Grips are a piece of equipment used to protect the hands during intense cross-training workouts, more commonly known as CrossFit. They are designed to cover the palm of the hand and fingers, and feature a wrist strap to keep them in place.
Picsil grips are typically made of strong and durable synthetic leather (for example, our Condor and Golden models), while another option is carbon fibre (for example, our Falcon and RX models). Both are designed to withstand the rubbing and abrasion that can occur during exercises involving bars (pull up, toes to bar, muscle up, toes to ring), weight lifting and other equipment that can be seen in any box where the popular ‘CrossFit’ is practised.
Picsil grips provide an extra layer of protection for the hands and help prevent blisters, calluses and abrasions that can occur during intense workouts. They can also provide a better grip on the bar, which can improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
In short, the grips we use to enjoy our WODs are an important tool for athletes looking to protect their hands during intense workouts and improve their performance on exercises involving bars and other equipment.
How to take care of your grips
- Clean your grips regularly: After each use, clean your grips with mild soap and water to remove any sweat or dirt that has accumulated. Let them dry completely before storing.
- Don’t wash your grips in the washing machine: Although it’s tempting to put your grips in the washing machine to clean them, this can damage them and reduce their useful life. It’s best to wash them by hand.
- Don’t expose them to direct sun: While it may be tempting to leave your grips in the sun to dry faster, this can make them dry out and crack over time. Instead, leave them to air dry in the shade.
- Correct storage: Storing your grips correctly is important to keep their shape and prevent damage. Store your grips in a cool, dry place and make sure they are completely dry before putting them away.
- Replace them when necessary: Grips can wear out over time and lose their ability to protect your hands. If your grips are worn or broken, it's time to replace them with new ones. Range of Picsil grips
By following these tips, you can take care of your grips and prolong their useful life to continue training in comfort and safety.
Does the material affect maintenance? Differences between synthetic-leather grips and carbon-fibre grips
Synthetic-leather and carbon-fibre grips are two popular options for athletes looking to protect their hands. Here are some of the main differences:
- Material: Synthetic-leather grips are made of a durable synthetic material that mimics the look and feel of leather. On the other hand, carbon-fibre grips are made of a strong and durable carbon-fibre composite material.
- Durability: Carbon-fibre grips are generally more durable than synthetic-leather grips. Carbon fibre is a strong and light material that doesn’t wear easily, whereas synthetic material can wear more easily over time depending on the frequency of training.
- Sensation: Some athletes prefer the feel and grip of synthetic-leather grips, while others prefer the feel of carbon-fibre grips. Synthetic-leather grips can be more comfortable and flexible, while carbon-fibre grips can provide a firmer hold on the bar.
The choice between them will depend on personal preference, desired durability, your training intensity and weight. As such, the maintenance involved shouldn’t be a deciding factor when choosing your perfect grips, as in both cases it will be the same and you will only notice a difference in their drying time.
Freezing grips to eliminate bad odour: myth or reality?
In an extreme situation, when all the guidelines mentioned above haven’t been sufficient and your grips still smell bad, you can freeze them (in a very specific way) as follows:
- Seal the grips in an airtight bag.
- Place them in the freezer for about 50 minutes.
- Take the grips out of the freezer and leave them to dry outdoors without direct sunlight. In other words, in the shade.
This will eliminate the odour-generating micro-organisms!
