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Update: CrossFit sent a clarification concerning some of the details in the article below, stating:
“CrossFit has not and will not be granting any formal approval or disapproval of products or specific materials for hand protection. Additionally, neither CrossFit nor the 2025 CrossFit Games Rulebook has mentioned any specific hand protection materials as being permitted or not permitted.”
Original: The 2025 CrossFit Games Rulebook contained significant changes to the Games season structure and qualification process. The rulebook also contained other significant changes:
- Section 7.03 – Live Competition – Specific Attire Requirements – Hand Protection
- “The gripping surface of the hand may not be tacky or sticky. Grips must be made of a material that provides hand protection but not additional grip advantage.”
Moving forward, only leather and synthetic leather grips will be permitted at the CrossFit Games and in-person qualifiers.
- This rule specifically targets the Games season competitions where it can be properly enforced, while the Open and in-affiliate Semifinals remain unaffected.
The decision stems from concerns over rubber materials becoming excessively grippy, violating rules against tacky surfaces that provide unfair advantages.
Some rubber grips had become so adhesive that athletes could bypass proper technique during movements like toes-to-bar and bar muscle-ups, eliminating the need to rotate their wrists or readjust their hands. While grip levels vary between rubber products, the challenge of monitoring these differences prompted CrossFit to impose a ban on all rubber grips.
- In contrast, the World Fitness Project (WFP), an emerging alternative to the CrossFit Games, has declared itself “grip inclusive,” allowing all grip materials. Their philosophy suggests that equal access to technology creates fair competition.
The evolution of grip technology traces back to Victory Grips, who pioneered both synthetic leather and rubber-based options.
- “We’re committed to creating products that empower athletes at every level while upholding the integrity of the sport,” Victory Grips Founder Victor Pellegrino shared.
The company introduced synthetic leather in 2017 as a vegan-friendly, durable alternative to traditional leather.
Later, responding to the challenge of worn, slick powder-coated bars, Victory Grips’ founder, Victor Pellegrino, collaborated with Trelleborg in 2019 to develop specialized rubber compounds.
This innovation sparked an industry-wide race toward creating increasingly sticky grips, allowing everyday CrossFitters to bypass proper technique development while offering elite athletes energy conservation advantages.
As the grip industry leader and educator, Victory Grips was the first to share clarifications around this critical news, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and athlete education.
Its forward-thinking approach has solidified its reputation as a trusted innovator. Victory Grips’ X2 and Leather materials, both fully approved for competition under the new regulations, allow professional athletes to maintain optimal performance without compromising on CrossFit’s evolving standards.
Traditional leather, the original grip material, functions naturally with the hand’s movement. When used with chalk, it provides sufficient friction while allowing natural bar movement.
- Similarly, the synthetic leather (microfiber) in the X2 material performs in tandem with chalk to deliver comparable friction and functionality – explaining why both materials remain competition-approved.
Debates over technology’s role in sports are not new. Similar equipment controversies have emerged in other sports.
Swimming banned the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit after it contributed to breaking 23 of 25 world records at the 2008 Olympics.
- Conversely, when Nike’s Vaporfly shoes revolutionized marathon times with their innovative foam and carbon fiber technology, World Athletics opted for specific limitations rather than an outright ban.
The debate underscores a fundamental question in sports: how can equipment enhance natural ability while maintaining safety, comfort, and fairness?
While companies push innovation boundaries – sometimes overstepping – governing bodies must balance technological advancement with competitive integrity. As the sport evolves, CrossFit and the WFP represent two distinct approaches to competition standards: one prioritizing traditional technique, the other embracing technological advancement.
Victor Pellegrino aptly sums it up: “Victory Grips is proud to be at the forefront of this conversation, and we will continue to innovate responsibly while partnering with athletes and organizations that uphold the value of fair and competitive sport.”
Featured image: Victory Grips
