Gripmaster Hand Exerciser Red, Medium Tension (7-Pounds per Finger) Reviews

• Great Product + Great Price = Great Way to Work Your Hands & Forearms!

  
  By AISSRJ7E2L375 on 2005-11-22
  I recently purchased a pair of the Gripmaster Hand & Finger Exercisers in order to help build forearm strength. As I was unsure which tension would be appropriate, I bought one each of the Light/Blue (5 lbs. tension) and Medium/Red (7 lbs. tension) grips. I've had them for a little more than a week now, and I just love, love, love them! Perhaps that's a little more enthusiasm than anyone should muster up for exercise accessories, but I really do enjoy the grips. I leave one out on my desk at all times, and get in a little work here and there when I stop to read a document or whatnot.
  
  The Gripmaster Exercisers are different from conventional grips in that you can either work your entire hand at once, or each finger individually (great for guitar players, I've heard!). One side features four small levers, each with its own spring, that can be squeezed together or one at a time. The plastic on the flip side is molded together so that you can work your whole hand as one unit. The black rubber cushion is removable, and you can place it on either side of the grip. It's an awesome idea, and allows for maximum versatility!
  
  Just for reference, I'm a female, in relatively good shape, but with painfully little forearm strength (my biceps are huge from years of Tae Bo, though!). The 7 lb. Medium/Red grip is do-able, but challenging. The 5 lb. Light/Blue grip, on the other hand, makes for a much easier workout; I oftentimes find myself squeezing it while doing other things, and I only feel it after a number of reps. If you're a female and not in great shape, you'll want to start out with the Light/Blue grips (or even the Extra Light/Yellow ones), and work your way up. Out-of-shape guys can probably get away with the Medium/Red ones to start. If you've got good hand/wrist/forearm strength, don't even both with the lighter tensions - skip ahead to the Medium/Red or Heavy/Black.
  
  Although I've only owned my Gripmasters for a week or two, and can't personally vouch for their durability, they do seem sturdy and well-crafted. My fiancé's brother, an amateur boxer and guitar player, used his for years without a problem, so I have faith that I'll be squeezing these babies well into 2015!
  
  - Kelly Garbato, Couch Potato Turned Fitness Fanatic
  
  

• Great Product + Great Price = Great Way to Work Your Hands & Forearms!

  
  By AISSRJ7E2L375 on 2005-11-22
  I recently purchased a pair of the Gripmaster Hand & Finger Exercisers in order to help build forearm strength. As I was unsure which tension would be appropriate, I bought one each of the Light/Blue (5 lbs. tension) and Medium/Red (7 lbs. tension) grips. I've had them for a little more than a week now, and I just love, love, love them! Perhaps that's a little more enthusiasm than anyone should muster up for exercise accessories, but I really do enjoy the grips. I leave one out on my desk at all times, and get in a little work here and there when I stop to read a document or whatnot.
  
  The Gripmaster Exercisers are different from conventional grips in that you can either work your entire hand at once, or each finger individually (great for guitar players, I've heard!). One side features four small levers, each with its own spring, that can be squeezed together or one at a time. The plastic on the flip side is molded together so that you can work your whole hand as one unit. The black rubber cushion is removable, and you can place it on either side of the grip. It's an awesome idea, and allows for maximum versatility!
  
  Just for reference, I'm a female, in relatively good shape, but with painfully little forearm strength (my biceps are huge from years of Tae Bo, though!). The 7 lb. Medium/Red grip is do-able, but challenging. The 5 lb. Light/Blue grip, on the other hand, makes for a much easier workout; I oftentimes find myself squeezing it while doing other things, and I only feel it after a number of reps. If you're a female and not in great shape, you'll want to start out with the Light/Blue grips (or even the Extra Light/Yellow ones), and work your way up. Out-of-shape guys can probably get away with the Medium/Red ones to start. If you've got good hand/wrist/forearm strength, don't even both with the lighter tensions - skip ahead to the Medium/Red or Heavy/Black.
  
  Although I've only owned my Gripmasters for a week or two, and can't personally vouch for their durability, they do seem sturdy and well-crafted. My fiancé's brother, an amateur boxer and guitar player, used his for years without a problem, so I have faith that I'll be squeezing these babies well into 2015!
  
  - Kelly Garbato, Couch Potato Turned Fitness Fanatic
  
  

• Design change is disappointing

  
  By A1BM2EA0RS68BL on 2007-11-08
  I [used to] love this product. But Gripmaster has reduced the palm pad to something too uncomfortable to be useful. I have a 5lb blue version, which I use often. I decided to get a 7lb medium version. What arrived was the new version, which I didn't expect - images weren't yet updated. As of this writing, Gripmaster's own site still doesn't picture the currently sold version. I've posted my own pictures here, which compare the original with the new version. The old version was nicely padded and ergonomically large. The new version has much less padding and it feels sharp and blocky. It wears on you after too few reps. With the original, I could go as long as my finger and forearm muscles would allow; with the new one, discomfort kicks in first. As other reviewers have noted, these aren't best for developing brute strength (weights are) but rather for therapy and dexterity, which require moderately high reps. If it can't do the reps without discomfort, it's just not worth using at all.
  
  And in case you own the original and you're thinking you'll just put the big pad on the new skeleton, forget it. They're not interchangeable, which is also disappointing. On the original you could put the pad on either side, allowing you to use all your fingers on the unified bar or independently on the buttons. Can't do that with the new one. (See the pictures.)
  
  Too often a company makes a good product and once it gains a market foothold, they cut costs and expect it will only increase profit margin. This is a perfect example. Well, I hope this review will encourage purchasing choices that make Gripmaster regret their choice to go cheap on their customers. Maybe they'll be compelled to resume making the great product it used to be, which led to all these positive reviews, almost all of which are NOT about the product you'll actually receive.
  
  While I expect resurrection of the original Gripmaster to be a long shot, the fact remains: here's a smart little product I used to recommend to anyone - and now I think it's nearly useless. Disappointing.
  
  
  

• If you Need Finger Strength, Control, Endurance and Coordination, you are in the Right Place

  
  By A1AHG76Y8S89BJ on 2006-07-31
  
  Let me start saying that this is a wonderful product. Small, light, and well constructed (they feel like they will last forever). You can carry them with you, allowing to workout your fingers at the office, at home or wherever you find suitable. I bought the four different color-coded gripmasters: Black/heavy, Red/medium, Blue/light, and Yellow/extra light. I only found the resistance of the red and black ones useful for me, but my wife loves the blue and yellow ones. It was a great buy because of their high quality and affordable price.
  
  The product comes with a foldable instruction booklet where you find details for six different exercises:
  - Trigger pinch. This one simulates the movement of squeezing a trigger, and it isolates the index finger for enhanced strength and coordination.
  - Gross grasp. This one strengthens fingers, thumb, wrist and forearm for a firm grip.
  - Hook position. This one strengthens longer muscles in forearm and wrist while stretching smaller muscles in hand for greater motion and endurance.
  - Tip to tip pinch. This exercise strengthens specific fingers, thumb, smaller hand muscles and forearm for greater control and endurance.
  - Wrist flexion. It strengthens wrist and forearm muscles.
  - Key pinch. Strengthens thumb and index finger for greater stability and coordination.
  
  At the gripmaster website you can find more exercises for different activities and sports.
  
  If you are looking to crush hands when handshaking this is not the product for you, but if you need finger strength, control, endurance and coordination you are in the right place.
  
  

• Full range of motion is the key to exercise

  
  By A1AKFSADXXEWWX on 2007-02-09
  If you are working to improve your overall grip, the medium is great. If you are trying to build up strength of a lazy pinky, then you might want to start lighter to get the full range of motion for this exercise. I'm trying to learn bass guitar and need to cheat with my ring finger when hitting notes meant for the pinky. Bought the medium Gripmaster which works great but is a little too much to start out with for my pinky finger. Unless you go through the full range of motion, you're just cheating yourself out of the full benefits of the workout. It's just like bench pressing. I may not max out as much as the next person at the gym, but at least I bring the bar off the rack and all the way down to my chest. Same principal with this exercise.
  
  
• If you Need Finger Strength, Control, Endurance and Coordination, you are in the Right Place
  By A1AHG76Y8S89BJ on 2006-07-31
  
  Let me start saying that this is a wonderful product. Small, light, and well constructed (they feel like they will last forever). You can carry them with you, allowing to workout your fingers at the office, at home or wherever you find suitable. I bought the four different color-coded gripmasters: Black/heavy, Red/medium, Blue/light, and Yellow/extra light. I only found the resistance of the red and black ones useful for me, but my wife loves the blue and yellow ones. It was a great buy because of their high quality and affordable price.
  
  The product comes with a foldable instruction booklet where you find details for six different exercises:
  - Trigger pinch. This one simulates the movement of squeezing a trigger, and it isolates the index finger for enhanced strength and coordination.
  - Gross grasp. This one strengthens fingers, thumb, wrist and forearm for a firm grip.
  - Hook position. This one strengthens longer muscles in forearm and wrist while stretching smaller muscles in hand for greater motion and endurance.
  - Tip to tip pinch. This exercise strengthens specific fingers, thumb, smaller hand muscles and forearm for greater control and endurance.
  - Wrist flexion. It strengthens wrist and forearm muscles.
  - Key pinch. Strengthens thumb and index finger for greater stability and coordination.
  
  At the gripmaster website you can find more exercises for different activities and sports.
  
  If you are looking to crush hands when handshaking this is not the product for you, but if you need finger strength, control, endurance and coordination you are in the right place.
  
  
• If you Need Finger Strength, Control, Endurance and Coordination, you are in the Right Place
  By A1AHG76Y8S89BJ on 2006-07-31
  
  Let me start saying that this is a wonderful product. Small, light, and well constructed (they feel like they will last forever). You can carry them with you, allowing to workout your fingers at the office, at home or wherever you find suitable. I bought the four different color-coded gripmasters: Black/heavy, Red/medium, Blue/light, and Yellow/extra light. I only found the resistance of the red and black ones useful for me, but my wife loves the blue and yellow ones. It was a great buy because of their high quality and affordable price.
  
  The product comes with a foldable instruction booklet where you find details for six different exercises:
  - Trigger pinch. This one simulates the movement of squeezing a trigger, and it isolates the index finger for enhanced strength and coordination.
  - Gross grasp. This one strengthens fingers, thumb, wrist and forearm for a firm grip.
  - Hook position. This one strengthens longer muscles in forearm and wrist while stretching smaller muscles in hand for greater motion and endurance.
  - Tip to tip pinch. This exercise strengthens specific fingers, thumb, smaller hand muscles and forearm for greater control and endurance.
  - Wrist flexion. It strengthens wrist and forearm muscles.
  - Key pinch. Strengthens thumb and index finger for greater stability and coordination.
  
  At the gripmaster website you can find more exercises for different activities and sports.
  
  If you are looking to crush hands when handshaking this is not the product for you, but if you need finger strength, control, endurance and coordination you are in the right place.
  
  
• Just awesome!
  By A2PK2EAGW1943P on 2006-10-23
  I used to try to strengthen my fingers using the Gripp balls, and later, the Gravity Gripp, which were grip balls that were also 1 pound weights. However, they were bulky, hard to get a grip on, and heavy and pretty silly looking. So, when I saw the picture of these awesome little gizmos in a catalog, I ordered one right away. They are about the same price of the Grip balls, but they are SO much cooler! Not only is this good for fitness training, they're even better for musicians! (my instrument is piano.) These are light and flat and they fit right into a purse. I don't feel silly using this out in public -- if anyone asks, I just let them try it, and they are immediately hooked. I carried my blue one around everywhere until this weekend, when I gave it away to a friend.
  
  It is difficult to know which tension to use. I'm a woman with small hands, and found that I am right between the blue and the red. I use the blue one for 4th and 5th finger (left hand). I can usually handle the red one for everything else, but the booklet says that repititions are more effective than heavier tension. I use mainly the blue one now. I hope to work up to the red, but that will be a while. I'm also going to buy a couple more so I can work both hands simultaneously.
  
  I do have one caveat -- make sure you use these correctly. Don't overdo it, or try to use a heavier tension to just to feel all macho. Like any weight training, you have to press the buttons precisely to isolate the muscles. Don't use your whole arm just to get the button pressed. I found that if I started to cheat, I got a little wrist pain and felt the beginnings of tendonitis. (another reason I'm staying on the blue tension for now.)
  
  Oh, and buy your Gripmaster here at Amazon. They are $15 each everywhere else.
  
  
• Expensive for what you get and misses the mark in some important ways...
  By A1J93EGDYK0IWA on 2007-11-08
  First of all, I want to preface this interview by saying I'm a musician, former physiology Teaching Fellow and someone with experience in rehabilitating an injured hand. It's from this perspective that I offer my opinion of this product.
  
  Pros:
  -- Innovative
  -- More than one type of exercise available
  -- Will work for most people
  
  Cons:
  -- Expensive for what you get
  -- Requires you to JUMP resistance levels to quickly
  -- Possibility of injuring the fingers or hands
  
  This product can be very useful, however, I feel it tries to be to many things at once and misses the mark. For example, resistance is not uniform throughout range of motion and often not complete. In addition, you need to jump resistance levels suddenly, this is NOT a great thing for a complex and delicate structure like the hands or fingers. It is also quite expensive for what you get, say compared to an IVANKO Super Hand Gripper Hand Strength Forearm or GoFit GF-WFB Wrist & Forearm Blaster.
  
  As a musician, not getting injured and producing strength along with flexibility and coordination is very important to me. I feel the two products above do this best based upon my own experience and research. For example, the Ivanko Gripper has 100 incremental adjustment levels and produces what in my opinion is a better range of motion and uniform resistance. The wrist roller allows you to exercise both flexion and extension in a very simple, coordinated and progressive manner.
  
  If you are serious about hand strength, you may want to pick up Mastery of Hand Strength before spending a lot of money. In many cases, you can train grip with things you have at home e.g. carrying sand bags, plunging your fingers into sand, using tennis balls, doing manual labor, chopping wood, etc.
  
  One of the best grip builders in my opinion is properly performed deadlifts with an overhand grip. I also find negative chins followed by hanging on the bar until you drop off helpful. If necessary, you can add weight so that you can't hold on for too long. However, for most people chin ups followed by negaitve chins (the lowering phase over 30 secs. to 1 minutes) will not only build great biceps, but hit your forearms hard as well. You may also want to try doing deadlifts and other exercises like shrugs with a thicker bar and no gloves. These two movements build mass and hand strength along with many other benefits.
  
  For injured people, you will want to consult your physician or physical therpist, but there are a variety of different putty type substances available for hand rehabilitation, various types of squeezable balls, etc. These might be a better bet if you aren't ready for some of the suggestions above.
  
  
• Improved Guitar Playing In 2 Weeks
  By A12Y58EC6DN0X6 on 2007-06-08
  With a weight-training background I already have a number of products focusing upon forearm and grip strength. This by appearance and description seemed to fit a very specific purpose, what could be called finger-tip strength, so I went ahead and gave it a try.
  
  Receiving it, the high-quality construction was immediately noticeable. Beginning with the highest tension [black] gripper, I began use intermittently, whenever web pages loaded in slowly, between television commercials, and so on.
  
  I had no idea why during my twice-a-month hobbyist guitar playing, I was able to play with a marked increase in speed and accuracy. The fingers occasionally seemed to be pulled onto the fretboard like magnets. Thinking about it for a few minutes, I realized this device was the only significant change I had made over that time. Typically I had to warm-up for at least 30 to 45 minutes before my hands correctly played quicker fingering patterns. There was no lag time this time.
  
  For the price and diminutive size of this device, it is surprising how effective it is at its focused purpose. I also noticed that, while my typing has not gotten any faster, I can type somewhat longer without becoming self-aware of fatigue.
  
  --------
  
  There are several reviews for this gripping device that claim insufficient resistance, even with the highest tension [black] version. This may be due to a misconception of the purpose and usage of this particular device. It is what could be thought of as a finger-grip strengthener, as opposed to those devices which develop palm grip-strength, which are far more common and found at any sporting goods store.
  
  The tell-tale sign of improper use, is through where you position your grip when performing the exercises. If you find yourself grasping at mid-finger level, between the first and second knuckles, and squeezing all of the fingers together at the same time, pumping over and over again, you are using this improperly. You are to place the very tips of the fingers, before the first knuckles, on the finger-rests, and proceed to provide force with individual fingers, alternating with other patterns such as all four-fingers simultaneously as well, but always with this positioning. If you try using this device as a mid-finger, mid-grip strengthener (with the device ending up resting against the palm of the hand), you are using it incorrectly.
  
  For a mid-grip strengthener, Captains Of Crush is very highly recommended. These provide massive amounts of resistance, and are for the more typical mid-grip strengthening exercises. Even the trainer, Captains of Crush Trainer Gripper, will at the beginning be highly difficult for most athletes. The efforts are well worth it, however, these are extremely high-quality devices. There is actually official certification for doing their highest level grip one single time, for one single repetition (the two ends touching). Through these you can perform the more typical palm-strength exercises.
  
  Both the C.O.C. type of palm-level strengthener, and this Gripmaster fingertip-level type of strengthener, are needed for more complete and balanced grip strength. Doing exercises focusing on the forearms directly can also be very important. Any grip exercises strengthen the forearms as well, but only indirectly. It depends on how important overall lower-arm strength is to you. In any case, the Gripmaster is for working the most distal part of the grip, that is the tips of the fingers. Working it any other way, is not using the device for what it was designed for.
  
  
• GRIPMASTER RULES
  By A157J2AYFL7U4G on 2008-04-10
  Gripmaster is the best thing to happen ever. I can now crush small children and kittens in the palm of my hand. Gripmaster has changed my life. When I'm stressed--Gripmaster. When I'm happy--Gripmaster. When I'm sad--Gripmaster. When I'm eating--Gripmaster. When I'm bleeding--Gripmaster.
  
  Try and pry it out of my super-muscular hands, punk.
  
  
• Great tool!
  By A17CZ59NSG2ASF on 2005-09-25
  This tools is really really great. It helped me to overcome the problem I faced while playing guitar, specially the barre chords.
  
  
• Good for my ADD.
  By A1SHIIUJQWYDQ6 on 2003-09-23
  The gripmaster is a useful product that helps me, and might help you.
  
  For one thing, the gripmaster is great for relieving stress. I have stress, as do a lot of people on planet Earth. I take it almost everywhere I go because it fits nicely right in your pocket.
  
  Also, it's great for athletes. It has individual finger strengtheners so you can excercise and strengthen each finger the way you want to. In addition to your fingers, the gripmaster conditions your hands, wrists, and forearms.
  
  You can use the gripmaster on your right and left hands. It fits comfortably in your hand and is contoured appropriately.
  
  Whenever I have a spare moment, or am doing something that doesn't require using your hands, like, for example, watching the telly, I use my gripmaster.
  
  I have the black gripmaster heavy tension (the one with the biggest resistance), and would recommend this type.
  
  
• Just right
  By A1U6WLRXOINZ4C on 2006-03-11
  I originally bought the Blue (5 lb), Red (7 lb) and the Black (9 lb) Gripmasters for my 14 year old boys. The Blue is a little too easy for gripping but excellent for exercising the ring and little finger. The Blue was too easy for them so they did not use it so I ended inherited it. It is pretty habit forming and fun to use because the tension is light, this makes it good for use anytime, anywhere. (I have used it stuck in traffic and it is also a good stress reliever) If I had to do it again, I would have probably not bought this tension unless you have a very light grip, probably have started with the Red. I started to use the Red and the Black. The Red is just right for me, challenging for the fingers and I am working my way to the Black. Just remember that this is mainly for fingers and hand exercise so very easy to use for gripping, the challenge is working out the fingers. It is not like using the regular heavy hand grippers. It has increased my hand strength and grip just by having it with me and using it during the course of the day without planned workouts. Great product, excellent for finger or hand exercise, good quality. Also bought from DMM Products, great price fast shipping.
  
  
• Good Quality, little light
  By A1U6WLRXOINZ4C on 2006-03-11
  I originally bought the Blue (5 lb), Red (7 lb) and the Black (9 lb) Gripmasters for my 14 year old boys. The Blue is a little too easy for gripping but excellent for exercising the ring and little finger. The Blue was too easy for them so they did not use it so I ended inherited it. It is pretty habit forming and fun to use because the tension is light, this makes it good for use anytime, anywhere. (I have used it stuck in traffic and it is also a good stress reliever) If I had to do it again, I would have probably not bought this tension unless you have a very light grip, probably have started with the Red. Just remember that this is mainly for fingers and hand exercise so very easy to use for gripping, the challenge is working out the fingers. It is not like using the regular heavy hand grippers. It has increased my hand strength and grip just by having it with me and using it during the course of the day without planned workouts. Great product, excellent for finger or hand exercise, good quality.
  
  
• DO NOT BUY
  By A3UHSCXVJRS028 on 2008-06-13
  DO NOT BUY THE GRIP MASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When i opened it, Iraqi infidels broke into my house and killed my family
  
  
• A Must if You Want a Real Grip - This is the Best.
  By ADVLRJS633OTD on 2006-05-23
  I've used Gripmaster for decades and have a powerful grip. My doctor once commented that he had never met male or female with the grip I had.
  
  I like mine (I use the black one) because it fits a woman's hands nicely while others are usually too wide and uncomfortable for the smaller female hand.
  
  I also like the way it gives you powerful fingers, hands and forearms. You'll feel the power after one use. Start with the lighter ones if you want and build up.
  
  If you're older and perhaps have arthritis, give them a try. Ask your doctor if it's okay. But I find the Gripmaster to be great and really give my hands and forearms a workout. I have some arthritis and these help me to keep it under control.
  
  I lift weights and know what a burn is. Believe me, Gripmaster will give you a burn and you'll quickly develop powerful hands for any sport or job, for protection or just to be in better shape and to be able to do more safely.
  
  
  Susanna K. Hutcheson, creative director
  Power Communications LLC
  http://www.powerwriting.com
  http://www.susannahutcheson.com
  
  
• If you Need Finger Strength, Control, Endurance and Coordination, you are in the Right Place
  By A1AHG76Y8S89BJ on 2006-07-31
  
  Let me start saying that this is a wonderful product. Small, light, and well constructed (they feel like they will last forever). You can carry them with you, allowing to workout your fingers at the office, at home or wherever you find suitable. I bought the four different color-coded gripmasters: Black/heavy, Red/medium, Blue/light, and Yellow/extra light. I only found the resistance of the red and black ones useful for me, but my wife loves the blue and yellow ones. It was a great buy because of their high quality and affordable price.
  
  The product comes with a foldable instruction booklet where you find details for six different exercises:
  - Trigger pinch. This one simulates the movement of squeezing a trigger, and it isolates the index finger for enhanced strength and coordination.
  - Gross grasp. This one strengthens fingers, thumb, wrist and forearm for a firm grip.
  - Hook position. This one strengthens longer muscles in forearm and wrist while stretching smaller muscles in hand for greater motion and endurance.
  - Tip to tip pinch. This exercise strengthens specific fingers, thumb, smaller hand muscles and forearm for greater control and endurance.
  - Wrist flexion. It strengthens wrist and forearm muscles.
  - Key pinch. Strengthens thumb and index finger for greater stability and coordination.
  
  At the gripmaster website you can find more exercises for different activities and sports.
  
  If you are looking to crush hands when handshaking this is not the product for you, but if you need finger strength, control, endurance and coordination you are in the right place.
  
  
• Masculine Might and Friendship
  By A3BTJBSRUGCAD0 on 2005-09-17
  THe Grip master system is incredible. There are many differnet excersise programs that they offer and i have tried most of them. In a short time, spindly arms are full of muscly might. I started with the blue gripmasters and after working up to about 400 reps per set (rapid fire) (where i do 2 sets of all the excersises except ffor the middle, ring and pinkie finger) i moved on to the red and now i have blacks. They are a lot of fun and i am personally a social gripomaster. The kid who i gripmastered with originally lives in cleveland so know we call each other and do it ove rhte phone. I strongly suggest buying two so that you can do both hands at the same time. Also, start with low resistance (blue or below) cause rite now u just aren't man enough
  
  
• Heavy Tension (Black) is better for men
  By A3MH9YZT3B8B5W on 2006-02-25
  I bought both the Medium and Heavy tension Gripmasters. The Medium (red) one is not much of a challenge for me. I'm a man of average build, and I actually bought these because I was starting weight training at the gym and I wanted more grip strength for my hands and stronger forearms.
  
  I'd say if you are looking for individual finger strength, such as for playing an instrument, then the red Gripmaster might be enough resistance. But I use the black one much more for whole hand strength.
  
  The product comes with a guide containing instructions on a variety of exercises. I would also recommend visiting Gripmaster's website, as they have a more complete list of exercises, and recommendations for different sports.
  
  
• Good for "casual" users.
  By A26EFZEK61FL6X on 2007-08-15
  My Gripmaster is about 4 or 5 months old and, at first, I liked it a lot. I use it all the time, especially in the car, and I think that this extensive use is the problem. It's starting to fall apart bit by bit. If you're hyper-active you might consider a simple racquet or tennis ball because these things (I bought a medium and heavy gripper) don't seem to stand up very well. The design is excellent but the quality, especially around the springs, leaves a lot to be desired. Sorry, I really wanted these things to last.
  
  
• Portable Climbing Workout
  By A11VNHAYW8N09A on 2006-01-28
  I have both the Medium and Heavy and use them regularly to improve grip strength for climbing. I find it very easy to use these while driving or listening to conference calls. If you want just raw grip strength, these may not be the best tools to use. However, they are great for climbing because they allow you to easily concentrate on just a few fingers at a time. My normal routine is a rotation focusing on individual fingers and then groups of fingers holding the unit fully compressed for specific time periods. I use this in conjunction with the Metolius Balls with the rubber bands to work the opposite muscles. My climbing has improved several grades since I started using these.
  
  
• Fingers are Thunders
  By ALMLM77I4NCV3 on 2006-02-22
  Yes.........I like it, after using for 2 weeks, my fingers were strong. Good thing is that this exercise helps in smooth blood flowing in your body.
  
  
• For More than Just Playing the Guitar!
  By A100WGO7QENPFD on 2006-10-24
  I recently decided to try and teach myself guitar after having stopped for a while. One of the suggestions i got was to get a Gripmaster, and when i checked it out, I found this gizmo could actually help in more ways than just strengthening my fingers. I ordered one, and I can definitely say it was a good investment! There's a big difference in my grip now - I can even crack a nut with one hand easily (using a nutcracker of course). I can't wait to try the 7-lb one!
  
  
• Not For Wimps! This Equipment Takes All You Can Give!
  By A2698KJXW6EG76 on 2007-01-08
  As a right-handed guy, I play guitar, piano, and shoot handguns (.45, 44 Magnum, etc), so grip strength and individual finger strength is a necessity for me. Unfortunately, I had a health setback and faced paralysis of my right hand last year, which required extensive physical therapy. I used the yellow gripmaster then graduated to the blue, then the red, and now I use the black (9 lbs) gripmaster. These well-built hand/forearm exercisers were a staple for my complete hand recovery. I bought all 4 units and recommend that everyone keep at least the two that match your strength - you can use them watching TV, talking on the phone, stressing about your mother-in-law, or many other situations. I would like to see 11 and 13 pound units available, too, someday? You won't find a better hand exerciser. Period.
  
  
• Great for individual fingers
  By A1SA0RU0R45U6V on 2007-03-28
  Regular hand strength trainers allow your fingers to develop unevenly by working just your entire hand. Before this thing I never realized how weak my pinkie and ring fingers are. For my pointer and middle fingers this exercise is very easy, but when i switch to the others, I can really feel them getting a workout.
  
  At first I was going to go with the average strength one and move up to this one, but in the end I'm glad I went with this one.
  
  I would reccomend this to anyone that does anything involving finger strength/control. For example, most amateur guitar players (such as myself) have a tough time using their pinky fingers due to lack of strength and coordination. This definitely helps me to improve it.
  
  
• Quaility Product
  By A1QKP17C869RUJ on 2007-03-30
  I injured my arm and hand, this is one of the tools I used in the Rehabilitation Clinic. This is a quaility product,the blue one is the one I use the most at home. I am 69 years old. This is a good product to help strenghthen fingers and hand. I purchased the yellow one also.
  I would purchase both again.
  
  
• Good Grip and Forearm Strengthener ,but depreciates
  By AMBC8CV6QJT1X on 2007-07-15
  I got this for Xmas and at first it wasn't very challenging to close it all the way. After about 2 monthes of use. It was like second nature closing it and the hardness that my forearms had been developing just went away.
  
  I'd recommend Captains Crush Grippers for a true challenge
  
  
• Great for Carpal Tunnel prevention!
  By A3VL8T8LWRUOLC on 2008-01-23
  I use a computer a lot! I started to notice my "clicker" finger had this twitching going on... typical for computer users with repetitive motions. I got a couple of these buggers and every time I get that twitching... I start exercising my fingers. Works great and definitely targets your fingers unlike stressballs and such! Only problem is when I stop for a month or so... it comes back eventually. :)
  
  Be careful with the different colors though, they're different tensions. I thought I could just get several cool colors, but got one so soft I might as well have been squeezing the air.
  
  
• Great tool for horseback riders
  By A24SV2FM039KC4 on 2006-02-23
  The gripmaster has helped me strengthen my left fingers which is so important in the use of my reins when riding. I took it with me on vacation to Florida, and two of my friends--one older who wanted to use it for arthritic hands and the other just for stiff joints--saw it, started using it and loved it. So I ordered two more!
  
  
  
  

• Harbinger Adjustable Hand Grip Strengthening Grip
• Gripmaster Pro Hand Strengthening System, Extra-Heavy Tension (11 Pounds per Finger)
• Gripmaster Pro Hand Strengthening System, Heavy Tension (9 Pounds per Finger)
• Gripmaster Pro Hand Strengthening System, Medium Tension (7 Pounds per Finger)
• Gripmaster Hand Exerciser Black, Heavy Tension (9-Pounds per Finger)

• Gripmaster Hand Exerciser Black, Heavy Tension (9-Pounds per Finger)
• Gripmaster Hand Exerciser Blue, Light Tension (5-Pounds per Finger)
• Gripmaster Hand Exerciser Yellow, X-Light Tension (3-Pounds per Finger)
• Ruff Rider Ruff Grip Callus Builder Caps
• Perfect Pushup - Original