Gym Generation Guide
Frequently Asked Questions about Gym & Workout Accessories
What do you need for the gym?
To start, a few essentials are enough: a shaker, a gym towel and, once the weights get heavier, wrist wraps and lifting straps. If you train heavy on squats and deadlifts, add a lifting belt. You don't need more at the beginning. The rest of your gym accessories should follow your goals, not the other way around.
Which gym accessories are good for beginners?
Beginners are best off with a small, honest starter kit: wrist wraps for support on pressing movements, a pair of lifting straps for pull day, and a shaker for fueling around training. Training gloves or grip pads help if your palms are sensitive. These basics cover most exercises without making you spend money on things you don’t need yet.
Lifting straps, grip pads or training gloves – which is better?
It depends on your goal. Lifting straps reduce the demand on your grip during heavy pulling exercises and let you move more weight. Grip pads protect your palms from calluses while still making your grip work. Training gloves offer protection and comfort throughout the whole session. Many lifters combine them: gloves or pads for everyday training, straps for heavy sets.
Which lifting belt is the right one?
For most people, a leather lifting belt with a consistent width is the best choice: stable, durable and versatile. If you lift very heavy, a 9 mm thick, 10 cm wide powerlifting belt gives you more stability. If you want speed, a quick-release model is practical; for lighter volume work, a Velcro belt is enough. What matters is width and stability, not looks.
Leather or neoprene – what should I look for?
Leather is durable, holds its shape and gives the most direct feel under load – ideal for belts and straps built for heavy training. Neoprene is lighter, warms the joint and feels comfortable to wear – the right choice for knee sleeves, elbow sleeves and padded wrist wraps. In short: leather for maximum stability and longevity, neoprene for comfort, warmth and flexible support.
Which gym accessories work for a home gym?
For a home gym, you don’t need completely different accessories than you would use at the gym: straps, wraps, a belt and a shaker work anywhere. Resistance bands and a booty band are useful for activation and warm-up, the arm blaster for targeted arm work, and an ice bath for recovery. That way, you build your kit without bulky machines.
Are there gym accessories for women?
Yes. Lifting straps, wrist wraps and training gloves also come in light pink and lavender, plus the booty band in pink and backpacks in lavender or arctic mint. It's the same gear as the black range: same specs, same function, just in different colors. Gym accessories for women don't compromise on performance.
How do I care for my gym accessories?
Keep leather products dry and apply a little leather conditioner now and then so they stay supple. Let textile wraps and straps air-dry after training and wash them cold if needed. Rinse your shaker right after your session, ideally. With proper care, good gym accessories last for years.
What Actually Moves You Forward – Gym Accessories With a Clear Purpose
Most lifters don't need twenty gadgets, just a handful of things that genuinely deliver. Good gym accessories should solve a concrete problem: your grip can't keep up, your wrist gets shaky, or your lower back feels exposed under heavy squats. That's exactly what this selection is built for. Instead of a random wall of fitness products, you'll find curated gym and workout accessories for strength training, functional training and everything in between – fitness accessories for men and women, every piece with a clear job. If you know what you're after, you'll find it fast; if you're still unsure, read on.
Straps & Grip – When Your Hands Give Out Before the Muscle
On deadlifts and rows, your back is almost always stronger than your grip – your hands give out before the target muscle reaches its limit. That's where lifting straps come in: they wrap around the bar, so it's no longer your grip calling the shots, but the muscle you actually want to train.
We carry several types, because each one has its job. Classic straps with extra grip and neoprene padding are the all-rounder for pull day. Straps with steel hooks take your grip almost entirely out of the equation on very heavy sets – ideal for maximal strength. Leather straps last the longest and give you the most direct feel on the bar.
And if you want to keep working your grip while sparing your palms, reach for power grips or grip pads: they sit between your hand and the bar, help prevent calluses and give you a non-slip hold. Small spend, big payoff – the cheapest grip pad starts at just CHF 5.
Wraps & Support – More Control Under Load
Wrist wraps are among the most underrated gym accessories out there. As soon as the weight climbs on the bench press or overhead press, the wrist tends to bend backward – wrist wraps keep it in a straight, strong line and give you noticeably more control.
For the knees, it depends on the goal: knee wraps deliver firm compression and a bit of rebound for the heaviest singles, while 5 mm neoprene knee sleeves keep the joint warm and stable throughout the session – two tools for two different jobs.
Elbow sleeves in 5 mm neoprene round things out for heavy pressing. In the end, the material makes the difference: neoprene warms and supports comfortably, while tighter-woven wraps give more compression for heavy sets.
Lifting Belt – Stability for Heavy Sets
A lifting belt isn't a back brace, it's a tool: you press your abs against the belt, build intra-abdominal pressure and stabilize your midsection during squats, deadlifts and overhead presses.
We carry the full range – from the leather lifting belt as the reliable standard, to the powerlifting belt at 9 mm thick and 10 cm wide for maximum stability, to the quick-release model you can open in seconds between sets. If you prefer to stay light and mobile, a Velcro belt is ideal for volume work.
And for weighted dips and pull-ups, there's the dip belt in cowhide leather with a steel chain – a specialist piece you won't want to train without.
Shakers, Towels & Small Tools – Details That Make Every Session Better
Not every useful gym accessory has to be bulky. A 700 ml protein shaker with Circle Technology mixes whey without lumps, is leak-proof and BPA-free – it belongs in every gym bag.
Add a sports towel in 100% cotton, highly absorbent and, in the OEKO-TEX certified version, suitable for sensitive skin too. Ankle straps with a double D-ring help you target glutes and legs more effectively on the cable machine, while resistance bands and the booty band support activation and warm-up – in the gym just as much as at home.
These are the small workout accessories you buy once and then carry every day.
Home Gym & Workout Accessories for Two Worlds
Whether you train at the gym or set up a home gym, the right gym accessories are often the same ones that work at home too. Straps, wraps, a belt and a shaker fit in any bag and have their place in both setups.
For home training, add resistance bands and the arm blaster for targeted biceps work. That way, you build your essential kit piece by piece, without needing space-hungry machines.
Gym Accessories for Women – Tough Gear in Colors That Stand Out
Gym accessories for women aren't different products here, just the same no-compromise gear – only in colors not everyone has. Our lifting straps, wrist wraps and training gloves also come in light pink and lavender, the booty band for targeted glute work in pink, and if you want a backpack as a daily training companion, you'll find it in lavender or arctic mint.
Same specs, same toughness, same function as the black range – just with a bit more character. Gym accessories for women don't have to choose between looking good and performing.
Why Gym Accessories From Gym Generation?
We know the gym from the inside. Since 2013, we've built gear for people who genuinely train – which is why we know what stays in use after the first week and what ends up in a drawer.
Over 60,000 customers, a 4.7/5 rating from more than 1,000 reviews and three appearances at FIBO in Cologne stand for a range that's anything but random: well-thought-out gear with substance. We ship from our own Swiss warehouse, usually within 1–3 working days in Switzerland.