IronMind Captains of Crush (COC) Hand Gripper - The Gold Standard of Grippers | The World's Leading Hand Strengthener

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.