Upon opening the box I was immediately struck by the size of the Cannon Bomb. It's big, it's solid, and it looked like it might be harder to hang from than I'd anticipated. Picking the holds up, the texture felt a little rougher than I wanted in a training hold, but the reason for that would soon reveal itself. All of the Bombs are well built, symmetrical, and evenly textured, leaving you free to train on them with no concerns other than getting stronger.

I've now spent a few weeks experimenting with the lineup of Bombs, and I've gotten a good handle on their best individual uses and the pros and cons of each hold. First, I'd like to discuss the characteristics shared by the entire line, and then we can move on to taking a look at the individual Bombs themselves.

Frankly, there isn't a lot of room left for creativity in the pull up and deadhang arena. The apparatus itself, however, has remained largely unchanged. For years, bodybuilders have used the towel pull up as a harder version of the pull up that also works on grip and forearm strength. As climbers, we have to like that. Not only do the Bombs also work your pinch and sloper strength while doing whatever pull exercise you choose, but they have a few added bonuses as well.