Neat article (http://slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2104915&)

Before I read this I thought that bench shirts and squat clothing were stupid. Now I know it to be so. These guys claim that these shirts help injuries, and may be the case, but the shirts for benching throw _more than 250 lbs onto somebody's bench press_. That's so utterly ridiculous. If you can't take the injury risk, don't do it. What if somebody comes out with a shirt that puts 400 lbs on? or 600? Totally asinine, IMO.

It would be like having a pole vaulter's pole with a gas canister on the bottom to give a little extra push, or little rockets on a long jumper's shoes.

As far as I'm concerned, the record bench press is 713, which is what the best man has done raw (ie, no stupid shirt).

I agree. It's stupid the way people keep using supports every time they lift. What good does it do to be able to lift 50 lbs more if you don't let your muscles do the work?

I agree. It's stupid the way people keep using supports every time they lift. What good does it do to be able to lift 50 lbs more if you don't let your muscles do the work?

So...are you saying that people should be squatting without a weight belt? What about wrist wraps? Knee wraps?

Bench shirts typically only help with getting the weight off of the chest, which is actually being done largely through the lats. The lifter still needs to push that weight through the entire range of motion.
Powerlifters are in a whole different world that I have no interest in ever visiting myself. But they're entitled to use whatever the rules of that sport allow.

eh I say it doesnt matter, everyone can use the shirts, so its still fair, and the person who can lift the most is the strongest, if you say its cause of the shirt...then go buy one

So...are you saying that people should be squatting without a weight belt? What about wrist wraps? Knee wraps?I would say use all the equipment you want if it prevents injury. If it helps your lift, it shouldn't be allowed.Bench shirts typically only help with getting the weight off of the chest, which is actually being done largely through the lats. The lifter still needs to push that weight through the entire range of motion.Why is it ok that they help mainly with the initial lift off? If you can't lift the weight off your chest without the shirt, you shouldn't be trying it. You do realize that these shirts have added _250 lbs_ onto the max raw bench? My max bench is about 250 lbs and these people get it for free with a shirt!

Powerlifting's goal as a sport is to see how much you can lift. These shirts directly aid in your lifting, so it's silly. That just seems pretty clear to me :) It would be like if you're into drag racing but you like to have a decline on your 1/4 strip, or if you're into swimming but you get fins. This is exactly the same thing. It is legalized cheating, so I don't understand why the sport has incorporated it. Obviously the records with the shirts are quite meaningless, since we can't tell how much the shirt is helping. Most of the gains in bench now are just because of the equipment.eh I say it doesnt matter, everyone can use the shirts, so its still fair, and the person who can lift the most is the strongest, if you say its cause of the shirt...then go buy oneWell clearly nobody can compete in these powerlifting competitions without a shirt, and the shirts are cheap, so it's not like it's unfair to other lifters. All I'm saying is that the "1000 lb bench" is a total misnomer. It's not a 1000 lb bench if you've got helium balloons tied to the bar, you're doing the bench in free fall, you have pistons pushing up the bar, or you have a bench shirt.

I would consider the world's best bench press to be 713. These other numbers are utterly meaningless.

oh alright I guess I sort of assumed you were discussing the fairness of competition to each other, I certainly agree that the legitimacy of the records should be questioned, but then again so shouldnt the weightlifting and body building culture in regards to steroid use

Not all federations allow suits/shirts to be worn. I too agree it's stupid. There were some "powerlifters" at my old gym that won all of the local competitions. The one guy could barely lift 315 on the bench, and with his shirt he was up in the mid 400s. I just laughed when they brought their trophies in, as I had higher numbers than every one of them and I didn't use any bench shirts/squat suits. It is rediculous, but for many federations you have to wear them or you'll lose.

I guess what's to be remembered from this is that a bonus is no longer a bonus when it becomes the norm.

Anyone who's ever played a MMORPG can see the pattern here. Everyone gets a killer sword... creatures defenses go up. You can't find/afford that sword? Sucks to be you.

I, personally, deem the concept of bench shirts and squat suits stupid. Not that that means much, because I hadn't heard anything about them before this thread, but whatever.

So...are you saying that people should be squatting without a weight belt? What about wrist wraps? Knee wraps?
I certainly do. Last year I was up to squatting 6 reps on 500 lbs without any supports whatsoever. Do I have special powers that someone else doesn't? No, I simply took my time and let my body get used to supporting the weight. Using supports all the time while squatting, benching, dead lifting or in any other lift, what you will do is create an imbalance (as I see it). Sure, your legs can eventually withstand a huge amount of weight in the squat, but once the belt and knee wraps are gone, you're totally screwed because your body just isn't strong enough as a whole.

If you're injured and need the support badly, that's another story, but should you really be pushing yourself hard if you are?

My main point is this: if you have good form and concentrate on what you are doing in the gym, you don't need supports to prevent injury. So in my eyes, people use belts and such just to be able to lift more, which is kind of like shooting yourself in the foot, since you won't actually gain that strength.