Opinions on Fat Gripz ?

[Gymaholic]

So what does everyone think of Fat Gripz? I read the comments and stuff on their website but theres a possibility that they might have been biased, so what do you guys think?  Are they worth paying close to $70 for? Can you get them anywhere in Christchurch or do I have to buy them online?     

[Clueless]

Try making them before you buy. Use camp bed cut to fit and tape on bar. I tried on standard bar ended up not using. Occasionally use when doing wide grip pull ups.

 

Edit - check youtube some vids on how to make too

 

[Pseudonym]

Having just googled Fat Gripz, I'd be concerned about them slipping off while I was doing a bench press. Maybe that doesn't happen, but it's something I'd want to be very sure of before using them.

I like Clueless' suggestion - cheaper, and safer too, if you roll the mat around the bar rather than slotting it on.

[Gym rat]

I also like cluless suggestion which is a very good idea  by taking the safer option plus your wallet will  thank you for it as well ranther then spending 70 dollars on Fat grpz

[ringsport]

i use them offten, very hard for them to slip off in my opinion, awsume for grip strengh and building up the forearms.

[Optimass]

haha - Peso you are right - there is a thread. 

Waste of money - designed on the pretence that power and strength athletes use wider bars to train with and as a result buidl good forearm strength which unlocks an extra amount of growth because potentially you may have weak forearms which could lead to holding back the development of your arms and other body parts ... phew!

My thoughts:

1/ Andrey Malanichev doesnt train with fat bars / and I havent seen them used by any of the strongest powerlifters currently competitng on the circuit - yet they all have very good grip strength?! (May be someone should let them know ... could take thier 700lb bench to 900lb+)

2/ Strongman / Pro athletes and Powerlifters do not typically have aesthetically shaped physiques - so the argument that these will in someway indirectly assist with the development of lagging bodyparts is rubbish. 

3/ the little girl in the video when you go to the page doesnt appear to have significantly increased her musculature.  I suspect they just put her on there to appeal to my more animalistic instincts

4/ I have never known anyone being dissadvantaged in chest or back deelopment because they had weak forearms. Stand to be corrected though - please share your story ...

5/ I suspect Charles Poliquin used exercises like row/deadlift/shrugs and arm curls with some of his olympic athletes ... in my experience heavy deadlifts are great for forearm strength and grip.

Some really ultra intersting facts quoted from the web site:

By using a wider grip on the bar, you’re actually spreading the weight more evenly across your joints.

really? so on a bench press with my arms in the same position as without using htem the weight is more evenly spread?! - Really?! ... and common sense tells me to grip the bar tight so it doesn't roll over the thumb ...

Lift more weight – With Fat Gripz, you won’t be limited by pain in your joints or the memory of old training injuries. Instead, they allow your core muscles to lift the weight efficiently and effectively. (What’s more, with fewer injuries, you’ll be able to train more consistently and make quicker gains.)

Ok - so using fat grips also engages my core?! My bas are some how attached to them which gives me an advantage on bench too - great.

...

Cant believe they charge $70 for an overated pool noodle ?! ... just my opinon though - will spend my money on a few toys from kiwistrength instead

 

[ringsport]

Lucky our gym has them so didn't need to buy them but still think there not bad to use sometimes, try using them for curls really works the forearms as well as biceps do a few sets then take them off, dumbells which were a struggle will now be easier.