Chalkproof blog
Plain guides for lifters who need a gym that fits.
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Which gyms allow chalk? Chain by chain, with sources
A plain list of gym chains and what their own policies say about chalk, with links. Life Time allows it on platforms, many chains say no, and most never say.
What to bring to the gym for lifting: a gym bag checklist
A practical gym bag list for lifters: the basics every gym expects, the lifting gear worth carrying, what to check before your first visit, and what to leave home.
Power bar vs Olympic bar vs deadlift bar: what is the difference?
How a power bar, an Olympic weightlifting bar and a deadlift bar differ in stiffness, knurling, diameter and spin, and which one to look for at your gym.
What is the Planet Fitness Lunk Alarm, and what sets it off?
The Lunk Alarm is a purple and yellow siren Planet Fitness uses to flag grunting, dropping weights and judging others. What the rules say and what it means for lifters.
Can you use a lifting belt, straps and gloves at the gym?
Most gyms allow belts, straps, wraps and gloves. What each one does, when it helps, the few places that restrict outside gear, and how straps help when chalk is banned.
How to increase your squat: form fixes and the best accessories
How to add weight to your squat: brace properly, pick a stance that suits you, hit depth, squat often enough, and use accessories that fix your weak point.
How to increase your deadlift: form fixes, grip and accessories
How to pull more: set up the same way every rep, brace, push the floor away, fix your grip, choose conventional or sumo, and add the accessories that matter.
How to find a powerlifting gym near you
What makes a gym good for powerlifting, where to search, what to ask on a tour, and the red flags that mean you will be fighting the rules every session.
Gym day passes: how to get one and what to ask first
How gym day passes and drop-ins work, what to bring, how to find a lifting gym that sells them when you travel, and the questions to ask before you pay.
Can you film yourself at the gym? Rules and etiquette
Most gyms let you film your own sets, but many ban filming other people, and some restrict phones in locker rooms. How to film without trouble and what to ask.
Can you drop weights at the gym? What chains actually say
Most commercial gyms ask you not to drop weights, and a few write it into their rules. What Planet Fitness, Equinox and others say, and where drops are fine.
Bumper plates vs iron plates: which ones can you drop?
Bumper plates are rubber and built to be dropped. Iron plates are thinner and cheaper but not made for drops. Calibrated plates are for meets. How to tell them apart.
Best powerlifting programs compared: 5/3/1, Starting Strength, GZCL, nSuns and more
A fair comparison of popular strength programs: Starting Strength, GZCLP, 5/3/1, nSuns and the Texas Method. Who each one suits, how it progresses, and what to watch for.
Anti-slip bench mats: do they work, and who needs one?
Why lifters slide on benches and machine pads, what towels and chalk can and cannot fix, and an honest look at the PR Grip mat, from the company that runs Chalkproof.
What to look for in a deadlift platform gym
A practical checklist for judging a gym for heavy deadlifts: platforms, plates, drop rules, chalk, hours and crowding.
Powerlifting gym etiquette: chalk
Plain rules for using chalk without getting it banned for everyone, from where to chalk up to how to clean the bar.
Liquid chalk vs block chalk: which one your gym allows
How liquid and block chalk differ, why gyms treat them differently, and what a few chains say in their own words.
Lifting on the road: finding a gym when you travel
How to find a gym that fits your training when you are away: search, check the rules, day passes, 24/7 access and packing chalk.
How to ask your gym about chalk
A short script for asking about chalk and deadlift drops, who to ask, when, and what to do with the answer.
Does Planet Fitness allow chalk? What to expect
Planet Fitness has no written rule that names chalk, but it bans outside equipment and many clubs turn chalk away. What is written down and what to do.
Chalk friendly gyms: how to find one near you
Four ways to find a gym that allows chalk, and how to tell a real yes from a guess before you buy a membership.
Best way to chalk up for deadlifts
How to chalk your hands for deadlifts without making a mess: how much to use, when to apply it, and how to clean up.
From the PRGRIP blog
PRGRIP LLC runs Chalkproof. These guides live on its own blog.
How to stop sliding on the bench press
Why lifters slide on a flat bench and the setup and grip fixes that keep your upper back pinned.
Gym chalk rules and alternatives
What to use for grip when your gym bans chalk, from liquid chalk to straps.
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