There are tons of grip aids out there for pole. They come in two categories: antiperspirants and sticky (for added grip). Below are some of the different antiperspirant grip aids, most of which I've used. Not every grip aid is for everyone. Hopefully this guide will help you decide which one is for you. Note: I will be posting a separate post on the sticky grip aids.
Tite grip is an orange paste, sort of like thin toothpaste, containing aluminum like most antiperspirants. Apply it at least 10 minutes before activity so it can take effect. It leaves a thin white film your hands, which will periodically need to be reapplied because it rubs off on the pole. You'll also need to wipe the pole down regularly since it leaves a slight film on the pole. Keep in mind it takes a bit of effort to get off of your hands and the pole. Tite grip doesn't work well with very many other grip aids. It is a matter of trial and error to see if it meshes with another grip aid.
Ingredients: Water, Isopropyl Ancohol, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Talc, Kaolin, Lavener Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol (and) Methylparaben (and) Ethylparaben (and) Butylparaben (and) Propylparaben (and) Isobutylparaben, Potassium Sorbate (Red 40), Yellow 5
If you are opposed to parabens, then this product is not for you.
Tite Grip II is a reformulation of Tite Grip. It has the same ingredients as Tite Grip I, but in different concentrations. It was meant to replace Tite Grip I, but people found it to be less effective for really sweaty hands, than the original. They have since reformulated Tite Grip II again, to make it stronger than Tite Grip I. This version of Tite Grip leaves less of a film on the hands. It dries mostly clear, unlike I, which dries as a white film on the hands.
Ingredients: Water, Isopropyl Ancohol, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Hydrated Silica, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Talc, Kaolin, Lavener Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol (and) Methylparaben (and) Ethylparaben (and) Butylparaben (and) Propylparaben (and) Isobutylparaben, Potassium Sorbate (Red 40), Yellow 5
Dirty Girl POLEtice is the newest grip aid on the market. It contains no synthetic chemicals and is all natural. Because of this you need to shake it every time you use it. DGP works well with other grip aids, which is a major bonus. You put it on your hands, let it dry, then rinse it off with water. From there you can apply any other grip aid! It does not leave a residue on the pole. This is a great product for sweaty hands. Polers rave about this product. I use it on my face to help with my acne! This product is made by a fellow poler and is a small business. The owner is working on refill packs for the bottles, so you can reuse the bottles! (If you can't already tell, I'm a huge fan and would definitely recommend DGP ;)
Ingredients: Water, Naturally Organic Silica, Small Amounts of Various Trace Elements
Dry hands is a liquid that dries on your hands fairly clear. It doesn't leave much of a film on the pole. This product can be used in conjunction with some other grip aids.
Ingredients: SD alcohol 40, silica, Methyl Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclomethione
Distilled White Vinegar:
Distilled vinegar is the most affordable antiperspirant grip aid out there. It is found on the cleaning aisle in your local supermarket, or sometimes with the regular vinegar. Putting it your hands can help control sweating and it can be used in conjunction with other grip aids. Your hands will smell like vinegar, so if you don't like vinegar, this may not be for you. If you have a brass pole, the vinegar will take off the patina. Be careful using it on your brass pole if you see the beginnings of red rot, as vinegar can accelerate the process. Vinegar is a very good and safe cleaning agent, so you can use it to clean most poles and it is a green product!
Certain Dri is a liquid antiperspirant that you can purchase at your local drug store. It is the strongest antiperspirant you can purchase without a prescription. It is a 12% solution of Aluminum Chloride, so if you are opposed to Aluminum, this product is not for you. For sweaty hands, it should be applied to the hands at night and left on over night. Repeat this process nightly for a week or two and see if it helps. If you notice decreased sweating, you can start applying it every other day, then every two days, etc. This is what my dermatologist instructed me to do.
Ingredients: Aluminum Chloride (12%), Sodium Bicarbonate, Water.
Drysol:
Drysol is a prescription strength antiperspirant specifically used for hyperhydrosis, which as the name suggests is above average sweating. It is a 20% solution of Aluminum Chloride, so if you are opposed to using Aluminum, this product is not for you. Usage is the same as Certain Dri. Many hyperhydrosis sufferers have found this to be a very effective antiperspirant.
Ingredients: Aluminum Chloride (20%) in Anhydrous Ethyl Alcohol (SD Alcohol 40)
Gloves:
In a previous post I discussed the different pole gloves out there. They are a great option for those of us with greasy hands and hands immune to sweat fighting grip aids.
I know there have been other products used as grip aids, but I do not have experience with them, so I am leaving them out for now. Feel free to comment with anything you have found to help improve grip.
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