From gym tools to kitchen goodies, we review all the gear that can help you get big, get lean, and get healthy. Welcome to our second installment of our new product review series. (Miss the first one? Click HERE.)

Let's dive right in!

Haulin' Hooks, 2009

What would happen if you could instantly get a few more reps in exercises like the deadlift, row, Romanian deadlift, and pull-up? How 'bout if you could get the same amount of reps but instantly be able to add more weight to those movements? I'd say that over the next few months you'd add some significant "new" muscle to your body.

That's the idea behind Haulin' Hooks. Think of them as lifting straps on steroids.

We reviewed Haulin' Hooks several years ago and they've become a gym bag staple for some of us. Recently they've been upgraded, and now an entire line of hooks are available, from extra beefy models rated for a 1250 pound pull to a daintier ladies model designed to fit smaller wrists.

Like the older models, Haulin' Hooks are a combination of lifting hook and lifting strap with super thick padding. The metal hooks do more than act as a grip "aid." In fact, we've often performed completely opened-handed stiff-leg deadlifts with them with no problems. There's just no way these hooks will slip off the bar.

Our first pair has lasted me for years, and the new models may never wear out. They're overbuilt. You can pass these down to your grandkids. 

The upgraded Haulin' Hooks feature solid steel buckles instead of welded buckles, thicker wrist padding, an improved wrap strap, and a new "Hook Positioning System" that makes it more customizable. Oh yeah, and there's new colors available.

Our favorite addition to these monster hooks is Gripper Tubes. When we first reviewed Haulin' Hooks five years ago, Chris Shugart wrote: "The only drawback I see is that the metal hooks sometimes move side-to-side a little on the bars.... I remedied this by putting a few small rubber bands around the hooks. I'd suggest that the maker consider some type of rubber coating for future models."

Haulin' Hooks run from $45 to about $65, depending on the model you choose. Griper Tubes will cost you about $5 extra. You can also get Haulin' Hooks in straps-only or hooks-only models. We like the metal hooks so much we actually cut the straps off my old pair, so we really like the hooks-only model. They work great as a sex toy too.

Check them out at Hold-Ons.com.

The Mangroomer

It's oh-so embarrassing. You've been dating her for three weeks, but you're not sure you're ready for the next step in your relationship. You want it, you want it bad, but you're not sure how she'll react.

After all, asking your girlfriend to shave your back is a big step!

Now, thanks to the Mangroomer, you can avoid that awkward scenario.

The Mangroomer is the first "do-it-yourself electric back hair shaver." It's essentially a battery-operated shaver on the end of a long collapsible handle. You simply unfold it, turn it on, and get to mowing. While it doesn't clip the hair to the skin, it does an admirable job, allowing you to reach every square hirsute inch.

It's slightly awkward getting the hang of it as you have to hold a mirror in one hand and mow your back with the other, but if you can simultaneously pat your head and rub your tummy, you should have the coordination to handle the Mangroomer.

We gave one to Nate Green to test (while he's only in his twenties, the kid has a back as hairy as James Gandolfini's).  Nate thought the device was well worth the $39.99 price.

Lynx Performance Grips

What, you don't like lifting hooks and straps? Okay, fine. But we bet you'd still prefer a secure, comfortable, non-slip grip. Or maybe you're just tired of your wife or girlfriend complaining about your calluses? Then Lynx Grips might be for you.

Lynx Performance Grips are neoprene rubber ovals you simply hold in your hands as you lift weights. They act as grip aid, without totally taking over for the gripping muscles. The shape is contoured and the texture is tacky; they almost seem to adhere to barbells and dumbbells.

We've tried them out on pull-up bars, ropes, and several types of bars and they work great. Not only do they grip tight, they also increase the surface area, keeping smaller gym implements from digging into your palms. We've even used them on narrow-handle dipping bars.

Lifting with a fatter grip has been shown to strengthen the forearms and hit the muscles of the arms in new, stimulating ways. Lynx Grips don't increase the thickness much, not like a pair of Ivanko EZ-Grips, but they do a little and it feels pretty good.

We were a bit concerned with the "one size fits all" claim though, so we passed around a few pairs at our gym. Everyone from petite Figure competitors to big mountain-gorilla powerlifters tried them out and they all thought the size was fine. So, no problem there.

Lynx Grips have a lifetime guarantee and beat the snot out of gloves. You can get them in black, red, orange, blue and even a darling pink, which are also called the Dave Tate Specials.

(Ha! See what we did there? Dave Tate is a gigantic powerlifing guru and we implied that the pink grips are his favorite, you know, like he's a girl, or perhaps effeminate, or even — gasp! — homosexual! Oh my God, we kill us! We're so funny! We're like... Hey, why do we hear crickets chirping?)

Where was I? Oh yes, Lynx Grips. We like 'em. Great sex toy too. You can pick up a pair for $12 at LynxPT.com

Iron Woody Short Bands

If you've been reading T NATION training articles for years now, you've probably noticed a theme: a lot of our experts use bands. From dynamic and max effort strength development to rehab and prehab work, bands have a lot of uses, and most of us around here own a few pair. Most of us don't train with them alone; rather, we add them to weighted exercises, like dumbbell bench presses.

We've been using Iron Woody bands for years, the same few pair in fact, and they've stood up to a lot of use and abuse, so we were glad to hear that the Iron Woody folks were offering shorter bands now in 12 and 20 inch length. This is cool because the standard 41-inch bands have to be doubled over for use with some movements.

The 20 inchers are great for benching variations and deadlifts. The 12 inchers work very well for side-to-side walks, the exercise popularized by guys like Eric Cressey and Mike Robertson.

You can get these short bands in widths ranging from .5 to 2.5 inches wide, all of which make great sex toys. And of course, the wider the band, the heavier the resistance. Prices range from $6.50 to $37 dollars a pair, depending on lengths and widths. Packages are also available. Check them out at IronWoody.com.

DVD Reviews: Is Your Grocery Store / Kitchen Making You Fat?

We often feel sorry for personal trainers. We mean, they work with each client about three hours per week on average. That leaves their clients with 165 hours per week to screw up, especially when it comes to their diets.

Maybe that's why one of the newer trends in the fitness biz involves taking clients to the grocery store. Seriously, these trainers and nutrition experts will walk their clients through the market, teaching them about nutrition labels and, well, how to shop.

Then they'll go into their clients' homes and rearrange their pantries and fridges, bagging up bulk items into serving sizes, putting healthy foods within easy reach and "hiding" the bad stuff. They'll even teach the clients about where to eat and how to eat within their homes — real behavior modification stuff. It sounds kinda silly, but for the average busy overweight person, it can mean the difference between being fat and being fit.

Drs. Christopher and Kara Mohr — who have contributed to T NATION over the years in interviews, roundtables, and conference reports — are two such nutrition experts. These two DVDs, Is Your Kitchen Making You Fat? and Is Your Grocery Store Making You Fat?, give you an overview of what they teach their clients.

In the grocery store DVD, you'll learn about how stores "trick" you into buying crap, how some foods only pretend to be healthy, and how to shop for everything from meats to frozen foods. In the kitchen DVD, you'll learn how to arrange your pantry and fridge to promote healthier eating, and how to choose a D.E.P or Designated Eating Place.

Although Chris and Kara have worked with athletes and bodybuilders, as you can probably guess these DVDs are aimed at the regular-person market. Most of the info would be too basic for the dedicated T NATION reader, although we picked up a few good tips.

For example, there's no reason to buy Pam and other cooking sprays. Just buy a clean sprayer bottle designed for cleaning products, fill it with olive oil, and you're all set. Great sex toy too.

Both DVDs are on the short side too, clocking in at about a half-hour each. Since they run $35 apiece (or as a package for $60), that's a little pricey. Honestly, all of these tips could be summed up in a short article. That said, the DVDs are a whole lot cheaper than hiring either Dr. Mohr personally.

So should you buy these DVDs? If you're a total nutrition newbie who needs to lose weight, sure, there's some good info here. They would also make great gifts for your parents or relatives who want to get fit and make lifestyle changes, but aren't quite ready to live off protein shakes or go to the gym with you and bust out 20-rep breathing squats. But for most T NATION readers, the info — "Eat a piece fruit or a vegetable with every meal" — is a little on the basic side.

For more info and to watch a sample clip from each video, check out MohrResults.com.

Redmond RealSalt

Sodium intake is a pretty controversial issue these days. Most dietician-types still put it right up there on the naughty list next to toxic waste. But times they are  a-changin'.

Many nutrition experts are falling out of lockstep with the anti-sodium army. Scott Abel summed it nicely in a recent T NATION article.

"Studies in Canada at McGill and McMaster Universities have concluded that unless one has a specific and serious condition that would preclude him from taking in salt, then salt intake will produce no negative health problems, and could actually be health promoting. As a matter of fact, only 10% of hypertension cases have a known cause, and in almost all of these cases, the cause was either genetic or stress related."

Charles Poliquin has also noted that salt is a lot like bread: there's the over-processed, chemical-laden, overly-refined white stuff you should avoid (table salt), and the natural healthier stuff (sea salt). Poliquin thinks that those of us who train hard and eat lots protein need more salt, not less, in our diets, as long as that salt is the good stuff, full of minerals.

Suffice it to say, we personally don't avoid salt anymore, but we have learned to buy the good stuff. The "good stuff" is always colored instead of being bleached white. The pigmentation comes from natural trace minerals essential for good health. There's no added dextrose, no bleaching, no pollutants, and no anti-caking agents. In other words, it's real salt.

Going with that theme, we picked up some Redmond RealSalt. This is a kosher pink sea salt that fits all the guidelines outlined by Poliquin and Abel. RealSalt is extracted in Redmond Utah from deep within the earth. These deposits came from evaporated sea beds that had been covered over and protected by volcanic ash about, oh, a bajillion, years ago. It's crushed and screened, but unbleached, unheated, and otherwise unrefined, containing over 50 trace minerals.

The taste is great, not bitter and not overly salty. (Cooking with salt isn't supposed to make food salty anyway; rather, salt enhances and brings out the natural flavor or foods.) Since the Professional Chef Association gave RealSalt their Best Quality award, we guess they like it too.

We picked up a 16oz bag for about $6 at my local health food store, but you can find it all over the Internet too. Not a great sex toy though. Leads to chaffing. For more info, check out RealSalt.com.

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