Lifting Guides

Lifters have tried everything to stop sliding on the bench: a towel, chalk on the pad, a band around the bench, a strap-on grip cover and a bench mat. Here is how each one holds up in a real gym.

Grip surface, lay-flat or strapped, size, thickness and the guarantee. The five things to check before you buy a bench mat, and why most of the rest is noise.

A bench mat is a grip surface for the bench pad. Here is what it does, who needs one and how to use it.

Sliding is a setup problem before it is a strength problem. Here is what causes it and how to stay planted.