Straps help grip on heavy pulls, a belt braces heavy squats and deadlifts, sleeves warm the knees, wraps add squat carryover.
Straps save your grip on heavy rows, pulldowns, and deadlifts so your back gives out before your hands, and they are worth using. A lifting belt braces your core on heavy squats and deadlifts above roughly 80 percent effort and lets you brace harder, not a crutch. Knee sleeves add warmth and a little support for squats, while knee wraps are a competition-style tool for maximal squats and not needed by most people.
On heavy back work and deadlifts, your grip often fails before the target muscle, cutting the set short. Straps let the lats or hamstrings be the limit, so use them on top sets while still training grip separately on some work.
A belt gives your abs something to push against, raising intra-abdominal pressure and stability on heavy squats and deadlifts. Use it on your top sets, roughly 80 percent and up, and lift beltless on lighter work to keep the core strong.
Knee sleeves add warmth, blood flow, and a bit of rebound, good for most squatters. Knee wraps are a stiff competition tool that stores elastic energy for maximal squats and are overkill for general training.
Straps help grip on heavy pulls, a belt braces heavy squats and deadlifts, sleeves warm the knees, wraps add squat carryover.
