Why we do not recommend manila rope for grip handles

We do not recommend manila rope for DIY grip handles. Its hard fibers can lodge in the skin and cause painful splinters, including deep splinters. That makes it a poor choice for repeated bare-hand gripping.

Natural rope is not all the same. Manila, jute, and cotton are different fibers, and a similar brown appearance does not make two ropes equivalent. Monkee Grips use jute or cotton depending on the version.

Rope supplier Flints also cautions that manila is hard on hands and can leave fiber splinters in skin. A rope's diameter or advertised strength does not tell you how comfortable its fibers will be against your hands.

What would the materials cost at a home improvement retailer?

For a cotton-rope cost example, we checked the following online listings on October 25, 2026. The rope is a third-party marketplace listing on Lowe's website, sold and shipped by Rope.com; this is not a claim of local shelf availability.

These are retail price references, not a tested construction kit. We have not verified that this particular cotton rope is equivalent to our rope or suitable for a finished exercise grip. Fiber type alone does not establish load capacity or the suitability of a homemade construction. Electrical tape can help manage loose ends during a project; it does not make a splice load-bearing.

You would have tape left over. To distinguish the purchase from the materials allocated to the project, suppose you allocate 12 feet of rope and 6 feet of tape, including practice material:

The quantities above are arithmetic assumptions, not a cut list or verified material requirement for a Monkee Grip design. Actual requirements depend on the construction and practice needed. Prices, shipping charges, and availability vary by location and date; these are not claims about the cheapest supplies available.

If you already have appropriate materials, your additional spending could be lower. Making several pairs can spread tool purchases and the initial learning investment across more projects.

The bigger investment is learning to splice

A finished rope handle can look simple because the construction is already complete. Starting from loose rope puts the decisions back in your hands.

You need to understand the strand sequence, work the rope without losing track of that sequence, manage tension as you form the handle, and shape the finished construction. Then you need to make a second grip that matches the first.

If the rope has a hard, tight lay that you cannot open by hand, you will need a properly sized splicing fid suited to the rope diameter and construction. A fid is a splicing tool used to open a path between the strands so you can pass the working strand through. Rope that is easy to grip is not necessarily easy to splice.

A first attempt may involve pausing a tutorial, undoing part of a splice, or starting again. Someone who already works with rope may find the process familiar. Someone learning from scratch is also investing in a new skill.

The value of practiced splicing is knowing what to do, recognizing what needs correction, and being able to repeat the result.

Learning to splice took me a weekend

When I first learned to splice, it took me a whole weekend — roughly eight hours. That is my experience as the founder of Monkee Grips, rather than a measured average for every beginner.

Your experience may be different. If you already know how to splice, you bring that skill to the project. If you are starting from scratch, allow for learning and practice as well as the work of making the grips.

Learning time and production time are separate. My eight-hour recollection describes learning the skill; it is not the time required to make every pair. We have not timed a typical beginner making a pair after learning, so we do not assign that stage a number here.

Once you learn the method, you can use that knowledge again. Making several pairs spreads the initial learning investment across more projects. If learning the craft is part of the appeal, that time can be worthwhile in its own right.

What happens when you count your time?

Your hobby time does not have to carry an hourly price. But if you are comparing making equipment with buying it, it helps to decide how much time you want to spend on the project.

For illustration, suppose your learning takes the same eight hours I recall spending. Combining that learning time with the earlier $14.59 material allowance gives:

These are optional ways to value a first learning project, not cash charges or a cost assigned to every homemade pair. The material quantities remain illustrative; they are not a record of what I used during that weekend. The comparison does not include additional making time after learning, tools, shopping, or delivery.

If you need cutting tools, measuring supplies, a properly sized splicing fid, or whipping twine, price those separately. The rope-and-tape example also excludes the materials and work needed to add steel reinforcement and professional end whipping comparable to a finished Monkee Grip. Equipment you already own should not be counted as a new purchase.

The materials may be inexpensive. Whether the project saves you something meaningful depends on your existing skills, supplies, and how you value the experience.

What are you paying for with Monkee Grips?

With Monkee Grips, you buy the completed pair: the rope selection, the work of forming the loops and handles, the splicing, and the finishing.

• Steel-reinforced construction: reinforcement helps keep the construction secure and resist coming apart.
• Professional end whipping: the rope ends are bound for a neat, secure finish that helps resist unraveling.
• Completed splicing: the loops and handles are already formed, so you do not need to learn the process or make a matching pair yourself.

You can choose the version that suits your training and move directly to learning how to use it. The learning is focused on your workout rather than making your equipment.

For someone who enjoys rope work, the DIY process may be appealing. For someone who wants to add grip practice to their existing routine, paying for the finished construction can be worthwhile.

You also have access to our getting-started resources and can ask us questions about product selection and use.

Will you use the finished pair?

Think about your normal training. You could attach Monkee Grips to dumbbells for carries or use them for rows. With the separately sold cable adapter, you can use them with compatible cable machines.

The practical value comes from having a tool you use regularly. If it fits exercises you already do, it is easier to see where it belongs in your routine.

Choose the option that suits you

DIY may suit you if you enjoy making equipment, already have appropriate supplies, and want to learn and evaluate the construction.

Monkee Grips may suit you if you want a finished pair and would prefer to spend your available time training.

You can also begin grip training with ordinary holds and carries using equipment you already own. Purchasing rope grips is one way to expand your training options.

We respect the work involved in making your own. It is the same reason we believe the skill and time behind a finished pair have value.

Find Your Monkee Grips

Sources for materials and prices

Online prices checked October 25, 2026, before tax, shipping, and tools. Local store stock was not verified.

• Lowe's marketplace: ROPE natural cotton rope, 3/4 inch, sold by the foot — $1.16 per foot; sold and shipped by Rope.com.
• Home Depot: Scotch Super 33+ 3/4 inch × 66 feet Electrical Tape — $7.33.
• Flints: Manila rope product guidance — notes roughness against hands and the risk of fiber splinters.