Lift Heavier with Hand Support | Hampton Adams
Choose The Right Tape For Your Thumbs And Lift More
Fitness exercises have their share of rigors, just like many sports and athletic endeavors today. It is all part of the process, especially if you are a newbie. However, it becomes a big deal when they adversely affect your body and chip away at your efficiency or enthusiasm. A solution to this problem for many people is the use of thumb tapes, and they have become an integral part of the fitness training culture. This is because of the benefits they offer - which are discussed in this article. Also, this article highlights some features of the best thumb tape so you can choose the right one for your thumbs and lift more. If you are still getting familiar with the intricacies of using and purchasing these tapes, this is for you.
Why Do You Need To Wear Thumb Tape For Lifting In The First Place?
Thumb tapes are more than fancy tapes with aesthetic appeal. Some of the purposes they serve in lifting include the following:
Grip Reinforcement:
The execution of many strength-building fitness exercises, including lifting, depends on your grip strength. Therefore, your grip should be as firm as they come if you seek to thrive in lifting exercises. Generally, the more intense or technical your exercise regimens are, the more sturdy the grips you must muster to pull them off. This explains that heavier lifting exercises require stronger grips than milder, lighter ones.
The strength of your grips can also be preventive. Why? The sturdier your grips, the lesser the chances of an accident from losing your grip. These accidents are rare, though. Loss of grip is usually caused by fatigue, poor technique, or sweaty hands.
Thumb tapes reinforce your grip by two means. First is by locking your thumb firmly in place with your forefinger (and other fingers). This is usually seen in athletes that regularly use the hook grip technique. The hook grip is most useful for quick, strong lifting. It is a technique usually used by professional lifters. The second means is by preventing sweaty fingers. Having sweaty hands compromises your grip and makes you prone to accidents. The best thumb tapes are typically very breathable and can reasonably hold against moisture.
Protection of Your Thumb (And Other Fingers):
Lifting certainly often does look very cool or badass from the outside. However, when you eventually get invested in it - say, for bodybuilding - it does not take long to realize that you will have to deal with sore arms and leg muscles on your journey to your dream figure. Moreover, your bare fingers and hands will suffer some degree of trauma, and of all the digits, the thumb will be the most affected.
This trauma is due to repeated vigorous movements in quick succession and abrasion. The thumb is most affected because of its unique anatomy and importance in securing grips.
How do thumb tapes come into the picture?
When properly worn, they spare you the trouble of possible injury by forming an extra layer of "skin" on the sites most prone to trauma. These tapes are usually durable as they are made from reinforced cotton fibers or a cotton-spandex mix.
They, therefore, easily rise to the challenge. The best thumb tape on the market, like ours at Hampton Adams, is designed to be durable, breathable, lightweight, and water-resistant to pull this off. They are very comfortable to wear and use. These tapes soak up the brunt of your training in place of your bare, tender fingers and give you the confidence to do much more lifting.
Ease of Usage And Flexibility of Usage:
Thumb tapes are also very easy to use. This, however, does not suggest that they could be worn in a carefree manner. You have to follow a few steps while using them, but the intricacies are far from challenging. It's worth mentioning that you do not need any other accessories on your fingers to go with these tapes. Strapping them on certainly takes less time, too. You should be done with the whole process in less than three minutes.
Moreover, as far as flexibility and versatility go, thumb tapes stand out from other sports accessories. What does this mean? They are hardly restrictive in terms of application. They efficiently and effectively work for a variety of fitness exercises. Therefore, you could switch through different regimens and still find them helpful.
The best tapes even have broader applications - beyond fitness training. Our 0.3" × 45 ft athletic tape works for much more than thumb protection during exercises. They are helpful in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, grappling, and rock climbing. This versatility also helps you cut back on costs from purchasing different products.
Thumb tapes can also be used to speed up the recovery of your fingers when they sustain injuries.
How Do You Recognize The Good Stuff On The Market?
"How do you know which tape to select?" "What are the properties that define a good thumb tape?" "How do I make the best of my money?"
These are all questions that plague the minds of many who seek to embark on the thumb tape journey. Due to the variety of products on the market, filtering out the good ones is a hassle. Due to this, we bring you some of the defining factors of good thumb tape so you can quickly identify the good stuff when you see it and purchase accordingly.
Physical Properties:
Thumb tapes support the thumbs (and other digits) and protect them from physical stress. Therefore, the physical features of a tape are some of its defining features. The best thumb tapes are made from sturdy materials like pure reinforced cotton or cotton-spandex fabric mixes and are, therefore, durable. They are also meant to be breathable, non-flexible, have decent waterproof properties, and be lightweight.
If these tapes are not breathable, they cause skin irritation. If they are lightweight, they make your fingers feel lighter. If they are not durable, they cannot hold up against the rigors of your exercise, and if they are too flexible, you will not get maximum compression. Therefore, ensure you get a thumb tape like Hampton Adams' 0.3" × 45ft Tape that ticks all these features easily for your optimum satisfaction.
Adhesiveness:
"How long does the adhesive last?" "How firmly does it stick to your finger?" "Does it leave residue after use?"
These are questions you will need to be answered in this respect. Adhesiveness is an integral feature of thumb tapes because they can only exert their functions when firmly fixed to your finger. The best thumb tapes have adhesives that last long and easily stick to the body. They also come off easily after use and do not leave a residue. They are very convenient to use.
Allergenicity:
Good thumb tapes are hypoallergenic and latex-free. This means they will not trigger allergic reactions when sensitive people use them. Allergic reactions usually manifest as an itchy, mildly discomforting rash or a runny nose. In more serious, rarer cases, they may display difficulty breathing if the trigger particles enter the airway. The most serious of all is the potentially fatal anaphylaxis. If you are hypersensitive, ensure you are particular about this feature before purchasing.
Versatility:
The best tapes are remarkably versatile. It is always a handy feature when the thumb tape you intend to buy works for just for more than lifting. This is because it helps you cut down on costs you would normally accrue from buying different tapes. Hampton Adams' 0.3×45" tape, for example, works for BJJ, MMA, Grappling, and Rock Climbing, and it is very effective for all of them.
Consumer-Friendly Policies:
The best and most trustworthy brands on the market have consumer policies that appeal to the sentiments of their target audience - in this case, the sport and fitness enthusiasts. These policies are tailored to instill trust in the brand and to improve its integrity. If there is a problem during the usage, the best tape brands will make consumer-friendly provisions for genuine reservations - like a refund within a time window. Here at Hampton Adams, for example, there is a 60-day refund window if you have genuine reservations about our products.
Check Our Website Today!
Hampton Adams is a brand that is clear from the competition because we offer premium quality at great prices, with consumer-friendly policies as the cherry on top. We are a top choice among many sports enthusiasts and fitness trainers. Do you want to derive more satisfaction from exercise regimens? Do you want to lift better? Check Hampton Adams' website to book an order and start your journey today!