How many times have you been lifting and your grip starts to slips before your muscles fatigue? You don’t need to be an elite-level powerlifter to feel the frustration that comes from grip slip.
The solution? Chalk. There are two basic types of chalk: powder chalk and liquid chalk.
I’ll compare these different types of chalk below, but the focus of this article will be about choosing the best liquid chalk for lifting.
If you're in a hurry, I've included a summary of my rankings for the top liquid chalk chalk brands below--it's based on my personal experience using each one.
Liquid Chalk | Rating | Price |
---|---|---|
Dry Hands | ||
SportmediQ | ||
Mosher Mountain Gear | ||
Liquid Grip | ||
Beasty Chalk (Gorilla Edition) |
I've got plenty more to discuss on the topic of liquid chalk. Plus, I'll be doing a detailed review of each of the five liquid chalk brands shown in the above chart. Use the table of contents below if you want to jump to a specific topic.
What Is Liquid Chalk?
Just as the name implies, liquid chalk is a fluid form of chalk. Liquid chalk is often made from the same material as powder chalk: magnesium carbonate, which has been shown to be most effective at doing away with perspiration and improving grip quality.
While powder chalk is considered superior for performance due to better functionality, its negatives often outweigh its positives for many lifters.
I’ll discuss the pros and cons of chalk powder compared to liquid chalk in the following section.
Powder Chalk vs. Liquid Chalk
Liquid chalk is becoming more popular to use than the traditional chalk powder and there a few reasons for this: it’s more convenient, all gyms allow it and it’s less messy.
However, powder chalk is still very popular due to its superior functionality. In fact, it’s the standard choice in some the serious strength-focused gyms, and also a favorite of most home gym lifters.
Let’s breakdown the major differences between liquid chalk and chalk powder.
Messiness Factor
If you’ve ever used traditional chalk powder before, you know only too well how it can quickly turn the room into a something that looks like a baby powder bottle exploded.
Traditional chalk is plain messy. It can stain clothing and equipment. In the least, it leaves a bothersome residue.
Liquid chalk offers almost no mess when used. You apply the liquid directly to your hands, rub them for a few seconds, and your grip is ready to go. No mess and no hassle. You might get a few smudges on your cloths if you rub your hands on them, but it won't be very noticeable and can easily be rubbed away.
Functionality
When it comes to superior functionality, traditional powder chalk has the upper hand. One application of powder chalk will easily take you through multiple sets, if not multiple exercises, depending on intensity, exercise type, and sweat amount.
Traditional chalk offers a smooth and dry grip right from the start. Without the waiting around for it to dry, you may be more product, achieve more sets, and have an overall better workout. With that said, powder chalk can quickly become a nuisance depending on the environment you’re in.
Powder chalk has an appropriate time and place. For example, if you are visiting a gym that specializes in Olympic-lifting and powerlifting than you’ll most likely see everyone using powder chalk. Taking a powder chalk block into your average commercial gym where you’re surrounded by people who have never even seen or used chalk before: this is not the time or place.
As I’ll expand on below, many gym owners are banning the use of traditional powder chalk. This is where liquid chalk can save the day. Not only does it provide the grip improving benefits of traditional chalk but it does so without the mess, which could frustrate those around you.
Banning of Chalk Powder
Traditional dry chalk may not be welcome in your local gym. Many gym owners have banned the use of chalk powder because they don’t want to get stuck cleaning up the mess or have other gym patrons have to deal with breathing in a chalk cloud.
Cost
From a cost standpoint, chalk powder is a clear winner over liquid chalk. No question about it. You can buy a full 1 lb. of block chalk for about $10-15 depending where you buy it.
When I trained at my old home gym or in gyms that allowed powder chalk, this amount would easily last me 2+ years, and I probably use more than the average lifter.
You can't beat the the price per application of powder chalk. Here's a pic of me holding one of eight blocks of chalk that comes in the the 1 lb. "Gym Chalk" box.
Compare that to liquid chalk, which typically costs the same, but only lasts between 1-3 months, typically. I probably use more than the average lifter, due to my propensity for sweating--so others may be able stretch a bottle out to 4 or 5 months.
How to Use Liquid Chalk
Using liquid chalk is pretty straightforward but here are a few pointers that you’ll want to keep in mind:
What to Look for When Buying Liquid Chalk
If you want to find the best liquid chalk for lifting then there are certain things you’ll want to look for when browsing.
Grip Quality
How well does the liquid chalk improve your grip?
Drying Time
How quickly does the liquid chalk dry?
Smell
How strong is the smell from the product?
Amount Needed for Average Application
How much do you need of the liquid chalk to have an effective grip?
Viscosity/Consistency
How thick or runny is the chalk when you squeeze it out of the bottle onto your hands?
Feel
How does the liquid chalk feel while you are applying and after it dries?
Duration of a Single Application
How long does the liquid chalk last within the first few minutes?
Longevity of an Entire Bottle
How long can you stretch out the lifespan of the bottle?
Liquid Chalk Reviews
#1 Dry Hands Liquid Chalk
After testing all five products, Dry Han is my clear choice for best liquid chalk brand. ds
Pros of Dry Hands
Produces by far the strongest, most tactile grip of all liquid chalk products tested.
Cons of Dry Hands
I like to clip my liquid chalk container to my water bottle. Since Dry Hands doesn't have a place for a clip, I wrapped a couple rubber bands around the bottle and attached my own carabiner as shown in this photo. It's sloppy, and I'm sure there's a much more elegant workaround, but it does the trick!
In-Depth Overview of Dry Hands
Grip Quality: | Very High — Easily the best of all liquid chalks tested. |
Drying Time: | Fast — Dries in just 10-15 seconds, in my experience. The bottle says 15-25 seconds, but I personally have never had to wait that long. |
Smell: | Very Slight — Has a very slight odor from the alcohol-based solution. It is barely noticeable and dissipates rapidly. |
Amount: | Very Small — Half of a dime-sized dollop. |
Viscosity: | Low to Medium — It has semi-thick/semi-runny consistency; it will run slowly if you angle your hand. It is not so runny that it could accidentally spill off your hand (which is the case with Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk, discussed below). |
Feel: | “Gooey” / Dry + Minimal Stickiness — Feels gooey when initially applied. After applied, it’s dry and grippy. It offers minimal stickiness and does not have a softness or smoothness feeling to it, which is ideal. |
Duration: | High — It can easily last for multiple heavy sets without needing to be reapplied. In fact, I can often complete multiple exercises (each for multiple sets) consecutively without needing another application, though it depends on several factors (i.e. exercises, weight, sweat, etc.). |
Longevity of Bottle: | High — The 1 oz. bottle lasts me approximately 3 months. This is longer than all other brands I've tested, some of which are larger than 1 oz. |
Other Notes: | There is no carabiner included, and there is no hole on the bottle for conveniently attaching your own carabiner. However, there is a workaround--you can secure a rubber band around the bottle and then attach the carabiner to the band (see image above). |
Grip Quality | Drying Time | Smell | Amount | Viscosity | Feel | Duration | Longevity of Bottle | Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very High — Easily the best of all liquid chalks tested. | Fast — Dries in just 10-15 seconds, in my experience. The bottle says 15-25 seconds, but I personally have never had to wait that long. | Very Slight — Has a very slight odor from the alcohol-based solution. It is barely noticeable and dissipates rapidly. | Very Small — Half of a dime-sized dollop. | Low to Medium — It has semi-thick/semi-runny consistency; it will run slowly if you angle your hand. It is not so runny that it could accidentally spill off your hand (which is the case with Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk, discussed below). | “Gooey” / Dry + Minimal Stickiness — Feels gooey when initially applied. After applied, it’s dry and grippy. It offers minimal stickiness and does not have a softness or smoothness feeling to it, which is ideal. | High — It can easily last for multiple heavy sets without needing to be reapplied. In fact, I can often complete multiple exercises (each for multiple sets) consecutively without needing another application, though it depends on several factors (i.e. exercises, weight, sweat, etc.). | High — The 1 oz. bottle lasts me approximately 3 months. This is longer than all other brands I've tested, some of which are larger than 1 oz. | There is no carabiner included, and there is no hole on the bottle for conveniently attaching your own carabiner. However, there is a workaround--you can secure a rubber band around the bottle and then attach the carabiner to the band (see image above). |
My Rating of Dry Hands: 5/5
Price of Dry Hands
Whenever I've bought Dry Hands Liquid Chalk, it would cost a little higher than average (price per oz) compared to its competition. Though it always lasts the longest. There's a 1 oz version and a 2 oz. version. The prices fluctuate, so be sure to check the current price below:
#2 SportmediQ Liquid Chalk
If you want to have dry hands for your toughest sets or workouts, SportmediQ Liquid Chalk is the perfect runner-up to Dry Hands Liquid Chalk.
Pros of SportmediQ Liquid Chalk
Cons of SportmediQ Liquid Chalk
In-Depth Overview of SportmediQ Liquid Chalk
Grip Quality: | High — Provides a strong grip, but it's a step down from that of Dry Hands (discussed above). |
Drying Time: | Medium — Takes approx. 15-25 seconds to fully dry. It will seem like it's completely dry before it actually is. If you don’t wait long enough, you’ll think you need more than you actually do, and thus you'll end up going through the bottle faster than necessary. |
Smell: | Very Slight — Only smells when you're applying it to your hands. Even then, you may not notice the smell unless you're rubbing it in close to your face. |
Amount: | Small — Approx. 1 dime-sized dollop. |
Viscosity: | |
Feel: | Moisturizer Cream-like / Dry & Mildly Sticky — Feels almost like a moisturizer cream similar to Beasty Liquid Chalk (discussed below). However, compared to Beasty, it leaves a drier, less soft feel, which translates to better grip. That being said, it does have a softer feel than the Dry Hands Liquid Chalk (discussed above) and is somewhat less grippy. Lastly, SportsmediQ also has a mild stickiness to it; enough to help with grip, but not so much that it's uncomfortably sticky. |
Duration: | Medium to High — It’s typically easy do go multiple sets without reapplying. But you're less likely to be able to go through multiple exercises (with multiple sets per exercise) without reapplying, unless you're using lighter weights and/or doing exercises that aren't very grip intensive. |
Longevity of Bottle: | Medium to High — You can make it last for a while but the key is to not overuse it. It's easy to accidentally overuse it since its initial "feel" makes you think you need more than you actually do, per application. |
Other Notes: | It leaves lots of chalk "crumbs" whenever opening the cap. It comes with a carabiner, which attaches on the end of the bottle, which you can then attach onto your water bottle, belt loop, etc. |
Grip Quality | Drying Time | Smell | Amount | Viscosity | Feel | Duration | Longevity of Bottle | Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High — Provides a strong grip, but it's a step down from that of Dry Hands (discussed above). | Medium — Takes approx. 15-25 seconds to fully dry. It will seem like it's completely dry before it actually is. If you don’t wait long enough, you’ll think you need more than you actually do, and thus you'll end up going through the bottle faster than necessary. | Very Slight — Only smells when you're applying it to your hands. Even then, you may not notice the smell unless you're rubbing it in close to your face. | Small — Approx. 1 dime-sized dollop. | Moisturizer Cream-like / Dry & Mildly Sticky — Feels almost like a moisturizer cream similar to Beasty Liquid Chalk (discussed below). However, compared to Beasty, it leaves a drier, less soft feel, which translates to better grip. That being said, it does have a softer feel than the Dry Hands Liquid Chalk (discussed above) and is somewhat less grippy. Lastly, SportsmediQ also has a mild stickiness to it; enough to help with grip, but not so much that it's uncomfortably sticky. | Medium to High — It’s typically easy do go multiple sets without reapplying. But you're less likely to be able to go through multiple exercises (with multiple sets per exercise) without reapplying, unless you're using lighter weights and/or doing exercises that aren't very grip intensive. | Medium to High — You can make it last for a while but the key is to not overuse it. It's easy to accidentally overuse it since its initial "feel" makes you think you need more than you actually do, per application. | It leaves lots of chalk "crumbs" whenever opening the cap. It comes with a carabiner, which attaches on the end of the bottle, which you can then attach onto your water bottle, belt loop, etc. |
My Rating of SportmediQ Liquid Chalk: 4/5
Price of SportmediQ Liquid Chalk
When I've bought SportmediQ Liquid Chalk in the past, it came in a 1.69 oz bottle. It was around average or slightly lower than average in terms of price per oz compared to the other brands I was considering. Click the button below to see how much it costs now:
#3 Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk
While I don’t think it lasts as long as Dry Hands, the Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk is definitely a top contender for the best liquid chalk for lifting.
Pros of Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk
Cons of Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk
In-Depth Overview of Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk
Grip Quality: | High — The Mosher liquid chalk provides an impressively strong grip. The grip quality is neck-and-neck with the SportmediQ liquid chalk (discussed above). However, if I had to pick a winner from these two, I'd say Mosher provides slightly less grippiness. |
Drying Time: | Medium — It takes about 15-25 seconds to completely dry. It's similar to SportmediQ in this way, and also in terms of needing to wait longer than you think for it to fully dry. If you don't wait long enough, you'll feel the need to apply more. Or if you grip onto something before the application has completely dried, you'll lose some of it on the bar/equipment handle, and your grip will be less effective. |
Smell: | Glue-like — It smells a bit like Elmer’s glue. But don't worry, there's no actual glue in the product. Also, the glue-like scent is not intense, though, and is only temporary. |
Amount: | Small to Medium — Approx. 1 ½ dime-sized dollops. |
Viscosity: | High — It is very thick with no runniness. I’d compare it to “creamy” or “smooth” in terms of consistency. |
Feel: | Moisturizer Cream-like / Sticky — It has a bit of the moisturizer cream-type feel, like the SportmediQ, but that’s overpowered by a mild “sticky” feel. Mosher provides a somewhat less dry and somewhat more sticky grip than SportmediQ, which I describe as feeling very dry and mildly sticky. |
Duration: | Medium to High — It’s typically easy do go multiple sets without reapplying. However, it's less likely to last for multiple exercises without reapplying, unless you're performing relatively less grip-intensive exercises or using relatively lighter loads. |
Longevity of Bottle: | Medium — Doesn’t run out fast but doesn’t last super long either. This is a middle of the road liquid chalk. |
Other Notes: | Leaves chalk "crumbs" whenever opening cap if any residual is left around the opening from previous workout. The amount of crumbs is notably less than with the SportmediQ chalk (discussed above), but still worth mentioning. Has hole on end of bottom for hooking onto a clip or carabiner; carabiner IS included. |
Grip Quality | Drying Time | Smell | Amount | Viscosity | Feel | Duration | Longevity of Bottle | Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High — The Mosher liquid chalk provides an impressively strong grip. The grip quality is neck-and-neck with the SportmediQ liquid chalk (discussed above). However, if I had to pick a winner from these two, I'd say Mosher provides slightly less grippiness. | Medium — It takes about 15-25 seconds to completely dry. It's similar to SportmediQ in this way, and also in terms of needing to wait longer than you think for it to fully dry. If you don't wait long enough, you'll feel the need to apply more. Or if you grip onto something before the application has completely dried, you'll lose some of it on the bar/equipment handle, and your grip will be less effective. | Glue-like — It smells a bit like Elmer’s glue. But don't worry, there's no actual glue in the product. Also, the glue-like scent is not intense, though, and is only temporary. | Small to Medium — Approx. 1 ½ dime-sized dollops. | High — It is very thick with no runniness. I’d compare it to “creamy” or “smooth” in terms of consistency. | Moisturizer Cream-like / Sticky — It has a bit of the moisturizer cream-type feel, like the SportmediQ, but that’s overpowered by a mild “sticky” feel. Mosher provides a somewhat less dry and somewhat more sticky grip than SportmediQ, which I describe as feeling very dry and mildly sticky. | Medium to High — It’s typically easy do go multiple sets without reapplying. However, it's less likely to last for multiple exercises without reapplying, unless you're performing relatively less grip-intensive exercises or using relatively lighter loads. | Medium — Doesn’t run out fast but doesn’t last super long either. This is a middle of the road liquid chalk. | Leaves chalk "crumbs" whenever opening cap if any residual is left around the opening from previous workout. The amount of crumbs is notably less than with the SportmediQ chalk (discussed above), but still worth mentioning. Has hole on end of bottom for hooking onto a clip or carabiner; carabiner IS included. |
My Rating of Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk: 4/5
Price of Mosher Mountain Gear Liquid Chalk
I've bought the Mosher liquid chalk twice. It came in a 1.69 oz bottle. The price per oz was average compared to the other brands I was considering. Be sure to click below to see the current price:
#4 Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk
Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk provides an excellent grip but this is overshadowed by how short-lived each application is. Still, not a bad buy if on-sale.
Pros of Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk
Cons of Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk
In-Depth Overview of Liquid Grip: 3.5/5
Grip Quality: | High — Possibly slightly more grip than Dry Hands (discussed above), but part of this may be because it has a “sticky” feel to it. |
Drying Time: | Medium to High — Dries relatively slowly. It can take 20-30 seconds, sometimes longer depending on how much is applied. However, you can speed up the process by quite a bit by gently blowing onto your hands. That's what I typically do and recommend if you get this product. |
Smell: | Strong but Pleasant — Has a strong coconut fragrance when being applied. I like it, but could see how some people might find it to be a bit much. |
Amount: | Medium to High — Approx. 2 dime-sized dollops (technically not dollops, since it's such a runny liquid, but you get the idea). |
Viscosity: | Very Low — The liquid is very runny. It could spill off your had if you're not careful and don't "cup" your palm to contain it before rubbing it in. |
Feel: | Very Sticky — Although it's not unbearable, it's sticky to the point of being uncomfortable. |
Duration: | Low to Medium — Each application is short lived. I found my self re-applying every couple of sets for most exercises. And I'd often apply a new coat after every single set for my heavier pulling movements. Though, I should note that when I reapplied very frequently, I was able to use a much smaller than amount than the "2 dime-sized dollops" mentioned previously in this table. |
Longevity of Bottle: | Low — It runs out quicker than I would like for two reasons: higher than average amount needed per application; and it’s easier to apply an excessive amount accidentally because of its runny consistency, which makes it come out the bottle faster. |
Other Notes: | It will stay preserved for months even with just a small amount left in the bottle, likely thanks to its low viscosity (runny consistency) compared to thicker liquid chalks that are more likely to dry up inside the bottle if close to empty and not used for several weeks to months. Has hole on end of bottom for hooking onto a clip or carabiner; carabiner IS included. |
Grip Quality | Drying Time | Smell | Amount | Viscosity | Feel | Duration | Longevity of Bottle | Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High. Possibly slightly more grip than Dry Hands (above), but part of this may be because it has a “sticky” feel to it. | Medium to High — Dries relatively slowly. It can take 20-30 seconds, sometimes longer depending on how much is applied. However, you can speed up the process by quite a bit by gently blowing onto your hands. That's what I typically do and recommend if you get this product. | Strong but Pleasant — Has a strong coconut fragrance when being applied. I like it, but could see how some people might find it to be a bit much. | Med-High (approx. 2 dime-sized dollops) | Very Low — The liquid is very runny. It could spill off your had if you're not careful and don't "cup" your palm to contain it before rubbing it in. | Very Sticky — Although it's not unbearable, it's sticky to the point of being uncomfortable. | Low to Medium — Each application is short lived. I found my self re-applying every couple of sets for most exercises. And I'd often apply a new coat after every single set for my heavier pulling movements. Though, I should note that when I reapplied very frequently, I was able to use a much smaller than amount than the "2 dime-sized dollops" mentioned previously in this table. | Low — It runs out quicker than I would like for two reasons: higher than average amount needed per application; and it’s easier to apply an excessive amount accidentally because of its runny consistency, which makes it come out the bottle faster. | It will stay preserved for months even with just a small amount left in the bottle, likely thanks to its low viscosity (runny consistency) compared to thicker liquid chalks that are more likely to dry up inside the bottle if close to empty and not used for several weeks to months. Has hole on end of bottom for hooking onto a clip or carabiner; carabiner IS included. |
My Rating of Liquid Grip: 3.5/5
Price of Liquid Grip
When I bought my first (and thus far, only) bottle of Liquid Grip liquid chalk, it came in a 1.5 oz bottle. It was average in terms of price per oz compared to the competition. Be sure to check the current price, below to see how it's priced now:
#5 Beasty Chalk (Gorilla Edition) Liquid Chalk
The Beasty Chalk (Gorilla Edition) Liquid Chalk is an 'okay' chalk overall. I initially had high hopes for it, but it's flaws became apparent after more extensive use. It will get the job done if it's your only option, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
Pros of Beasty Liquid Chalk
Cons of Beasty Liquid Chalk
In-Depth Overview of Beasty Liquid Chalk
Grip Quality: | Medium — It gives a better grip for sure, but nothing out of the ordinary; average. |
Drying Time: | Medium — Drying typically takes 20-25 seconds to completely dry. This is typical among the ones I tested. |
Smell: | Strong but Pleasant — It has a bubble gum smell. |
Amount: | Medium to High — Approx. 2 dime-sized dollops. |
Viscosity: | High — It is very thick, no runniness; “creamy” or “smooth” in terms of consistency. |
Feel: | Moisturizer Cream-like / Very Smooth — Almost feels like a moisturizer cream when rubbing it in. Pleasant, but leaves too much of softness or smoothness, which feels like it detracts from the dryness and grip that it provides. It leaves a noticeably whiter coating on your hands after application, more so than others. |
Duration: | Low to Medium – It often requires reapplying between sets. |
Longevity of Bottle: | Low — This one runs out faster than all others I’ve tried |
Other Notes: | Gets backed up easily; likely to a combination of the bottle/bottle opening design and the thicker consistency--this is a recipe for accidentally shooting out a LOT of liquid chalk at once, and at a high/explosive velocity...especially as the bottle gets closer to empty. It actually shot out at me and went into my eye, which was a terrible experience; lots of burning and eye was irritated for 3-4 days after -- partially my fault, but the chalk and bottle design definitely played a role. Has hole on end of bottom for hooking onto a clip or carabiner; no clip/carabiner included. |
Grip Quality | Drying Time | Smell | Amount | Viscosity | Feel | Duration | Longevity of Bottle | Other Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Medium — It gives a better grip for sure, but nothing out of the ordinary; average. | Medium — Drying typically takes 20-25 seconds to completely dry. This is typical among the ones I tested. | Strong but Pleasant — It has a bubble gum smell. | Medium to High — Approx. 2 dime-sized dollops. | High — It is very thick, no runniness; “creamy” or “smooth” in terms of consistency. | Moisturizer Cream-like / Very Smooth — Almost feels like a moisturizer cream when rubbing it in. Pleasant, but leaves too much of softness or smoothness, which feels like it detracts from the dryness and grip that it provides. It leaves a noticeably whiter coating on your hands after application, more so than others. | Low to Medium – It often requires reapplying between sets. | Low — This one runs out faster than all others I’ve tried | Gets backed up easily; likely to a combination of the bottle/bottle opening design and the thicker consistency--this is a recipe for accidentally shooting out a LOT of liquid chalk at once, and at a high/explosive velocity...especially as the bottle gets closer to empty. It actually shot out at me and went into my eye, which was a terrible experience; lots of burning and eye was irritated for 3-4 days after -- partially my fault, but the chalk and bottle design definitely played a role. Has hole on end of bottom for hooking onto a clip or carabiner; no clip/carabiner included. |
My Rating of Beasty Liquid Chalk: 3/5
Price of Beasty Liquid Chalk
When I bought Beasty Liquid Chalk in the past, it came with two 1 oz bottles (2 oz total). However, it appears they've since increased the volume by 50%, so you get two 1.5 oz. (3 oz. total). The price per oz when I bought it was competitive with the other brands I had been considering. Be sure to check the current price below to see the price now:
Conclusion
These five options are all great depending on your needs and budget but if there’s one brand that I believe is the best liquid chalk for lifting, it is Dry Hands Liquid Chalk.
I would compare using Dry Hands to wearing a thin glove. Your grip dramatically improves as soon as it dries. Unless you are performing power lifting in a sauna, you don’t have to worry about constant re-application of the liquid chalk. This is going to save you time, hassle, and money.
From my experience, Dry Hands is one of the quickest liquid chalks to dry and this is important if you’re trying to follow a specific set of acute variables in your workouts such as a 60-second rest break. Another great feature of Dry Hands is that when it dries, you’re not left with this weird residue that feels like wax or gel. Instead, you have a nice and dry powder-like feel without the powder.
As far as how Dry Hands holds up during your average workout, I think it outperforms all other liquid chalks. Even during supersets or Olympic lifts, the stuff holds on for the ride. More intense workouts especially where you’re sweating more may require a second application but I doubt you’ll need it more than two or three small applications during a workout.
If you want to ditch the chalk block, Dry Hands is the next step up.
Great article, have you tried Spider Chalk’s liquid product?
It would be great if you added an entry on it as you seem to be the only person (I’ve found) that does an in-depth review of the various liquid chalks.
Thanks for the suggestion, Michael. And great timing — I’m running low on my current liquid chalk bottle, so I just bought this 4 oz bottle of Black Widow Spider Chalk. I’ll update the review in a couple weeks after I can test it for several workouts. Be sure to check back later!
Hi Michael, I wanted to follow to let you know I’ve tested the Spider Chalk liquid chalk for over a months of workouts. Overall, it’s a decent liquid chalk. I’d say it’s average or slightly above average compared to the other brands I’ve reviewed on this page so far. But it doesn’t particularly stand out in terms of the amount of grip or how long it lasts. It’s best points are its value (price for the amount you get) and scent.
When I get the chance, I’ll update the article with a more in-depth Spider Chalk liquid chalk review. But I wanted to give you a summary of my thoughts findings now that I’ve had the chance to test it thoroughly.
-Alex