Do You Actually Need Accessory Carabiners? (Short Answer: Yes – Just Not for Climbing)

If you climb regularly, you’ve probably seen the same thing I have — people cranking out endless pull-ups hoping it’ll magically improve their grip strength. And don’t get me wrong, pull-ups help… but not as much as people think.

What really moved the needle for me were simple grip trainers. Fingerboards, hangboards, and even gyro balls. Especially the gyro ball — it looks like a toy until you actually try it. Thirty seconds in and your forearms start burning in a way that feels weirdly satisfying.

The biggest win?
You can train grip literally anywhere: by your desk, while watching a show, even during breaks at work.

Climbing rewards tiny incremental improvements, and grip training is one of the fastest ways to feel that progress. If you’ve hit a plateau lately, this is probably the easiest place to start shaking things up.