The essential
The Grippūl Two is an upgraded version of the original Grippūl finger training device, which was released in 2016. The package includes an aluminum mounting plate (the Grippūl), the Black Quad Crimp and a 5/16” bolt. The Black Quad Crimp includes four variations on a 20-millimeter edge: a flat edge, a slanted edge, a 15-degree edge, and a 30-degree edge. The back of the Grippūl also has an 11-millimeter flat crimp. The Grippūl has three threaded holes, allowing it to hold a variety of other holds from 3 to 5 inches wide; meanwhile, six large holes around the perimeter allow you to attach the device to a carabiner or sling in different configurations.
advantages
Versatile // Skin friendly // Light and compact, making it packable // Low price
Cons
Requires assembly (needs a 5/16” hex wrench to screw in and out fasteners)
Our thoughts
The Grippūl Two is the most versatile finger training device I have ever used. The simple design allows complete freedom: it’s lightweight, packable, infinitely adjustable, and can be attached to a bar or tree for hanging or pull-ups, or to cables or weights for ground exercises. You can also swap out your default Black Quad Crimp for a pinch or earring, whatever type of crimp you like. This full customization capability results in more targeted and systematic finger training sessions.
revised size
n/a
Weight
15 ounces
Price
$49
Brand
Beast Finger Climbing
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I started training at the Beast Fingers Climbing gym in Denver last fall. The gym is run by Haman Anderson, climbing coach and inventor of the Grippūl and Grippūl Two. intrigued by your finger training protocol, at the end of December I began to freely test their recommendations, only I changed the protocol depending on what I wanted to train and the desired effects. Anderson first came out with Grippūl in 2016. (Three generations have been released since then, with Grippūl Two, the latest, coming out in 2017.) The first iteration was similar to the original, only it had a wooden mount. , instead of resin, mounted on a plate with three points of attachment to the edge, instead of six. Anderson made the updates based on customer feedback, revising the bolt pattern, adding texture and reducing weight.
With the Grippūl Two, six holes in the rim allow for six different attachment points, making it easy to rotate the Grippūl for a different side of the Black Quad Crimp. There are also three threaded holes in the middle, allowing you to easily change out slightly different sized holds. These features mean you can hang the Grippūl anywhere, use any type of grip, and focus on training specific muscles and tendon tissues. Compared to a fingerboard, the Grippūl offers much more diversity.
training specificity
Lately, my choice has been focused on hangs with one hand, typically with the 15 degree edge of the Black Quad Crimp. Hanging the Grippūl from a bar means using more stabilizer muscles, compared to using a suspended board. You can lose weight with a pulley system and a small chainring, or by using a pulley system and a resistance band. By attaching a sling to the resistance band and anchoring the band to the floor or a nearby bar, you can have adaptive resistance, meaning you pull harder on the band to remove more weight or less hard for a harder set.
I like to alternate my hang ups with one hand with one one hand deadlift system, lifting weight off the ground with Grippūl and Black Quad Crimp. You can also do this exercise by accommodating resistance by anchoring a resistance band to two points on the floor and then placing the weight under the resistance band at the midpoint of the band. You end up doing the same one-handed deadlift, but with the added resistance of the band, which increases as you lift everything higher off the ground. This method engages the stabilizing muscles of the hand and wrist to control the weight, resulting in faster gains.
They say variety is the spice of life. I love that there are so many training options with the Grippūl Two. Also, I’ve gotten stronger and stronger, since using variations of the above routines for the last two months, I’ve been able to take three pounds off my one-handed dips. During the first month of training with Grippūl, I noticed that the small curls felt much easier and even though I wasn’t doing any wall resistance training at the time, my resistance while climbing seemed to have improved as well.
Applications
In addition to training in the gym, the Grippūl Two is great for warming up on the wall. You can attach it to a sling, anchoring the sling to a tree or low tree to warm up your fingers or activate them before attempting a red dot. You can also attach the Grippūl to a resistance band: step on the band and pull up. The 11-millimeter crimp comes in handy here, to make sure your fingers are ready for the smaller crimps on your project.
The Black Quad Crimp has a resin base with a texture similar to wood. It is soft, smooth and slightly sticky. Since I sometimes put tons of weight on the Grippūl for my finger deadlifts, I appreciate that it’s not too hard on the skin.
At just $49, the Grippūl Two is very affordable (most hangboards are $80-$150). Since it’s small and lightweight (15 ounces), you can take it anywhere from the gym to the crag and from your house wall to the backyard. Since there are so many things you can use it for, the Grippūl Two has become my new favorite finger training device, bar none.
