N Gage Grips Review

If you’re like me and have wrists that scream at you when using straight bars, N Gage Grips might catch your attention.

N-Gage Grips are angled rubber grips that slide on straight barbells, dumbbells, and cable machine attachments to mimic the angles on an EZ curl bar.

At first, I didn’t think they’d make much of a difference but once I put the grips on different straight bars, my wrists, elbows, and shoulders, did not take a beating and I was able to get through my workouts without pain.

I’ve tested a lot of home gym accessories and the best one make equipment I already own more useful. That’s exactly what N-Gage Grips do.

They don’t replace a collection of specialty bars but they give me a simple way to add more grip options to what I already own without having to buy another bar or cable attachment.

Key Takeaways

• N-Gage Grips are angled rubber attachments that turn a straight bar or cable attachment into an EZ curl bar

• They can be used on barbells, cable attachments, pullup bars, dumbbells, and some machines

• Useful for bicep curls, triceps extensions, barbell and cable rows, presses, and other exercises where wrist angles and comfort matters

• The biggest benefit to N-Gage Grips is that they make straight bar exercises feel more comfortable on my wrists, elbows, and shoulders

• They make the bar grip thicker so my hands and forearms have to work harder

• Because they’re compact, they are easy to store and cost way less than buying specialty bars

• They’re not made for every exercise but are very helpful for those where wrist angles cause pain

• For home gym owners with limited space, they make a great accessory if you train with different grip angles

Unboxing

The pair of grips comes in a cardboard box with some inserts on how to use them.

FYI, I got both the N-Gage Grips EZ and N-Gage Grips Pro. For this review, I’ll be talking about the EZ version but I’ll show you the differences between both.

Here’s what the grips look like out of the box.

When I first saw these, I thought they looked similar to Fat Gripz but the inside is what makes these different and more joint friendly.

Looking at these from the sides, the circle is not centered on the grips and that’s done on purpose to create an angle when I put them on a straight bar.

What Are N Gage Grips?

N-Gage Grips are a pair of angled rubber grips that attach to straight bars. I slide them on a bar and the grip creates an angle similar to an EZ curl bar.

The inside of the grips is angled so once I put the on a bar, the grips tilt automatically. This of them like a portable EZ curl bar grip.

Instead of my hands being locked in a straight position (which hurts my wrists with certain exercises), N-Gage Grips let me angle my wrists to a more natural position. For me, this makes bicep curls, triceps exercises, rows, and presses feel better.

I put these inside one of my Trakhandle Sport handles to give you a perspective of the size of the grips.

They’re small so they don’t take up any additional space in my garage gym and I can throw them on equipment I already own without having to buy specialty bars or attachments.

Specs

• Material: Durable, natural rubber

• Knurl: Volcano knurling

• Length: 4″ (N-Gage Grips EZ), 4.25″ (N-Gage Grips Pro)

• Diameter: 1.75″ (N-Gage Grips EZ), 2″ (N-Gage Grips Pro)

• Uses: Turn straight bars into EZ curl bars, reduce joint pain, increases forearms and biceps activation

Who Are N-Gage Grips For (And Not For)?

✅ Ideal For

• Home gym owners with limited space and budget

• Lifters who want EZ curl bar angles without having to buy an EZ curl bar

• People like me who feel wrist or elbow pain with straight bars

• Anyone looking for more forearm involvement with thicker grips

• Garage gym athletes who want more grip handle options

• Those who like accessories that make equipment you already own more versatile

❌ Not For

• People who already own specialty bars, rotating cable handles, fat grips

• Those who don’t experience joint pain with straight bars

• Competition athletes who need to train exactly the same way they compete

How To Use N-Gage Grips

N-Gage Grips are really easy to use and I’m gonna show you step by step how to use them for your training.

For overhand lifts like military press, bench press, reverse curls, tricep pushdowns, and skull crushers, attach the grips to a straight bar so that the angle of the grips creates an “A” shape.

When doing underhand exercises like bicep curls, reverse grip lat pulldowns, barbell/cable rows, attach the grips so that the angle of grips creates a “V” shape.

For pushing exercises, make sure the grip opening faces away from your palm.

With pulling exercises, the grip opening should face your palm.

I’ve never had them come off when using them but this will be the safest way to prevent the grips from coming off the bar.

Always use a full grip with your thumb going around the grip. Never use a false grip or suicide grip.

Best Exercises To Use With N Gage Grips (By Body Part)

I can use N-Gage Grips for a lot of exercise but these are the ones that make the most sense to me and my training style.

Arms

Barbell Curls

This is the most obvious use. I’m 47 so I’ve noticed more discomfort in my wrists and elbows when using a straight bar for bicep curls.

Adding the grips angles my wrists into a more natural position so I can continue to curl without pain.

Bicep Cable Curls

It works the same way when I’m doing cable curls. I throw it on my straight bar cable attachment and I bust out my curls without discomfort.

Overhead Tricep Extensions

I don’t usually use a straight bar for overhead tricep extensions (I usually go with a dumbbell) but it is an option.

Skull Crushers

I prefer to use the grips for skull crushers because I can set it on J-cups or spotter arms and load it like a rackable EZ curl bar.

The angle on the grips forces me to keep my elbows closer to my body so it reduces the discomfort I feel with straight bar skull crushers.

Tricep Extensions

For cable tricep extensions, I turn the grips so they’re in the “A” position. This feels best on my wrists when I’m pushing down.

I can also turn them the opposite way for reverse tricep extensions. It gives me a similar feel to when I use the UClips W Grip cable attachment.

Chest

Bench Press

The bench press is one move where I wasn’t expecting to use these grips but it actually helps with my form.

As you can see in the pic above, the change in the angle of my wrists helps to bring my elbows in so it prevents me from flaring my elbows too wide.

This has helped me to get back into barbell bench pressing which is an exercise that always caused my right shoulder to hurt.

So not only do my wrists feel better but it also improves the biomechanics of the kinetic chain going up my arms.

Back

Pronated Bent Over Rows

This is another exercise where I’m able to keep my elbows close to get better form.

One thing I’ve noticed with rows and other pulling exercises though, is that the grips do affect the amount of weight I’m able to pull because my grip has to work harder.

Supinated Bent Over Rows

It’s the same whether I’m using a pronated or supinated grip. Feels great on the joints but the thick grip limits the amount of weight I can pull.

So whenever I wanna pull heavy and don’t want to feel pain, I use my Jerkfit Death Grips straps instead.

Seated Cable Rows

Whenever I have seated cable rows in my workouts, they work the same as with barbell rows.

Good on the joints but can’t go real heavy due to grip fatigue.

Shoulders

Military Press

I like the grips a lot for military presses. They give me the same arm alignment like when I’m bench pressing.

I’m able to keep my elbows in closer to my body so I’m able to press in a more natural way without pain.

Top Benefits Of N Gage Grips

Easier On My Joints

I love straight bars for most compound exercises but my wrist don’t agree with some exercises where my wrists are locked in an outward position.

This is where I use N-Gage Grips and turn straight bars and cable attachments into a more joint friendly angle so exercises feel more natural.

Add More Angles To Straight Bars

The beauty about the N-Gage Grips is that they add more angles to straight bars and attachments in seconds.

I can switch between angles for both overhand and underhand exercises by simply turning them 180 degrees.

Cheaper Than Buying Another Bar

If you’ve been around the home gym space, you know specialty bars and attachments can be expensive.

An EZ curl bar, multi-grip bar, rotating handles, and other cable attachments can add up quick.

N-Gage Grips won’t replace every one of those but I can get some variety for a lot less.

Improve Grip Strength

Since they grips make the bar or cable attachments thicker, my hands and forearms have to work harder to hold on.

If your goal is to improve grip strength, that’s a positive.

For me personally, I’ve found that this is a negative for back day since I’m not able to maintain a solid grip when doing heavy lat pulldowns, seated cable rows, and bent over rows.

Best Features Of N-Gage Grips

Angled Design

The angled design is what makes N-Gage Grips different than regular fat grips.

Fat Grips’ objective is to make the bar thicker to work on grip strength.

N-Gage Grips changes both the thickness of the bar and my wrists angle so I get more value out of one product.

Grippy Rubber Material

The grips are made of grippy, natural rubber so I can use these on bars that don’t have knurling.

A combination of the rubber material and squeezing my hands, keeps the grips from shifting while I workout.

Small Footprint

This is one of those accessories that doesn’t require any storage space.

I leave them on my barbell when I’m done working out and that’s it.

RELATED: Home Gym Storage Ideas

Versatile

The biggest advantage to these grips is how many exercises I can do with them.

Bicep curls, rows, bench press, military press, tricep extensions, lat pulldowns, and many others so they’re more than just a one-trick pony.

N-Gage Grips EZ vs Pro

Even though I mainly use the N-Gage Grips EZ grips, the Pro version works exactly the same but it’s made a quarter inch thicker and longer.

So it engages my grip and forearms more.

Below, I created a table to show you the differences and similarites between N-Gage Grips EZ vs Pro.

Features	N-Gage Grips EZ	N-Gage Grips Pro
Material	Non-slip, natural rubber	Non-slip, natural rubber
Knurling	Volcano	Volcano
Length	4″	4.25″
Diameter	1.75″	2″
Best For	Small hands, wrist pain	Bigger hands, forearm/bicep activation
Price	$39.95	$43.95

N Gage Grips Pros & Cons

Pros

• Grip options: Adds angled grip options to straight bars and attachments I already own

• Joint health: Keeps my wrists and elbows from hurting while working out

• Versatile: I use it for a lot of exercises (more than I thought I would)

• Compact: Easy to store and doesn’t take up much space

• Grip strength: Thickness improves grip and forearm strength

• Affordable: Much cheaper than buying multiple specialy bars

Cons

• Pulling exercises: As it is, pulling exercises are limited by grip strength. A thicker grip makes it harder to go heavy.

N-Gage Grips Price

The grips are usually much cheaper than buying specialty bars or multiple cable attachments so instead of spending on any bar, I can throw the grips on a bar I already own and change the feel and angles instantly.

That’s one of the reasons they make a lot of sense for a home gym.

For the $40 price, I see them as a valuable accessory for many upper body exercises.

N Gage Grips Discount Code

As of now, there aren’t any N-Gage Grips discount code available, but this is honestly one of those products that’s already at an affordable price point.

When you compare the cost of these grips to buying multiple specialty bars and cable attachments, it’s pretty easy to see the value.

For a small investment, you’re getting a compact accessory that adds more versatility to equipment you already own.

Click the red button below for the lowest N-Gage Grips price.

N Gage Grips Alternatives

These grips are unique because they combine an angled grip with a thick diameter but here are a few alternatives depending on what you’re trying to accomplish.

Fat Gripz

The Fat Gripz are the most obvious comparison to N-Gage Grips. They make bars and cable attachments thicker so they emphasize grip and forearm strength.

But they don’t create the same EZ curl bar style angle like N-Gage Grips do.

Fat Gripz are best for grip training and forearm strengthening.

EZ Curl Bar

EZ curl bars have fixed angled grips and they’re made to be easy on my joints but they’re awkward to load and set up because they’re short and can’t be racked.

For that reason, I prefer a rackable EZ curl bar cause I can load it while it rests on my J-cups or spotter arms but they’re more expensive than the shorter, traditional curl bars.

These are best for lifters who prefer a dedicate curl bar.

My Experience Using N-Gage Grips

For me, using N-Gage Grips has made a big difference especially when doing curls. I get an EZ curl bar feel without needing an extra bar.

Even for pushing exercises like tricep extensions and presses like bench press, I’ve been able to exercise with less discomfort.

My wrists and elbows don’t scream at me during (or after) workouts.

I can definitely feel the difference in the thick grip because my hands and forearms have to work harder.

The only time I would skip using the grips is for back day just because they’re hard on my grip so I can’t pull as much weight.

Final Verdict: Are N Gage Grips Worth It?

Yes, N-Gage Grips are worth it if you have a home gym and want more exercises without buying more bars and cable attachments.

They’re useful if you have pain in your joints when exercising with straight bars.

Are they gonna replace everything? No, but for a small accessory they do a lot for many exercises.

If you want one small tool that allows you to get more out of the equipment you already own, N-Gage Grips are worth checking out.

N-Gage Grips FAQ’s

What do N Gage Grips do?

They give straight bars and straight cable attachments similar angles to an EZ curl bar so they’re easier on my joints.

Are N-Gage Grips the same as Fat Gripz?

They look similar out of the box but once I put them on a bar, they’re not the same. Yes, both make the bar thicker so it challenges my grip, but N-Gage Grips create an angle on straight bars so they mimic an EZ curl bar.

Can I use N Gage Grips on dumbbells?

Yes, depending on the dumbbell handle size and shape. I don’t personally use them on dumbbells but I can see them being useful to improve grip strength.

Do N Gage Grips work on cable attachments?

Yes, I use them on straight cable attachments.

What exercises can I do with N-Gage Grips?

I use these for tricep extensions, skull crushers, bicep curls, bench press, military press, and more.

Do N Gage Grips help wrist pain?

Yes, they put less pressure on my wrists with some exercises like bicep curls and tricep extensions.