After a tough WOD, people love to take pictures of their bloodied and blistered hands.
This is some weird “rite of passage” thing I’ve never understood about CrossFit. I don’t think any one of these people had ever gone down the rabbit hole to find the best CrossFit grips.
“Why are we ‘celebrating’ hand injuries and sores that will make it impossible to grip the bar during tomorrow’s workout?” I thought to myself.
Obviously If they had, they’d be too busy ripping through another set of muscle-ups instead of taking NSFW pictures of their hands!
Over the years, I’ve used everything from Bear Komplex grips (my all-time favorites) to kitchen sponges (seriously) to protect my hands. I want my grip experiences to help you make a good decision (and to help you keep your hands pristine!)
🏆 Best Overall
89
Best 2-Finger
84
Best Fingerless
89
Best Raw Leather
88
Best Affordable
86
Table of Contents
The Best CrossFit Grips
- Bear Komplex Black Diamond Grips – Best overall CrossFit grips
- JerkFit Raw Grips – Best 2-finger grips for CrossFit
- Picsil Condor Grips – Best fingerless grips for CrossFit
- Rogue Roogrips – Best leather grips for CrossFit
- Rogue BarAides – Best affordable grips for CrossFit
Other Contenders
Bear Komplex Black Diamond Grips
⭐️ Verdict: Best Overall Grips
Bear Komplex’s grips are the first things that come to mind when people imagine grips for CrossFit. The Black Diamond line are the most iconic of the company’s grip offerings.
The carbon fiber material has become almost a “standard” material for grips and the three-holed arrangement is the most common finger pattern.
The Black Diamond grips don’t provide novelty or flash; they’re simply the most solid and best grips for CrossFit.
Pros
Carbon fiber “tacky” grip for best grip on pull-up bars and rings
Velcro strap for perfect sizing
Previous “Official Hand Grip sponsor of the CrossFit Games”
Con
Some have cited durability issues
Bear Komplex’s Black Diamond grips are tough to beat. I’ve run through multiple pairs (I didn’t really air out or take care of my first pair, my dog’s mouth fell in love with the second pair!) and keep coming back to Bear Komplex.
The Black Diamond’s carbon fiber material has a special kind of “tackiness” that makes your hand feel like it is “stuck” to the pull-up bar. This provides additional stability and allows you to knock out even bigger sets.
The diamond design is perfectly structured to cover your hand in the way it is actually shaped. The palm is protected whether you’re grasping the pull-up bar, rings, or even a kettlebell.
The velcro straps ensure that the grips can be adjusted to your exact fit preference while also being easy to flip when it’s time to pick up a barbell or dumbbell.
Bear Komplex previously enjoyed a three-year sponsorship with the CrossFit Games. If their products were good enough for the “Super Bowl” of CrossFit, I would all but guarantee they will be more than good enough for your own fitness needs!
JerkFit Raw Grips
⭐️ Verdict: Best 2-finger Grips
Jerkfit’s Raw Grips combine a basic leather construction with a 2-hole design, preferred by a number of CrossFit enthusiasts.
The “freedom” of the “unholed” index finger allows for greater control on pull-up bars and barbells alike while coverage remains extended to the majority of the palm and hand.
As with most two-finger grips, there are more exposed areas with the Raw Grips, but these are mainly in areas that do not contact the bars.
Pros
Textured leather material conforms to hands
“Free” index finger for better control
Less total fabric creates a more “raw” feeling
Cons
Lack of color selection
A brand that is best known for its hook grip, thumb protectors (and for its funny name!), JerkFit has put together some of the best 2-holed grips on the market. For those who like the feeling of having their index finger free, yet want full palm protection the JerkFit grips are a solid option.
A lot of emphasis is placed on CrossFit grips covering the entire palm or a large portion of the hand’s surface area. JerkFit Grips are designed to only cover the portions of your palm that are likely to experience blisters or other chaffing. This cuts down on the total fabric to only the essential areas, which could be preferable if you like a more “raw” feeling.
The ergonomic design of the JerkFit Grips is intended to ensure that the grips do not “bunch up” into your hands during tough WODs. This bunch up is not a common occurrence with other grips. However, in some cases, accumulated wetness, combined with intense movements, can result in grip bunching.
If you prefer a grip with “full coverage”, the lack of material on the first and last fingers might be slightly bothersome.
Picsil Condor Grips
⭐️ Verdict: Best Fingerless Grips
The Picsil Condor Grips present an alternative to “holed” CrossFit grips. As more and more athletes have adopted this preference, Picsil has refined it’s fingerless grip offering.
The grips’ velcro is equal parts “secure” and “easy to adjust”, making it easy to adjust the grip onto the back of the hand during barbell work.
The Condor Grips’ “technical fabric” is strong enough to allow athletes to grip the grip (as opposed to gripping the bar through the grip) for a more secure gymnatics experience.
Pros
Thick “technical fabric” improves comfort and overall grip
Strong velcro wristband stays securely fastened
6-month warranty in case of potential issues
Cons
Some have cited the grip is not substantive enough
I’ve gone through phases where I have wanted to minimize my grip use and other times where I used my grips for everything. The Picsil fingerless grips are what I would prefer during the former periods, only really being practical for use when gripping the pull-up bar overhead.
Like other Picsil grips, the Picsil fingerless grips are comprised of a unique “technical fiber” material. Many swear by this (it does certainly create a unique feel when gripping the pull-up bar) as well as an easily adjusted velcro strap.
Unlike their finger-holed happy counterparts, Picsil’s fingerless grips come in a variety of more subdued colors. If you prefer a soft, coral blue or brilliant white, you might want to train your hands to love fingerless grips!
Fingerless grips might be a little aggressive for your first grips. However, if this isn’t your first grip rodeo, you should be just fine.
Roogrips 2-hole Hand Grips
⭐️ Verdict: Best Leather Grips
Roogrips has made a name for itself with its high-quality “Kangaroo Leather”. This material combines protective qualities to prevent tearing, and calluses with relative thinness, making the process of gripping easier.
The Roogrips’ leather is also characterized by its oil-infused construction, contributing to its overall durability.
The “hook-and-loop” wrist strap allows for a more customized fitting experience, maximizing comfort.
Pros
Composed of higher grade, “Kangaroo Leather”
Not overly thick; makes gripping easier for athletes with smaller hands
Durable
Cons
Metal portions of wrist strap reported to irritate hands
As you may (or, may not, I guess, if you’re not really paying attention) have expected, Roogrips is an Australian brand that has made its way over to the United States. Thankfully, they have brought their grips, and patented “kangaroo leather” they’re constructed of, with them.
The main advantage of Roogrips 2-hole hand grips is the unique leather composition. It combines a superior degree of durability and protection in a rather compact grip. This compactness helps athletes to maintain more of a secure grip on the bar (pull-up or barbell) while still preventing calluses and other problems experienced with high-rep gymnastics movements.
Like many other of our top picks, Roogrips are secured with a combination of a velcro and metal fastener. Although this combination is superior for keeping the grip in place, some have stated that the metal portions can become slightly irritating on the wrists while training.
Rogue BarAides
⭐️ Verdict: Best Affordable Grips
BarAides are a unique and very inexpensive alternative to more traditional grips for CrossFit.
Securing in place via the use of athletic tape, BarAides combine sufficient protection for all CrossFit movements with the flexibility to affix the grips to the hands as desired.
The “one-size-fits-all” sizing is closer to “one-size-fits-most”, but for $13, it’s not much of a “gamble”.
Pros
Basic layer of protection sufficient for most exercises
Extremely lightweight
Inexpensive
Cons
“One-size-fits-all” sizing not suitable for all athletes
BarAids are unlike any grips you’ve likely come across before.
Instead of taking on the typical “leather palm protector, metal and velcro fastener” approach, the Rogue BarAides are simply a single strip of protective polymer clothe that athletes essentially “tape” to their hands.
For those who prefer a minimalist approach, as well as the ability to control exactly how their grips affixes and fits to their hands, BarAides might be the answer.
The lack of a material, fabric, and supporting materials results in the BarAides being much less expensive than any of the other grips on this list. The slight sacrifice in convenience might just justify this price for many.
Victory Grips Tactical 3-FC
⭐️ Verdict: Contender!
Victory Grips Tactical 3-FC offerings provide an alternative for those who prefer grips with minimal metal or other portions (which can often irritate the wrists).
The all-fabric grips create a consistent feeling on and over the hand, allowing for complete focus on the gymnastics tasks at hand.
The accommodating structure allows for a watch or other wrist device to be worn without bunching or affecting the grips’ protective qualities.
Pros
All fabric; no metal portions to poke or dig into the skin
Extensive palm coverage
Can be worn in conjunction with watches and other wrist devices
Cons
Doing just about anything will void the grips’ warranty
In contrast to the Picsil Condor (fingerless) Grips discussed earlier, Victory Grips Tactical 3-FC almost feel like you’re wearing a glove at times, for better or for worse.
The grip fabric extends down to the base of the wrist. How you feel about this is completely personal; some prefer the extra fabric while others like the combination of bare hands and fabric.
Victory Grips are also unique in regard to their emphasis on being almost entirely comprised of fabric. The metal portion which would normally be present to secure the buckle or velcro strap is not present on the Victory Grips. Instead, the fabric loops into and around itself to secure the grip to your hand.
Victory grips are pricey; they are more expensive than any of the grips on this list. Also, according the Victory Grips’ website:
“These grips are not designed to be flapped over the bar and used as fingerless. Use of the grips without utilizing the finger holes will void the warranty.”
Careful!
Zhezhera Ambidextrous Grips
⭐️ Verdict: Contender!
Zhezhera’s first array into the CrossFit grips “industry” has resulted in a very unique product: grips that can be worn on either hand.
The niche “ambidextrous” grip offering is enhanced by the additional wrist bands that come standard with the grips and can be affixed for added support.
While the leather composition is not the most robust, coverage is very comprehensive.
Pros
Each grip can be used on either hand
Packaged with wrist bands for additional support
Extensive palm coverage
Cons
Newer, less well-known company
Zhezhera isn’t the most popular CrossFit equipment and accessory brand, but they make up for it by offering a unique product.
Zhezhera Grips can tick the boxes for people with very specific needs. Those who prefer a leather grip as well as those who like the flexibility of using either grip for either hand.
That second need might sound a bit ridiculous, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve strapped a grip on only for something to feel…odd. Long story short, my numerous grip errors led my wife to write R and L in big black marker to help me differentiate between my grips!
A number of top CrossFit grip manufacturers discuss the importance of wrist support that their products provide.
Zhezhera takes things a step further.
Each grip order is packaged with specially designed wrist bands, to be used in conjunction with the grips. These provide the aforementioned support and comfort while also regulating wrist sweat.
Because Zhezhera is relatively new to the CrossFit grip game, I can’t speak to their durability. You might need to take a gamble on their unique product offering.
What to Look For in CrossFit Grips
To be honest, picking out a pair of grips for CrossFit is generally a lower-stakes process than picking out a barbell or shoes or some other high(er)-ticket item. Nobody wants to get burned out of ~$20-50 on grips, but this would be preferable than dropping $500 on a crappy barbell!
With that being said…do you remember that first picture from this article? Like…the one with the torn and callused hands?
Yeah…nobody wants those hands!
Let’s discuss what you should be looking for when selecting your grips to ensure that your hands don’t turn into “words of warning” for future CrossFit athletes!
Fabric
The majority of the best CrossFit grips on our list are made from either a synthetic fabric or leather (with the exception of the Rogue BarAides). These materials take a short period of time to break in. Once this process is complete, the fabric or leather essentially “molds” to your hands and more easily “molds” onto the bar.
The end result? The grip better attaches to your hand and better attaches your hand to the bar.
Leather and synthetic fabric CrossFit grips are also very durable and can better absorb sweat and chalk, especially if they are allowed to “air out” after the workout.
Coverage
Depending on how comfortable you feel with grips covering your hands as well as the extent to which you need that coverage from the bar, barbell, or rings will determine how much you want your grips to cover your hands.
Most grips will cover the entirety of the palm area while others will leave slight gaps on the extreme sides of each hand. Still others only cover the center of the palm, leaving much of the rest of the palm exposed.
Price
The vast majority of the grips on our list fall squarely within the $35-55 price range. It is possible to find grips outside of this range (especially affordable grips like the BarAides come to mind), but this is generally the “sweet spot” for CrossFit grips.
Anything far above this price range is…odd.
Customer Reviews
We have our strong opinions about the grips that are most likely to serve you well. However, why not defer to what hundreds of other users have had to say about their experiences with a particular pair of grips…?
Shopping tips for CrossFit Grips
We’ve gone over the top criteria we use to assess grips, but what about some of the other unique qualities that might be of interest to how you like your grips? Let’s take a look at some of the key criteria and components that differentiate each pair of grips:
Finger Holes
You’ve probably noticed that some grips have three finger-hole openings. Some have only two openings. A select few have four-finger hole openings while several have no holes at all.
You may be wondering, “are there any benefits to a two-holed grip over a three-holed grip or a no-holed grip?”
Answer: it depends.
The finger holes of your grips help them to comfortably conform to your hand during training sessions. The more fingers a grip has, the more “secure” they will feel and the less likely the grip is to slip off.
No-hole grips or those with fewer finger holes provide more of a layer between the hands and the bar or rings. This better enables you to grip the grip itself which can be preferable for those who want to minimize contact with the harsh metal or wood.
…or even…dumbbells…?
In some cases, grips with finger holes can be slipped higher on the hand to create a “no-hole grip” experience. If this is done, however, the grip won’t fit as securely on the hand. In other cases, as with the Victory Grips Tactical 3-FC grips, it can even invalidate the warranty (which seems…extreme in our opinion!)
It is best to experiment with different grip types and hole variations to get a feel for each and to ultimately decide which is best for you.
Durability
The best CrossFit grips are designed to take a lot of abuse. The constant friction created when repping out a big set of pull-ups requires a degree of resiliency.
The synthetic fabric and leather material of most CrossFit grips are uniquely designed to withstand these beatings. When properly looked after, your grips should last…and last.
As previously mentioned, be sure to allow them to air out and dry after your workouts. Because of the sweat and wetness that accumulates during my workouts, my grips tend to “curl up”. I will generally stick a plate on them for 10-15 minutes as I cool down in order to prevent this curl up and to speed up the drying process.
Velcro Strap vs. Buckle Strap
CrossFit grips must be secured to the wrist or risk moving around or falling off during your WOD. They generally have either a velcro strap or a buckle strap at the base of the grip for this purpose.
Velcro straps are preferable if you intend to regularly adjust your grips during the duration of a workout. They can easily be spun around onto the back of the hand when transitioning to barbell movements. Buckle straps can be slightly more stable, but are much more difficult to spin around.
Some CrossFit grips, such as Victory Grips and BarAides are secured without a metal loop around the velcro or buckle portion. These are less invasive (you don’t need to worry about the metal digging into your wrist) but can feel slightly less secure.
Wrist Support
Some athletes appreciate the slight wrist support boost that the best CrossFit grips provide. However, most are not thick enough nor do they provide sufficient compression to significantly support the wrist.
The ZHEZHERA grips are packaged with wrist bands that provide additional comfort and support. The thickness of these bands provides a small amount of compression, but these bands act more like sweat bands than anything else.
How we Chose the “Best” Products
We try to get our hands on as many products as possible (and our hands in as many grips as possible). There is something about getting the feel of a grip…how it sits on your hand and feels against a bar, that helps to recommend (or not recommend) a pair of grips so much better.
We aren’t able to personally test every pair of grips, but we trust our assessment metrics and what countless others have had to say about their experiences. Click here to find out a lot more about how we test and review products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your grips are your (almost!) last line of defense between maintaining smooth, workout ready hands and creating something that looks like the surface of Mars. Let’s cover a few more questions to make sure you don’t unwillingly end up on SpaceX or something.
Are fingerless grips better?
As previously mentioned, the ideal number of finger holes on a CrossFit grip is solely dependent on the athlete’s personal preference. For those who want almost a complete barrier between their hands and the pull-up bar or rings, fingerless grips are “better”.
What grips do CrossFit athletes use?
If you dig a little deeper into each of the best CrossFit grips discussed above, you’ll find at least one testimonial from an elite CrossFit athlete. CrossFit athletes, like all athletes, have their own personal preferences. You can be sure that you can find an elite CrossFitter who wears the same grip that you have your eye on!
When should I replace my CrossFit grips?
When your dog takes a bite out of your grips (like mine did), you KNOW it is time to change them! In all other situations, your biggest concern is likely going to be grips that have morphed or curled due to not being properly dried out.
If you have to stretch your grips out to ensure that they are properly covering your wrist, it is probably time to retire them.
…The Best CrossFit Grips
I would think that after your first time…certainly your second time…definitely your third time of tearing your hands, that you would be begging to slip on the best CrossFit grips.
If you’re like me and numerous others, Bear Komplex is going to be your grip manufacturer of choice.
However, a fingerless, two-holed, or grain leather grip might be preferable to you. Give a pair (or three) a try; your palms will thank you!
🏆 Best Overall
89
Best 2-Finger
84
Best Fingerless
89
Best Raw Leather
88
Best Affordable
86
