The gym has no shortage of cool gadgets and tools that claim to help you have a better workout. Things to help your grip, get a better angle on a press or row, and help you protect your joints. Some of these tools might be a little less than effective or optimal in helping you achieve your goals, and some might be hurting your progress and possibly be putting you in danger. Here are three tools you might see in the gym and how to use them properly, to have a safe and effective workout.

1.   Gloves – For most people, gloves in the gym are not advisable. They do not enhance your grip or support your wrists as well as other things can.  If you are a hand model or depend on your dexterity for your job, then wearing gloves during a resistance training workout might be a good idea. If you simply don’t like your hands touching the rough weights, then gloves are fine. If you MUST wear gloves in the gym, make sure they are properly fitted to your hands. Gloves that are too small can cut off your circulation, and gloves that are too large can compromise your grip and cause the weights to slip and possibly hurt you.
2.   Safeties – On every squat rack and smith machine, as well as most leg press machines, there are safety bars or stops, that will stop the weight from falling beyond a certain point. The way people most often use these incorrectly is by not using them at all. There is no conceivable reason you should not use them on lifts where there is a chance of falling, and while you might not fall, If you do, you will be glad you used them.
3.   Lifting Belts – Whether they are leather or nylon, buckled, levered, or Velcro, you will see lifting belts in any gym. They are meant to be used as a companion or support to your core when bracing for big lifts. They are not meant to be used to make up for a weak core or bad form. Some high-level lifters will use them for heavy compound movements, like barbell squats and deadlifts. They are not meant to be worn around the gym like an accessory, and if they are worn for a prolonged period, they can cause some lower back pain and cause you to miss out of some auxiliary core stability training that comes from many exercises you do in the gym.

If you have a question about a particular tool or machine in the gym, don’t hesitate to ask a trainer or a fellow gym goer. And when in doubt, go without. If you aren’t sure about it and you can reasonably do the exercise without the aide or special tool, go without, and search it up later. Making sure to use the gym properly is the key to staying safe and making sustainable progress.