IronMind Captains of Crush Gripper

Reviewed after three weeks use. They accidentally sent me the #.5 120lb grippers instead of the Trainer (it was packaged right as the .5, but the SKU sticker was for the Trainer). I figured what the heck, 20 more lbs would probably be a good place to start anyway (and I was really excited to get started training). Shoot dang, these are some TOUGH grippers. Firstly, just to echo what other reviews say, these are well-built, durable grippers - the finest I've ever owned. If you're combing reviews for competing products, there just isn't much out there that compares. Secondly, there is a serious difference between the repetition training that your sport shop grippers offer and the intense high-resistance training you can get from these grippers. I've seen a bigger difference in three weeks of these grippers (with focused effort) than months of reps (mostly while watching tv) with the others. If you're looking for more than muscle maintenance, and serious about being able to effortlessly open that jar of pickles when your girl is there watching, low-rep high-intensity is the way to build grip strength. I still can't close the 120lb beast, but I'm a lot closer, and am already getting some noticeable forearm definition. If I might offer a few suggestions to get the most from these grippers: - Gripper training is an isolation workout, meaning you're targeting just one specific motion/muscle set. In this case you are targeting your crush grip strength. For well-balanced strength, you should also train your pinch and support grips. Read up on how to do all three in balance. It will amaze you how much they work together, and you'll see much faster gains than just periodically working the gripper (think especially about how your pinkie and ring finger will help so much more if they have some pinch strength to them). Ironminds also offers all kinds of elastic bands and pinch springs to complete a workout. I personally have a medium tension Gripmaster from prohands and feel that starting exercises with that works out a lot of finger and joint kinks before getting down to business with the gripper. If you're cracking every joint with the first crush, you're not warmed up. - You'll want some focus, these aren't the carry-in-your-car type of grippers. Not that they couldn't be used that way, but taking time to properly set the grippers and using focus strength will get you a better workout. I usually do my gripmaster warmup on the drive home, and then do my reps when I walk in the door. I feel this optimizes the workout routine, and gets more bang for less time. - Do more than just the standard close routine. If you look at the IronMinds instruction booklet (doesn't come in the package, but you can get a free one from the IronMinds store), you can find an array of different workouts that you can do with one set of grippers. I usually do a few reps spring up, spring down, and then burn out with some negatives (starting with a closed grip) for a full workout. It takes a little while longer, but it really gets ALL the arm muscles burning, and really pays off. I'm still working hard at trying to close the #.5, and am already making plans to start stepping up. I might also get the Sport just for warmups, the #.5 is too much to warm up on. I would recommend these grippers, and look forward to having that quiet strength grip. If you meet me there, I'd be glad to shake your hand!

How do I know they do their job? I bought the trainer first and could barely close it, and two weeks later I crushed the #1 which is a lot harder. Buy these. I now have 4 and I didn't have to wait thanks to amazon prime! Why I just now heard about these and the importance of grip strength after recently turning 30, I'll never know. Are these some kind of secret kept between the most elite athletes? I bumped into them while doing some research for developing false grip strength for muscle ups on the rings. At 6'1" 200 lbs, I consider a muscle up a nice feat of strength for me. I can do pull ups and dips no problem, and the transition isn't even a problem, but the first time I tried a false grip, I couldn't even support my weight. After a couple months of progressions doing rows, I can finally hold enough weight to jump into a muscle up, but strength for the false grip is still my limiting factor keeping me from doing it properly. I read about these and decided to start with a trainer. I was torn between starting with the trainer and the #1, but after reading some reviews I went with the trainer. I'm glad I did. I can pump 10 out with my right hand no problem, but 5 is pretty much the limit with my left. My right hand is considerably stronger than my left, so I do whatever I can with my left hand and repeat it with my right so the left can catch up somewhat. Even if you can start with a #1, I would recommend the trainer for warm ups. These are the most solid, effective, quality pieces of grip training equipment on the market, and I am very happy with my results so far. I intend to add an update when I progress to the #1. After my first workout using the trainer, I was unable to close it with my left hand two days later, and I could barely close it with my right hand. I could tell I over did it, and no warm up reps took a toll. I liked the trainer so much I ordered the guide and sport. When I received them, I proceeded to to warm up and I pumped out 10 reps with the trainer in both my left and right hand no problem! I immediately ordered the #1. Every time I can do 10 reps with both hands I'm ordering the next level. I got the #1 yesterday and squeezed it once with both hands for two sets, then I couldn't close it with either hand for the rest of the day. I can't put these things down, but I don't want inflammation or injury so I'm trying to do it every other day. How I could barely close the trainer one week, and then close the #1 the next, I have no idea, but I definitely recommend warming up with the easier CoCs first. I actually feel stronger after warming up, and it reduces chances of injury. I can't believe I just spent over $100 on these in a two week period, but I do think they are worth every penny if you want to strengthen your grip.

I just bought these based on Pavel Tsatsouline's recommendation for strength training, and let me tell you: I am impressed! These things are SOLID! I'm talkin' aircraft-grade aluminum. The trainer model is 100lb of pressure, which is roughly equivalent to being "pretty effin' hard to squeeze" for the average person. You can quote me on that. An interesting thing I learned behind this training methodology is the theory of neural recruitment, IE, after trying to fire that particular pathway, the nervous system adapts and is able to recruit more muscles and fibers to do the job. Sounds like HUH? But no, really, guys, it works. When I got these out of the package I could just barely squeeze them twice without busting an artery. In four hours of squeezing approximately one time every twenty minutes, I was able to do 4 with each hand. The next day, I could do 8. Now, don't get me wrong - that was painful, so, I'm not about to try and set any world records, but I doubt very much my hands got FOUR TIMES stronger in 48 hours. So there must something to that whole neurology science... A note about the grip: the aluminum is micro-studded to create a coarse surface for enhanced grip. In all honesty, it's kind of rough. If you don't have callused palms, wear a glove for the first couple of times you use these, otherwise it might be downright painful. I'm no hand model, either, and have moderate calluses from the pull-up bar and kettle bells on my hands, and these grippers gave my palms a beating. It's something you get used to, without a doubt, and would probably help toughen up the hands, too, but I'd be worried about tearing up my hands when going up in tension to 150lbs and above. Speaking of which - you can clearly see the line dividing the gripper handles in half in the picture: top and bottom. That effectively makes it 2 sets of grippers, the top one being much harder than the other (at least 30%). By orienting your grip more on the bottom half, you get less resistance and more travel. Top half - more resistance, less travel, respectively. So if you have freakin' gorilla hands and get these and are like "pfft, I can squeeze these with my eyeballs", first of all - props, and second of all - try getting closer to the spring, you man-ape-gone-wrong-thing. Good luck and don't forget the lotion after. I won't be buying a tighter one for a while...

Forget every cheap, plastic-handled gripper you've ever squeezed before. The Captains of Crush is on a completely different level, and you feel it the moment you pick it up, it's a serious piece of training equipment. The build quality is incredible. The knurled, aluminum handles feel substantial and provide a fantastic, non-slip grip, the spring mechanism is perfectly smooth and brutally consistent. There's no creaking, flexing, or anything that feels cheap. I started with the Trainer (100 lbs), and it was a humbling experience that immediately exposed the weakness in my grip. Unlike generic grippers with vague resistance levels, the CoC accurately rated and consistent, which means you can track real, measurable progress as you work your way up the levels. If you're serious about building a powerful, functional grip, this is the one tool to incorporate in your workout. It's a "buy it for life" product that truly lives up to its reputation as the gold standard.

It is very good, but I’m kind of disappointed, I mean to give credits you can tell that it is made very well with high quality good materials but the problem is the sound, I usually work out my forearms in class it has caused tons of growth and since im already bored in class its great for multitasking, getting crazy forearms while in class, it seems perfect. However. I Don’t know why these specific grippers make such a loud noise when closing them, i have tons of those low quality ones that make no sound so i expected the 50 dollar one (with shipping) to not make sound aswell, this has caused me to not be able to workout in class due to the sound being pretty loud and noticeable, however overall its very easy to use its high quality and it increases strength.

I normally wouldn't be interested in hand grips as every one that I've seen is made of rubber or cheap plastic and usually have no grip either. But I saw these were metal and actually had knurling. The same exact kind you would find on the bars at the gym which is really cool. The metal is pretty durable so far though time will tell how well it holds up. They feel very sturdy and premium. Which is always nice. What I particularly love is the grip. It's very detailed and feels exactly like a barbell which is what I wanted. Every time I use it at work it feels like I'm back at the gym. Doesn't slip. Feels great. I do forearm exercises at the gym but I wanted something I could use outside the gym that was portable so I could make use of my downtime. This alone won't blow up your forearms. You'll need to also do wrist curls with a dumbbell. This is more for grip strength training only. If you are like me and deadlift without straps you need to make sure your grip is on point. This definitely helps.

In a world where advertising is almost always full of exaggeration, if not outright fabrication, I really think that the product claims about the C.O.C. grippers are true. I researched quite extensively before buying, and it seemed that the Ironmind series of hand trainers were the best readily available products on offer. I was not disappointed when I received my Trainer (T) level device. It is extremely well made. Another reviewer spoke of it rusting quickly in humid regions ... I am in Japan, which is quite humid, and have seen no indication that it will rust. Ordering from Amazon proved to be cheaper than ordering from Ironmind directly, though even with Amazon the grippers are said to be shipped straight from Ironmind. One small caveat is that you should be aware that the knurling bites, and unlike in weight lifting, where callouses and blisters tend to come slowly, and it is easy to stop before drawing blood, just one extra set with C.O.C. grippers can cause severe blisters or small tears. I recommend using a bit of sports tape, you don't have to bind your hands like a boxer or anything, such a bit on the more vulnerable pads. Using this type of gripper can be addictive, I have to say (that company claim is true, at least for me). You have to be careful not to over train. After getting good at my C.O.C. trainer I went out and bought a Warren Tetting (Beef Builder), and a Robert Baraban gripper. Both at different levels. Those brands are also very cool, but they are not quite as easy to find (all hail the google search!). Tetting offers a handle with a narrower diameter, which is said to give greater range of motion, and it and the Baraban have different feels from the C.O.C. and from each other. The Baraban has a chromed spring, but the Tetting has what looks like bare iron (I'm not a metallurgist, it is probably some type of alloy). I would be very surprised if the Baraban rusted, and very surprised if the Tetting doesn't. The Tetting looks classic, a member of my family asked me if it was old when it was fresh out of the box new. It is just the nature of the design, and I like it. I will master it before it rusts, and will keep it, and think it has character, even if the coil does go a bit orange. Both the Beef Builder and Baraban are said to be handmade (the former in the U.S., the latter in Austria), and I think that the precision of these makes might be a bit different from the Ironmind, which prides itself on the uniformity of their product. Personally I have decided to get the whole number C.O.C.'s (1, 2, 3 - maybe 4 as a conversation piece and life-long goal), and to train in the middle ground using the other interesting brands that are available. Also recommended is the Blue 3 minute Egg Ironmind gripper IronMind 3-Minute (Blue) EGG: Easy, Grip, Go! . Very different sensation from the metal coil type grippers. Also, you can bring it on a bus or a train and use it discretely without people thinking you are a weirdo (if you brought one of the coil types, I am pretty sure you'd get some pretty odd looks cranking off reps in public). I recommend reading the free advice / articles available on the Ironmind page, and watching some of the videos on Youtube about hand health and proper training. Watching Magnus Sameulsson using grippers is especially motivating. In conclusion - great product, very reasonable price. Happy gripping.

Very impressive hand grips! Exceptional quality! The compression mechanics versus resistance design for hand and forearm strength is the best I have found. I started with the trainer (100lbs). While this is a relatively easy resistance for me, I felt it best to start by the numbers. I trained 3x wk for 1 month. In that time I can already feel the difference in hand & forearm strength. I plan to order the #4 and the #5, and will keep moving up the scale as far as I can grip. Thank you Ironmind!

Excellent grippers! Recommend

I love this product....!

Speedy delivery & packaged just fine - especially good that they can be posted through the letterbox. I’ve had all sorts of different grippers over the past couple of decades, almost all pretty cheap & very, very easy to close repeatedly. A couple of years ago I bought a ‘heavy grip’ that was a cheap imitation of the Captains of Crush. It was apparently rated at 200lbs, which I couldn’t quite close fully, so I was looking to find something to help build up to it. I must admit that I was drawn to the CoC grippers via some YouTube videos where they were testing folks grip strength (Jujimufu, Brian Shaw, Brian Alsruhe...) & decided to go for the CoC #1, since I figured I was already close to getting 200lbs, so 140lbs should be easy... Guess again. Well, I still loved the quality of this gripper, so almost immediately ordered the Trainer, to give me a lighter weight to warm up with. Pleased that I could then close that (100lbs), but decided to round things out by also ordering the Guide (60lbs), as my wife & kids were also now interested in getting their grip stronger, but they could hardly budge any of the heavier grippers. The lightest two were a bit squeaky, but that was soon remedied with some 3-in-1 oil application. We’ve also now got some really light squishers & finger bands for extensions too Overall, we’d definitely recommend the CoC family of grippers.

Salve a tutti. Premetto che non avevo mai utilizzato un attrezzo specifico per lo sviluppo degli avambracci e potenziare la stretta di mano. Sono fermamente convinto che per sviluppare la muscolatura di qualsiasi regione uno dei metodi migliori sia l'allenamento piramidale inverso (si parte dal carico quasi massimale facendo poche ripetizioni e si progredisce diminuendo il carico ed aumentando le ripetizioni). Viste le innumerevoli opzioni di scelta che davano queste handGripper e viste le recenzioni positive per partire ho acquistato la Trainer. La confezione è arrivata integra come da foto ed amazon è stato puntuale come sempre. Probabilmente credevo di trovarmi d'avanti ad un oggetto quasi giocattolo,ed invece devo dire che mi sono subito ricreduto. Sono fatte molto bene e devo dire che la molla fa il suo dovere. Riesco a chiuderle completamente non più di 5 volte. Premetto che ho iniziato ad usarle da qualche giorno. Sinceramente credevo che la Trainer fosse la base di partenza per me e da questa avrei dovuto acquistare almeno 2 misure superiori per allenarmi con il piramidale ed invece mi sono ricreduto ed ho acquistato 1 misure inferiore (CoC Sport c. 80 lb 36kg ) ed una superire (CoC Point Five c. 120 lb 54kg ) che devono ancora arrivare. In questo modo penso di poter impostare una buona tabella di lavoro. I manici presentano un ottimo grip che per le mani più delicate magari può essere un pò aggressivo ma con un paio di guanti si risolve il problema. Per come sono fatte sono attrezzi deputati a durare nel tempo. Se proprio devo trovare dei difetti devo dire che cigolano un pò durante l'utilizzo ed il prezzo no è dei più economici. Per il resto mi sento di consigliare queste handgriper a tutti coloro che cercano uno strumento professionale. Prima di acquistarle valutate bene il grado di potenza, perchè potete comprare delle molle che non riuscite neanche a smuovere. La trainer è tarata a 100lb-45kg; avevo utilizzato un'altra gripper di un amico che davano per 50kg e che riuscivo a chiudere correttamente per 10 volte. Con la CoC 45Kg non ci sono riuscito!!!!!

My Journey so far: -Purchased the Trainer on December 3rd and barely closed it once on each hand. -Bought the CoC 1 on Dec 18th and closed it for 1 rep on each hand on Dec 31st. -Bought the CoC 1.5 on Dec 31st and closed it for 1 rep on each hand on Jan 21st. Just ordered the CoC 2 today. [I've found great success doing multiple sets of 3-10 rep range with some 1 rep max attempts; followed by multiple sets of 3-10 rep range until I can't close the easier gripper anymore.] (followed by 5-7 days rest to recover before next session) Overall very happy with how quickly these Grippers develop grip strength and would highly recommend to anyone pursuing that goal.