The 5 BEST CrossFit Grips in 2023

Ripped hands? Sore calluses? We’ve been there too and now we have a solution. Check out our top picks for the 5 best CrossFit grips in 2023. 

Anyone who’s given CrossFit a go will know all about sore calluses and ripped hands. 

At this point, if you haven’t experienced some kind of hand rip, are you really even doing CrossFit?! 

But, while it’s almost a rite of passage to tear your hands at some point or another, it can also be super painful and put the brakes on a WOD. Instead, many people use CrossFit grips, both at the gym and in competition. 

Because let’s face it, no one wants to end a WOD early if it can be avoided – that’s why, if you find the right pair, grips can be one of the best pieces of equipment you can use for CrossFit. 

With that in mind, we’ve performed a thorough review of the best CrossFit Grips we’ve found on the market today. 

The 5 Best CrossFit Grips Reviewed: 

Best All-Rounder – Bear Komplex 3 Hole Grips – Carbon Fiber

Best Grips for Women – JerkFit WODies Hand Grips

Best for Gymnastics – IsoGrip Gymnastic Hand Grips

Best Budget Grips  –  ROGUE V2 Gymnastic Grips

Best Single Use Grips – WOD&DONE Grips

Disclaimer: The content here at GymGirlFit is meant to be used in an informative nature and does not substitute medical advice, diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Please get in touch with a doctor if you need any of the above. 

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Best All-Rounder Crossfit Grips: Bear Komplex 3 Hole Grips – Carbon Fiber

The Bear Komplex 3 Hole CrossFit Grips are specifically designed with a carbon composite to provide excellent grip, whether it’s a slick or chalk-coated bar. We found this to be true and we weire impressed by the stick it achieved throughout movements when we tested it out.  

The manufacturers say it’s made of carbon fabric. Don’t ask us about the thread count (whatever that is?!) but we found it to be strong and durable, and showed very little wear after testing. A great sign, considering how often they might be used on the bar or in lifts, and a reflection of the value for money too. 

What’s more, we found that the wrist strap provided extra security and wasn’t uncomfortable and could be adjusted throughout movements like muscle-ups, which require that extra range of mobility. 

The three holes provide a good coverage of the palm, but also gave a very secure feel with three anchors. Despite this, a couple of us noted that it does bunch up a little on lifts, so that’s something to be aware of. 

There’s also a two hole version though if you have smaller hands, or prefer something a little lighter on the palm. 

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Best CrossFit Grips for Women: JerkFit WODies Hand Grips

Our top pick for the best CrossFit Grip for Women is the JerkFit WODies Hand Grips. Made from neoprene, we found there was very little bunching or pinching with these grips, which made then a very comfortable choice for pretty much every movement that could rip the palm. 

We also liked the extra thick wrist straps, which we felt gave us extra security and confidence in bigger lifts too. 

When testing, we noted that the neoprene didn’t have as much grip as say, the Bear Komplex carbon composite, but we still felt secure in both lifts and rig work. And, we found, that once you had a little chalk on there, it really came together and provided extra grip. 

We also liked the three finger coverage, which provided protection across the whole palm, while still being very flexible. 

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What’s more, it’s worth mentioning that these are a very popular choice world-wide. The JerkFit WODies come with a huge range of positive testimonials from athletes across the world. Google them and find out yourself. 

Best Gymnastic Hand Grips for CrossFit: IsoGrip Gymnastic Hand Grips

We found the IsoGrip Gymnastic Hand Grips to be a great choice for gymnastic work on the rig, rings and bar. It offered the grip, flexibility and versatility that allowed us full range of motion and movements, without any concerns for slips. 

The proprietary isoprene polymer material has been specifically developed to enhance grip on the bar, without uncomfortable bunching, all with gymnastic movements in mind. We don’t know about how it was made, but we did all note that the grip was good, and felt secure in a range of gymnastic movements. 

This has also been supported with loops rather than holes, which we found allows for a smoother, more seamless grip on the pull up bar. You can also opt to purchase grips without loops if you’d like a faster transition grip. 

Furthermore, the wrist grip is light and adjustable, which we found helped to ensure movement and range of motion in the wrist, something you can’t compromise on with gymnastic movements. 

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Best Budget Grips for CrossFit: ROGUE V2 Gymnastic Grips

Using soft, flexible leather as the main grip, the Rogue V2 Gymnastic Grips offer a good amount of grip and protection for the money. 

Overall, we find leather options don’t offer the most reliable grip, but for a budget CrossFit grip, we found it will keep your hands protected through bar work and lifts. When we added some chalk to the grips, it did help, but it still didn’t feel like the most reliable grip we’ve tested. 

What’s more, it’s worth noting that we found they do bunch up around the crease in your hand. While we didn’t experience much pinching because the leather is soft, it’s worth noting that bunching can occur, so watch out!

As this is a budget option, we knew there would be shortfalls compared to the other options on this list, so overall we were happy with how they performed, which is why they’re our best pick for CrossFit Hand Grips on a budget!

They will definitely help to protect your hands from rips and calluses, so these might be a great place to start if you’re a beginner or on a budget. 

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Best Single Use CrossFit Grips: WOD & DONE Tape Grips

These single use tape grips are a good option if you need some support through a recent injury or ripped palm. If you don’t normally wear grips, but need some extra protection in the short term then, financially, it makes sense to go single use. 

However, if you prefer to wear them more regularly in the long term, then it might make more sense to go for something you can use repeatedly. 

In terms of performance and feel, there’s something different about a WOD&DONE grip tape. Because the adhesive side sticks to your skin, you can be sure there won’t be any substantial bunching or chance of pinching in a movement. 

What’s more, we found this specific set was durable throughout a hard WOD,and stayed in position through chalk and sweat. It’s just worth remembering that once you peel it off, they’re done. So if you’re expecting a long day, maybe bring a few pairs with you. 

How we reviewed the best CrossFit grips

When we started our search for the best CrossFit grips, we started to research the fan forums and the customer reviews, we even hit our local Boxes, to try and find out what people used and what they thought. 

From there we compiled a list of products that we thought deserved our attention. After researching about 15-20 grips, we narrowed it down to a handful of options that we really think are the best CrossFit grips on the market today. 

We tried and tested each of these handful to provide you with a good idea of what they can realistically do, and whether they’re worth spending your money on.

Our aim is always to provide our honest opinion on how good we think a product is. You can read the manufacturers spiel, but when it comes to investing in the right CrossFit grips for you, you don’t really want to be buying and testing them all out yourself!

From that, we looked at the following elements to provide you with the information we believe you should know if you’re looking to buy the best CrossFit grips for you: 

And finally, we took into account what other customers thought about them. Grips can be a matter of personal choice, but if you hear lots of good things in your local Box or you see good reviews online, you’re more likely to invest your hard earned cash into them – and rightly so! 

If others have tried and tested them it gives a certain peace of mind you can rely on. 

What makes the best CrossFit grips? 

If you’re on the hunt for the best CrossFit grips, you should definitely consider checking out the following components as you search: 

Construction and material 

Not only does the construction and the material choices impact on performance, it also has a big role to play in the comfort and durability of the grip too. 

For construction you want to see sturdy stitching, double stitched is best, as this will ensure the joins of the product can be relied upon through many a workout!

In terms of material, the traditional stance has been focussed around soft leather, however there’s plenty of options out there now that have been developed over the years. Carbon fiber material, for example, is durable and strong, and provides enough grip and adaptability that you can rely on it throughout a workout. 

Finger holes

There are a range of options available to you when it comes to where, how many and whether you should even have finger holes at all. 

We prefer three as it provides enough coverage and security that you won’t come away from a workout with calluses. It’s definitely the preferred design option if you’re concerned about protecting your hands from rips! 

Durability

As we said above, if you want to spend money on your grips, you want to know they’re going to see you through countless grueling CrossFit workouts. In fact, in gymnastic circles, they only replace their grips once every six months depending on your activity levels and you should be able to rely on yours for that long too. 

With that in mind, you want to know your gymnastic grips are durable. For this, it comes back to the fabric. Take a look at the options above (apart from the one time use WOD&GO option) to ensure you’re getting a gymnastic grip that can support you for the long term. 

Price

Generally, the more you spend on a pair of hand grips for CrossFit, the better quality they are – but we found that that works only up to a point. The options we found for our list of the best hand grips for CrossFit came in at between $30-$40. 

As such, we really don’t think it’s necessary to spend more than $50 on a pair o handgrips – we just don’t think you’ll get any better performance out of them.

What’s more, we also wouldn’t spend less than $25, as you’ll probably end up compromising somewhere, probably on the durability which will cost you more in the long run as you replace the product more frequently. 

Do you need CrossFit grips?

Finally, let’s get to, arguably, the most important part of this article, do you really need CrossFit Grips? 

Well, it’s pretty much up to you in terms of how they feel and whether you like them. Obviously if you have a ripped palm, your hand is going to be pretty sore and cut up for at least a week and you don’t want to make that worse with unprotected lifting in the mean time. 

But other than a ripped palm, do you really need them?

We’ve rounded up our key reasons for needing CrossFit grips, so you can decide for yourself. 

Injury protection and prevention

The obvious one, a gymnastic grip can help to prevent and protect rips and tears to your hands that come after callouses develop. 

They add that extra barrier of protection against friction from movements like kipping pull ups and muscle ups, so you don’t get an injury as easily. 

Quick disclaimer though, you can still get a hand injury as the grip can’t cover your whole hand, but it certainly helps. 

Improved grip

Whether it’s through pain from a callus or a your hands are slipping on the bar, a gymnastic grip can go a long way to helping you hold on for those last few reps. 

Many CrossFit grips, like the ones on this list, have been specifically designed to improve your chances of staying on the bar for longer, and prevent grip fatigue. 

What’s more, if you’re on the barbell, you may also find the wrist strap gives you extra strength too as an added bonus. 

Confidence

If you’ve had a bar experience on the rig or on the bar, then you might have felt your confidence with bigger weights or kipping pull ups has dropped. Often, that little extra support in the form of a gymnastic grip can go a long way in helping you get back in the saddle. 

Cleanliness

Bleeding all over the bar is not always the most hygienic option out there, especially if you’re a gym owner who has to clean it up! While a CrossFit Grip certainly doesn’t get rid of germs or stop them spreading, it’s nice knowing there’s some peace of mind that it’s unlikely to happen regularly. 

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