Sweatlas
Hands & Grip
The Gear Atlas · Hands & Grip

Chalk, straps, grips and gloves for hybrid training

Your grip quits before your legs do on farmers carries, sled pulls and pull-ups. The right small kit keeps your hands in the session.

Reviewed 5 Nov 2026 · 1 source · 6 picks

Farmers carry and sled pull are grip stations, and pull-ups, toes-to-bar and heavy deadlifts in training load your hands just as hard 1. Chalk keeps sweat off the handle, straps let your back and legs train past what your grip can hold, and grips or gloves protect the skin.

Training and racing are different. In training, use whatever lets you do the work. On race day, rules on chalk, gloves and grips can change between seasons, so read the current Hyrox rulebook before you pack 1.

At a glance
Criteria

What to look for

01

Liquid chalk for sweaty hands

Liquid chalk dries into a thin, even layer and makes less mess than a block or a ball. Many gyms that ban loose chalk allow it.

02

Straps for volume, not every set

Lifting straps let you finish heavy pulls when grip fails first. Keep some sets strapless so the grip keeps getting trained.

03

Grips for the rig

Gymnastics grips protect palms on high-rep pull-ups and toes-to-bar. Fit matters: too big and they bunch up, too small and they cut in.

04

Gloves for rope and sled

Thin training gloves can save skin on a sled-pull rope. Choose ones with a snug fit so you keep your feel for the rope.

6 picks

Worth a look

  1. Liquid chalk

    FrictionLabs Secret Stuff liquid chalk

    An alcohol-based liquid chalk that dries quickly into an even layer. A small bottle lasts a long time and fits in any gym bag.

    Best for Gyms that ban loose chalk

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
  2. Chalk

    Refillable chalk ball

    Loose chalk in a refillable cloth ball: less dust than a block and cheap to refill.

    Best for Home gyms and lifting days

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
  3. Lifting straps

    Versa Gripps

    Quick-to-use straps with a pad that wraps the bar without threading. Easy to take on and off between sets.

    Best for Fast changes in circuits

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
  4. Lifting straps

    Cotton lifting straps

    Classic loop straps: simple, cheap and secure for heavy deadlifts, rows and farmers-carry handles.

    Best for Heavy pulls on a budget

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
  5. Gymnastics grips

    Bear KompleX gymnastics grips

    Grips built for pull-ups, toes-to-bar and muscle-ups. Check the size chart carefully.

    Best for High-rep pull-ups

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
  6. Gloves

    Harbinger training gloves

    Padded training gloves for rope work and rough handles. Keep a pair for sled-pull practice if your hands tear.

    Best for Sled pull practice

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Farmers carry technique Elbow pain from grip work
FAQ

Questions

Can I use chalk at Hyrox?

The rules on chalk have changed between seasons. Check the current Hyrox rulebook before race day, and do not assume you can carry your own chalk on the course 1.

Do lifting straps make my grip weaker?

Not if you use them only for the heaviest sets. Keep warm-ups and some working sets strapless so your grip still adapts.

Gloves or bare hands for the sled pull?

Train both. Bare hands give you the best feel for the rope, and gloves protect your skin on high-volume days. Check the rulebook for race day 1.

References

Sources

  1. HYROX. Official rulebook and station standards, current season. hyrox.com/rulebook. Accessed 2026-11-05.
From the blogAll posts
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Stations six and seven are where grip quits, quads burn and penalties creep in. Here is what the rules ask, how to train both, and how to pace them so you still have legs for the wall balls.

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Training · 9 min read

Sled Push and Sled Pull Training for Hyrox®, With or Without a Sled

Stations two and three are where fresh legs go to die. Here is how to push and pull a heavy sled well, what to train when your gym has no sled, and how to pace both on race day.

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Sweatlas: Your Hybrid Training Map

Chalk, straps, grips and gloves for hybrid training

Your grip quits before your legs do on farmers carries, sled pulls and pull-ups. The right small kit keeps your hands in the session.

Farmers carry and sled pull are grip stations, and pull-ups, toes-to-bar and heavy deadlifts in training load your hands just as hard. Chalk keeps sweat off the handle, straps let your back and legs train past what your grip can hold, and grips or gloves protect the skin.

Training and racing are different. In training, use whatever lets you do the work. On race day, rules on chalk, gloves and grips can change between seasons, so read the current Hyrox rulebook before you pack.

What to look for

Worth a look

  1. FrictionLabs Secret Stuff liquid chalk

    Liquid chalk. An alcohol-based liquid chalk that dries quickly into an even layer. A small bottle lasts a long time and fits in any gym bag. Best for: Gyms that ban loose chalk.

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

  2. Refillable chalk ball

    Chalk. Loose chalk in a refillable cloth ball: less dust than a block and cheap to refill. Best for: Home gyms and lifting days.

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

  3. Versa Gripps

    Lifting straps. Quick-to-use straps with a pad that wraps the bar without threading. Easy to take on and off between sets. Best for: Fast changes in circuits.

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

  4. Cotton lifting straps

    Lifting straps. Classic loop straps: simple, cheap and secure for heavy deadlifts, rows and farmers-carry handles. Best for: Heavy pulls on a budget.

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

  5. Bear KompleX gymnastics grips

    Gymnastics grips. Grips built for pull-ups, toes-to-bar and muscle-ups. Check the size chart carefully. Best for: High-rep pull-ups.

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

  6. Harbinger training gloves

    Gloves. Padded training gloves for rope work and rough handles. Keep a pair for sled-pull practice if your hands tear. Best for: Sled pull practice.

    Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

Look after your hands: Torn calluses end more sessions than tired muscles. File calluses down with a pumice stone or callus file once a week and keep the skin moisturised, so it bends instead of tearing.

Questions

Can I use chalk at Hyrox?

The rules on chalk have changed between seasons. Check the current Hyrox rulebook before race day, and do not assume you can carry your own chalk on the course.

Do lifting straps make my grip weaker?

Not if you use them only for the heaviest sets. Keep warm-ups and some working sets strapless so your grip still adapts.

Gloves or bare hands for the sled pull?

Train both. Bare hands give you the best feel for the rope, and gloves protect your skin on high-volume days. Check the rulebook for race day.

Sources

  1. HYROX. Official rulebook and station standards, current season. hyrox.com/rulebook. Accessed 2026-11-05.