robert baraban crush grippers

Products tested : Brass Grippers with Chrome Springs at 160IP strength
Regular price Ł35, Introductory price Ł25. The Standard Aluminium Grippers are Ł20, Introductory price Ł15
Available from : Handgrippers.co.uk
Date 7 September 2003

Here's the PR blurb from Steve Gardener, a "Captain of Crush" who's endorsing the Baraban hand grippers:

"In the hand gripper 'world' there was just the one choice. An aluminium handle and steel tensioned spring.

There are now choices - brass, steel, silver and black chromed. You were limited in the jumps you could make with grippers - sometimes the jumps were of the order of 90+ pounds. Now progression can be as little as 20 ip (inch pounds).

The brass models look, as they should, like something a little special and are especially popular, only second to the work horse that is the standard model. All the handgrippers available from the www.handgrippers.co.uk website have been designed and put together by Robert Baraban - a Captain of Crush (someone who can shut an Ironmind CoC number 3 Gripper - requiring some 280 ip). Robert has also built a limited edition hand dynameter which, unlike most models, will test you to 150 kilos (normal machines stop at between 90 and 100 kilos).

With his engineering background and his knowledge of what makes a good crush gripper Robert has put together what even other grip veterans are calling beautiful. Form definitely follows function with these babies"

If you know anything about grip strength, you'll know that Ironmind's Captains of Crush grippers are legendary. The are the gold standard of grippers, and respected as a worldwide measure of grip strength. Being able to close a CoC 1,2, 3 or 4 (!) is like dealing in an international currency. You know how you stack up against the strongmen listed on the CoC table.

There are quite a few CoC looky-likey grippers on the market including PDA's SoS hand grippers, BeefBuilder's, Heavy Grips and more. So up pop's these new Baraban grippers. Captain's of Crush are a tough gig to follow and anyone trying to sell similar grippers has to offer something different, better and/or cheaper.

Well there's not much difference in price, as standard CoC's are about £20 in the UK, which is the same as the plain Baraban's. So Baraban must offer better quality and design right?

Quality - These new Baraban grippers really are top class. They are beautifully made. However the difference in quality to CoC's is fractional.

Design - At first glance they are identical to the CoC's bar the colour of the handles and springs. The chrome springs & brass handles are pretty snazzy, and offer a pimpin'-bling-bling alternative to the industrial looking CoC's. If bling is your bag then you'll love the Baraban's. However on closer inspection there are a couple of differences. If you've used the CoC's, you'll know that they are quite tough on yoour hands. The Baraban's feel more comfortable to use. This is because the knurling is less sharp and the angle that the grippers open are slightly narrower than the CoC's. For what it's worth, they are also less squeaky than the CoC's.

Resistance - These are the entry level resistance grippers, marked as 160IP on the base if the handles. Other resistance levels available include:

160IP
210IP
240IP
260IP
300IP
330IP
240IP Narrow
260IP Narrow
300IP Narrow
700IP!! aka "World's Toughest Gripper"

The 160IP grippers tested feel very similar in terms of difficulty to the CoC n.1's (which are rated at 140lbs).

Pros :

Extremely well made, and if anything more comfortable than CoC's
Slightly narrower opening angle than CoC's - which is better if you have smaller hands
A good/wide choice of resistance levels
Good choice of colours
Narrow width available

Cons :

Same as the CoC's ie. none really, but the following apply to all grippers of similar design
Not adjustable for hand size (but Baraban DOES offer 2 widths)
No progressive resistance adjustment per gripper (you have to buy a new one when you outgrow your current gripper)
Doesn't train the thumb (again, more of a generic problem)
Start at 160lb resistance which may be too tough for some. (CoC's start at 100lbs)

CoC v Baraban.

Which one to choose? Hmmm, a tough question, as they are both sooo close in quality and design. If you need a relatively low resistance 'starter' gripper then it would have to be the Captains of Crush, simply because the Baraban's start at 160lbs (as opposed to CoC's 100lbs). If you have smaller hands and find the 'reach' of the CoC's a bit tough, then the Baraban's will be perfect. If you want to join the legendary "Captain's of Crush" alumni then there's no avoiding the CoC's. But if I closed my eyes and just chose on the feel alone then I'd get the Baraban's. They really are that good.

Postscript : According to Handgrippers.co.uk :

Baraban is working on some Grippers starting at 100 IP
They areproducing a Gripper Workout CD with Steve Gardener . This will be selling for Ł4.99 on the site, but as an extra special opening offer, people who order their Grippers now will be sent a FREE copy of the CD when it's done.
They will also shortly be despatching a free maintenace kit with Grippers including a mini wire brush to keep it all in top nick.
SFUK readers can win some by clicking here.

When the CD and the maintenence kit are thrown in, the Baraban grippers should get full marks for added value. A perfect 10.