The three most underrated pieces of gym equipment that you need
If you’re serious about building strength and muscle, small details can make a big difference. While many gym-goers just focus on protein intake and working hard, few take advantage of tools that can make training more effective.
My pick for the three most underrated yet highly beneficial accessories are lifting straps, fractional plates, and a training log. Here’s why these should be a staple in your strength training routine.
Lifting Straps: Less Grip Fatigue = More Gains
Lifting straps are a game-changer, especially for pulling exercises like deadlifts, rows, and pull-ups. They wrap around your wrists and the bar, helping secure your grip, which provides several key benefits:
Reduces Grip Fatigue – Your grip strength often gives out before your back or legs do. Straps allow you to push your muscles harder without being limited by grip endurance.
Increases Lifting Potential – You’ll be able to lift heavier loads and perform more reps, leading to better strength and hypertrophy gains.
Reduces Forearm Overuse – For those doing a high volume of pulling exercises, straps can prevent excessive strain on the forearms, lowering the risk of overuse injuries.
While it’s good to develop one’s grip strength (and forearm muscles), using lifting straps strategically can help maximise muscle growth in other areas once grip becomes the limiting factor.
Check out the tutorial on how to use lifting straps at the end of the blog!
2. Fractional Plates: Small Jumps for Continuous Progress
Progressive overload - the gradual increase of stress placed on the muscles - is the foundation of strength and muscle growth. However, most weight plates in commercial gyms mean increases of at least 2.5 kg (5 lb) or even 5 kg (10 lb) increments, which can be too large of a jump for certain lifts.
Fractional plates, typically weighing between 0.125 kg to 0.5 kg (0.25 to 1.1 lbs), allow for smaller, more manageable increases in weight. This is especially beneficial for isolation exercises such as barbell curls or lateral raises, where a 2.5 kg (5 lb) jump can be too much.
For machines with weight stacks, you can still use fractional plates by:
Hanging them on the weight stack pin – This adds extra weight without needing to wait for a full stack upgrade.
Using a carabiner and cord – Attach the disks to a stack via a loop of cord.
These small adjustments can keep you progressing consistently rather than hitting frustrating plateaus.
3. A Training Log: Track, Adjust, and Improve
A training log is one of the most powerful yet overlooked tools for making steady progress in the gym. Whether in a notebook or a digital app, logging your workouts offers:
Clear Progress Tracking – You can see exactly how much weight, reps, and sets you’ve done over time, ensuring that you’re progressively overloading.
Better Workout Planning – Tracking your lifts allows you to structure your training, adjust volume, and optimise recovery.
Injury Prevention – By noting how your body feels and recording form cues, you can spot patterns that might lead to injury and adjust accordingly.
Many lifters believe they can remember what they lifted last session, but over time, details get forgotten. Having a log ensures you’re always building on previous progress rather than guessing.
How to use lifting straps: a step by step guide
Step 1: Thread the Strap Through the Loop
• Take one lifting strap and locate the loop at one end.
• Thread the other end of the strap through the loop, creating a small adjustable circle.
• Slide your hand through the loop so the strap lays flat against the back of your wrist.
• Repeat on the other side. Pull the strap tight around your wrist.
• Repeat on the other side.
Step 2: Wrap the Strap Around the Bar
• Place your wrist on the barbell, dumbbell or cable attachment).
• Wrap the strap around the bar, working from underneath it and looping it over the top 2-3 times as necessary (the straps wrap the opposite way to your hand).
• Keep it as tight as possible. You’ll find it easier if you attach your non-dominant hand first.
Step 4: Grip the Bar and Secure the Strap
• Once the strap is wrapped around the bar, grip the barbell tightly over the strap.
• Rotate the bar slightly towards you to tighten the strap further, ensuring a firm hold.
You’re ready to lift!
And there you have it!
By using these 3 simple pieces of equipment you can vastly accelerate your strength gains!
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With love
Paul & Gemma
Hench Herbivore
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