Ever finished a workout thinking,
“Cool… I can’t wash my hair now because my hands look like I pet a chainsaw”?
Yeah. Been there.
CrossFit grips shouldn’t feel like tiny hand prisons —
and they shouldn’t flop like sad pancakes either.
They should feel like armor that lets you go to war with the bar.
Let’s make sure you're wearing them right so you can lift, swing, and kip without turning your palms into ground beef.
Why this matters
Because shredded hands =
- Missed training days
- Painful showers (the worst)
- Lost reps
- Complaining to your coach like it's their fault 😅
Dialing in your grip fit means:
- Better hold
- Less slipping
- More reps
- Faster progress
- Hands that don’t look like they stole honey from the wrong hive 🦡🍯
✅ What the Right CrossFit Grip Fit Feels Like
The sweet spot
Your grips should:
-
Sit snug at the wrist
-
Have enough length to cover your callus line + fold over the bar
-
Let you “hang on the grip,” not your skin
When you jump to the bar, you should feel the grip catch, not stretch flat like a sad tortilla.
What you DON'T want
❌ Cutting off wrist circulation
❌ Flat across your palm with no fold
❌ Sliding around like you're playing Twister
❌ So short your calluses are exposed like they paid rent there
If you can read this and go,
“Ooooh… my grips are wrong,”
you’re already winning.
✋ Finger Holes vs No Holes — The Truth
| Type | Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Finger holes | Anchored, stable | New athletes, strict work |
| No-hole grips | Fast, smooth, “floaty” | Bar cycling, advanced movement |
Beginners love finger holes.
Veterans usually switch to no holes.
It’s like training wheels…
just for your hands.
📏 How to Size Your Grips (No Overthinking)
When in doubt? Size up.
Better to have extra flap than raw palms.
Technique Tips Nobody Tells You
Even the best grips suck if you:
- Death-grip the bar
- Keep your palm flat instead of “hooking” on the bar
- Don’t break them in
- Put the wrist strap ON the joint (ouch)
Remember: You’re gripping the material, not the metal.
This is a skill, not just gear.
🚫 Common Mistakes (And Fixes)
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Wrist pain | Strap ABOVE the wrist bone |
| Grip slips | Learn the fold-over-bar grip |
| Tearing anyway | Size up or improve swing mechanics |
| Too tight | Loosen the strap — blood flow is your friend 😅 |
📊 Quick Fit Cheat Sheet
| If your grips… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Can't fold over bar | Too small |
| Feel flat | Too small or wrong technique |
| Pull down on wrist | Strap placement off |
| Have extra flap | Good for kipping/bar work |
❓ FAQs
Do grips stretch?
Yep. Especially leather & synthetics.
Break-in is normal.
Should they choke my wrist?
Nope. Snug, not tourniquet.
Do you still use chalk?
Light chalk on back of the grips >
🏁 Final Takeaway
CrossFit grips should fit like battle armor —
- Snug wrist
- Free palm
- Enough length to fold over the bar
When they're right, you’ll fly on pull-ups, muscle-ups, TTB —
and you won’t look like you fought a raccoon afterward.
Train harder. Tear less.
Earn calluses, not injuries.
And hey — if you want grips tested by actual athletes (not Amazon keyboard warriors), check out RBST’s Iron Claw and Honey Badger grips. Thousands of happy torn-hands-no-more stories. 🐾🔥
