The Best Grip Strengtheners (2024): 6 Tools to Build Hands That Crush

When it comes to the best home gym equipment, many of us focus on things like barbells, benches, and squat racks but entirely neglect one of the most important muscle groups we have—our hands. 

Most of us use our hands every day for work, exercise, hobbies, and more. Just like the rest of your body, the hands are full of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that can and should be trained for greater strength and durability. 

Grip strengtheners allow you to specifically target the smaller muscles in your hands, fingers, wrists, and forearms, but they come in all shapes and sizes, which makes finding the right one confusing. 

To make sure we chose the best grip strengthener, we spent months testing a variety of grip tools, assigning a score to each one using our equipment testing methodology. This helped us choose the six best options for a variety of categories, so whatever your goal may be, you’re sure to find the perfect tool in this guide. 

Best Grip Strengtheners 

• Best Overall Grip Strengthener: Ironmind Captains of Crush
• Best Adjustable Grip Strengthener: WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengthener
• Best Budget Grip Strengthener: PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengthener
• Best Finger Grip Strengthener: Prohands Grip Master
• Best Grip Strengthener for Forearms: Theraband FlexBar
• Best Grip Strengthener for Barbells: Fat Gripz

Best Overall Grip Strengthener: Ironmind Captains of Crush

Good for: Those looking for a heavy-duty grip strengthener

Best Overall

Ironmind Captains of Crush Grippers

GGR Score: 4.34

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Product Highlights

* Multiple resistance levels * Durable build * Challenging resistance * Knurled handle

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Durable construction
• Knurled handle
• Challenging resistance
• Compact

Cons

• Not adjustable
• Somewhat expensive

Bottom Line

The Ironmind Captains of Crush are some of the most durable, challenging grip strengtheners on the market. They’re built to last and come in a variety of resistance levels.

Our pick for the best overall grip strengthener goes to the Ironmind Captains of Crush, some of the strongest grip tools we’ve tested. They’re durable hand grippers available in a wide range of resistance options, earning a 5 out of 5 for durability. This makes them a fantastic choice for those looking to build crushing grip strength and our top pick for the best overall grip strengthener. 

With knurled aircraft-grade billet aluminum handles that feel virtually indestructible, the Captains of Crush grippers earn a strong 5-out-of-5-star rating for durability. 

Our tester, Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, CNC, is an Olympian who’s used these on and off over his entire weightlifting career. 

“I’ve definitely gotten a workout with these grips,” Caine said. “Start light because the resistance builds quickly. I’m a lifelong strength athlete and was humbled by the #2 grip. With a little bit of training, I’m certain I can completely close that grip, but for most people, the #2 grip will be a hefty challenge.”

For reference, the #2 grip provides 195 pounds of resistance, right in the middle of the resistance range of the various Captains of Crush grippers. 

RELATED: How to Use Grip Strengtheners

Caine’s one callout was that the durable handle takes a little getting used to. He said, “The straight handles aren’t the most comfortable, so it may take a couple of times to figure out your ideal grip. But I love the knurling on these grips; your grip feels solid and doesn’t shift or slip when you squeeze.”

Captains of Crush aren’t adjustable, which means you’ll need to buy a new grip once you’ve outgrown your current one. At $25.95 per grip, they aren’t cheap. However, they’re the strongest and most durable grips we’ve tested and our choice for the best overall. 

If you’re looking for an adjustable hand gripper that saves you the hassle of needing to buy a new grip tool every few months, you’ll want to consider our next pick, the WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengthener. 

Best Adjustable Grip Strengthener: WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengthener

Good for: Anyone looking for an adjustable grip tool

Best Adjustable

WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengthener

GGR Score: 4.25

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Product Highlights

5 adjustable resistance levelsConvenient carrying caseDurable handlesEasy to change resistance settings

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5 resistance levels
• Carrying bag included
• Durable design
• Easy to change resistance setting

Cons

• Handles may loosen with high resistance
• Resistance springs aren’t clearly labeled

Bottom Line

The WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengthener is a versatile tool with five different resistance levels. To change the resistance, you’ll need to unscrew the handles, but it’s easy. Everything is stored in the included carrying bag.

If you like the idea of building an iron grip but don’t want to carry around multiple grip tools at different resistance levels, the WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengthener is the tool for you. You’ll get all five resistance levels in one purchase, which is why we gave them a 5 out of 5 for adjustability and the title of best adjustable grip strengthener. 

Shipped in a convenient carrying case, this adjustable hand grip tool includes one set of detachable handles and five springs of varying resistance levels. To change your resistance, all you need to do is unscrew the handles and reattach them to the resistance level you want to use next. 

For adjustability, these grippers earn a 5 out of 5. You’re getting adjustable resistance with five levels for under $30, which is a fantastic deal that provides incredible versatility.  

However, our tester found that if you’re not careful, it’s easy to get the coils mixed up. He said, “I highly advise keeping your kit organized in its original layout within the bag—the coils are not labeled and can be difficult to differentiate when it comes to choosing your optimal training resistance.”

He also noted that the handles can come slightly unscrewed and feel loose, especially when using higher resistances, so he suggests really tightening them before use. 

While not quite as knurled and durable as something like the Captains of Crush, they’re very affordable, and you don’t need to buy multiple pairs to use multiple resistance levels. However, unless you’re comparing them directly to a more durable option, you’re probably not going to notice the difference.

“The alloy steel coils and handle attachments are plenty sturdy for regular use,” our tester said. “The knurling is on the lighter side, but I think it’s worthwhile enough to provide a decent grip time and time again.”

Five grips for under $30 is a steal, but if you’re still looking for something even cheaper, our budget pick, the PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengthener, may be an even better choice. 

Best Budget Grip Strengthener: PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengthener

Good for: Those shopping on a budget

Best Budget

PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengthener

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

Six bands includedTrains the hand extensorsThree resistance levelsVery affordableCompact and portable

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Affordable cost
• Includes six bands
• Very easy to use
• Lightweight

Cons

• Elastic may not be very durable
• Only trains the extensors

Bottom Line

These hand-strengthening bands train the extensor muscles that open your fingers, which is often overlooked. They can help address imbalances in the hand musculature and are very affordable.

If you’re shopping on a budget, it’s hard to beat the PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengthener kit, which costs $9.49 at the time of writing. They work a little differently than some of the other options on our list, but you’re getting six different grip tools for under $10, which is why they earned a strong 5 out of 5 for value and are the obvious choice for best budget grip strengthener. 

For both value and versatility, these earn a 5 out of 5, as you’re able to train your grip in a variety of ways, and there are plenty of resistance options. 

These elastic grip strengtheners work the extensor muscles of your hands, which are the muscles that open your fingers rather than close them. Most of us only use the flexor muscles of our hands, which help us grip barbells, dumbbells, grocery bags, and more, leading to strength imbalances. 

RELATED: Flexion vs Extension

I couldn’t find any research to support this, but anecdotally, many people report that this can lead to hand and finger pain, which I’ve personally experienced and resolved with these bands. 

I’ve worked with physical therapists in the past who recommend these bands to clients who have hand and wrist pain from typing all day, rock climbing, or manual labor jobs. When I use these, I feel like my extensor muscles are being challenged through the full range of motion, which no other tool can accomplish. This has given me more dexterity in my hands and fingers, which can often feel stiff from typing and lifting. 

There’s no research that I could find supporting the idea of pain relief, but for less than $10, it’s certainly worth a try if you get aches and pains in your hands and fingers. The kit includes six bands, with two of each resistance level, all of which are clearly labeled.

You won’t beat these for a budget pick, but if you’re looking for a traditional grip strengthener that’s still budget-friendly, I suggest the WOD Nation Hand Grip Strengtheners. 

Best Finger Grip Strengthener: Prohands Grip Master

Good for: Those who want to focus on strengthening individual fingers

Best Finger Strengthener

Prohands Grip Master

GGR Score: 4.08

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Product Highlights

Trains individual fingersComfortable to useSpring-loaded designSmall and compact

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Trains individual fingers
• Very comfortable
• Multiple resistance levels

Cons

• Plastic parts seem fragile
• Resistance isn’t adjustable

Bottom Line

The Prohands Grip Master is a great tool for anyone who wants to train the individual finger muscles, which may benefit certain types of athletes. The plastic parts seem like they may break if dropped, but overall, it’s very comfortable and offers plenty of resistance.

Many grip strengtheners use durable metal handles that may have knurling, and when you squeeze them, the handles move as one. This is fine for building overall grip strength, but some may prefer to build finger strength individually, which is where the Prohands Grip Master comes in. They allow users to train their fingers in a unique way, which is why they earned a 4 out of 5 for versatility and were named best finger grip strengthener.

Each finger moves individually with spring-loaded resistance, which means your stronger fingers can’t do most of the work. The ergonomic design makes the gripper very comfortable to hold and use, and it’s easy to focus on individual fingers. 

Our tester said that while he hasn’t noticed any issues with the springs wearing out, even after extended use, there’s a lot of plastic in this gripper, and he’d worry about something breaking if he accidentally dropped it. This brings our durability score down to a 4 out of 5.

The only finger that can’t be directly strengthened with this tool is the thumb, but our tester really enjoyed being able to focus on the other four individual fingers. He said, “This can be a great pick for athletes reliant on individual grip strength like rock climbers, baseball, and softball players.”

If you want to include the thumb in your grip work, you may want to choose something like the PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengtheners instead, which uses all five fingers. However, if you’re not too concerned about the thumb, this is an excellent choice that’s both affordable and durable. 

The resistance isn’t adjustable, so you’ll need multiple pairs if you want different challenges. There are six resistance levels, and they can each be purchased separately or in bundles of two, three, four, or five to save money. 

Best Grip Strengthener for Forearms: Theraband FlexBar

Good for: Those looking to strengthen the wrists and forearms

Best for Forearms

Theraband Flexbar

GGR Score: 4.35

Product Highlights

* Durable * Provides low-impact resistance * Available in multiple sizes * Great for tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and more

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in multiple sizes
• Durable material
• Easy to use
• Plenty of free instruction videos online

Cons

• Slightly expensive
• You need multiple bars for different resistance levels

Bottom Line

The Theraband FlexBar is designed to strengthen the muscles in the wrists and forearms, helping relieve issues from things like golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow. It allows you to target specific muscles in the wrists and forearms, and multiple resistance levels are available.

The Theraband FlexBar doesn’t directly strengthen the muscles in your hands, but it’s fantastic for training the forearm muscles that connect your hands to your elbows. They also earned 5 out of 5 scores for both durability and materials, and their unique ability to target the forearms earned them the title of best grip strengthener for forearms.

Why does this matter?

Throughout your fitness and athletic journey, it’s not uncommon to develop tendonitis around the elbow, commonly referred to as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, depending on which tendons are irritated. These tendon problems can arise from all kinds of repetitive movements involving the hands and elbows, like weightlifting, climbing, rowing, and more. 

The TheraBand allows you to perform a variety of exercises that emphasize the eccentric phase of a movement, which is the lowering or negative phase. You can use a variety of grips and rotate your arms, twist the bar to create tension, and then slowly let the bar untwist itself while you resist the movement. 

This is a fantastic way to build forearm strength for optimal wrist and elbow health, and since the FlexBar comes in four resistance levels, you can find one that fits your needs. 

RELATED: 15 Exercises to Create the Ultimate Forearm Workouts

I’ve been using mine weekly for about 16 months, and they’ve held up perfectly without showing any signs of wear and tear. The durability easily earns a 5 out of 5. 

If you’ve ever experienced wrist, forearm, or elbow tendon issues from any type of physical activity, the FlexBar is a fantastic tool to help you out. However, if you prefer to focus on traditional grip strength, you may want to choose the Captains of Crush or WOD Nation Grip Strengthener instead. 

Theraband FlexBars cost about $14.99 per bar on Amazon, though prices may fluctuate, and you can order them in a set to save money. 

Best Grip Strengthener for Barbells: Fat Gripz

Good for: Those looking to train their grip with a barbell

Best for Barbells

Fat Gripz

GGR Score: 4.7

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Product Highlights

Made from a military-grade, high-density compound, Fat Gripz can instantly transform any standard barbell into an axle bar (thick bar). They also fit most dumbbells, pull-up bars, and cable attachments, – doubling the thickness for a greater test of arm and grip strength.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easy to use
• Helps develop forearms
• Durable material

Cons

• May not fit all dumbbells
• Can be difficult to install and remove

Bottom Line

If you’ve never trained with a thicker-than-usual barbell, which isn’t exactly common, it’s an entirely different feeling. Your forearms have to work significantly harder due to the wider diameter, which quickly builds up your grip strength. Fat Gripz are extremely durable, with a 5 out of 5 durability score, and easily take the title of best grip strengthener for barbells.

For those who don’t want to purchase a specialty barbell, Fat Gripz are the perfect solution. They easily attach to any standard barbell, creating a wider bar that’s harder to hold. You’ll feel your forearms working harder immediately. 

I’ve owned a pair for 12 years, and they still work great, so I give the durability a 5 out of 5. I own the original Fat Gripz, which are now called the Fat Gripz Pro, and you can also choose the Fat Gripz One or Extreme if you want a smaller or larger grip. 

While they’re designed for barbells, they’ll also work on many machines, attachments, and dumbbells, though they aren’t guaranteed to fit everything.

While Fat Gripz may fit many dumbbells, they aren’t guaranteed to fit all dumbbells. I have Nuobells at home, and even though the handles are straight like a barbell, the Fat Gripz are a little too long to fit the handle. 

If you’re looking for an added challenge and a new stimulus for your barbell work, Fat Gripz are a great choice. However, if you’re simply looking to build grip strength with a tool that doesn’t require additional equipment, you may want to try something like the Ironmind Captains of Crush instead.

For more, check out our complete Fat Gripz review. 

Other Grip Strengtheners We Researched

While many grip strengtheners are similar, there are a few we considered adding, but we simply didn’t like them as much as our top picks.

• Title Boxing Grip Strengthener: We simply preferred the PRNKSTR hand exerciser instead, which uses a similar design. PRNKSTR includes six different grip strengtheners instead of the three that Title Boxing includes, making it a much better deal for those on a budget.
• Snake Bite Grips: These are a great alternative to Fat Gripz, but they received a lower overall score in our Snake Bite Grips review based on our testing.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Grip Strengthener

Grip strengtheners come in many shapes and sizes, and they can target different muscles and movement patterns. To be sure we tested everything fairly, we spent plenty of time using each grip tool for several weeks, looking for improvements. 

Our other testers have owned these tools for months, some for over a decade, noting any benefits, pros, cons, and callouts for each one. 

Benefits of Using a Grip Strengthener

If you’re not sure why you’d want to focus on strengthening your grip in the first place, here are a few of the most important benefits.

Improves Grip Strength for Strength Training

If you’re a strength training enthusiast, improving your grip strength will have a direct impact on your training. In many exercises that involve heavy pulling movements, such as deadlifts, pull-ups, dumbbell rows, or nearly any other back exercise, your grip strength is often the limiting factor, giving out long before your larger muscle groups. 

Sure, you can always use a pair of lifting straps during your training to hold more weight, but if you compete in a sport that doesn’t allow straps, like powerlifting, it’s important to make sure your grip is as strong as possible. Even strength athletes who are allowed to use straps, like those who compete in strongman events, can always benefit from having a better grip rather than relying on straps.

RELATED: Grip Strength Exercises

Builds Forearm Strength

While you can always squeeze a stress ball if you feel like giving your hands a workout, it simply doesn’t provide much resistance. 

Grip exercise tools are typically designed to have varying resistance levels, allowing you to give yourself a great challenge as your strength improves. This can be a fantastic way to build hand grip strength, as well as promote healthy wrists and forearms as you build the forearms. 

Lifting weights can also challenge the forearm muscles, but grip strengtheners allow you to get a good forearm workout without needing dumbbells or barbells. 

RELATED: Best Supplements for Muscle Growth

May Improve Hand Health

If you’re a regular exerciser, you’re probably already training the major muscle groups and systems in your body, like the legs, back, core, and cardiovascular system. But your hands rarely get direct work unless you’re using a grip strengthener. 

The human hand has over 30 muscles, and these grip training accessories can help you build stronger muscles, tendons, and ligaments, keeping your hands strong and healthy. This is especially true with tools that strengthen the individual fingers or the extensor muscles that open the hands, helping correct imbalances. 

When I started training in jiu-jitsu, I had a lot of pain in the initial months. It involves significant grip strength, and my hands, fingers, and elbows were very sore for a few months. I started using the PRNKSTR Hand Grip Strengtheners and Therabar FlexBar and noticed that most of the pain resolved within a few weeks.

I couldn’t find any research to support this, but plenty of lifters, rock climbers, and grappling athletes have similar stories of hand pain that improved with regular grip training.

Can Be Used as a Physical Therapy Tool

When I worked as a strength coach in a physical therapy clinic, we often used eccentric exercises (the negative or lowering phase of a lift) to strengthen tendons and improve symptoms of tendonitis. This research-backed treatment has been proven to be effective¹, and tools like the Theraband FlexBar allow you to use eccentric exercises to train the muscles in your hands, wrists, and forearms. 

Traditional grip strengtheners can help build strength in the hands and wrists, which can be very useful when dealing with injuries. For example, Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, CNC, has found that grip strengtheners have helped him deal with a minor wrist injury. He said, “Training with a lighter grip helps me work some of the muscles in my forearm, which is causing some of the discomfort I’ve been feeling.”

What to Look for in a Grip Strengthener

So you’ve decided to invest in a grip strengthener—now what? Well, if you’re still having a hard time deciding which one to choose, here are the most important variables to consider. 

Material

The material of the grip strengthener can impact the longevity. For example, rubber band-style finger strengtheners are very affordable, but over time, they can lose their elasticity and effectiveness. 

On the other hand, a durable metal grip strengthener with strong springs may work perfectly for years to come. Think about how you plan to use the grip strengthener and use that to help you decide what material you want to use. If you’re planning on regularly using it for years to come, you may want to invest in a high-end option with very durable materials. If you’re only experimenting with one to see if you like it, there’s nothing wrong with a more affordable option that may include more plastic parts.

Adjustability

As you get stronger, you may want to increase the resistance, just like with any other sort of strength training. It’s important to choose a grip strengthener with plenty of options. 

Some are adjustable by changing the spring, and others may come in different sizes and resistance levels. Think about whether you prefer having multiple devices at varying resistance or adjusting a single tool when you need more resistance. 

Adjusting a grip tool can be slightly time-consuming if you need to unscrew a pair of handles each time, but that may be better than purchasing multiple grip trainers as you get stronger. 

Muscles Targeted

Finally, think about what muscles you’re trying to target. If you want a strong grip that can hold on to heavy weights without slipping, you may want a traditional grip tool that allows you to flex your squeezing muscles. 

On the other hand, if you’re trying to strengthen the muscles that extend your fingers, not squeeze them, or the muscles in your wrists and forearms, you may need more of a rehab-based tool like the Theraband FlexBar or PRNSKTR Hand Grip Strengthener. 

If you’re not an expert in hand anatomy, you can simplify this by thinking about why you want to use a grip trainer. Is the barbell constantly slipping out of your hands? If so, one that builds maximum strength, like the Captains of Crush, is the best choice. 

However, if you’re simply looking to correct imbalances or address aches and pains, you may want a lighter, rehab-style tool like the FlexBar or PRNSKTR grip strengtheners. 

Best Grip Strengthener: FAQs

References

1. Murtaugh, B., & Ihm, J. M. (2013). Eccentric training for the treatment of tendinopathies. Current sports medicine reports, 12(3), 175–182. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182933761

Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC

Matt is a writer and fitness coach who's been working in the fitness industry for 11 years. Before joining the GGR team, Matt was a freelance health and fitness writer for 11 years, writing for dozens of fitness websites, influencers, and wellness brands. He's also the author of three nutrition books published through Simon & Schuster. He currently lives in Las Vegas, NV.

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