If you train on powder-coated pull-up bars, the kind you'll find in most CrossFit boxes, you already know how quickly your grip can become the weakest link. Chalk helps, but it doesn't solve everything. That's where specialist gymnastic grips come in.
We stock both Frog Grips and Victory Grips, and we get asked all the time which ones are better. The honest answer? It depends on your gym setup. Here's our real-world breakdown after extensive testing.
The Short Version
Both the Frog Grips Elite and the Victory Grips Conquer are among the grippiest gymnastic grips on the market. On powder-coated or smooth bars, they outperform almost everything else. However, they each have trade-offs you should know about before buying.
Frog Grips Elite: The Grip King on Slick Bars
The Frog Grips Elite range comes in two styles: the HD (thicker, more padded) and the OG (thinner, more feel). Both use Frog's proprietary material that grips aggressively on powder-coated and smooth bars.
Where the Frog Elite really shines is consistency. Whether your hands are dry, slightly warm, or even a bit damp from sweat, the grip level stays remarkably stable. They don't suddenly lose traction the way some grips do when conditions change mid-WOD.
The one thing to know: like most high-friction grips, the Frog Elite does not play well with chalk. If your box has chalk buckets everywhere and you're used to chalking up between sets, you'll actually reduce the grip performance. These grips are designed to work without chalk.
Victory Grips Conquer: Incredible Grip, but Mind the Moisture
The Victory Grips Conquer line is available in 3-Finger Coverage (3-FC) and Freedom (2-finger) styles, plus the newer V-Series Conquer for athletes who want a slightly different wrist design.
On a dry powder-coated bar, the Conquer grips are phenomenal. The grip is immediate and aggressive — you feel locked in from the first rep. For toes-to-bar, pull-ups, and muscle-ups on coated bars, they're outstanding.
The caveat: the Conquer material is more sensitive to moisture. If your hands get sweaty during a long workout or if there's any dampness on the bar, you'll notice the grip drops off more noticeably compared to the Frog Elite. It's not that they become dangerous, but that confident locked-in feeling fades. This makes them slightly less forgiving in hot gym conditions or during longer metcons where sweat builds up.
And just like the Frog Elite, chalk is not your friend here. The Conquer material performs best on a clean, dry bar without chalk residue.
What if Your Gym Uses Bare Steel or Stainless Steel Bars?
This is where the conversation shifts entirely. If your box has Rogue bare steel bars, stainless steel bars, or any knurled bare-metal rig, neither the Frog Elite nor the Conquer is the best choice.
For aggressive knurl and bare metal, the Velites All Terrain grips are the standout option. They're designed to work with chalk and handle the abrasion of raw steel knurl without wearing down quickly. If chalk is a regular part of your training and you're on Speal bars or similar bare-metal setups, the Velites All Terrain is the grip to go for.
Quick Comparison
| Frog Elite | Victory Conquer | Velites All Terrain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best bar type | Powder coated / smooth | Powder coated / smooth | Bare steel / stainless |
| Grip level (dry) | Excellent | Excellent | Very good |
| Sweat tolerance | Good | Less forgiving | Good (with chalk) |
| Chalk compatible | No | No | Yes |
| Price | £59.99 | £59.99 | £47.99 |
So Which Should You Buy?
Choose the Frog Grips Elite if you train on powder-coated bars and want the most consistent, sweat-tolerant grip without chalk. They're the most forgiving option when conditions aren't perfect.
Choose the Victory Grips Conquer if you train on powder-coated bars, your gym stays cool and dry, and you want that immediate locked-in feeling. Just be aware they're a bit more sensitive to moisture.
Choose the Velites All Terrain if your gym runs bare steel or stainless bars and chalk is part of your routine. They're purpose-built for that environment.
Not sure which suits your setup? Get in touch and we'll help you find the right pair.