IronMind Captains of Crush Grippers - Hand Gripper Levels

Captains of Crush (CoC) grippers from IronMind are the fixed hand grippers that serious grip training is measured against. They come in eleven levels, from the Guide (rated about 60 lb) to the No. 4 (rated about 365 lb), so a beginner, an arm wrestler and a grip athlete chasing certification can all find the right gripper here. Pick a level you can close for reps, add the next one up as a goal, and build crushing strength one step at a time.

• Eleven fixed levels, including half steps (No. 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5) that bridge the bigger jumps between whole numbers.
• Knurled aircraft-grade aluminum handles for a secure hold, even under chalk.
• GR8 springs, which IronMind uses only on its CoC and IMTUG grippers.
• Designed and manufactured in the USA by IronMind.

What It Trains

A gripper trains crushing grip: the strength of your fingers closing toward your palm. That is the grip you use to hold a bar, squeeze a handle, shake hands or hang on in an arm wrestling match. Regular gripper work also builds the forearm flexors and the endurance to hold a hard squeeze. Captains of Crush ratings are consistent across the line, so moving from one CoC level to the next is a known, measurable step.

Which Gripper to Start With

GripStrength.com recommends a two-gripper setup. Your working gripper is one you can fully close for about 5 to 10 reps. Your goal gripper is the next level up, which you attempt for singles once you are warmed up. When the working gripper gets easy, the goal gripper becomes your new working gripper and you add the next level.

• Guide (about 60 lb): novices, younger lifters and rehab. IronMind suggests it for a teenager starting grip training.
• Sport (about 80 lb): warm-ups and conditioning, or anyone coming off an injury or new to training.
• Trainer (about 100 lb): where IronMind says strong, occasionally active people should start.
• No. 0.5 "Point Five" (about 120 lb): the bridge from the Trainer to the No. 1.
• No. 1 (about 140 lb): the starting point for people who already train their grip, lift heavy or work with their hands.
• No. 1.5 (about 167.5 lb): the bridge to the No. 2.
• No. 2 (about 195 lb): a serious level of grip strength for most trained lifters.
• No. 2.5 (about 237.5 lb): the bridge to the No. 3.
• No. 3 (about 280 lb): world-class territory, and the first level men can be officially certified on.
• No. 3.5 (about 322.5 lb): the bridge to the No. 4.
• No. 4 (about 365 lb): the top of the line and an aspirational goal for the strongest hands.

Common pairings: Sport and Trainer for new lifters, Trainer and No. 0.5 for strong beginners, and No. 1 and No. 1.5 for people who already train hard. For a deeper walkthrough, read choosing the right gripper resistance level for beginners.

How to Use

1. Warm up with 1 or 2 easy sets of 10 to 12 reps on a lighter gripper.
2. Set the gripper deep in your hand, with your fingers on the handle and not wrapped around the spring.
3. Squeeze until the handles touch, pause briefly, then open under control.
4. Do your working sets with your working gripper, taking the last set to all-out effort.
5. Finish with 1 or 2 fresh attempts on your goal gripper.
6. Move up a level once you can do 10 to 12 full, consecutive reps with your working gripper.

Mini protocol (based on IronMind's guidance): train 3 times a week. Each session, warm up, then do 1 to 3 hard sets of 5 to 7 reps on your working gripper, plus 1 or 2 single attempts on your goal gripper. Keep sessions short, rest at least a day between them, and value quality reps over volume.

Captains of Crush or Heavy Grips?

Both are fixed grippers that work well in the working and goal setup. Captains of Crush is the benchmark brand: its ratings are the ones grip athletes talk about, and the No. 3 and above can be officially certified by IronMind. Heavy Grips hand grippers are the reputable value option, sold singly or in 2, 3 and 6 packs that give you a working and goal gripper in one order. IronMind notes that its ratings are not meant to be compared with other brands, so pick a level within one brand and progress from there. See hand grippers compared for a side-by-side look.

What's Included

• One Captains of Crush gripper in the level you select.
• Order each level you want as its own variant; a working and goal pair is two grippers.
• No stand or case is included.

Specs

• Handles: knurled aircraft-grade aluminum
• Spring: IronMind GR8 spring
• Manufacturer: IronMind, designed and manufactured in the USA

FAQ

Why buy two grippers instead of one?

One gripper you can close for reps builds volume, and a harder one gives you a clear next target. Without the goal gripper, there is no way to test whether you are ready to move up, and you stall on the easy one.

What does it take to become a certified Captain of Crush?

Men certify by closing the No. 3, No. 3.5 or No. 4 under IronMind's Rules for Closing and Certification. Women certify on the No. 2 or No. 2.5. Read IronMind's official rules before you attempt it.

Can I compare CoC ratings with other gripper brands?

Not directly. IronMind's ratings are consistent within the Captains of Crush line, but IronMind says they cannot be meaningfully compared with ratings on other grip devices. Use them to plan your progression within CoC.

How do I care for my gripper?

Surface rust from humid air is cosmetic and polishes off. Wipe the spring now and then with light oil or car wax, and clean chalk out of the knurling with a stiff toothbrush. A creaking spring is usually harmless, and a drop of light oil will quiet it.

Are grippers useful for arm wrestling and climbing?

Yes. Crushing grip matters for holding the handle in arm wrestling and for hanging on in climbing. Pair gripper work with sport-specific training, and add pinch and thumb work with the IronMind Hub.

Should I also train my hand extensors?

Balancing all that squeezing with opening work keeps your hands healthy. The IronMind Expand-Your-Hand Bands train the extensors that open your hand, or choose the GripSaver Plus if you want flexion and extension in one tool.

Ready to build your setup? Browse every fixed gripper we carry in Hand Grippers.