Is something holding you back from achieving your upper body weight lifting goals?
Do you find your dumbbells or barbell slipping out of your hands when you workout?
If so, then you could use some help with your grip strength! The simple solution to improving your grip strength is to make regular use of a grip strengthener. In this buyer’s guide, we are breaking down everything you need to know about grip strengtheners.
We’re also sharing our top picks for the best grip strengtheners, so you can buy one and get going on building a stronger grip! While it may seem silly at first, lackluster grip strength could be the thing holding you back from achieving your full lifting potential.
With that said, don’t waste any more time! Improve your grip strength now to achieve your fitness goals!
The obvious benefit of using a grip strengthener is that it improves grip strength. But why is having grip strength essential in traditional weight lifting? Here are six of the top reasons why using a grip strengthener to improve hand grip strength is crucial for lifters:
You can only lift as much weight as your hand grip can handle. Therefore, if you have lackluster grip strength, you can't lift the heaviest weights. Even though your upper body is on point, your hands will pose a limitation, particularly in compound exercises like deadlifts and pull-ups.
Using a grip strengthener can help make up for that lag in grip strength. You can start a grip training program to help get your hand and finger strength on par with the rest of your upper body.
That way, you can focus on progressive overload and hypertrophy without worrying if your hands can keep up!
Not only will a grip strengthener help you craft stronger muscles, but it will also help you build up muscular endurance in your hands. You can only do as many repetitions as your grip can handle.
If you are trying to build upper body endurance, but your hands can't grip the hand weights for long periods, you sink. Doing grip strengthening training with a grip strengthener can help you build up hand endurance. As a result, your hands won't be the first thing to break!
Hopefully, you've never seen somebody drop a weight on themselves before. Whether you have or have not, you can avert a terrible situation like that from happening to you if you improve your grip strength.The most common grip-related injuries result in someone dropping a weight on their foot. That is enough to keep someone out of the gym for weeks! Save yourself by improving your grip strength with a grip strengthener!
Do you have an existing injury, such as a wrist or shoulder injury? If so, having solid grip strength can prevent further aggravation of those joints, especially the shoulder. Research shows that people with solid hand strength are less likely to experience shoulder injuries. And, weight lifters know that shoulder-related injuries are some of the worst of all! Therefore, if you already have an injury or want to prevent one in the first place, get to work on your grip strength!
he forearm muscles are a hard-to-reach muscle group. Unlike the biceps and triceps, there are very few exercises for strengthening them. However, you can use a grip strengthener to strengthen your forearms! Having a strong grip is highly correlated with strong forearms. Therefore, do grip strength training to get your forearm muscles up to par with your other arm muscles!
One unintended benefit of using a grip strengthener is stress relief! Have you ever seen an ad for a stress ball? A grip strengthener works in the same way to help release negative stress. Even if you don't consider yourself a particularly stressed-out person, you could see some positive side effects in your energy levels!
Now without further ado, here are our top hand grip strengthener picks! You can purchase each of them on their official website or Amazon. Why are these our top picks?
Because they have some of our favorite features, including:
Get going with these top grip strength trainers to improve your grip strength!
The IronMind Captains of Crush is one of the all-time best hand grip strengtheners. It has stood the test of time and is beloved among professional lifters and athletes. It has a clean and straightforward design. The two handles are made with aircraft-grade billet aluminum and the springs of alloy steel.
Once you buy this grip strengthener, it will last you for life! Also, the adjustability of the strength levels allows you to start at a lower level then make your way up to more difficulty.
Online price: $25.95
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the IronMind Captains of Crush:
"I love my grippers. Keep them in my vehicle and use them every time I go somewhere. I’ve been shocked by HOW QUICKLY my hand strength changed (about 2 weeks). Now, after about 6 weeks, I can sense that my hands really do FEEL BETTER too! No soreness, they don’t crackle and pop all the time! Thanks for a very helpful product!"
The Gripmaster Pro is a spring-loaded hand exerciser used widely among lifters, athletes, rock climbers, and even musicians. With this strengthener, you can isolate each of your fingers one at a time to pinpoint specific parts of your hand that need work. You can also adjust the level of resistance to continuously increase the difficulty.
Perhaps the best benefit of a spring-loaded grip strengthener is that it allows you to get the complete range of motion in each finger. Unlike other strengtheners, you will know that you are working each finger to its max!
Online price: $22.75
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the Gripmaster Pro Hand Exerciser:
"Very good at isolating the strength of each finger. You don’t realize how the strength of each of your fingers compares until you have something like this. I have noticed how much easier it is to know I’m working out each finger. I like to rock climb and have seen a difference in handling harder hand holds."
The GG GRIP Pro-70 is a heavy-duty hand grip strengthener for people who already have a solid amount of grip strength. It has a range of resistance between 55 and 154 pounds. If you need a grip strengthener with lower resistance, opt for one of GD's other grip strengthener options!
Don't let the fact that this strengthener is made out of plastic fool you. It is extremely durable, and the compressed steel springs are no joke. For a classic design that is durable, challenging, and sleek, opt for the GD GRIP Pro-70.
Online price: $24.90
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the GD GRIP Pro-70 Hand Grip Strengthener:
"Don’t let the “all plastic construction” fool you- this is a well made product that feels solid in the hand. It works well with my relatively big hands (9” tip-to-tip thumb to pinky) and the foam grip is just right. Good product."
At first glance, you might not recognize that the Rogue Anvil Grip Strengthener is a grip strengthener! Its design is unlike any other strengthener on the market. It is cone-shaped with a loading pin attached to the bottom that allows you to add weight.
Not only is it a unique design, but it is very versatile. You can hold it in dozens of different positions to strengthen your entire hand grip area. And, whether you want to work on strength or endurance, you can do it with this strengthener.
In addition to being versatile, it is made out of solid steel. You don't ever have to worry about this one breaking in your lifetime! It is a simple one-and-done purchase.
Online price: $95
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the Rogue Anvil Grip:
"While a little unsure of what to expect from the Rogue Anvil, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the craftsmanship and quality. A beautifully designed and fabricated slab of steel to give any grip or workout enthusiast a run for their money. Awesome addition to the grip toolbox. Thank you Rogue."
The Longang hand grip strengthener is one of the most affordable adjustable grip strengtheners on this list. For less than $10, you can get a solid adjustable hand gripper that hits all of the basic requirements of a grip strengthener. It has a wide range of resistance from 11 to 132 pounds, so it's ideal for lifters of all levels of grip strength.
However, to compensate for the low price, the plastic material of the strengthener isn't the most durable. Some reviews note that the handles twist when squeezed at higher levels of resistance. Therefore, while it has different resistance levels, the lower levels work better than the higher ones.
Online price: $8.99
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the Longang Hand Grip Strengthener:
"I have been working out with weights for fifty years and usually work my forearms with wrist curls with dumbbells. I have on occasion used v-shaped hand squeezers and some of them were pretty good. I ordered this product because I have a severely injured finger which makes wrist curls impossible. I thought this would do me some good until the injury heals. I was totally surprised by how well this thing works and how well it is made."
The Luxon is another one of the more affordable options on this list. In fact, you get two for $10.99! Like the other affordable option, the Longang, the Luxon hits all the basic requirements of a grip strengthener. In addition to the attractive price, the unique design makes it easy to adjust the resistance level, so you can perform a drop set while using it.
On the downside, this grip strengthener isn't as comfortable as others. The plastic handles don't have a whole lot of cushioning. While this might not be a big deal for people who use lower levels of resistance, it could present a problem for people who use higher levels of resistance.
Online price: $10.99 for two
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the Luxon Adjustable Hand Grip Strengthener:
"Above and beyond price. I was skeptical about the quality of this product and if the adjusting would even work properly but to my surprise this is above and beyond the price. It was worth the risk. I use it almost daily and have already started to increase strength pressure. It is easily adjustable and works great!"
The Prohands Pro is ideal for both finger and hand exercise. Like the Gripmaster Pro, it is spring-loaded and can be used to work all of the fingers at once or one at a time. Whether your goal is to get a stronger grip, improve grip endurance, or rehabilitate your hands and fingers, this grip strengthener is for you!
Online price: $15.95
Pros:
Cons:
Here is what one online customer said about the Prohands Pro Hand Exerciser & Finger Exerciser:
"Works very well. I rock climb regularly and wanted something to boost my grip strength that I could do at work. I chose this. I went one difficulty level down from what I thought I needed, on some other reviewer’s recommendation, and I think this helped me do more reps throughout the day. The grip master is small enough that I can keep it in my pocket throughout the day, and I pull it out every once in a while if I find my hands free. Works well and would recommend."
Don’t let weak hand grip be the thing to hold you back from achieving your fitness goals. Make the investment in one of our top grip strengthener picks today! You are only as strong as your weakest muscles. Don’t let your hand muscles be the weakest!
Bonus tip: Like we mentioned, the forearm muscles are challenging to reach. And, grip strengthening exercises are some of the best for activating them. In addition to using a grip strengthener to activate the forearms, check out these top five forearm strengthening exercises!
