• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • Strength
    • Best Home Gym Machines
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Budget Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Cable Machines
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Smith Machines
      • Best Smart Home Gyms
    • Best Barbells
      • Best Budget Exercise Bikes
      • Best Budget Barbells
      • Best Powerlifting Barbells
      • Best Barbells For Women
    • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Adjustable Kettlebells
    • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
    • More Strength Equipement
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Weight Plates
      • Best Bumper Plates
      • Best Slam Balls
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Best Weight Sleds
      • All Other Strength Equipment
    • Training
      • Exercise Guides
        • Deadlift
        • Bench Press
        • Back Squat
        • Overhead Press
        • Lat Pulldown
        • Shoulder Exercises
        • Chest Exercises
        • Ab Exercises
        • Quad Exercises
        • Biceps Exercises
      • Training Guides
        • Beginner’s Guide to the Gym
        • How to Build Muscle
        • Guide to Muscle Hypertrophy
        • How to Train on a Cut
      • Workouts
        • Back Workouts
        • At-Home Workouts
        • Chest & Back Workouts
        • Full-Body Workout
        • HIIT Workouts
        • Bodybuilding Workouts
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
      • Programs
        • 5×5 Program
        • Bodybuilding Programs
        • Push-Up Program
        • Pull-Up Program
        • 5/3/1 Program
        • Powerbuilding Program
        • German Volume Training
        • Build Your Own Program
    • News
      • CrossFit
      • Strongman
      • Bodybuilding
      • Powerlifting
      • Weightlifting
      • HYROX
    • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Best Protein
      • Best Protein Powder for Men
      • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Powder For Women
      • Best Tasting Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Bars
      • Protein by Goal
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain
        • Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
      • Protein by Diet
        • Best Egg White Protein Powder
        • Best Keto Protein Powder
        • Best Organic Protein Powder
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
    • Best BCAA’s
      • Best BCAA’s for Women
    • Best Fat Burners
      • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Men
      • Best Curved Treadmills
      • Best Fat Burners For Women
    • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
      • Best Pre-Workout for Women
      • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
      • Strongest Pre-Workouts
    • Best Creatine
      • Best Creatine Gummies
      • Best Creatine For Women
      • Best Creatine for Men
    • Other Nutrition Products
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
        • Best Greens Powder for Pregnancy
      • Best Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Budget Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss
        • Best Paleo Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Multivitamins for Women
        • Best Multivitamins for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
        • Best Multivitamins
    • Guides
      • Diets
        • Carb Cycling
        • Vertical Diet
        • Reverse Dieting
        • Carnivore Diet
        • Ketogenic Diet
        • Intermittent Fasting
        • IIFYM Diet
      • Muscle Gain
        • How to Dirty Bulk
        • Go From Cutting to Bulking
        • Eat These Carbs
        • How to Eat for Muscle
      • Fat Loss
        • Macros for Fat Loss
        • Calorie Deficits
        • Natural Fat Burners
        • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
      • Supplement Guides
        • Pre-Workout
        • Whey Protein
        • Mass Gainers
        • Greens Powders
        • Creatine
        • BCAAs
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
    • Individual Supplement Reviews
  • Conditioning
    • Best Treadmills
      • Best Manual Treadmills
      • Best Compact Treadmills
      • Best Budget Treadmills
      • Best Treadmills Under $2000
      • Best Treadmills Under $1000
      • Best Treadmills For Tall People
      • Best Commercial Treadmills
      • Best Under Desk Treadmills
    • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Water Rowing Machines
      • Best Budget Rowing Machines
      • Best Compact Rowing Machines
      • Best Foldable Rowing Machines
      • Best Air Rowing Machines
    • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Best Folding Exercise Bikes
      • Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors
      • Best Air Bikes
    • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Budget Ellipticals
      • Best Compact Ellipticals
      • Best Rear Driving Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals For Seniors
      • Best Under Desk Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals Under $1000
    • Other Conditioning Products
      • Best Jump Ropes
      • Best Plyometric Boxes
      • Best Speed Sleds
      • Best Agility Ladders
      • Best Vertical Climbers
      • Best Commercial Stair Climbers
      • Best Affordable Stair Climbers
    • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
  • Recovery
    • Best Cold Plunges
    • Best Saunas
      • Best Infrared Sauna
    • Best Massage Guns
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Best Compression Boots
    • Best Back Massagers
    • Best Massage Chairs
    • Other Recovery Tools
      • Best Inversion Tables
      • Best Vibrating Massage Rollers
      • Best Massage Balls
      • Best Ice Wraps
      • Best Foam Rollers
    • Recovery Guides
  • Fitness Accessories
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Fitness Apps
        • Best Weightlifting Apps
        • Best Workout Programs
        • Best Cycling Apps
        • Best Treadmills Apps
        • Best Workout Streaming Services
        • Best Workout Apps
        • Best Running Apps
    • Best Bluetooth Earbuds
    • Best Digital Scales
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Heart Rate Monitors
      • Best Pedometers
      • Best Stopwatches
    • Apparel
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
      • Best Sports Bras
      • Best Trail Running Shoes
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Lifting Chalk
      • Best Dip Belts
      • Best Pull Up Assist Bands
      • Best Lifting Belts
  • Community Forum

The Evolution of Equipment in CrossFit

December 21, 2023 by

Since the beginning of sports, equipment has constantly evolved to help athletes win. Companies and inventors are always looking for ways to create gear that is worn by athletes to be more comfortable, prevent injury, and improve biomechanical efficiency to increase speed and power. 

The CrossFit Games began in 2007, and in this short amount of time, we have already seen many changes in the gear used by competitors. This evolution of CrossFit equipment has moved quickly, as there have been many opportunities to innovate and a steep learning curve, due to the infancy of the sport. 

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

But, now we are entering a new era. The equipment is becoming more sophisticated as more money is entering the arena, and companies are dialing in on the minutiae of what improves performance specifically for CrossFit.  

Each year, the CrossFit Games Competition Rulebook releases rules governing equipment to ensure fair competition. However, in the last few years, there seems to have been more attention to “technology doping,” which refers to using sporting equipment to gain a competitive advantage. In the 2023 CrossFit Games, the two pieces of equipment in the crosshairs were belts and grips.

Looking back at the history of equipment in CrossFit, we can gain a better understanding of where certain advances could possibly be headed.

Flashback: If you have done CrossFit for a while now, you will remember that Chuck Taylors, aka Chucks, were the first shoes that many adopted for training (circa 2010). With a flat, low-profile sole, Chucks were one of the most reliable shoes on the market for lifting and running. 

Then came the Reebok CrossFit partnership, which resulted in the Reebok Nano, the first shoe specifically designed for CrossFit. The Nanos were the first to feature technology that would help with stability, comfort, and durability, such as a wider toe box, a breathable abrasion-resistant upper construction, and a sole that can stand up to rope climbs. 

In 2015, Nike entered the CrossFit scene with the Metcons, further expanding upon durability, stability, and breathability technologies, and eventually building in Hyperlift inserts to raise the heels for easier squat mobility. 

Jump ropes have also evolved to meet the demands of the sport. In 2009, RX Smart Gear created the first jump rope in the world to be offered in custom sizing based on height, as well as four different cable weights from 1oz. up to 4oz. based on the stimulus the athlete wanted. The ropes allowed athletes to perform double-unders with increased speed and efficiency.

But the biggest evolution of any piece of equipment in the CrossFit space could arguably be gymnastics grips. 

Adapted from dowel grips used in artistic gymnastics, grips have gone through numerous significant design changes and material offerings. Like shoes, there were no grip offerings that were specifically designed to meet the demands of CrossFit. Athletes first used gymnastics grips made of cheap leather that were intended for kids in beginner gymnastics. 

Then, there were grips made of athletic tape. Remember Natural Grip? These grips did not hold up, nor could they properly protect the hands of adult athletes doing kipping pull-ups and muscle-ups at high volume. 

Enter Victory Grips: Within the last decade, several companies have come on the scene and started making grips designed for adult athletes that are more protective, durable, and better performing. Synthetic materials began to overtake leather for grips because they were found to be more durable and grip bars better. The most significant innovation in grips came from Victory Grips, which used a rubber polymer called Hypalon or CSM. 

What makes this innovation so significant is the tunability of rubber polymers. Rubber can be adjusted to create variations in abrasion resistance and coefficient of friction (COF), which is basically how grippy a material is on a bar.  

But how grippy should grips be for CrossFit competition? 

The CrossFit Games Rule Book addresses technology doping stating, 

  • “In general, support gear that improves safety and/or comfort but does not confer advantage is allowed…Athletes may not use protective gear in a manner that provides additional grip assistance or weight support, e.g., wrapping a gymnastics grip around the bar for deadlifts or pull-ups.” 

Limitations are set on various pieces of personal equipment, including belts, wraps, swimsuits, adhesives, shoes, and hand protection, amongst others. However, there is some gray area mostly with shoes and gymnastics grips. Will athletes start using shoes with bouncier foam and carbon fiber plates like the Nike Vaporfly shoes that Eliud Kipchoge used to run a sub-two-hour marathon with a 4:37 per mile pace? Should gymnastics grips be allowed in competition if they’re made of rubber polymers that greatly increase grip efficiency?

In speaking with Victory Grips owner and founder Victor Pellegrino, he shared his perspective on the matter. 

  • “I believe personal equipment, in general, should help an athlete perform their sport with safety, comfort, and at the best of their natural ability. An athlete’s gear used in competition should simply exploit the physiological gains or adaptations that an athlete has worked for. The gear should also mitigate environmental factors that could cause injury or otherwise hinder an athlete’s natural physiology,” Pellegrino said.  
  • “Gear should not alter an athlete’s physiology, bringing about increases in performance that are not natural, especially in the moment of competition. Nor should it substitute or override natural physiology,” Pellegrino continued.  

Pellegrino acknowledged that there may be some gray area here, but that is where common sense and logic should come into play. In his opinion, nothing should be allowed that is grossly enhancing performance to the point of being ridiculous. It is a company’s responsibility to keep pushing the envelope through innovation to improve an athlete’s performance. He feels that it is better to go too far than not go far enough. The sports governing body’s responsibility is to ensure a fair playing field.

The bottom line: As with so many other pieces of equipment used by elite athletes, innovation, improvements, and changes are constantly being made. New iterations are being released, and it seems that each year brings about a different version of a familiar product.

Pellegrino explains that experimentation with rubber polymers for grips is now being done frequently by companies within the space. Speaking on behalf of Victory Grips, he shares that they are starting to see and understand both pros and cons. 

  • “Rubber that tends to be very grippy wears out quicker and becomes slippery in the presence of chalk and sweat. You can’t always control your environment, especially in competition,” Pellegrino said. 

Pellegrino: “I am constantly looking for ways to improve our grips in both materials and design. Design-wise, I feel that grips are not durable and comfortable enough. I have put a lot of effort into addressing this issue. In 2024 you are going to see some significant innovations in both materials and design from Victory Grips.”

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap