IronMindCaptains of Crush (COC) Hand Gripper - The Gold Standard of Grippers | The World's Leading Hand Strengthener

I got my first two grippers, the Trainer and the 0.5 back in 2018 and I've trained just with those two for years, until a few months ago I decided it was time to take another step in my gripping journey and decided to get the # 1. It arrived today during the afternoon and fresh out of the package, I was able to do 5 reps with no issues (plus a couple more for the pictures I took for this review. It's very hard to take a picture of a close while trying to show the bottom of the gripper in good focus!).The build quality is just solid, easily the best grippers I've tried and owned over the years. The bump from the 0.5 to # 1 also feels right. Not too hard if you've been training regularly, but just hard enough to make you work for the next jump, the # 1.5.I put my old grippers, the Trainer and the 0.5, next to the fresh # 1 to show how my old ones have held up. You can see that the old springs have lost their shine and they've developed a little bit of rust where the spring makes it into the handles, but all of this is my fault as I've gotten lazy over time at giving them maintenance. But these are super easy to keep nice and shiny if you wanted to (and you should), and even after all these years, they feel great to close.

As someone who’s serious about strength training, the Captains of Crush Hand Grippers have become an essential part of my routine. I’ve purchased the Trainer (100 lbs), 0.5 (120 lbs), No. 1 (140 lbs), and No. 3 (322.5 lbs), and they’ve proven to be the standard for grip strength development at every level.Build QualityThe craftsmanship on these grippers is unmatched. The knurled aluminum handles provide a secure grip, even during intense workouts, and the spring mechanism is built to last. These feel indestructible and are clearly designed for people who are serious about increasing their grip strength.Progression and ChallengeEach gripper offers a unique challenge:Trainer (100 lbs): Perfect for beginners or as a warm-up tool for advanced users. It’s a great starting point to build confidence and form. However if you already have a strong grip you may want to pass this one for the 0.5.0.5 (120 lbs): A slight step up from the Trainer. It bridges the gap between beginner and intermediate levels, making it a staple for building grip endurance and strength. If you struggle with the No. 1, but find normal grippers easy this is a great option.No. 1 (140 lbs): A true benchmark for serious lifters. After many, many, many failed attempts, closing this for the first time felt like a significant milestone. In fact I've still not managed to close it with my left hand, and it may be several months before I get to that level.No. 3 (322.5 lbs): I foolishly purchased this years ago thinking my grip was above average. I can't even close this bad boy with 2 hands yet. However while I haven’t closed it yet, it serves as a motivating goal and still offers a lot just from the attempts. However if you haven't closed the 2 or 2.5 I would recommend you pass on this one.My ExperienceI became interested in grip when it started becoming a limiting factor in my deadlift before I finally adopted straps. I still incorporate these grippers into my routine 2–3 times a week, using the lighter ones for warm-ups and endurance training, while pushing my limits with the heavier grippers. Now that I've finally closed the No. 1, I plan to master it before progressing to the No. 1.5 and eventually the No. 2. It's also a lot of fun to see friends and family attempt them for the first time!Who It’s ForWhether you’re a beginner, an intermediate lifter, or a seasoned athlete, Captains of Crush has a gripper for you. The progression system allows you to scale up as your strength improves, and the quality ensures these tools will last for years.Final ThoughtsCaptains of Crush Hand Grippers are more than just a training tool—they’re a benchmark for grip strength enthusiasts. You can even check their website for the leaderboard of people who have closed them in competition. If you’re serious about improving your grip, these are a must-have. Just be prepared to work hard and feel incredibly rewarded when you crush your goals.

I'm pretty new to grip training. In the past I had gotten some other grip trainers and developed a semi-regular habit for a little while, but it felt like I wasn't really getting anything out of it. Well, I see why now lol. I'd gone for lower-end products, like what you could find at most stores. The adjustable ones I thought at the time were nice, the ability to work up, but if you're a guy with decent passive strength (not a bodybuilder or rockclimber, just a regular dude) you'll probably find yourself mastering that relatively quickly and just sort of getting bored and forgetting about them (much like myself). With these I'm reminded that there's a reason good things may cost a little more or be harder to find.I started with a #1, and that's a good spot for me currently. They recommend starting a little lower, but I like having a bit of a challenge on the front end. I think I chose well. I could close them, but it's not easy, you know? And that difficulty makes me more excited about using them. I'd rather struggle to get to like 5 than be able to blast out 50 without feeling any burn. Then after a while, the comfort in doing more reps will feel earned.And I really don't mind that these aren't adjustable nor that they're sold as singles. You can buy two I suppose, (I always used to think you needed a pair?) but really I think if you're double fisting, you might just need to go up a level and focus on one hand a time. As for adjustability, I think their numbered system of individual weights works better. Even if it's somewhat of a marketing thing (maybe but not really), I like the idea of having a solid and well built product that is 100% the weight it states, and once you become comfortable with that, that's that. And I'm excited to make that next step up.Also, to be clear, I'm not just saying they're tough. They're of very good quality as well. You know that annoying squeaky/clinky sound cheap that cheap grip trainers make when you're going to town on them? I don't! Not anymore lol. This is a solid product. No plastic components, no foam tube that slides off, no tiny tin plate that slides around as you close them, no squeaky-squeaky, no wondering if you should duct tape the handles for your hand's sake. It's a nice, weighty metal feeling, and the handle has a nice texture that neither slips nor hurts your hands.So positive all around if you couldn't tell. And one day I will ascend to bigger numbers.