Is the Gripzilla Tornado Worth It? An Honest Review From the Maker

Short answer: yes, if you want adjustable, multi-direction forearm training and you'll use it a few times a week. No, if you only want a stronger squeeze, you're on a tight budget, or you want a number on every level of resistance.

We make the Tornado, so read this with that in mind. That's why this review includes the downsides, the complaints from independent reviewers and unhappy buyers, and the cheaper options that might suit you better.

Here is what it's based on: the product specs, our 122 customer reviews, five customer review videos, independent reviews and a close look at the price.

The Quick Verdict

Overall	Worth it for the right buyer
Customer rating	4.9 out of 5 from 122 reviews on our site
Price	$197 at the time of writing (regular price $300, prices change)
Build	Full steel, about 3.8 lb
Best for	Rotation, wrist control and forearm endurance

It's worth it if you: 

• Want rotation and wrist control, not just a squeeze
  
• Have outgrown a rubber twist bar, a wrist roller or a spring gripper
• Train a sport that loads the forearm in twisting ways (arm wrestling, grappling, climbing, racket, paddle, bat and club sports)
• Want one compact tool for short daily sessions at home or on the road
• Will actually use it three times a week or more

Skip it if you:

• Only want crush strength (a spring gripper is cheaper and simpler)
• Want a fixed number for every level of resistance
• Have an acute injury and haven't checked with a doctor or physical therapist
• Are unlikely to use it consistently
• Would be happier starting with a cheap tool first

What the Gripzilla Tornado Is?

The Tornado is a grip and forearm trainer with two ball joints and adjustable friction. You hold the two handles and twist, wring and rotate them in any direction. Because the resistance comes from friction, it stays the same through the whole movement, so you can't use momentum to cheat a rep.

It's a US-patented Gripzilla design, and the current version is made of steel.

Specs	Details
Construction	Steel connecting sleeve, steel ball joints with rubber-coated inner rings, knurled steel handles, steel locking nuts and fixators
Weight	About 3.8 lb
Resistance	Friction in two spherical joints, adjustable from near zero to locked tight enough that a full fist can't turn the handles. Each side is set separately
Exercises	24 taught exercises and more than 100 combinations
First session	About 5 minutes to learn the setup
In the box	The Tornado with 2 friction pads fitted, 4 spare pads, lubricant and a hard carry case
Replacement pads	Sold separately as Tornado friction pads
Guarantee	30 days. Email us first, and return shipping is paid by the buyer
Payment	HSA or FSA funds are accepted through Truemed, subject to your plan
Shipping	US orders usually 2 to 5 business days, international usually 5 to 20

Browse the full Tornado collection or see the Tornado forearm trainer product page.

How the Tornado Works

Most grip tools use springs, weights or gravity. The Tornado uses friction. Two ball joints sit between the handles and the central sleeve, and a friction pad inside each joint creates the resistance.

Tighten the joint and the handles are harder to turn. Loosen it and they spin freely.

That has three practical effects:

1. It works in every direction. Vertical, horizontal and rotational movements all load the forearm, because gravity isn't doing the work.
2. The load is steady. There's no momentum or swing to help you through a rep.
3. You set each hand separately. That's useful if one arm is weaker or sore.

How to set the resistance

1. Loosen the locking nut away from the retaining ring.
2. Turn the ring toward + for more resistance, or toward - for less.
3. Lock the nut, seat the fixator in the sleeve groove, and repeat on the other side.
4. Match both sides by feel.

A simple guide to how it feels:

Setting	What you feel
Low	The handles spin under a three-finger pen grip
Medium	You need a full fist to turn them
High	The handles won't turn, even with a full fist

After each session, loosen both joints to minimum so the friction pads last longer.

Watch the Tornado in Use

Photos only tell part of the story, so here are six videos: one workout guide and five from customers.

Workout guide: the Tornado exercises demonstrated

This is the follow-along guide we use for the exercise list in our 24 Tornado arm workouts. Start here if you want to see the movements before you buy.

Watch the Tornado workout guide

Customer review videos

These are real customers reviewing the Tornado in their own words. We don't control what they say.

1. Customer review video 1
2. Customer review video 2
3. Customer review video 3
4. Customer review video 4
5. Customer review video 5

When you watch them, look for three things: how the reviewer sets the resistance, how long their first sessions are, and whether anything they say contradicts what we've written here.

If it does, trust what you see.

What the Tornado Is Good At

1.       Rotation, wrist control, pronation and supination

2.       Forearm endurance, because the load is steady and there's no momentum

3.       A wide range of loads, from very light to very heavy

4.       Working the muscles that open the hand and extend the wrist, as well as the ones that close it

5.       Portability and variety from one tool

The Tornado covers wrist, rotation and endurance work well. Crush strength is the one most people also train with a gripper.

The common things customer love

It's solidly built

"It's not a gimmick," wrote Matthew, a verified buyer, who said it felt better than the older forearm builders he'd used. Another verified buyer noted the current version is steel throughout, including the handles, not aluminum like earlier versions.

The burn comes quickly

Scott C. described an intense burn in the forearms and wrists within a few minutes. Rick W. said the Tornado became one of his favorite tools for training grip, and he noticed the benefit when hanging on bars, rings and wooden grips.

You can start very light

One verified buyer with sore elbows started at the lowest setting for 30 to 40 seconds and built up from there.

It's portable

Customers use it at home, at work and when travelling, and it fits in the hard carry case.

It suits short sessions

One buyer who used a short, 10-minute workout for about a week said the burn reached from the hands up through the shoulders.

Individual experiences vary, and we can't promise your results. Some customers also use the Tornado alongside medical care for elbow or shoulder discomfort. Those are personal experiences, not clinical results.

What Critics and Unhappy Buyers Say

A review that only lists the good parts isn't useful. Here are the real complaints, and what we'd say about each.

1. The price

It costs far more than a spring gripper or a rubber bar. At $197 it's a serious purchase, and independent reviewers call it that. One review noted a $219.99 price on Amazon before shipping and import charges.

Our view: The price is the main reason not to buy it on impulse. See the value math below.

2. A learning curve

The first sessions can feel awkward or jerky until you learn the adjustment. That's normal for a mechanical tool.

Our view: Use the setup steps above and the workout guide video. A first session takes about 5 minutes to learn.

3. Return shipping

The 30-day guarantee is real, but return shipping is paid by the buyer.

Our view: Email us first. We'll often help with a setup tutorial, a routine or a replacement part before a return is needed.

4. Delivery and support complaints

A few Trustpilot reviewers mention late deliveries, tracking problems or slow replies. Trustpilot shows a small number of reviews for Gripzilla, with a mix of praise and complaints.

Our view: if your order is late, email info@gripzilla.co with your order number.

Gripzilla Tornado Price: Is It Worth It?

The Gripzilla Tornado price is $197 at the time of writing, down from a regular price of $300. Here's simple arithmetic at $197:

How you use it	Sessions	Cost per session
3 times a week for 1 year	156	About $1.26
3 times a week for 2 years	312	About $0.63

It's good value only if you use it. If you won't, don't buy it.

Tennis Elbow, Golfer's Elbow and Wrist Pain

This is the question we get most, so here is a straight answer.

Many customers use the Tornado while managing elbow or wrist discomfort, and some report that it helped. We make no treatment claims. The Tornado is fitness equipment, not a medical device. It doesn't diagnose, treat or cure any condition.

If you're using it with an injury:

1. Start at the lowest setting for 30 to 40 seconds.
2. Keep effort mild. Discomfort should stay low (about 3 out of 10 or less) and settle by the next morning.
3. Stop for sharp pain, numbness or tingling.
4. Change one thing at a time. Time first, then resistance.
5. Don't expect it to replace a diagnosis. Persistent pain deserves a proper assessment.

Tendons generally respond to progressive, consistent loading. A tool with adjustable resistance is one way to build that gradually, but it isn't the only way and it isn't right for everyone.

Who the Tornado Suits Best

You are	Why it may fit	Start with
A lifter whose grip gives out first	Builds endurance for deadlifts, rows and pull-ups	The 10-minute routine
An arm wrestler or grappler	Rotation and wrist control	Pronation and supination twists
A climber	Finger and forearm endurance	The 10-minute routine
A golfer or racket player	Rotational wrist work	The 10-minute routine
A baseball player	Wrist and forearm durability	The 10-minute routine
A desk worker	Short, low-load sessions	Low setting, 5 minutes
An older adult	Keeping hands and forearms strong	Low setting, ask your doctor first

Care and Maintenance

• Loosen both joints to minimum after each session.
• Use the lubricant on the friction surfaces as directed.
• Replace a friction pad when the resistance feels uneven or you have to over-tighten the ring to get the same feel. You get 4 spares, and more are sold as replacement friction pads.
• Store it in the hard carry case when travelling.
• Don't force it past a setting where you lose control of the movement.

Is Gripzilla Legit?

It's a fair question, and some reviewers ask it too. Here is how to check us out.

• Read the policies: our refund policy, shipping policy and contact page are public.
• Use protected payment: we accept PayPal and Shop Pay, which add buyer protection.
• Read independent coverage: the Tornado has been reviewed by several independent grip-training sites, linked in this article.
• Look at the complaints: Trustpilot shows a small number of reviews, with some negative ones about delivery and support. Automated website checkers, such as one that gives the domain a low score, rate many small online shops poorly and tell you little about a product. We'd rather you judge us by the policies, the independent reviews and how we respond when something goes wrong.
• Contact us before you buy: email info@gripzilla.co with questions.

FAQ: Is the Gripzilla Tornado Worth It?

Is the Gripzilla Tornado worth it?

Yes, if you'll use it regularly and want adjustable, multi-direction forearm training. It's not worth it if you only want crush strength, if your budget is tight and a simpler tool would do, or if you're unlikely to use it.

Does the Gripzilla Tornado work?

Customers and independent reviewers report strong forearm and grip endurance work. We're not aware of a published clinical trial on the Tornado itself, so we don't claim it treats any condition.

How much does the Gripzilla Tornado cost?

It's $197 at the time of writing, reduced from a regular price of $300. Prices change, so check the product page for the current price.

Is the Tornado good for tennis elbow or golfer's elbow?

Many customers use it while managing elbow discomfort, starting at the lowest setting for 30 to 40 seconds. It's fitness equipment, not a medical device. Ask your doctor or physical therapist first.

Is the Tornado better than a FlexBar?

They're different tools. A rubber twist bar is far cheaper and simple, with a limited range of resistance. The Tornado adds adjustable friction and more movement directions, but costs more and has a learning curve.

How is the Tornado different from the Dynamo?

The Dynamo is a wrist and forearm roller that works on one axis with a wringing motion. The Tornado's two ball joints let you twist, tilt and rotate in many directions, with adjustable friction.

How is the Tornado different from a hand gripper?

A spring gripper trains the closing (crushing) grip. The Tornado trains rotation, wrist control and endurance. Many people use both.

How often should I use it?

Most people do 5 to 15 minutes, at least 3 times a week. Start with 40 seconds of rotation, 20 seconds of rest, for 3 rounds.

How long until I see results?

Most people feel forearm fatigue in the first session. Strength changes usually take several weeks of consistent training, and results vary from person to person.

How long does the Tornado last?

The body and joints are steel. The friction pads are the only consumable part, and 4 spares come in the box. Replace a pad when resistance feels uneven.

Can I use HSA or FSA funds?

You can pay with HSA or FSA funds through Truemed at checkout, subject to your plan's eligibility.

What if I don't like it?

There's a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Email us first with photos or a short video, and we'll try to solve the problem. If a return is needed, return shipping is paid by the buyer.

Final Verdict

The Tornado is a serious, adjustable forearm tool. It isn't a gimmick and it isn't a miracle. It's worth it for people who'll use it consistently and want rotation, wrist control and a way to keep progressing.

It's the wrong choice for a budget buyer who only wants a squeeze, or for anyone who needs a medical diagnosis before anything else.