Gear: When should you begin using equipment?

[tank]

To avoid the age-old arguement of whether gear should or shouldn't be worn powerlifting let's assume the decision has been made to use gear...

At what point should a lifter start considering gear? At what level of advancement should he or she begin learning about it, training in it, and competing in it.

Maybe it's not a cut-and-dry answer, but let me know what you all think!

[Fazc]

I only have limited experience here so take it for what it's worth; a guy needs a certain amount of strength to overcome the suit. You need to be strong enough to not only stabilise the weight but to force the weight where you want it to go despite where the gear may want you to go. That's what builds the tension and allows the gear to work.

So a 'decent' level of strength is necessary.

In terms of costs, the gear isn't cheap. I'd probably wait till you're relatively stable in one weight category before you start splashing out on new gear.

To prepare for the gear, you could switch to doing everything with a close grip on your raw work and putting a big emphasis on posterior chain work. I'd really smash the hell out of SLDLs and CGBP raw.

[tank]

more often lately i've seen people say they wish they had "gotten into gear sooner" and i know that means different things to different people (i.e. pre-injuries), but as far as training advancement would you say gear is something a lifter should wait until he is advanced to get into? clearly a novice should not concern himself with it, but the intermediate stage can last years and it seems like that period of time is large enough to be a detriment to experience if not used during that time.

[J_Byrd]

There is no stead fast rule, but basically you need to be strong before you jump into gear. I have had a lot of success in equipment, but I took the long approach. I lifted raw for years, eventually moved into hand me down single ply stuff. Eventually bought my own good single ply stuff. Now I am moving into multiply. What you can do with equipment is all relative to how strong you are.

[tank]

that's basically how i intended to do it, i just was hoping that the timeline that creates doesn't limit my potential in gear.

i want to compete raw until gear is really the only way to increase my lifts, if that makes sense.

[J_Byrd]

You will know when its time to make the jump in gear, and various levels of it. Its sort of a feel thing. Got to have some training partners to make it work as well.

[tank]

excellent. i can work with instinct. thanks a lot for the info bro.

[J_Byrd]

Originally Posted by tank

excellent. i can work with instinct. thanks a lot for the info bro.

When you get back to the states we can get together and Ill show you some things (assuming you get back to Bragg). I head to Fayetteville a few times a year.

[tank]

that would be great. i'm getting out of the army, but my wife is staying in, so we'll be going wherever the hell she gets sent, but i'll be at bragg for a bit i think.

[Off Road]

Originally Posted by Fazc

In terms of costs, the gear isn't cheap. I'd probably wait till you're relatively stable in one weight category before you start splashing out on new gear.

I love it when I hear a different take on stuff. That's not something I've heard mentioned but makes a whole lot of sense.