Back widow vs Rogue pinch blocks
This is a comparison between the back widow and the Rogue pinch blocks 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 pinch blocks
This is an overview of the Rogue pinch blocks 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 Rogue pinch blocks
Price: $49-$62.50
The
Rogue Pinch blocks are simple but effective. They come in three different sizes, 3x3,2x3, and 1.5x4. The thinner the block, the harder it is to hold onto. This is a simple tool that will improve your grip for a long time to come and has many applications. You can hold weights or hand from a
rack as long as possible. As with all rogue products the finish is great and they hold chalk well.
Pros of the Rogue pinch blocks
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Cheap
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versatile
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Hardcore
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Easy on the hands
The
pinch blocks are relatively cheap and have a big impact on your grip strength. They are easy to use, as long as you know your way around a carabiner and a strap. Compared to other hardcore training tools for your grip, they are easier on the hands and less likely to rip your calluses and skin on the fingers.
Cons of the Rogue Pinch blocks
Pinch grip blocks are challenging and therefore not for beginners. If you consider buying without any prior experience in grip training, be prepared to get frustrated fast. In this case, you might be better off to get a set of low-level
Captain of Crush grippers or the
grandfather clock grips. The setup with a carabiner and strap is also not for everyone as it can be fiddly.
Alternatives to the Rogue pinch blocks
The
cannonball and
grandfather grip have roughly the same price. Both of them are easier for beginners than the
Pinch blocks if you want to progress slowly. I personally see them as a set to be bought together to keep things interesting, but not everyone wants to invest that much money from the start for something they are not sure about.
If you prefer to work with a bar rather than an attachment to a random weight than the
branch and beam are for you. The
branch and beam are bars that have been made fat to be better for grip strength training. They are a good option to train lifts in strongman competitions like lifting wagon wheels or car axles.
Conclusion for the Rogue pinch blocks
The
pinch blocks are a must for anyone serious about strength training. They are a good purchase together with the
cannonball and
grandfather grips. Be aware, that these are the more advanced options and that you will start humbled. With time, your hands will turn into beasts.
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.