Accessories

The small gear that finishes a gym

Accessories are the cheapest items here and the ones that get used every session. They are also what people forget to budget for, then buy badly in a hurry.

• Collars are not optional. Quick-release nylon collars in seven colours let every bar in the room have its own set, which makes it obvious when one goes missing. Aluminium lock-jaws are lighter and grip harder.
• Barbell pads make hip thrusts and heavy squats bearable. The nylon-covered version wipes clean, which matters in a shared gym.
• Grips and gloves keep your grip from being the limiting factor on pulling work. Hook grip gloves and versa grips do the same job in different ways.
• Cable attachments are what turn a cable station into a full gym. A five-piece set covers pulldowns, rows, curls and pushdowns.

Accessories ship by standard courier rather than pallet freight, so they arrive quickly and cost little to send.