Gymnastics is a large and demanding part of CrossFit. The bodyweight movements build the foundation for more complex exercises and Olympic lifts. From learning air squats and push-ups, the athletes grow to master C2B pull-ups, toes-to-bars, and muscle-ups. During all of this, your hands will take a beating, and crossfit grips will help tremendously.
To move forward in the fitness journey and level-up coordination, balance, muscular endurance, and strength, you’d likely have to spend many hours on the pull-up bar and on the rings (A great way to improve coordination and balance). Skill work may be hard, but it pays off. Developing the grip and strength, building up the core and body position, learning the kip can be pretty challenging, but still manageable.
Constantly ripped hands is a frustrating crossfit obstacle. No doubt, everyone working on a pull-up bar had calluses on their palms due to using CrossFit chalk. And most of us have ripped our hands in CrossFit at least once after multiple TTBs or pull-ups. That’s a real problem holding us back from both continuing today’s session, and from working out efficiently during the next few days.
Read about protecting something else that takes a beating in CrossFit
This is the reason why CrossFit grips or CrossFit gloves are so popular at the moment. More and more recreational and pro athletes decide to stop waiting for their palms to become bulletproof and just use CrossFit hand protection to stay on track. It’s not cool to post the photos of bleeding hands anymore, just let it go.
Crossfit Grip Benefits
The benefits of using CrossFit grips are huge. People say that purchasing a pair was one of the best decisions they had ever made. What’s so good about CrossFit hand protection?
CrossFit grips and CrossFit gloves prevent hand tearing
Your palms will be protected from rips and their consequences, like long healing processes, constant pain and discomfort, inability to hold any equipment. With the grips or gloves, you’ll work out safely and continue your fitness journey with pleasure.
Better grip
Compared to the CrossFit chalk, the grips provide a tighter and more secure grip. It means that you can work on the pull-up bar or rings for longer. You’ll also get a smoother transition on muscle-ups and C2Bs.
Can be used for Oly lifts
Athletes often use the CrossFit grips for heavy deadlifts, cleans, and pulls. In this way, the palms with calluses are protected from possible tears, and the barbell feels more comfortable in the hands.
Softer hands. CrossFit gloves and CrossFit grips help to keep your hands smooth and soft. So, if it’s important for you, consider performing most of the movements with the protection on.
Crossfit Grip Features
We gathered the tips on how to choose the best CrossFit grips for those who decided to protect their hands from now on. Here’re the features to look at:
Material
The most common ones are leather, carbon fiber, and neoprene. The grips made of leather are thicker and softer than the rest. Some of the brands use patented technologies to ensure a smooth connection with the bar. All the materials are great in use, the athletes may choose the material to their own taste.
Thickness
Pay attention to the thickness of the CrossFit grips or gloves. It might be harder to keep a strong and tight grip with the thicker grips. At the same time, they provide good protection and comfort for your hands. Beginner athletes may consider using thicker materials to develop their grip. Thinner grips allow you to feel the bar and are easier on your grip, saving the forearms from fatigue.
The right size
The correct size is crucial for efficient use and high-quality protection. Take your time to get an accurate measurement of your palm before purchasing the grips. Some providers show how to measure your hand. Usually, you need to check the distance from the base of the palm to the base of the middle finger to see which size to choose. When in doubt, it’s recommended to opt for the bigger size. Some athletes purchase bigger grips intentionally, to create a ‘pocket’ at the base of the fingers when working out as this feels even easier on their hands. In addition, pay attention to the size of finger holes, if the manufacturer provides different options.
Fingers covered
There are 2 and 3 finger CrossFit grips. The 2 finger grips are narrow, feel more comfortable, and less massive on your hands. If you’re an athlete with wider hands or if you use a pretty wide grip on the bar, you should opt for 3 finger grips. They cover the whole palm and leave no room for tears. Choose thin material for 3 finger grips so they don’t feel bulky and ensure a secure grip.
Wrist straps and support
The CrossFit grips may come with or without straps, or with wrist support. It’s up to you what model to choose. The straps hold the grips in place, it’s a comfortable option for all the movements. Most of the recommended grips for CrossFit have straps.
The grips with no straps are fixed on your hands by athletic tape before every use.
Alternatively, you can choose the grips with wrist support. Wrist support is super helpful when doing heavy jerks, thrusters, snatches, or overhead squats. It’s also good for high-reps workouts with many gymnastics movements on the pull-up bar.
Crossfit Gloves
We’d also like to add a few words about CrossFit gloves. They provide great protection and comfort, keeping your whole hands safe. However, the gloves limit the palms flexibility, making the movements more difficult to perform. For example, it may be harder to keep a secure hook grip or false grip on the rings. You might opt for the gloves in case your training does not include many high-intensity metcons, advanced gymnastics and weight lifting.
Best CrossFit Grip Brands
Bear KompleX, WOD Nation, Victory Grips, and Rogue are the best brands for CrossFit grips. The grips by these brands fit the CrossFit-style training and are suitable for athletes of any level. The prices vary from $10 to $40.
The grips made of leather by Rogue or WOD Nation will be a good choice for beginners. They provide the necessary protection and feel comfortable when practicing basic movements. More advanced athletes may opt for Victory Leather Grips or Bear KompleX grips made of leather and carbon fiber. Elite athletes often use Bear KompleX during training and competitions.
Final thoughts
CrossFit hand protection is a significant contribution to your training, similar to a good pair of training shoes. It makes a real difference for most athletes. Usually, the CrossFit grips are durable, so you will not need to re-purchase them every year. Working out with the grips may feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to them fast. Grips are flexible and thin, so your palms will shape them. Give it a try!
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