Weight training and exercise accessories

Gloves Harbinger and Nike: which model for which grip

Fitness gloves protect the palms from blisters and calluses that form under bars and handles. At Harbinger, a specialised American brand, the Pro combines a double leather palm, padded with foam, with an adjustable wrist closure, suitable for bar exercises. The Flexfit and Training Grip focus on flexibility and grip, the Shield Protect on palm protection, and the Power is shaped for a woman's hand. The premium and elemental Nike gloves, in a women's cut, are suitable for fitness sessions and light loads. One should choose a fitted size: a glove that’s too big bunches up and hinders grip.

Other equipment

Weight training also includes:

• Weight benches.
• Dumbbells.
• Weight machines.
• Cages and racks.
• Bars and weights.
• Kettlebells.
• Medicine Balls.

All weight training equipment can be found on the weight training page.

Weightlifting belt: when and how to wear it

The weightlifting belt is used during heavy movements that put strain on the spine, particularly squats and deadlifts. It does not support the back by itself: by providing support to the abdominals, it helps increase intra-abdominal pressure, which stiffens the trunk and stabilises the lower back. It should be placed at the lumbar level, tight but not preventing inhalation, just before the set, and loosened immediately afterwards. It has no place during light sets or core exercises, where the lifter must learn to lock their trunk independently, just as they do during contact.

Straps, hooks, and push-up handles

On heavy pulls, deadlifts, rows, or pull-ups, the grip often fails before the back does. Pulling straps, wrapped around the bar, and hooks, attached to the wrist, prolong the set when the forearms fatigue; these are reserved for the last sets to continue strengthening grip, which is so valuable for ripping a ball in a maul. Push-up handles elevate the hands: they keep the wrist aligned, relieving fragile joints, and increase the range of motion to engage the pectorals more.

Good deals

Great deals can be found in good deals, promotions, clearance, sales, and Black Friday. New arrivals can be found in new products, and items shipped in 24 hours are prepared and dispatched within 24 hours. The key shopping events of the year follow a stable order: Black Friday at the end of autumn, the holiday season, the winter sales, the French Days of spring, followed by the summer sales and back-to-school time.

Frequently asked questions

What accessories to start weight training at home?

A pair of gloves to protect the hands, push-up handles, and a belt if heavy squats are planned are enough to get started. You can then add more based on the exercises performed, with straps when pulls become heavy.

Gloves or chalk: what to choose?

Chalk dries the hands and keeps a direct contact with the bar, which is preferred by strength trainers. Gloves better protect the skin and stay clean at home; however, they do thicken the grip on thick bars.

How to choose the size of your fitness gloves?

You measure the hand circumference at the level of the knuckles, excluding the thumb, and refer to the manufacturer's size guide. The glove should fit without compressing: the palm should not have any folds when gripping a bar.

Is a belt suitable for young players?

It's not necessary as long as they are working with light weights: the goal is to learn to engage the trunk themselves. The belt becomes justified later, with loads close to the maximum once the technique is solid.

How to maintain weightlifting gloves?

They should be left to dry in the open air after each session, never on a radiator which hardens the leather. A hand wash in lukewarm water with mild soap, occasionally, helps limit odours; leather models do not hold up well in the washing machine.