If you have been working on pull-ups as part of your workout and strength-building regimes like us gym goers and climbers, you would be familiar with the cold shock of a bare pull-up bar in the park on a cold morning, or the irritation of a rough surface pinching against your finger skin while doing multiple pull-ups on your pull up bar, gym bar bells or climbing grips.
Pull-Up Bar Grip Tape is an excellent remedy for when your fingers say “no more” but your body can still keep going to do more. By using tape for better grip, you can protect your hands and skin and increase your pull-up grip during pull-ups. The best grip tape for pull-up bars depends upon your preferences, and we personally know how annoying it is to not have something right for you, so we have created a guide below to help you decide which is the best tape and foams for you.
What’s the Best Pull Up Bar Grip Tape?
After scouring the marketplace and user reviews for pull-up bar tape and grips, we are happy to provide you with a list of our favourite and best pull up bar grip tape and foam grips below. Tapes are to wrap around the pull-up bar, while a foam grip is an add-on accessory that you put onto the pull-up bar to help serve the same purpose. Make sure to decide what features are important to you before deciding which tape or foam grip is best suited for your pull-up bar at home.
1. Core Prodigy Fusion Silicone Grip Tape
| PROS |
|---|
Simple and self-explanatory to install. Can be used on any round surface Very affordable for almost any budget. |
| CONS |
|---|
Dull single colour with no variety of colours |
See it in your local store:
This simple silicone grip tape is a wrap on onto your pull-up bar to make your grips more cushioned, and spongy and create fewer blisters and discomfort. It can also be used on a multitude of sports equipment, even baseball bats. It is ‘extra sticky’ to provide the optimal grip and reduce the risk of slipping.
2. Silicone Rubber Grip Wrap
| PROS |
|---|
Super strong and water-resistant. Simple and easy to install on any round surface. Multiple colors available |
| CONS |
|---|
Users may prefer a plain surface instead of a riveted one |
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This tape is particularly effective at repelling sweat (even rain!) and it is even dishwasher safe. This helps it last longer and makes it less likely to accumulate sweat that would reduce your grip in a workout session.
3. Meister StickElite Professional Porous Athletic Tape
| PROS |
|---|
Easy to use Tearable by hand. Includes the strongest adhesive available on the market |
| CONS |
|---|
Less comfortable as cushioning compared to the padded tapes listed above |
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This tape is extremely easy to use, featuring a tearable design so that not even scissors are needed to install it. It consists of a porous design to maximise airflow, and can also be used as a finger tape, or ankle tape for extra support during athletic exercises or during rock climbing.
4. Gamma Supreme Overgrip
| PROS |
|---|
Bright and colorful. Comfortable and grippy. Versatile for multiple uses |
| CONS |
|---|
Not specialised for gym equipment or to be used under maximum weights |
See it in your local store:
The gamma supreme tape is designed to wrap around items such as squash and tennis rackets but is versatile enough to work also as a pull-up bar tape. It provides a comfortable level of padding while maintaining maximum grip.
5. Fat Gripz Wraps
| PROS |
|---|
Portable Can be wrapped around almost any exercise bar Quick to install and reinstall anywhere else |
| CONS |
|---|
More expensive than alternatives on the market |
See it in your local store:
Fat Gripz are not pull-up bar tape but can work as an equally effective replacement. They can wrap around almost any piece of gym equipment like pull up bars or dumbells to make it more comfortable to hold. These grips are also designed to increase the diameter of the pull-up bar they are installed on, which accelerates the muscle growth in your arms
6. Gym Weight Thick Bar Grips
| PROS |
|---|
Reusable on multiple surfaces Quick and easy to install Multiple colours |
| CONS |
|---|
May not wrap the entire bar, leaving part of the surface exposed or uneven |
See it in your local store:
The Gym Weight Bar Grips are comparable to the Fat Gripz in terms of features and effectiveness but are priced slightly more affordable. They are available in a whole range of different colors to suit your personality. Made from durable food-grade silicone, these grips are designed to withstand the most intense workout session without slipping and are also laser-engraved to increase the grip between your hand and the product itself.
7. Ultimate Grip Thick Fat Grips
| PROS |
|---|
Reusable Easy to set up on almost any piece of gym bar equipment Can last a lifetime when taken care of properly |
| CONS |
|---|
More expensive than most tapes on the market |
See it in your local store:
These heavy-duty grips are designed to last a lifetime and to work with any bar that you use during exercise. They maximise your comfort during multiple gym exercises allowing you to increase your maximum potential without worrying about hand pain or slipping grip. They have been laser engraved with a hatched pattern to increase the grip between your hand and the wrap itself. They have also been precisely manufactured after extensive research to the perfect size for rapid muscle growth.
8. GLE2016 Barbell Grips
| PROS |
|---|
Bright and colorful design makes it hard to misplace at the gym. Can be used and reused on many different machines |
| CONS |
|---|
Does not wrap the entire way around many bars, leaving part of the bar uncomfortable to use |
See it in your local store:
These affordable and colorful grips are also quick and easy to install on many different types of gym equipment, such as dumbbells and pull up bars. They are made of strong, high-quality silicone and also expand the diameter of your pull-up bar to maximise your muscle growth.
Overall, we prefer the pull-up bar tapes to the reusable wraps and grips available on the market. Pull-up bar tape can be used on any surface that a reusable wrap can and many more, and are generally more budget-friendly. They also provide more padding specific to increasing comfort during pull-ups.
Useful Tips
Below, we have provided some more information about pull-up bar tape to help you decide which product is most suited to you.
Most Important Features to Look out for
As this is a product used to improve your comfort and grip, these two features should be of top priority to you when deciding upon your pull-up tape. Also, consider that if you are getting grips instead of tape, they can be transferable and placed onto different equipment.
Certain pull-up wraps are installed by pushing them over the end of the pull-up bar. If this is the case, the ends of the pull-up bar itself must be open to accommodate this. Other pull-up wraps are more adaptable to other types of pull up bars, as they can be wrapped around the metal bar instead. Be sure to check that the product that you are buying fits your style of pull-up bar.
Precautions to take note of
When buying wraps or grips, always ensure that you check the specs carefully. See if you can install that particular pull up wrap or padding on your pull-up bar before purchasing. Read more on this key feature in the above pointer.
Basic Setup and Usage
The setup varies from product to product. For tape it is easy; you peel off the adhesive backing and wrap it around the pull-up bar surface you wish to increase your grip on, ensuring there is a slight overlap on the edges of the tape so that the entire surface is properly wrapped. With rubber grips, it depends if you can wrap them around or if you have to push them over the ends of the bar.
Questions and Answers About Pull Up Bar Grip Tapes
Why is grip tape the best option compared to alternatives?
Grip tape is more versatile and can be wrapped and used on many different bars or handle surfaces. It is also often cheaper and can cover a greater surface area. One roll of tape can be used on multiple pull up bars. If you are keen to explore other alternative ways to reduce hand slipping, you can consider using chalk, pull up bar grip gloves and even waxing the bar.
How to decide between a pull up bar padding vs grip tapes?
Rubber paddings and wraps installed on pull up bars are reusable and portable compared to grip tape. However, grip tape is more versatile as it can wrap a whole different variety of handles, and can be safely said to also hold a bit firmer to the bar given its’ stickiness’. Ultimately, they have different pros and cons and it depends on how important certain features like portability or fit is to you.
Is a pull-up bar wrap effective in preventing slipping?
Most additions to pull up bars are designed to reduce skin discomfort and to provide more grip strength, whether this is a wrap or a tape. Some provide better grip than others, and obviously, this grip effectiveness can lessen over time, particularly if it is relying on some sort of adhesive. Do always check the instructions of the product you buy to find out how to maintain it in the long run to maximise the grip on your pull up bar.
How to decide between a pull up bar padding vs grip tapes?
Rubber paddings and wraps installed on pull up bars are reusable and portable compared to grip tape. However, grip tape is more versatile as it can wrap a whole different variety of handles, and can be safely said to also hold a bit firmer to the bar given its’ stickiness’. Ultimately, they have different pros and cons and it depends on how important certain features like portability or fit is to you.
Is a pull-up bar wrap effective in preventing slipping?
Most additions to pull up bars are designed to reduce skin discomfort and to provide more grip strength, whether this is a wrap or a tape. Some provide better grip than others, and obviously, this grip effectiveness can lessen over time, particularly if it is relying on some sort of adhesive. Do always check the instructions of the product you buy to find out how to maintain it in the long run to maximise the grip on your pull up bar. Pull-up bar wraps are usually made of rubber. The gummy material, combined with the increased pressure from your hands and weight, starkly increases the friction between you and the pull-up bar, in comparison to how much friction you would have without them. Pull-up tapes usually rely on a combination of a gummy surface and a strong adhesive to increase friction. If you are working out without either, your hands provide the friction, which can be compromised by sweat. Skin is a much less reliable surface than rubber for creating friction and is much less comfortable.
Are pull-up bar grip pads expensive?
There are cheaper and more expensive products on the market, but usually, you can find something of decent quality for under $25USD.
Whats the next best after tape to use on a pull-up bar?
Many people use exercise/weight-lifting gloves to reduce irritation to their skin when doing pull-ups or muscle-ups. It also protects against abrasions, blisters and skin tears.
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