The Grips are one of those accessories that end up suffering almost as much as your hands. You use them for pull-ups, toes to bar, chest to bar, muscle ups... You use them both on bars and rings. They absorb sweat, magnesium, friction, and constant pulls.
And although good Grips are designed to last, their duration depends a lot on how you use them, how you clean them, and how you store them.
Taking good care of them not only helps them last longer. It also improves the grip sensation, prevents bad odors, and reduces the risk of the material deteriorating prematurely.
Why it is important to care for your Grips
When you train with Grips, the material is in direct contact with the bar, skin, sweat, and magnesium. Over time, all that can harden them, deform them, or cause them to lose grip.
The problem usually doesn't come from a single workout. It comes from repeating small mistakes:
- Storing them wet inside the backpack.
- Leaving them in the sun.
- Putting them in the washing machine.
- Using too much magnesium.
- Not wiping off the sweat after training.
- Continuing to use them when they are already very worn.
Taking good care of them helps them maintain their shape, grip, and ability to protect your hands for a longer time.
How to wash your Grips
Washing your Grips does not mean putting them in the washing machine or soaking them for hours. The best way is to do a quick and controlled manual cleaning.
After training, shake the Grips or use a dry cloth to remove excess magnesium. If they only have some sweat or dust, usually a damp cloth on the surface will suffice.
If they need a deeper clean, use cold or lukewarm water and a small amount of neutral soap. Clean the grip area and the wristband without excessive rubbing. Then, use another damp cloth with just water to remove any soap residue.
Avoid bleach, fabric softener, stain removers, strong detergents, or harsh products. Also, avoid soaking them too much. The less water you use, the better you will preserve the material.
Can the Grips be put in the washing machine?
It is not recommended.
The washing machine can deform the Grips, affect the seams, harden the material, or damage the wristband closure. Although it seems like the most convenient option, it can significantly shorten their useful life.
If you want to clean them well, do it by hand: damp cloth, cold or lukewarm water, neutral soap if necessary, and air drying.
How to dry them correctly
After cleaning your Grips, leave them open in a ventilated place. Ideally, they should dry naturally, without heat. directly.
Do not put them in the sun, on a radiator, in the dryer, or use a hairdryer. Heat can dry out the material, deform it, or make it lose flexibility.
Do not store them wet inside the backpack either. Moisture promotes bad odor and can deteriorate the material over time.
How to store your Grips
Once dry, store them in a ventilated place and avoid leaving them crushed for days inside the backpack.
If you carry them with sneakers, sweaty clothes, a belt, jump rope, or shaker, try to separate them from the rest of the material. This way, you will avoid moisture, odors, and deformations.
A breathable bag can help you carry them protected without trapping them in moisture.
How to use magnesium without damaging your Grips
Magnesium helps with grip, but using more does not always mean better grip.
When you apply too much, it accumulates on the Grip and can form a dry layer that changes the feeling of contact with the bar. It also means you have to clean them more frequently.
Use only what is necessary and adjust the amount to the type of Grip, the type of bar, and the workout.
For example:
- If you use Grips with magnesium, apply a moderate amount.
- If you use Grips without magnesium, check that the bar is clean and that the material maintains good contact.
- If you use hybrid Grips, adjust the use of magnesium according to the WOD and the type of surface.
The key is to use magnesium as an aid, not as a solution to compensate for poor grip technique or worn-out Grips.
Check for wear before training
Before a workout with a high volume of bar work, take a few seconds to check your Grips.
Pay special attention to:
- Open seams.
- Very thin or worn areas.
- Cracks in the material.
- Clear loss of grip.
- Deformed wrist strap.
- Velcro that no longer fits well.
- Feeling of instability when hanging from the bar.
If you notice that the Grip moves too much, that it has lost firmness or that no longer protects the same, do not ignore it. In movements like chest to bar, toes to bar, or muscle ups, a Grip in poor condition can give you more problems than help.
Do not debut Grips in competition
This point is not directly related to cleaning, but rather to care and performance.
The Grips need some adaptation. The material, the fit, the contact with the bar, and the feeling in the hand can change after several workouts.
If you have a competition or an important WOD, do not debut Grips on the same day. Use them beforehand in controlled workouts to check:
- If the size is correct.
- If you need chalk or not.
- If the wristband feels comfortable.
- If the grip responds well on your usual bar.
- If it works better with or without holes.
Arriving at a competition with new Grips may seem like a good idea, but it is not. It's better to compete with a pair you already know and know how they respond.
Alternate your Grips if you train a lot
If you train several days a week and do a lot of gymnastic work, it might make sense to have more than one pair of Grips.
It's not essential, but it can help you if you alternate types of training:
- Some Grips for high volume workouts.
- Some more specific Grips for competition.
- Some Grips without chalk for clean bars.
- Some hybrid Grips if you switch a lot between boxes or types of bars.
That way you avoid always wearing out the same pair and can choose better according to the WOD.
Common mistakes that shorten the life of your Grips
Avoid especially these habits:
- Washing them in the washing machine.
- Drying them in direct sunlight.
- Storing them wet.
- Using strong chemical products.
- Leaving them inside the backpack for several days.
- Using too much chalk.
- Pulling hard on the closure when removing them.
- Using them on very abrasive bars without checking the wear.
- Continuing to train with them even if they are broken or deformed.
Most are easy to avoid it. You only need to create a minimal routine after training.
How to know when to change your Grips
Even if you take good care of them, Grips don't last forever. Their lifespan depends on the frequency of use, the type of bar, the volume of repetitions, the chalk, and your grip style.
You should consider changing them if:
- They have lost grip.
- The surface is very worn.
- The seams are starting to come apart.
- The closure no longer holds well.
- They have deformed.
- They cause more chafing than usual.
- They no longer provide security in dynamic movements.
Don't wait for them to break in the middle of a workout. If you're unsure whether they're ready for a demanding WOD, it's probably time to replace them. Choose the best cross training Grips for you according to your needs.
Taking care of your Grips doesn't require much time, but it does require consistency.
Gently clean them, avoid the washing machine, let them dry well, and don't store them damp inside the bag. With these actions, they will maintain better grip, smell less, and withstand more workouts.
And when you notice they no longer protect the same, change them. Your hands, your grip, and your WODs will thank you.
