Old version by GripperBot on 2026-09-16 15:14:05 compared to new version by GripperBot on 2026-09-16 15:14:55
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| 1 | Heavy Grips is a line of torsion-spring hand grippers sold by Heavy Sports Inc. The long-running Strength Series uses aluminum handles and model numbers that rise in 50-pound steps.[^1] | ||
| 2 | |||
| 3 |  | ||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | *Heavy Grip 200, 20th Anniversary edition. Photo courtesy of Clint Ziegler (liftyzig), via [GripperVault](https://www.grippervault.com/grippers/847).* | ||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | ## Documented history | ||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | An archived Heavy Grips page from January 2005 shows a five-gripper core line: HG100, HG150, HG200, HG250, and HG300. The same page advertised limited HG400 and HG500 grippers that it said were scheduled to ship by the end of November 2004. The advertised production limits were 400 examples of the HG400 and 250 of the HG500.[^2] | ||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | By January 2007, the company described the HG350 as a new addition and sold a six-gripper set running from HG100 through HG350.[^3] That six-level Strength Series remains the standard range on the current Heavy Grips store.[^4] | ||
| 12 | |||
| 13 | In 2026, Heavy Sports introduced a 20th Anniversary edition in HG200, HG250, HG300, and HG350. The company describes these as having laser-etched model markings and slightly more aggressive knurling than the original versions.[^5] | ||
| 14 | |||
| 15 | ## Models | ||
| 16 | |||
| 17 | | Series or release | Documented models | Notes | | ||
| 18 | | --- | --- | --- | | ||
| 19 | | Original core range | HG100, HG150, HG200, HG250, HG300 | Documented on the January 2005 site | | ||
| 20 | | Limited edition | HG400, HG500 | Advertised in 2004-2005 as limited runs | | ||
| 21 | | Expanded Strength Series | HG100, HG150, HG200, HG250, HG300, HG350 | HG350 documented as new by January 2007 | | ||
| 22 | | Therapy Series | HG20, HG35 | Current low-resistance range | | ||
| 23 | | Fitness Series | HG50, HG75, HG95, HG120 | Current color-coated, lower-resistance range | | ||
| 24 | | 20th Anniversary edition | HG200, HG250, HG300, HG350 | Laser-etched markings and revised knurling | | ||
| 25 | |||
| 26 | The current Therapy and Fitness series are distinct from the traditional six-model Strength Series.[^4] | ||
| 27 | |||
| 28 | ## What the numbers mean | ||
| 29 | |||
| 30 | Heavy Grips model numbers should not be treated as directly comparable resistance measurements across brands. The company said in 2005 that its stated strengths were approximate and did not compare with other grippers.[^2] | ||
| 31 | |||
| 32 | A more detailed explanation appeared on the archived 2007 site. Heavy Sports said the grippers were tested at mid-handle, measured as torque in newton-metres, converted to inch-force-pounds, and then shortened to pound labels for marketing. The same page again stated that the figures were approximate and not comparable with other grip devices.[^3] In practice, individual specimens can vary, so an RGC rating of a specific gripper is more useful for comparison than the number stamped on its handle. | ||
| 33 | |||
| 34 | ## Identifying later versions | ||
| 35 | |||
| 36 | The traditional Strength Series is commonly identified by a model number on the handle and a bright aluminum finish. The 20th Anniversary versions are easier to distinguish because the model information is laser etched into a shaved flat area on the inside of the handle. Heavy Sports also states that these versions have sharper knurling.[^5] | ||
| 37 | |||
| 38 | Photographs and individual specimen records, including standard, limited, and anniversary versions, can be found in [liftyzig's GripperVault collection](https://www.grippervault.com/liftyzig).[^6] | ||
| 39 | |||
| 40 | ## Preservation links | ||
| 41 | |||
| 42 | - [Heavy Grips home page, January 15, 2005](https://web.archive.org/web/20050115045519id_/http://www.heavygrips.com/) | ||
| 43 | - [Heavy Grips home page, January 20, 2007](https://web.archive.org/web/20070120005227id_/http://www.heavygrips.com/) | ||
| 44 | - [Current Heavy Grips product catalog](https://handgrippers.com/shop/) | ||
| 45 | - [20th Anniversary Heavy Grips](https://handgrippers.com/anniversary-heavy-grips-handgrips/) | ||
| 46 | |||
| 47 | [^1]: [Heavy Grips Strength Series product catalog](https://handgrippers.com/shop/), Heavy Sports Inc., accessed September 16, 2026. | ||
| 48 | [^2]: [Archived Heavy Grips home page](https://web.archive.org/web/20050115045519id_/http://www.heavygrips.com/), January 15, 2005. | ||
| 49 | [^3]: [Archived Heavy Grips home page](https://web.archive.org/web/20070120005227id_/http://www.heavygrips.com/), January 20, 2007. | ||
| 50 | [^4]: [Heavy Grips products](https://handgrippers.com/products/), Heavy Sports Inc., accessed September 16, 2026. | ||
| 51 | [^5]: [20th Anniversary Heavy Grips](https://handgrippers.com/anniversary-heavy-grips-handgrips/), Heavy Sports Inc., accessed September 16, 2026. | ||
| 52 | [^6]: [Heavy Grip 200, 20th Anniversary edition](https://www.grippervault.com/grippers/847), GripperVault. | ||