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York Skip Rope
by pmcds
You'll never be short of options when it comes to buying a skipping rope, and the prices and quality will vary more than you would initially think. Quite often, it's the handles that make or break the rope, if you'll pardon the pun, as the rope itself can often fray after excessive use. However, this relatively cheap skipping rope is one ... of the better affordable options out there.
Skipping ropes can range from the dirt cheap couple of pounds to over £10, but really what you're after is something that you can use as often as you want without if deteriorating in the quality during the time you skip for. I find that time is of the essence, and I don't really have much opportunity to skip at home. The floorboards shake in most of the convenient places, and it makes a bit of a racket, so skipping when the boys are in bed asleep is not an option; so it has to be early morning, and I want to be able to skip for a good number of minutes without it being a hassle.
This rope is easy to pick up, use and put down, but then aren't they all? Well, a few are awkward to use to start with, the grips needing to warm up slightly before they're comfortable. The rope can be somewhat stiff if it's not been used often. This rope though is good to go all the time. The grip is soft and comfortable, the ridged element of it meaning it can mould to your hand very easily. But the best thing about the grip is that after around 15 mins or so of skipping, it's still comfy. I do sweat quite early on if I'm doing exercise, and skipping is no exception. The grip seems to absorb this quite well, and becomes slightly heavier, but it's not an issue even though it's noticeable. The grip maintains its flexibility and even though I feel I should need to adjust my grip, the fact that I don't actually need to makes this somewhat different to other skipping rope handles.
The rope itself is tightly wound and flexible from the start. I've gotten this wet before, and left it in the sun, and not used it for weeks, and it still maintains its state. Nor does it change state the more you use it. I find that the rope itself actually moves at the same level from the moment you pick it up to the moment you put it down, and that the weight is balanced just about right for me to achieve a steady pace of skip.
There are a couple of issues I have with it though, and both are sort of related. The first is to do with the rope length. If anything, I could do with a bit more slack on the rope. It feels as if I'm about to catch it either on my head or under my feet despite the jump and it doesn't make it the most comfortable I've ever skipped. The second issue is when I want to speed up or slow down, and the weight of the rope just doesn't feel quite right, as if doing this won't work as well. I feel it hard to alter from the usual speed, which I have encountered with other ropes but not as much as with this one.
But these are minor issues, and I am more than happy with maintaining one steady pace and keeping my skipping tight in above and below me. Done regularly, I feel this benefits me greatly - it certainly gets me off to a good start in the morning, gets my blood pumping and doesn't cost a thing. It doesn't disturb anyone and our high ceilings mean I can do this as long as the racket of the floorboards doesn't wake the boys - in the morning this could be the ideal thing to get them out of bed though!
At an affordable price as well, it's a rope I'd certainly recommend. Not perfect, but I'd rather have a rope that doesn't deteriorate and feels comfortable in the grip from start to finish than one with a smoother swing and slightly longer length. Highly recommended.
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York Fitness Handgrips
by kiss_me2070
The Handgrips
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York has been one of the biggest names in the global fitness equipment industry for over 75 years. York started life as 2 different companies, the first established in the USA in 1932 and operated in the world of Olympic Weightlifting, and the second was established in Canada in 1936 and began ... developing weights and benches for use in the home. Many of you will have probably heard of York Fitness if you are regular to exercising or going to the gym. York Fitness do a huge range of products suitable for the home including Dumbbells, Barbells, Weight Benches, Multi-gyms, Treadmills, Exercise Bikes, Cross Trainers, Kettle bells, Gym Balls and more. I first became familiar with this brand quite a few years ago when I purchased a set of dumbbells from my local Argos store. Since then I have also purchased kettle bells from the York Fitness range and made my most recent purchase from this range which is the Strong Handgrips. The handgrips actually come in 2 different strengths which includes strong and extra strong, I decided to purchase the strong as I thought that the extra strong would be too hard for me. The aim of the handgrips is to improve your grip strength and to tone your forearms. I have been training at my local gym for approximately 2 months and I do a lot of weight training. My grip isn't the best and quite often I find myself loosing grip when doing dead weights and other weight training. I have heard of products like this before helping to improve your grip so I thought I would purchase some to see if they really did help. The handgrips come in a bright green and white box and have a picture of the handgrips on the front. On the back of the box is some information about York Fitness. There aren't any instructions inside the box or any indication of how to use these; how-ever it's very straight forward and simple. The grips and made from metal and have a spring coil resistance making them tough and durable. There are soft foam handles which are grey in colour and these help to provide and comfortable grip when using them.
Price/Availability
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I purchased the Strong handgrips from Amazon for just over £5.00. You can also purchase the Extra strong handgrips from Amazon as well. Alternatively you can buy these direct from www.yorkfitness.com for £7.99. Please note that you may also find these cheaper elsewhere.
Using the Handgrips
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The handgrips are the perfect size for holding in your hand and the first thing I noticed was how soft the foam handles were. Holding the grip in your hand you simply need to squeeze the handles towards each other so the handles in a sense close. I found this quite hard at first how-ever once you get into a routine of doing this I find that it becomes easier. The foam handles are very soft which makes them really comfortable when using. I have to admit that these aren't the most exciting things to use and they are very boring to use, how-ever they are great for helping to improve grip and tone in your forearm so I was determined to use these for a good few minutes every day or every other day to see how if things improved. I'm really glad that I went for the strong handgrips as I wouldn't have been able to do the extra strong ones. For me these handgrips are just right as they aren't too easy but aren't so hard that I can't use them. The handgrips can be stored back in their box, how-ever I just keep them hidden away in a drawer so I can take them out and use them anytime. As this is a boring exercise I tend to use these for a few minutes whilst watching a film so it isn't so boring. I have been using the grips for approximately 1 month now and I try to use them for at least a few minutes every day or every other day. I think my grip has definitely improved to what it was 1 month ago as I find that I can now grip weights at the gym much better than I could before. Even my personal trainer has noticed this.
Overall Opinion
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Although these don't look like they do much I think they do a fantastic job of helping to improve grip and to help tone up your forearms. I have definitely noticed a difference in my grip and it has improved to what it was like before I started using these. In terms of value I think these are very reasonable and as the grips are good quality and very well made. When looking for handgrips I wasn't really sure what brand to go for, how-ever I am now glad that I decided to purchase these. The grips are suitable for both men and woman and are suitable for using every day or every other day. Due the quality and strength of this item I expect them to last me a good few years and if not longer. If you find that you have trouble gripping things or just lack grip in general when you pick things up then I would highly recommend these as I found a good improvement after using them every day/every other day for a few weeks. I am taking 1 star off this product as it is a really boring exercise today; how-ever if you stick with it then you will see and feel the benefits of it.
(review may also appear on ciao)
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