.

Chalk can help you maintain your grip, and gloves can protect your hands, but both of these methods have limits. Chalk won’t do anything to prevent damage and injury. And gloves can collect moisture and breed bacteria, in addition to restricting your full range of motion. The answer: Gripad weight lifting gloves. Gripads can provide both control and hand protection, without any movement restriction, bacteria or chalky mess. These tough, durable little pads work as hard as you do, and they stand between your healthy palms and abrasive surfaces that can cause callouses, blisters and injuries.

Gripads consist of a durable foam pad surrounded by a layer of moisture-wicking neoprene. They slide easily on and off without covering your whole hand, allowing your skin to breath naturally. And they have the strength to stand up to the challenges of your toughest routine. Best of all, Gripads are so soft and lightweight that you can easily forget you’re wearing them. They’re easy to clean and easy to carry– Just toss a pair into your bag before you head for the gym. Make Gripads an essential part of your gear and never worry about hand protection again.

Get in Shape Without Breaking the Bank

Aside from quitting smoking, there are few ordinary challenges that rival the difficulty of successfully losing weight. When you decide to make a go of getting in shape, the obstacles ahead can seem insurmountable, especially at first, and every day thousands of people all over the world struggle to gain even the smallest inch of ground in this ongoing battle.

But every single day, all over the world, millions of people succeed. And most of those people don’t have access to anything you don’t have. With determination, patience, and a few simple, inexpensive tools, you can make astonishing changes to your body, no matter who you are and no matter your starting point. And simple gear isn’t hard to find. You don’t need a fancy gym. If you have a sidewalk, living room, or even a tiny patch of floor, you can exercise. And you don’t need expensive weights. As long as you can maintain a safe grip, almost any suitably heavy object, like a milk container filed with sand, can help you develop and improve your muscle tone. The only thing you need to make you home into a weight room is a little ingenuity and safe pads to maintain your grip and protect your hands.

Take a walk outside. If you stay alert, keep safety in mind, and choose your route wisely, any street can be a walking or jogging path. Investigate your local area for well-maintained parks, and if you have an exercise trail with simple workout equipment like pull up bars, don’t let it go to waste. Take your Gripads with you and make the most of the crisp fall weather. Back at home, consider push-ups, crunches and simple dumbbell workouts that don’t require anything but your Gripads and a pair of five pound weights.

Is it Time to Make Changes to Your Workout Gear?

No matter how great your routine may be, and how many rewards and benefits it’s provided over the years, there may come a day when you realize it’s time to shake things up a bit and make a few changes. You may want to move from an indoor to an outdoor routine or vice versa. You may want to start targeting neglected areas of the body. Or you may just be getting a little bit bored and losing sight of the motivation that got you started in the first place.

Your gear may also need a refreshing turnover now and then. Sometimes your favorite workout clothes and gear can break, tear or wear out. When that happens, you have no choice but to make replacements. But there are other times when you simply realize that the same old item just isn’t working as hard for you as it once did. Shoes, for example, need to be replaced frequently by serious runners even when they seem to be in excellent shape. If you’ve been running moderate to long distances in the same pair of shoes for more than a year, it may be time for a replacement pair. Your resistance training gear may need the same kind of shake up now and then. Take a close, objective look at your old gloves. They may have served you loyally for a long time, but gloves collect sweat, mildew and bacteria over time. And even when you wash them frequently, they still wear out and wear thin and eventually fail to provide the durable protection you need to get the most out of your workout.

If you’re ready for a change, try Gripads. These super tough, super-soft neoprene pads are fun to use, long lasting, and perfect for high intensity workouts. They slip on easily and, unlike gloves, they wick away moisture and don’t breed bacteria or mildew.

Protect Your Hands with the Right Workout Gear

The right gear can have a huge impact on the success of your workout. If you choose your shoes, clothes and equipment carefully, you’ll be comfortable and protected from poor technique and possible injury. On the other hand, the wrong gear can lead to a frustrating workout, slow results and flagging motivation. In the worst case, we can end up blaming ourselves for our poor results when a simple change in gear would have made all the difference.

This is especially true when it comes to hand protection. If you spend significant time using resistance machines or training with free weights, you understand the toll that bars, ropes and equipment handles can take on the palms of your hands. The heavier the resistance and the more intense the workout, the greater the chance of blisters and abrasions that can interfere with your training regimen. Chalk can reduce slippage, and gloves can protect your hands from injury, but both of these solutions have limits. Chalk is messy and offers minimal protection from abrasions. And gloves can prevent your hands from breathing naturally and can restrict your range of motion. Sweat and moisture can also build up inside, fostering bacteria and unpleasant smells.

But now there’s an alternative that can provide everything you need from a workout glove with none of the restriction, sweat, grime and mildew. The Gripad is a lightweight neoprene pad that’s both soft and incredibly durable. Gripads slip on easily and stay on, protecting your hands during even the most intense workouts. But they only cover your palms, so the rest of your hand stays unconfined and unrestricted. The neoprene layer wicks moisture away, leaving your palms dry and comfortable, and the padded surface helps you maintain your grip on equipment so you can stay focused on your technique. Try a pair of Gripads during your next workout. You’ll feel the difference.