Why Women Weightlifters Should Use Support Gear: Gloves, Lifting Straps & Grip Strengtheners

When women start weightlifting, the focus is usually on perfecting form, increasing strength, and choosing the right program. But one area that’s often overlooked is using supportive lifting equipment—like lifting gloves, straps, and grip strengtheners. These small tools can make a big difference in performance, safety, and long-term progress.

In this post, we’ll break down the benefits of each, explain how they can improve your weightlifting experience, and help you decide what gear is right for your goals.

1. Lifting Gloves: Comfort + Protection

Weightlifting gloves are one of the most popular accessories for women in the gym—and for good reason. They protect your hands from painful blisters, calluses, and skin tears caused by gripping barbells and dumbbells.

Benefits of Lifting Gloves:

• Improved grip: Sweaty hands are no match for textured gloves, giving you a more secure hold on the bar.

• Comfort during heavy lifts: Padding reduces pressure on your palms during exercises like deadlifts and bench presses.

• Better hygiene: Gym equipment can be a breeding ground for bacteria—gloves provide a barrier between your skin and shared surfaces.

If you’re just starting out or want to keep your hands smooth and pain-free, gloves are a great place to start. These are my favorite lifting gloves.

2. Lifting Straps: Focus on Strength, Not Grip Fatigue

Lifting straps are long pieces of fabric that wrap around your wrists and the bar to help you hold heavier weights. They’re especially useful for pulling movements like deadlifts, rows, and pull-ups.

Benefits of Lifting Straps:

• Lift heavier weights safely: When your grip gives out before your muscles do, straps help you continue progressing in strength.

• Reduce wrist and forearm fatigue: This allows you to perform more reps with better form.

• Support advanced lifts: As you increase your training intensity, straps become essential for maximizing strength gains.

Straps aren’t for every lift, but they’re a smart tool when grip is limiting your performance—not your strength. These are my favorite lifting straps.

3. Grip Strengtheners: Build a Stronger Foundation

While gloves and straps support your grip during lifts, grip strengtheners help you build grip endurance outside of the gym. These small handheld tools are used to squeeze and train the muscles in your hands, fingers, and forearms.

Benefits of Grip Strengtheners:

• Improves overall lifting performance: A stronger grip means better control and heavier lifts, especially for compound movements.

• Reduces risk of injury: Strengthening the small muscles in your hands and wrists can help prevent strains and overuse injuries.

• Everyday functional strength: From carrying groceries to opening jars, a stronger grip benefits your daily life—not just the gym.

There are two ways to train your grip, by squeezing your fingers together and by extending your fingers out. This is my favorite accessory for developing grip strength by squeezing and these are my favorite accessories for developing grip strength by extending.

The Bottom Line

Supportive gear like lifting gloves, straps, and grip strengtheners aren’t just for advanced athletes—they’re smart tools that can help women lift more confidently, comfortably, and effectively. Whether you’re training at home or hitting the gym, using the right fitness accessories can boost your performance, prevent injuries, and help you reach your strength goals faster.

Ready to level up your training? Start with the gear that matches your needs—and keep building from there.