Your opinions on using equipment?

[Justin Hurley]

Raw competitions (unequipped) are not as popular as equipped.
As put by Dai : "Raw lifting is becoming a bit of a side show to equipped comps". I have to agree, we all want to see the most weight lifted even if some assistance is from the equippment.

So I put the above poll question to you.

Equippment is definately the future for the sport, how far will it go though, in 10, 20, 30 years time will there be biomechanical aids which help you lift twice what we are now?? Would that be classed as cheating?

[Robert]

Provided you don;t try and apss off your equipped lifts as RAW, then wear what you want.

[Mike]

Equipment use is acceptable and not cheating as long as you stay in the boundaries of your fed.

I would rather see a 700lb raw lift then a 800lb gear whore lift.

[AJ Roberts]

You either lift raw, or with gear as the new 1 ply stuff is as thick as the old 2 ply, there is no inbetween in my eyes. It's only cheating if your breaking the rules of your fed

[chris jenkins]

Im with AJ on this one!!!

[yank]

Interesting view, AJ and Chris. I see your point but I can't help but feel that there is a huge difference between IPF and WPO gear. Raw lifting is cool and I do think lifters should start out that way and reacha certain level before they try gear. The problem with raw lifting is that most people's bodies can't take the abuse and this limits participation. I put myself in this category - a raw max sqt just isn't something I'm interested in training for/attempting. Heavy is one thing, max is another. Most sports have equip that aids performance. Even in basic sports like running, sprinters use starting blocks and spikes. I agree that equip is here to stay and I'm glad we have different feds with the IPF holding the line and other feds pushing the boundaries. We should be clear though that the IPF is moving forward, just more slowly. I suspect in 15 years IPF legal gear will be far superior to the current gear.

[dano]

RAW lifting is so much more interesting to me. I know Im part of a minority with this but oh well. I want to see what the human body alone is capable of.

[chris jenkins]

Well said yank mate, you have my vote!

[Robert]

RAW lifting is so much more interesting to me. I know Im part of a minority with this but oh well. I want to see what the human body alone is capable of.

I am inclined to agree somewhat. Having bought my suit and squatted 180x2 in a loose inzer champ with no wraps and no real groove the very first time I put it on, with a raw 1RM of 160, I feel its just too easy to push your numbers up. Oddly, I had more respect for equipped lifts when I was RAW than I do now.

The week after my 'big' squat, I was beaming. Well chuffed. But now I'm not so sure.

I have equal respect for both ATM. I think I will train RAW but compete equipped form now on.

[badboy007]

you are getting alot of that suit mate

maybe i need to get myself an inzer hardcore!!