Fat Gripz. You ever used them?

[monkeymuscle]

I've often read of the benefits of training with thick bars, but my gym (and none I've ever visited) doesn't have them.

Over at T-Nation there is a thread discussing and praising Fat Gripz and the consensus there is that they are a great investment.

They cost $49USD, including international postage, so I'm a little hesitant to order them, but like I said, they are highly praised on the web...

Have you guys ever used thick bars or something like Fat Gripz?

What are your opinions/thoughts?

Can you buy anything similar in the NZ market?

[nate225]

I've often read of the benefits of training with thick bars, but my gym (and none I've ever visited) doesn't have them.

Over at T-Nation there is a thread discussing and praising Fat Gripz and the consensus there is that they are a great investment.

They cost $49USD, including international postage, so I'm a little hesitant to order them, but like I said, they are highly praised on the web...

Have you guys ever used thick bars or something like Fat Gripz?

What are your opinions/thoughts?

Can you buy anything similar in the NZ market?

I've just got a monster DB & Axle bar made up with 2" diameter. Good fun & hard on the grip!

Here's one tip for free, get a towel (or I use my knee wraps), wrap it around the chin bar and go for it! Blows the forearms apart!

Could use for any type of exercise, bar or db curls, benching would change dymanic slightly.

[Old Bull]

A really good idea MM, it is amazing what Fat Bars do for Grip and over all power.

We got fat Bars 2", 2 1/2", and 3" this one weighs 40kgs, 2" DB, in the process of changing our accessory bars from 1" to 2" should see the weight drop on a few exercises after that.

Just make your own like Nate said Towel plastic piping to fit over the bars.

[monkeymuscle]

Cheers, guys.

I had read about that trick with the towel and think I'll give it a go. :clap:

As for the thick bars at the Power House, that's just one more reason that I'm going to have to visit when my current gym's membership expires. :nod:

[DeeDuub]

A really good idea MM, it is amazing what Fat Bars do for Grip and over all power.

We got fat Bars 2", 2 1/2", and 3" this one weighs 40kgs, 2" DB, in the process of changing our accessory bars from 1" to 2" should see the weight drop on a few exercises after that.

Just make your own like Nate said Towel plastic piping to fit over the bars.

sory iim confused..what are the fat gripz actually?

and ive read about towel pull ups before..how do u do them tho?

thanks

[Draft]

Towel pull ups are something different.

Try here for an explanation.

Apparently also good for forearm strength tho.

[monkeymuscle]

sory iim confused..what are the fat gripz actually?

Check out the link in my first post. They are a couple of thick, hard rubber "cuffs" that clamp around the outside of the dumbbell or barbell that you're using. You then hold onto the cuffs, rather than the bare bar.

They are a substitute for thick bars which, like the name suggests, are thicker than the usual Olympic style bars found in most gyms.

The extra circumference of the grip makes your forearms work a lot harder and changes the mechanics of the movement somewhat.

[Ordy]

My gym just has square pieces of foam, dont think it will be quite as thick tho?

Tried it once but just to see what its like, but yeah maybe just to mix things up.

[monkeymuscle]

My gym just has square pieces of foam, dont think it will be quite as thick tho?

Tried it once but just to see what its like, but yeah maybe just to mix things up.

I think the deal with the Fat Gripz is that they are very solid and don't have any (or very little) give when you squeeze them.

They are a very dense rubber, quite unlike foam, although I guess the foam would give you a slightly thicker grip than the bare bar.

[nate225]

Towel pull ups are something different.

Try here for an explanation.

Apparently also good for forearm strength tho.

Correct re: different.

However my suggestion is to wrap a towel (or knee wraps etc) around bars to increase the diameter. Works well, does however drop reps, i.e. I can chin with a plate for around 8, 6, 6 or BW for 15, 12, 12. With a 2"+ diameter grip (using knee wraps) I managed 10, 8, 7 as grip gave up!

Good fun none the less!

[Richard_P]

fifty bucks for two plastic bar sleeves is a great money maker.

how did you go with the towel monkey, can report some impressive arm growth?