Pull-up grips have come a long way. While gymnasts have relied on grips for decades to protect their hands, their entry into the CrossFit world only really took off in the late 2010s.
Initially, pull-up grips were purely protective tools—simple swaths of soft fabric that shielded the palms from rips and tears during high-rep gymnastics movements. Their design didn’t enhance your hold; they simply kept your hands intact.
Between 2015 and 2020, our bestselling pull-up grips were the JAW grips (I’ll embed a photo later). They were still fabric-based and primarily about protection. Grip enhancement wasn’t even a consideration—function was driven by basic durability.
Over time, manufacturers raised the stakes. Grips started to get more “grippy,” offering actual hold enhancement—not just hand protection. Yet, early versions all featured finger holes, and users still relied on their bare hands to maintain grip during hangs.
Then a shift occurred: athletes began sizing up and skipping the finger holes entirely. This meant you were essentially hanging from the grip material itself—not your fingers—preserving forearm strength and radically improving endurance in high-rep workouts.
Today, about 90% of pull-up grips sold no longer have finger holes (“fingerless”). Instead, they’re designed for durability, comfort, and maximum surface area. Concurrently, materials became seriously sticky—far beyond anything from the early years.
That new “grippiness” became so effective it even prompted regulatory action. In 2025, the CrossFit Games banned overly grippy grips, saying only those that “provide hand protection but not additional grip advantage” are competition-legal (The Barbell Spin).
But there’s a trade-off. As materials got stickier and more durable, the sheer forces athletes placed on pull-up grips multiplied. Heavier athletes in particular (80+ kg and above) experience much higher stress on the grips, which significantly reduces their lifespan.
This durability gap is not a flaw—it’s simply physics. The more weight and force a grip supports, the more quickly it will wear down.
The evolution of pull-up grips means there’s now something for every type of athlete:
From the soft fabric grips of the early days to today’s advanced materials, the evolution of pull-up grips mirrors the evolution of CrossFit itself—faster, stronger, and more demanding. What started as simple hand protection has turned into a highly specialized piece of equipment that can make or break your performance.
Whether you prefer the traditional finger-hole design, need to meet competition standards, or want the grippiest experience possible in training, there’s a perfect set of grips for you. Just remember: every athlete should expect different lifespans from their grips, and for those above 80 kilos, replacement will be more frequent.
Ultimately, pull-up grips aren’t just accessories. They’re essential performance tools—ones that can extend your endurance, protect your hands, and give you that extra edge on the bar.
