MAKE ROOM IN YOUR GYM BAG. Not because you need another bulky attachment. Not because the equipment you already own has become useless overnight. Because a compact, adjustable pair of handles can give you another sensible option when you step up to a cable station. Introducing GymPin Lateral Handles, a versatile addition to the range at £29.99 for the pair.
The idea is straightforward. You still hold a textured rubber grip, but adjustable Velcro fabric tension lets you customise how the handle sits around your hand. Two metal D-rings provide connection options with compatible cable-machine hardware. The result isn't a promise of overnight strength gains. It's an alternative feel and fit for familiar cable movements, without demanding that you replace every handle you already use.
We have also launched another new attachment this week: GymPin D Cuffs. Despite their shared background in cable training, these two products do different jobs. This guide explains the differences, explores practical exercises and shows how to build a useful bag of attachments from the Gym Attachments collection. Because the best equipment is the equipment you reach for regularly.
What exactly are GymPin Lateral Handles?
A standard D-handle usually has a fixed grip connected to a short strap and attachment ring. It is simple and useful, which is why cable stations almost always have one nearby. GymPin Lateral Handles offer a different arrangement. Each handle combines a textured rubber hand grip, black woven webbing, a hook-and-loop Velcro grip tensioner and two metal D-rings. That combination offers more adjustment around the hand and flexibility at the connection point.
Importantly, these are still hand-held grips. You grasp the rubber handle during the exercise. They are not designed as a substitute for a grip-free cuff, and they are not the same as a wrist-supporting D Cuff. Understanding the construction prevents unrealistic expectations and helps you select the attachment that makes sense for the movement in front of you.
Why an adjustable grip can be useful
Hands vary in size and shape, and cable exercises don't all pull from the same direction. A fixed handle gives you one arrangement. A fabric tensioner gives you an extra choice. Pull the hook-and-loop fastening to a comfortable fit, hold the rubber grip naturally and check that you can move without the webbing pinching or restricting your hand. It's a small adjustment, but small adjustments can make familiar equipment feel more suited to the individual using it.
The textured grip remains an important part of the design. The surface gives your palm and fingers a tactile contact area while the fabric wraps around the hand-grip assembly. Neither component removes the need to hold the handle correctly. The point is a customisable arrangement, not an unsupported promise that it will prevent fatigue or let you lift more than your technique allows.
Try the attachment with light resistance when you first set it up. If the strap shifts, the wrist feels awkward or the cable is pulling at an unexpected angle, stop and change the fit. A good handle should make a movement convenient to perform, not turn an ordinary set into a complicated exercise in fastening straps.
Double D-rings: a useful detail, not a compatibility guarantee
Each Lateral Handle has two metal D-rings. They're part of the connection design and provide options for compatible cable-machine connectors. But a connector being able to pass through a ring is not, by itself, proof that the whole setup is appropriate. Check the carabiner's size, closure and intended use, and make sure it engages the rings in the intended way.
Before loading, confirm that the gate is completely closed and the fabric webbing lies flat. Avoid any arrangement that twists the straps or places the hardware at an unnatural angle. A quick inspection takes moments and is considerably more sensible than assuming every attachment point in every gym works identically.
Why these handles belong in a gym bag
A well-packed training bag shouldn't resemble the contents of an entire equipment storeroom. Every extra item should have a job. The appeal of Lateral Handles is that a pair gives you a hand-held option for several cable exercises without adding another large piece of kit. If you regularly work through a cable session involving raises, curls, rows or flyes, that versatility matters more than extravagant marketing promises.
They're also useful for lifters who train in more than one location. The attachments available at a commercial gym may differ from those in a home setup or personal-training studio. Having a familiar pair of grips can provide continuity, provided the available machines and their attachment hardware are compatible and the facility permits personal accessories.
At £29.99 for two, this is a purchase you can judge by frequency of use: do you regularly perform cable exercises, and would you appreciate another adjustable grip option? If yes, they're a practical addition. If not, there is little point filling your bag simply because a new product has launched. Useful equipment earns its space.
Six cable exercises to explore with Lateral Handles
Any movement described here depends on the cable station, pulley height, available space and how securely the handles connect. Begin with light resistance, choose a comfortable path and follow the machine manufacturer's guidance. These are examples of suitable exercise categories, not instructions to use a particular machine beyond its capabilities.
1. Single-arm cable lateral raises
For a shoulder-focused movement, choose a suitable low or mid pulley arrangement and grip one handle. Raise your arm out to the side through a comfortable arc, keeping your torso stable, then lower the weight under control. Avoid swinging the whole body to overcome resistance. The adjustable handle offers a different fit from the fixed D-handle you might normally reach for.
2. Single-arm cable rows
Rows make it easier to concentrate on one side at a time. Establish a balanced stance, hold the grip securely and draw your elbow back while resisting the urge to twist your torso. Let the shoulder move naturally and control the return. Experiment with handle fit at a manageable resistance rather than assuming any new grip arrangement automatically improves your pulling strength.
3. Cable chest flyes
With compatible left and right pulley stations, a pair of Lateral Handles can be used for controlled chest flyes. Keep a small natural bend at the elbows, move through a range your shoulders tolerate and let the cables follow a clear path. Check both ring connections separately. Using two handles is convenient, but it also means two attachment points to inspect before every set.
4. Biceps curls
Using a suitably positioned cable, curl the handle while keeping the upper arm relatively steady. One-arm curls can make it easier to focus on the working side and maintain a smooth lowering phase. There is no need to increase the weight just because the handle is different. Consistent movement, not the novelty of the attachment, remains the aim.
5. Triceps extensions
For compatible high-pulley exercises, use the handles only where the grip and cable angle permit a natural elbow-extension movement. Keep your stance stable, work at an appropriate resistance and avoid forcing your wrists into awkward positions. If a different attachment makes the movement more comfortable, choose that instead. Versatility is about having a choice, not using the same tool for everything.
6. Rear-delt flyes and accessory work
Depending on your cable machine, you may be able to use a pair for rear-delt flyes or other shoulder accessory movements. Set the pulleys to allow an unobstructed cable path, start light and concentrate on control rather than range for its own sake. Particularly with dual-pulley arrangements, ensure the cables will not cross or snag as you move.
How to set them up: a four-step check
1. Inspect the handles. Check the webbing, stitching, Velcro fastening, rubber grip and metal D-rings for wear or damage. If something is frayed, loose, bent or unreliable, stop and replace the attachment before training.
2. Adjust the grip. Take hold of the textured rubber section and fasten the fabric tensioner to a snug but comfortable setting. You should still be able to move naturally. Over-tightening does not make an attachment automatically safer.
3. Connect the cable. Attach the compatible machine carabiner to the intended D-ring arrangement and check that the gate is fully closed. Confirm the rings sit correctly and the webbing is not twisted. Machines and carabiners are not included with the handles.
4. Test with a light load. Move slowly through the intended exercise and confirm the fit and cable path are comfortable. Only then consider increasing resistance within the safe operating limits of the machine and any confirmed product load rating. Never assume an unverified maximum load.
Lateral Handles versus GymPin D Cuffs
Two product launches in one week raise a fair question: what is the difference? The Lateral Handles use a fabric-adjustable hand-grip arrangement. You hold the textured rubber handle, adjust the Velcro tension and connect through the double D-rings. Their appeal is an adaptable grip option for compatible cable exercises.
The recently launched GymPin D Cuffs combine a textured hand grip with a separate adjustable wrist cuff. The cuff wraps around the wrist, adding another point of support while you still hold the grip. That is a different arrangement from the Lateral Handles and may interest a lifter who specifically wants cuff-and-handle support.
One design isn't automatically better than the other. If your priority is an adjustable fabric fit around a conventional hand-held grip, start with Lateral Handles. If you want the additional wrist-cuff arrangement, explore D Cuffs. Some lifters may find room for both in their routine, but they are not interchangeable products. Pick the connection that suits your movement, your equipment and your preference.
Build your cable kit around the way you actually train
Cable attachments are useful because different grips and connection types suit different exercises. But collecting accessories without a plan quickly produces an expensive bag of rarely used equipment. Start with the cable movements you perform every week. Consider whether a hand-held grip, rope, cuff or specialist handle is the most practical option for each movement, then check compatibility before ordering.
GymPin's Gym Attachments collection is a good starting point for the broader range, while the Cable Attachments collection focuses more specifically on pulley-machine accessories. Our guide to five gym attachments also explains different ways to expand your setup. Use these to compare what each item does rather than assuming a bigger collection automatically means a better workout.
If you take your own attachments to a gym, ask whether personal equipment is permitted and inspect the machine's carabiners before you start. If you're training at home, check your pulley station's specified connection hardware. A few thoughtful choices will take you further than improvising around an unsuitable clip.
Maintenance, limits and honest specifications
Even uncomplicated accessories need care. After use, inspect the fabric and stitching for signs of fraying and look at the rings for distortion or damage. Check that the hook-and-loop fastening still holds securely and that the rubber grip remains intact. Keep the handles dry and clean according to the supplied care guidance; discontinue use if any component becomes unreliable.
The product is sold as a pair. Carabiners and a cable machine are not included. A confirmed maximum load rating is not currently published in the listing, so don't invent one when deciding whether the handles suit your training. The listing also describes approximate measurements estimated from reference photographs; those should not be treated as verified manufacturing tolerances.
That may sound less exciting than a claim about limitless resistance, but reliable equipment information beats a dramatic number every time. If you need exact dimensions, load limits or a particular connector arrangement, seek confirmation from GymPin before placing an order or attempting a loaded movement.
Lateral Handles: quick answers
Are they sold as a pair?
Yes. Each purchase contains two GymPin Lateral Handles, priced at £29.99 at launch.
Do they replace fixed D-handles?
No. Think of them as another compact option for your gym bag rather than a mandatory replacement for standard handles.
Do they provide wrist support like D Cuffs?
Not in the same way. D Cuffs have a separate adjustable cuff around the wrist; Lateral Handles adjust the fabric around the hand-held grip assembly.
Can I use them for lateral raises, rows and curls?
Potentially, yes, with compatible cable machines, securely fitted carabiners and an appropriate cable path. Start with manageable resistance and check the fit.
Do they include cable-machine clips?
No. Compatible carabiners and cable machines are not included.
Make room in your gym bag
The appeal of GymPin Lateral Handles isn't that they promise to transform every exercise. It's that they offer a useful, adjustable way to connect to a cable machine and keep familiar training movements feeling adaptable. A rubber hand grip, Velcro fabric tensioner, double D-rings and a matching pair: a modest addition with several practical applications.
Small kit. More possibilities. Explore the new GymPin Lateral Handles for £29.99 a pair, compare the different fit of the D Cuffs, or browse the Gym Attachments range. Pack what you use. Train with purpose.