robert baraban crush grippers

Gripping Starter Pack. You get a 100IP, 130IP and 160IP aluminium handled hand grippers
Price : Ł49.95 (saves over Ł10 on individual prices)
Available from : Handgrippers.co.uk
Date 9 December 2003

Well there's not a great deal to write here that's not already covered in the previous review of the Baraban Brass Grippers. In short, these are excellent.

The aluminium handled versions make them almost identical to the legendary Captains of Crush grippers. They are a bit cheaper (CoC's are now about £27 in the UK) - so why else would you by the Baraban's?

Well, Baraban has introduced a new entry level grippers rated at 100IP and 130IP (previously these started at 160IP). This is definitely a good thing. The jumps between the resistance levels is perfect - it's a much better learning curve than offered by the Captains of Crush - which have much larger jumps in resistance (100/140/195). If you are contemplating starting on some gripper training then these should be top of your shopping list on that last feature alone.

It's slightly surprising that the didn't include their Gripper Workout CD by Steve Gardener in the bundle, as without a doubt, beginners could use Gardener's expertise.

Nevertheless, this is a real cool set of quality hand grippers - highly recommended.

Cool :

It's just a great little set, with jumps of resistance just right.

Uncool :

The knurling is very sharp - sharper than Captains of Crush and a lot sharper than the Brass Baraban's previously tested. The smoother knurling was one of the plus points of the Brass Grippers and something that made them nicer to use than the Coc's. This is a bit of a backward step*

Postscript :

Handgrippers.co.uk have launched the "Big Daddy" Set which is 100/130/160/180 IP for Ł64.95
They are also launching the upgrade set (from the Starter Pack ) 180/210/240 IP for Ł49.95
They have also started selling on Ebay.co.uk

* Response from Robert Baraban, "I made the knurling deep and Sharp because most Peoples like it that way . When someone didnt like it ,he can correct this almost immediatly with very little Effort with some Emery Paper . " - 18 December 2003

Which is all well and good, but it does beg the question why the knurling was so different to the Brass Grippers previously tested? Deep is great, it's the sharp that's a pain (excuse the pun).

Ironically, Steve Gardner, the mighty gripmeister who endorses the Barabans's on Handgrippers.co.uk, gives a few tips for those palms are pained by sharp grippers.

Still, inconsistent manufacturing of the knurling aside, these are great grippers.