Pull handles

Facts at a glance (for a quick selection)

• The 'lift handles' category includes, among others, single-handed handles (UWC91, UWC31, UWC32), bars with different grip widths (UW15B, UW17, UW17B, UW18) and specialised models for the overhead and bottom lift.
• The handles are made of chrome-plated steel, often with rubberised handles or foam, which improves grip comfort and safety under heavy loads.
• Purpose: home gyms, fitness clubs, personal training studios, hotel gyms - full compatibility with lifts on atlases, gates and commercial machines.
• Related categories: Atlas handles, Workout cages, Exercise gate, Hip Thrust, Atlas equipment.

Home gym lift handles - more exercises from one atlas

In a home gym, every inch of space and every expense has to 'work'. A well-chosen atlas lift handle can turn one machine into a mini-workout studio. The UWC31 and UWC32 one-handed grips allow for comfortable unilateral training - one-handed cable pulls, rowing, face pulls or triceps extensions in different planes.

If you have an overhead and bottom lift in your atlas, all you need to complete the set are a few accessories: a narrower bar (e.g. UW15B) for narrow grip pull-ups, a wider handle UW17 or UW17B for working the broadest back, and a pull-up cord or triceps cord for shoulder extension and neutral grip variations. This way, you get the maximum out of one stack and one cable - from your back, to your shoulders, to your arms and abdominals.

Commercial lift handles - a detail that makes a difference

In a fitness club or personal training studio, lift handles work all day long: on gates, atlases, workout cage lifts and lat pulldown machines. Here, it is not only comfort that counts, but also durability and the ability to adapt the grip to different users. The UW16, UW17, UW17B or UW18 chrome grips, with rubberised handles and several grip zones (straight, oblique, narrow, wide), allow trainers to precisely select the setting for a specific purpose - from building a broad back to adding weight to movements in functional training.

For the club owner, it's also about safety and user experience. A triceps pull-up cord with sturdy ends, abrasion-resistant rubberised handles, no sharp edges and a secure snap hook mean that accessories do not require constant complaints and clients do not worry about their hands slipping during heavier series. In practice, a well-planned set of lift handles often impresses clients more than another machine for a single exercise.

How do I choose handles for the lifts? The most important criteria

Use: domestic vs commercial
For home, a set of 3-4 grips is usually sufficient: one-handed (e.g. UWC31/UWC32), a medium bar (UW15B or UW12), a triceps cord for the lifts and possibly a triangle for rowing. It is useful to have a wide range in the club: several lengths of bar, different grip angles, rowing handles, neutral handles and pull-up cords of different lengths.

Shape and grip width
How wide you position your hands and at what angle you hold them determines which muscle fibres work the hardest. The UW15B, UW17, UW17B and UW18 bars offer several grip zones (narrower and wider sections, oblique grips), allowing you to move from narrow pulls on the broadest back to neutral pulls closer to the body. The UWC31/UWC32 single-handed grips give full freedom of hand positioning in space, which is great for rotational and unilateral exercises.

Material and finish
Chrome-plated steel guarantees high strength and wear resistance, but comfort is also determined by the handle finish. Rubberised handles (such as the UW18, UW17B) ensure a secure grip even with sweaty hands, while foam (e.g. in the UWC31/UWC32) gives a very pleasant, soft contact with the hand. It is worth choosing a mix: rubberised bars for heavier strength work and foam single-handed grips for functional training and longer series.

Compatibility with machines and atlases
The standard handle for the atlas lift has a hole for a carabiner with a diameter of approximately 14-15 mm - such as on the UW18 or UW17B models. This makes it easy to hook it up to the lift on an atlas, gantry, training cage or commercial machine. Before purchasing, make sure that the snap hooks on your equipment have a standard diameter and that the length of the handle will not interfere with the design of the machine at full range of motion.

Budget and training priorities
If your priority is 'back and arms', go for a wider set of bars and a cord for your triceps - this will get the most out of your overhead and bottom lifts. If you're more concerned with functional training, mobility and injury prevention, choose more one-handed, neutral and ergonomic grips that allow you to work in different planes but with moderate loads.

The pull-up cord, triceps cord and bars - how do you combine these in practice?

The pull-up cord is a classic in triceps training - the neutral grip (thumbs up), the ability to slightly 'extend' the movement at the tip and the natural position of the wrists reduce the risk of overload. The triceps pull-up bar will also work well for biceps flexions, face pulls or straight arm pulldowns.

The rods (UW15B, UW17, UW17B, UW18) are better suited to classic back pulls, overhead lift pulls, rowing on the bottom lift or "pull-up" back extensions on the lift. By combining a rope, one-handed grips and several bars, you build a complete arsenal for every upper body muscle group.

Lift handles vs. atlas handles and training grips

At first glance, 'lift handles' and 'atlas handles' look similar - and indeed, most of them are compatible with each other. The difference is rather functional:

• lift handles focus on cable work on atlases, gates and machines,
• handles foratlases also include accessories for specific machines (e.g. overhead cranes, leg curl),
• training grips are a broader category: landmine, rope and belt grips, power bands, etc.

In practice, this means that some accessories (such as UWC31, UWC32, UW16, UW17, UW18) will appear in several sections at the same time - you can buy them with an atlas, a gate in mind, and use them for functional training on occasion.

Example configurations - lift handle sets

In a home gym, a simple but thoughtful set will work great:

• UWC31 or UWC32 one-handed handles for unilateral work,
• UW15B bar for back and biceps pull-ups,
• a triceps pull-up cord (e.g. from the atlas handles category) for shoulder extensions and face pulls.

In a personal training studio or small club, it is worth going a step further:

• a set of bars (UW16, UW17, UW17B, UW18) with different widths and angles,
• several pairs of one-hand grips (UWC31, UWC32, UWC91) for lifts and gates,
• several cords for lifts and triangles for rowing.

This will ensure that every trainer will have the perfect grip on hand for back, shoulders, biceps, triceps or abdominal exercises, and users will not have to 'fight' for accessories at peak times.

Recommended lift handles in this category

1. UWC91 SINGLEHANDLE HANDLES FOREXERCISE LIFTAND GATE 2 GRUMMED PairsHMS - a pair ofrubberised single-handed handles for the lift andgate, ideal for unilateral exercises for the back, shoulders and arms; a great base for both the atlas at home and the gate at the club.
2. UWC32 S INGLEHANDLE HANDLE FOREXERCISE AND GATE 2 PIANO PACKS HMS - lightweight foam handles with a very comfortable grip, ideal for longer series, functional training and mobilisation exercises on the lift.
3. UW18 HMS HANDLE - a sturdy bar for both upper and lower lifts, with several grip zones (straight and oblique), rubberised handles and the ability to work with heavy loads; ideal for back pulls and pull downs.
4. UW17B HMS HANDLE - a massive overhead and downward pull-up handle with four grip zones, allowing for a variety of pull-ups and pull-downs; great for the broadest back and working on the biceps/triceps from the lift.
5. HMS UW16 HANDLE - a versatile pull-up bar that will work well for most upper body exercises; a good 'first choice' for the home gym and to complement the kit at the club.

FAQ

Do the lift handles in this category fit my atlas?
Most atlases, gates and lifts - both home and commercial - use standard carabiners and a hole diameter of around 14-15mm. HMS lift handles, such as the UW18 or UW17B, are designed to this standard, so you can easily hook them up to the lift in your atlas, training cage or gate. If in doubt, simply compare the diameter of the hole in the handle with the diameter of the carabiner.

How do lift handles differ from handles for atlases?
Functionally - quite often... not at all. The same models (e.g. UWC31, UWC32, UW16, UW17) appear in both the "lift handles" and "atlas handles" categories. The difference is rather in the context in which they are presented: some as accessories for the upper/lower lift, others as add-ons for a specific atlas or machine. In practice, most handles will comfortably handle both an atlas, a gantry and a free-standing lift.

Which lift handle set should I choose to start with?
If you train at home, start with: one-hand grips (UWC31/UWC32), a medium bar (UW15B or UW12) and a triceps rope for the lift. Such a set will allow you to train your back, shoulders and arms comprehensively. At the club, it's a good idea to go straight for a larger package of bars with different grip angles, several pairs of one-hand grips and a couple of pull-up cords - that way the equipment won't get blocked at peak times.

Is a pull-up cord necessary if I already have a bar?
A triceps pull-up cord is not compulsory, but it's definitely worth having one. It allows a natural, neutral grip, allows you to extend the movement at the end of the lunge and strongly 'tighten' the triceps with less stress on the joints. The bar is great for pull-ups and pull-downs, while the pull-up cord is indispensable for triceps isolation and many shoulder or back exercises performed with one hand or with a non-standard trajectory.

How do I look after the pull-up handles so that they last for years?
The basic thing is to regularly wipe down the grips (especially the rubberised and foam ones) after a workout to remove sweat and magnesium. In clubs, it's a good idea to check the condition of the rubberisation, nuts and the carabiner hole itself from time to time - they may need periodic replacement with heavy use. You can wipe the chrome-plated steel with a damp cloth and, once in a while, use a gentle metal cleaner, avoiding aggressive preparations that could damage the rubber or foam.

Order the HMS lift handles today - bet on a secure grip and an effective workout!

Want to squeeze the maximum out of your atlas, gantry or lift - at home or in the club? Choose your lift handles from this category, select the shape, width and finish of the grip to suit your goals, and if you need help setting up your kit, simply contact us. Once well-chosen, these grips will work for you for years with every workout.