What Makes Great Hand Grips for Functional Training? My Experience Designing Speed Grips Pro 3.0

I've been involved in functional training for years, both as an athlete and as someone who designs training equipment.

And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that good equipment can make a big difference.

Not because it does the work for you. You still have to train hard.

But because the right equipment can help you train more comfortably, stay focused, and spend more time practicing the movements you're trying to improve.

Hand grips are a perfect example.

If you've ever spent a long workout doing pull-ups, toes-to-bar, muscle-ups, or exercises on gymnastic rings, you already know how important your hands are.

Your grip starts to get tired. Your palms begin to hurt. Sweat becomes a problem. And sometimes your hands give up before the rest of your body does.

That's why I've spent years working on our hand grip designs.

Today, we're on the third generation: UnbrokenShop Speed Grips Pro 3.0.

And from my experience as an athlete and product designer, I believe these are among the best hand grips we've ever created.

Let me explain why.

Quick Answer: What Makes Speed Grips Pro 3.0 Different?

The best hand grips for functional training should do more than protect your palms. They should provide reliable contact with the bar, feel comfortable against your skin, support your wrists, and help you maintain control during demanding workouts.

UnbrokenShop Speed Grips Pro 3.0 combine several important features:

• An ultra-sticky rubber exterior for strong contact with pull-up bars and gymnastic rings.

• Genuine leather on the inside, where the grip touches your skin.

• An anatomical wrist design inspired by traditional gymnastics grips.

• A wide 1.5-inch nylon wrist strap for a secure fit.

• Thick neoprene padding to improve comfort and help absorb perspiration.

• A pair of sweat wristbands for optional extra comfort.

• A callus remover for hand maintenance.

• A mesh storage bag to keep your grips together.

But what makes these grips special to me isn't just the list of features.

It's the years of experience, testing, and improvements behind them.

Speed Grips Pro 3.0 are the result of three generations of development, feedback from coaches and athletes, and my own experience using grips during functional training.

Why I Believe Grip Quality Matters More Than Most Athletes Realize

When you're training on a pull-up bar or gymnastic rings, your hands are your connection to the equipment.

And that connection matters.

Think about it.

You may have enough strength for another pull-up.

You may have enough energy for another set of toes-to-bar.

You may be physically capable of practicing another muscle-up.

But if your hands are slipping, hurting, or becoming uncomfortable, your workout can end before your muscles are really finished.

I've experienced this myself.

And that's why I don't see hand grips as just another gym accessory.

For athletes who spend a lot of time on bars and rings, they can be an important part of training.

The goal is simple: protect your hands, improve contact with the equipment, and help you spend more productive time practicing.

Of course, grips don't create strength or technique.

You still have to earn those.

But they can make the process more comfortable.

1. Ultra-Sticky Rubber: The Most Important Contact Surface

Let's start with what I consider one of the most important parts of these grips.

The exterior surface.

Our Speed Grips Pro 3.