There are countless forearm rollers on the market that all claim to build up the forearm flexors and extensors with regular use. The problem is that many are cheaply made and difficult to use, which inevitably leaves your muscles feeling understimulated and your mind feeling frustrated.
So when we heard that the Norwegian brand Vikingstrength had invented their own thick-grip wrist roller, we were intrigued. Could this be the forearm device to blast the competition into the past?
We decided to find out. Here’s our full Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster review. Let’s see if it’ll build your lower arms like they claim.
Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster facts and figures
The Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster device comes complete with thick grip handles to better recruit the muscles of your hands, wrists, and forearms. Just how thick are these handles?
I knew you’d want to know. These one-of-a-kind fat grip handles check-in at a meaty 6.18 inches. In practical terms, this strength-focused designed means that your forearms are guaranteed to get one heck of a workout because they have to exert extra force to hold onto the hardcore Viking handles.
The material quality also passes the test with flying colors. Unlike other wrist rollers, where you constantly have to stop and start your lifting motion to make sure that the cheap string doesn’t slip off to one side, Vikingstrength has kitted-out their fat-grip forearm blaster with a proper strapping.
This means that both of your arms always receive equal resistance because the strapping wraps in on itself and doesn’t fall off to one side like with the aforementioned cheaper products.
Add in the verified 220lb weight capacity (which, according to the company, is the most weight they’ve personally used with the device), and you can see why this wrist roller is built for heavy workouts. And if you fancy lifting 300lbs or more, then you can do that too, because they say that their sturdy forearm blaster can handle whatever weight you throw at it.
Plus, with a lifetime guarantee, there’s literally no risk in giving it a try.
Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster build quality
While virtually all wrist rollers are built from steel these days, most don’t have the quality finish to make them last a lifetime. But this isn’t the case with Vikingstrength.
Yes, the roller is made from sturdy steel, but the quality of the smaller components is second to none. If you were expecting a small little wrist roller when you open the package, then you’re going to be in for a shock when you see your new Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster for the first time.
This bad boy is big. Vikingstrength has designed it to withstand the most hardcore of workouts. It feels like a proper grip training device and not just a cheap fitness accessory that you’d use once and then forget about.
The strapping is especially impressive. Since the strapping wraps on top of itself as you lift the weight, your forearms receive maximum stimulation because you don’t have to keep changing your grip to prevent the rope from falling off to one side.
Actually, “rope” isn’t an entirely accurate description. This beast comes with a wide strap, and hence why it can support 220lbs at an absolute minimum. Considering that the average weight capacity for a wrist roller is only 100lbs, you can see how Vikingstrength has quickly become one of the market leaders in grip strength improvement.
Read more: homemade wrist roller
Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster loading options
Many products, such as the Rogue Fitness Wrist Roller, don’t work with weight plates out of the box. You have to spend extra on a loading pin. Heck, some don’t even work with weights at all.
But Vikingstrength?
You can use anything as resistance as long as you can attach it to their innovative chain link system. Fancy using a few milk jugs for resistance?
You can do that with Vikingstrength.
Want to fill up a backpack with some old books and then smash your forearms?
You can do that too.
Out of the 12+ wrist rollers that we’ve reviewed and tested, none offer more training versatility than the Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster.
Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster effectiveness
The forearms grow best from gripping objects with a large diameter. So why do most wrist rollers have thin handles?
I’ll tell you why. It’s because most manufacturers don’t even lift. Yes, you read that right. They have no enthusiasm for working out—let alone for grip training—other than making a quick buck from the fitness industry.
But Vikingstrength is different. They understand that getting freaky forearms and a fearsome grip requires specialist training with thick-diameter implements. That’s why their wrist roller is one of the most effective on the market for building your lower arms.
Since your gripping muscles are maximally engaged at the same time that your forearms are pumping back and forth to raise the weight, your arms naturally receive an intense muscle pump that’s hard, if not impossible, to replicate with a standard wrist roller.
This training effect naturally carries over into your compound movement performance. Since you’re only as strong as your weakest link, which, for many people, is their grip, this forearm blaster will help you to deadlift heavier weights and smash old PRs.
And if you’re more of the bodybuilding type, then you can look forward to a bigger back because you’ll definitely be able to grip the pulldown bar harder now that you’re using the Vikingstrength wrist roller.
Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster alternatives
Clearly, the Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster is among the best grip strengthening tools on the market. Yet, there are a small collection of other wrist rollers that offer similar benefits. Below you’ll find a link to a detailed review of each of them so that you can compare this reliable roller to the rest.
But if you don’t fancy reading any more reviews, just scroll down to the conclusion for my verdict on this Norwegian grip training device.
- Grip Freak Hanging Wrist Roller
- GD Premium Wrist Roller
- Pellor Wrist Roller
- Sidewinder Grip Twister
- Sidewinder ProXtreme
- Sidewinder Pro Plus
- Twist Yo Wrist
- One Wicked Wrist Roller
- Sidewinder Revolution
- Bison 1M
Is the Vikingstrength wrist roller a good investment for your forearms?
The Norwegians have very high standards for strength training equipment and training. [1] If you showed them the average, thin-handle wrist roller, they’d probably just laugh and pass it off as a kids toy.
That’s why I was so pumped up to discover the Vikingstrength Forearm Blaster. Not only is the construction extremely heavy-duty (hence the lifetime guarantee), but the workout that your forearms get is virtually unrivaled by other products in this affordable price range.
Ultimately, if you’re a complete novice who only trains their forearms every now and again, then you might want to skip on this one. But if you’re determined to strengthen your grip and improve the appearance of your lower arms, then you’d do a good job to invest in the Vikingstrength Wrist Roller while it’s in stock.
References
- Douglas-Gabriel, D. (2016, June 8). Why grip strength is important even if you’re not a ‘Ninja Warrior’. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/why-grip-strength-is-important-even-if-youre-not-a-ninja-warrior/2016/06/07/f88dc6a8-2737-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html
- Henselmans, M. (2018, December 13). A stats exercise with The Norwegian Frequency Project. MennoHenselmans.Com. https://mennohenselmans.com/norwegian-frequency-project-stats/