Kensui Swissies Review - Neutral Grip Handles

Learn More About the Kensui Swissies here

 

The design of the Swissie is very simple...it's basically a hook that goes over the bar that turns into a grip for your hands.

In the hook part that goes over the bar, the Kensui Swissies have a rubber strip, that functions primarily to grip onto the bar you set it on to prevent the Swissie from sliding (raw plastic on steel will slide...this won't).

 

The Swissies are built rock solid.

These things can take a beating. I not only used these for chin-ups, I used them for 400+ lb stiff-legged deadlifts as well. They showed no damage and no signs of bending or cracking.

I absolutely would trust these for any bodyweight or free weight exercises you could do.

 

What Exercises Can You Do With Swissies?

These things are primarily designed for pulling exercises, turning regular pronated or supinated grips into neutral grips, which are generally easier on the shoulders.

 

Chin-Ups

This is the primary exercises they're designed for...they allow you to use a neutral grip, which is easier on the shoulders.

As well, they allow some movement, which further takes stress off the shoulders by not locking them in as much, without sacrificing stability (as you do with ring chin-ups).

They'll work for Inverted Rows as well, if you're not strong enough for full chins or if you just want to target a horizontal rowing movement.

 

Stiff-Legged Deadlifts (or regular Deadlifts)

These things passed the stress test of 400+ pounds on the bar.

The great thing about converting these into a neutral grip is that the bar won't roll out of your hands (as happens when you double-overhand grip a barbell and the weight gets heavy).

Just this alone makes the Swissies worth it to me. They allow you to work heavy without needing grip assistance due to bar rolling and without having to resort to a mixed grip.

 

Barbell Rows

I really like the barbell rows done with these.

Not only is the neutral grip easier on the shoulders, the extra few inches that these things give you extends the range of motion of the exercise before the bar contacts your stomach, giving you a stronger more complete contraction at the top.

 

Barbell Shrugs

Just like with deadlifts, heavy shrugs tax the grip primarily due to the barbell roll. The Swissies prevent that.

It makes the exercise more like a trap bar shrug, in this regard, even though you're not standing inside the bar itself.

 

 

Double Swissie One Arm Dumbbell Rows

This one was murder on the grip...hold both Swissies together then row the dumbbell up.

This creates and open-hand position which works grip and hand strength very effectively.

You'll need to adjust the balance on the first rep (you'll see in the video and when you try it).

 

Neutral Grip Bodyweight Tricep Extensions

This is the only effective "pushing" exercise I found I could do with these. And it worked GREAT.

It allows you to use a neutral grip for the exercise, which is a bit easier on the elbows.

 

What are the downsides of the Swissies?

Not many at all, I have to say.

The only thing I could really think of (and I really tried to think of things) was that you can't use them for pushing exercises to turn those into neutral grip movements (other than the exercise above).

But they're not designed for that, so it doesn't really count against them.

The only other thing I could think of might be that they're portable enough to accidentally "fall" into somebody else's gym bag, if you leave them hanging somewhere.

 

The Bottom Line...

These things are fully effective for what they're designed to do and they're built strong enough to take just about anything you can throw at them.

They are 100% worth every penny, in my opinion.

Learn more about the Kensui Swissies here...and get a pair for yourself!