Want to kick up your workout results? Sometimes, it’s not just about how much effort you put into a program, but what tools you have available to help optimize your results.

If you are already working hard and aren’t quite seeing the results that you were hoping for, there are a few things that you may want to pick up that will help give you that extra boost.

Let’s look at four pieces of equipment that can help make your workouts better than ever.

Squat Shoes

While you can lift weights in plain old running shoes, sometimes these shoes aren’t the most ideal. A good instance of this is during the squat exercise. During this move, it’s ideal if you have a slight angle to the foot with your heel higher than your toes. Most running shoes do not provide this as they tend to be relatively flat straight across.

A good pair of squat shoes however will have a firm wedge under the heel, elevating them up while helping to keep you feeling grounded as you do your squats.

This can in turn help ensure that you maintain proper form and can go down through the full range of motion while doing the exercise.

Wrist Supports

Wrist supports are the next piece of equipment to consider. These are great for when you start lifting heavier weights and may need a little extra support for this thin joint.

If your wrists are not fully able to support the weight you’re lifting, this could quickly become your ‘weakest’ link, so to speak. You may have to lighten the weight you use to prevent injury, reducing your rate of progress.

Wrist supports will go around the wrist, helping it stay firm and stable.

Lifting Straps

Lifting strap are another accessory to consider. These are simply wrapped around the wrist and then can be attached to a dumbbell you are lifting. They’re great for using during bent over rows or any other type of pulling exercises you might be doing.

The benefit here? They’ll help strap that weight onto your hand so you aren’t relying just on grip strength to hold it.

Once again, as you start developing great muscle strength, you might find that your grip is what fails before your muscles do, so these can help you get around that issue. Rather than hitting a plateau, simply add some lifting straps and you’ll keep progressing.

Note that this does not mean you should stop working your grip strength however. Still perform some sets without the lifting straps to continually build that up. Then for your max sets, use the straps to put your muscles to the test.

Timer

Finally, you might also want to consider investing in a good quality timer or beeper. These will help you keep better time of intervals you’re doing, either with your weight lifting or with your cardio training.

This will save you having to look at the clock multiple times throughout your workout session.

So there you have a few of the best fitness accessories and gear you can use to help take your progress up a notch. If you are a more advanced exerciser, these are all great for you to consider.