Back widow vs Rogue anvil grip
This is a comparison between the back widow and the Rogue anvil grip including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Rogue anvil grip
This is an overview of the Rogue anvil grip including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview of the Anvil grip
The
rogue anvil grip simulates a time old feat of strength. Many attempted to lift an
anvil by the horn. The cone shape of the
anvil grip simulates this. To increase the weight you can attach it to a loading which Rogue sells separately. The specifications of the
anvil grip are:
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Made in the USA
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Machined from a Solid Piece of Steel
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Weight (Unloaded): 12.33 LBS
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Length: 11” (Anvil itself), 13.5” (Anvil + Eye Bolt)
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Tapered Cone-Shape design: 3” dia. at the base, 0.75” dia. at top
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Eye Bolt at the base for attaching weight via loading pin (pin sold separately)
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Engraved Rogue branding
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Finish Options: Bare Steel or Black Oxide
This is a solid piece of steel to varying your deadlift and grip strength.
Pros of the anvil grip
Good quality
Simple design
Challenge for the grip
This is a great tool for working on your grip strength. The cone shape gives you a different challenge than the usual bar grippers most people use. A great addition for someone who almost has everything but wants to challenge his or her grip even further.
Cons of the anvil grip
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Needs plates and pin to function
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Very specialized equipment
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High likelihood to gather dust
While these are a good addition to an existing for someone who is serious about grip strength, for some others this might just be a fun little purchase that is ultimately money down a hole. Be sure you have the plates and you are also investing in a
loading pin. Once you are of this mindset you will probably also get the
dinnie rings and other grip attachments from Rogue. For someone who is very busy or not dedicated to grip strength this can be a purchase that will lie around in your gym more than you use it.
Alternatives of the anvil grip
For the average Joe, a set of
pinch grip and
cannonball grip handles are probably the better choices. They are easier to handle with
kettlebells or to hang from your
rack. Therefore they do not necessarily need a
loading pin to function. This gives you more versatility for a little more spend then for the
anvil grip.
The
dinnie rings are the ultimate hardcore grip strength test from Rogue. If you want to train in the highest levels you will probably get the
anvil grip and the
dinnie rings. If I had to choose between the two, which I wouldn’t as I am a sucker for complete training sets, I would go for the
dinnie rings instead of the
anvil grip as it is the cooler record to chase.
Conclusion for the anvil grip
The
anvil grip is a must-have for any serious strongman or strength athlete who is serious about their grip. It is cheaper to co nine the
anvil grip with a
loading pin than to get
anvils of different weights. If you want to save money and start out with grip strength training I would recommend going with a combination of
pinch blocks and
cannonballs first and then graduate to
dinnie rings and the
anvil at a later point when those get to easy / you have reached your goals on those.
Overview and review of the Back widow
This is an overview of the Back widow including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview of the back widow
Price: $299
The
back widow is a versatile handle that can be used as an attachment for cable pulls and attached to a
barbell for landmine rows. This makes it a very versatile tool that can be used in many scenarios to improve grip and back strength. This is an ideal solution for a home gym where the user wants to save space and money for multiple applications. In bigger gym scenarios it might be a better approach to get multiple handles for the price of one
back widow. The full specifications are:
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Multi-Use Attachment for Back Workouts
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15+ Adjustable Positions
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Length: 5.5" (Lower Handles) / 4.25" (Upper Handles)
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Diameter: 1.25" (Handles)
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Weight: 9.25 LBS
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Carabiner Slot for Attachments: 9/16” wide x 1” tall
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Color: Black
This tool is definitely worth its money when you want to have a landmine handle and an attachment for your lat pull machine at home.
Pros of the back widow
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Versatility
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High-quality build
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Weight
This attachment for a pulley and to bars has many different configurations which will help you to build a bigger back and stronger grip. It can also mix up the work with a rowing machine or lat pull so that you can stay motivated and attack all different areas of your back. With its high-quality build, you can throw almost anything at the
back widow without breaking it and even use it like a deadlift jack. The weight of this handle attributes for its high-quality design. You can see that professionally wanted to design something helpful for other professionals with the
Back widow.
Cons of the Back widow
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Price
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Weight
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Only one handle
With a $price tag of $300 the
back widow is not cheap. for that amount of money, you can get three
stainless lat bars from a low price vendor or a big assortment of smaller handles. The weight itself is also not great when your home gym setup is a bit flimsy. If you combine it with the Spud Inc. pulley or similar self-made contraption, you will have problems with keeping a smooth feed through the rollers. This is best used with a stationary lat pull or rowing machines like the Rogue CT1 or the Rogue Monster Lat pull down. In a commercial gym setting, it is also better to get multiple handles rather than one handle. Most average joes will find the adjustments on the
widow annoying rather than helpful for a quick workout and as a commercial gym owner you rather have three different handles for three different towers than one handle for three towers.
Alternatives to the back widow
Rogue Multi-grip cable attachment is a massive handle that can be attached to cable pulleys. This is a great tool for any strongmen who want to work on their grip and pull work. This attachment simulates better when you do not get the best grip on a big weight because the handles are not in the most advantageous position. With $175 it also leaves room for handles to be bought against the same budget like the
back widow. The only downside of this attachment is that it is very heavy.
The
Rogue Stainless steel bar is a classic lat pull bar that is straight and curved at the ends for different grip variations. This is the standard option that most gyms go with for their towers. Compared to the
Back widow you can almost get two of these for the same price. The only disadvantages are that it can be quite boring and that you might get this cheaper from a different vendor than from Rogue.
The
Rogue tricep strap is the better partner for home gym pulley setups that are a little makeshift. Its lower weight makes it easier to maneuver and get a smooth ride in place. It is also quite a bit cheaper than a
back widow or any of the other attachments. The disadvantage is that it is not suitable for big heavy pulls where you spread your arms wide.
Conclusion for the back widow
The
back widow is a great tool for the home gym owner who has some extra cash to spend, likes high-quality products, and does not want too many handles flying about. Just have a hard look at your training routine if you actually do t bar rows and lat pulls already in your local gym or desperately miss out on them. This attachment is not just a gimmick like many others. For commercial gyms, I do not see the point as it is usually more practical to have a wall or bag full of a lot of attachments where people help themselves. The
back widow would need some instructions and also the versatility does not really apply to the commercial scenario. The teenagers or your strongest hulk will probably hug this attachment for two hours. Better to have more handles for others who are waiting.