Rogue anvil grip vs pinch blocks

This is a comparison between the Rogue anvil grip and 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

The pros of the rogue pinch blocks are:

Cheap
versatile
Hardcore
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

Cons of the Rogue pinch blocks are:

Not for beginners
Carabiner and strap setup

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

Alternatives to the rogue pinch locks are:

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 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.

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:

Made in the USA
Machined from a Solid Piece of Steel
Weight (Unloaded): 12.33 LBS
Length: 11” (Anvil itself), 13.5” (Anvil + Eye Bolt)
Tapered Cone-Shape design: 3” dia. at the base, 0.75” dia. at top
Eye Bolt at the base for attaching weight via loading pin (pin sold separately)
Engraved Rogue branding
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

The pros of the anvil grip are:

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

The cons of the anvil grip are:

Needs plates and pin to function
Very specialized equipment
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

Alternatives to the anvil grip are:

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.