Written by Joshua Dhyani
Grip training is an often overlooked aspect from many gym goers and sports enthusiasts. Fact is, grip plays an important role in a variety of activities and furthermore, a well-developed forearm can be quite impressive. I have seen many plagued with small wrists doing thousands of reps of wrist curls and weight roll-ups to try and improve. But a simple small grip tool may be just the ticket.
When it comes to grip strengtheners what often comes to mind is a dinky little plastic things that offer very little resistance, but let you bust out a lot of reps. Captains of Crush take a very different approach towards their grippers. The CoC 1 which is among the lowest of the grippers they offer, has a resistance of 140 lbs. The website states most people can’t close this gripper, but if you can master it you’ll be in an elite realm. For the beginner there are Trainer and PointFive 100 and 120 lbs. respectively.
As you can see there is a gripper for everyone. When I first got the CoC No. 1 I could barely close it at all. Slowly but surely, I got better until I reached a point where I could get 12-15 reps with each hand. In addition to helping improve grip, it’s fun to challenge your friends and watch them fail miserably while you close it with ease. If you are unsure of where to start, the trainer is probably a safe bet. If you’re feeling brave though, jump straight to the number one and start building the kind of grip that can turn coal into diamonds.
There really is no comparison. When it comes to grippers, no one makes a heavy duty, hard core, steel gripper like the Captains of Crush. If you’re looking for a serious gripper this is the one to get. The only downside is unlike the dinky grippers this is pure metal. As such, you’re hands may be a little sore from the lack of padding. If this is the case you may want to mosey back over to the treadmill and forget about building awesome grip strength. But if you are serious about building up your forearms and getting a better grip, this is the tool for you.
Pros
- Solid design
- Lots of resistance
- Many levels
Cons
- Pricey (19.99)
- Steep learning curve
- Rough on untrained hands
So while this gripper may not be for everyone. Those looking to really step up their training or looking for that extra something or that edge–this gripper is a great choice. If you want to improve your overall grip strength and make considerable gains, this is the perfect product.