How Long You Should Rest Between Sets
A typical strength- or muscle-building workout happens in sets. You lift the weight a certain number of times (“reps”), then you put it down for a quick rest before going…
Your Athletic Peak Is Longer Than You Think
In the world of sports, young athletes get a lot of attention: High school and college teams are full of strong, fast people. Later in life, the stereotype goes, they’ll…
All the Different Bars at the Gym, Explained
The first step in lifting a barbell is loading weight plates onto the bar. At some gyms, there’s only one type of bar, and it weighs 45 pounds, and that’s…
No, Light Weights and Heavy Weights Can’t Give You the Same Workout
In the world of exercise, variety abounds. You can lift light weights, or heavy weights, or no weights at all. You can run fast, or run slow, or strap on…
The Best Prime Day Deals on Fitness Equipment
Image: Amazon Prime Day is a great time to fill out the gaps in your home gym or grab a few nice things for your gym bag. Here are some…
What to Do With a Trap Bar in the Gym
Dumbbells and regular barbells are great, but if you’ve been ignoring that large hexagonal thing in the corner, it’s now time to make its acquaintance. The “hex bar” or “trap…
You Should Be Paying Attention to Those Smooth Rings on the Barbell
Look closely at your barbell the next time you’re in a gym. Much of the surface is roughed up with a diamond pattern. This is called the knurling, and it…
For Fuck’s Sake Please Stop Swinging Light Kettlebells
The kettlebell swing is a good exercise. It works your hamstrings and butt, it improves your grip, and it’s explosive—a quality that a lot of at-home exercises lack. But too…
You’re Probably Lifting Half As Much As You Should
It won’t be news to longtime Lifehacker readers, but a recent study confirms that a lot of us are likely training with weights that are too light. Coach and author…
Let’s Bring Back the Dumbbell Swing
“The ‘swing’ lift is a great favorite in France,” the weightlifter and barbell-maker Alan Calvert wrote in 1911. He described it “rapidly coming into favor in England, along with the…