7 Best Lifting Chalks in 2024
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Chalk is a simple but brilliant aid for lifters of all levels, it dries any moisture on your hands leading to better grip, and also reduces the damage done to your hand which in turn will reduce the size of any calluses on your palms. But not any chalk will do, you need the best lifting chalk so read on to see our top-rated chalk.
Our team of pro athletes and certified experts tested 13 lifting chalks and analyzing them against 8 key criteria, only 7 were good enough to make it here.
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the WBCM Liquid Chalk.
Warm Body Cold Mind’s liquid chalk stands out as the top pick for weightlifting chalk due to its easy application, quick drying, long-lasting formula, and unparalleled portability, making it ideal for gyms that prohibit powdered chalk.
Our team spent over 30 hours testing the chalks and in addition to that, they have also gone through hundreds of online user reviews. We’re always updating this list, so feel free to share your thoughts, opinions, or tips in the comment section!
Top 7 Best Lifting Сhalks Reviewed
- WBCM Liquid Chalk – Top Pick
- Sportmediq Liquid Chalk – Runner Up
- Rogue Spider Chalk – Best Powder
- Primo Chalk Ball – Best Chalk Ball
- TITGGI 1lb Chalk Bucket – Best Chalk In Bulk
- SPRI Chalk Block – Cheapest Option
- Healthy Plan Spider Hand Chalk – Best Colorful Chalk
| Product | Total | Packaging | Design | Mobility | Texture | Smell | Comfort | Drying Time | Longevity | Value For Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBCM | 88.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 |
| Sportmediq | 87 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 |
| Rogue Spider | 86 | 9 | 9.5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 |
| Primo Chalk Ball | 86 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| TITGGI 1lb Chalk | 84.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| SPRI Chalk Block | 84 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 |
| Healthy Plan Spider | 83.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 10 | 8.5 | 8 | 9.5 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
This liquid chalk from Warm Body Cold Mind is the best weightlifting chalk. It is easily applied and dries quickly and best of all it lasts a really long time so you never need to reapply it mid-workout.
Liquid chalk is great because it is so portable, just pop it in your gym bag and take it with you wherever you go to work out. It is also suitable for use in gyms that don’t allow the use of powdered chalks, this is a real plus for liquid chalk.
• Packaging
The smaller 50ml bottle comes in a squeezy plastic bottle with an extra secure closing flip lid and the bottle also features a carabiner so you can easily attach the chalk to your backpack or gym back and never forget to take it with you again.
The larger 250ml again comes in a squeezy plastic bottle again with an extra secure lid but it doesn’t feature the carabiner, this is simply because the bottle is too big and it wouldn’t make sense to have a carabiner.
• Design
The bottles look really good and come in a sleek blue and black design. The bottles are well-made and will not leak anywhere. The carabiner on the smaller bottle is a really nice touch and means you will never forget to take it to the gym with you!
• Mobility
This liquid chalk is the ultimate in terms of mobility when it comes to chalk for weightlifting. You can take it anywhere, even to places that don’t allow powdered chalk. This is because it is no mess and stays on your hands rather than going everywhere. This is one of the key features that makes it the best gym chalk.
• Texture
The WBCM chalk just feels like regular chalk, which is exactly what you want. It feels nice and grippy and really adds confidence to your grip.
• Smell
Particular attention has been paid to the smell of this liquid weightlifting chalk and it actually has a nice citrus smell where most other liquid chalks just smell like hand sanitizer.
• Comfort
This chalk really improves your grip and feels really nice on your hands, it makes your hands feel like they can grip the bar well but they don’t feel sticky or messy.
• Drying Time
How long your liquid chalk takes to dry is really important and the WBCM chalk gets to work drying instantly. You will see your hands drying right away and in about 15 seconds the chalk will be fully dry.
• Longevity
Expect one application of this grip chalk to last you a full workout, no matter how hard you train.
• Value For Money
As far as liquid chalks go this one is great value for money with the larger bottle lasting a whopping 225 uses and seeing as though one use will last a full workout that’s a lot of training time!
This liquid chalk from Warm Body Cold Mind is the best weightlifting chalk. It is easily applied and dries quickly and best of all it lasts a really long time so you never need to reapply it mid-workout.
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Coming in a close second place is this Sportmediq Liquid Chalk. This chalk is again a great option for all lifters and has all the same benefits that all liquid chalks do, mainly that you can take them anywhere you go and they last a really long time.
• Packaging
This chalk comes in a tall white squeezy plastic bottle for easy application. It has a really secure fastening lid so you don't need to worry about leaking.
• Design
The design of this product is very straightforward, you get your liquid chalk in a nice large bottle that you can take anywhere, but that is it, no nice extras like the carabiner you get with the WBCM liquid chalk above.
• Mobility
As with all liquid chalks this stuff is really mobile, just pop it in your gym back, and then it will always be there when you need it.
• Texture
This liquid chalk has a really nice texture, maybe not quite as grippy as the WBCM stuff but still really good.
• Smell
Liquid chalks can often smell very strongly of alcohol and hand sanitizer and this one is no different.
• Comfort
Feels really nice on your hands and really improves your grip and helps you feel more connected to the barbell and the weight you are lifting.
• Drying Time
Starts drying as soon as it is applied to your hands and takes around 25 seconds to fully dry.
• Longevity
One application will last a full gym session so you don't need to reapply it mid-session.
• Value For Money
Liquid chalks are not as good value for money as other chalk types but this one is still good and the large bottle will last you many months
This chalk is again a great option for all lifters and has all the same benefits that all liquid chalks do, mainly that you can take them anywhere you go and they last a really long time.
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If you want powdered chalk then get this Spider Chalk From Rogue. It is made in the USA from pure laboratory-grade magnesium carbonate so feels grippier and lasts longer than cheaper chalks. Being from Rogue it is also probably the best chalk for fitness.
• Packaging
This powdered chalk comes in a black resealable plastic bag in either 8-ounce or 12-ounce sizes.
• Design
There's nothing fancy going on here, you just get a bag of powdered chalk. You will probably want to have a pedestal somewhere in your gym to decant this chalk into.
• Mobility
You can pick up powdered chalk and take it anywhere but it is less mobile than liquid chalk because of the size of the pack. The problem with powdered chalk is that it is banned in a lot of gyms so unless you work out at home make sure your gym allows powdered chalk before buying.
• Texture
This spider chalk feels silky smooth and nice on the hands while still being tactile and grippy.
• Smell
Unlike the liquid chalk there is no discernible smell from this powdered chalk.
• Comfort
Feels really nice on the hands but also really grippy, this chalk really helps you feel like you have a strong connection with the barbell and weight in your hands.
• Drying Time
With powdered chalk there is no drying time, put it on your hands and you are ready to go.
• Longevity
One great feature of this spider chalk is its ability to last on your hands, many powdered chalks need to be reapplied regularly but not this one. Just one application can last you a long time.
• Value For Money
A little goes a long one and one bag of this chalk will last you a long time making it great value for money.
It is made in the USA from pure laboratory-grade magnesium carbonate so feels grippier and lasts longer than cheaper chalks. Being from Rogue it is also probably the best chalk for fitness.
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This Primo chalk ball is a refillable pouch of powdered chalk, you rub the pouch on your hands to cover them in chalk so you never need to get the powder out of the bag. This makes it a lot cleaner than powdered chalk and also helps you get the perfect amount of chalk on your hands each and every time.
• Packaging
The chalk ball comes in a resealable plastic bag with a carabiner attached to it. You can use this bag to keep your chalk ball in but some people like to buy a proper chalk bag.
• Design
This chalk ball is a refillable pouch that you can fill up with any powdered chalk. You then rub the bag on your hands and the chalk comes out through a fine mesh, so you never need to get the chalk out of the bag to apply it.
• Mobility
You can take this chalk ball with you anywhere and because you are not going to be making a huge cloud of dust like you would with regular powdered chalk you are much more likely to be able to use it in gyms that normally ban powdered chalk but it does still leave a little mess.
• Texture
The texture of this chalk is really fine and smooth and it feels really good on your hands.
• Smell
The smell of this chalk is amazing, and that is by design. Primo chalk purposefully made this chalk to have an invigorating scent and it sure does.
• Comfort
Really nice and smooth and feels good on the hands but still feels nice and grippy when picking up a barbell.
• Drying Time
This is powdered chalk so there is no drying time, it is good to go immediately.
• Longevity
Primo chalk has a special long-lasting formula that stays on your hands even during a strenuous workout.
• Value For Money
You don't get a lot of chalk with your initial purchase but the bag can be refilled with any powdered chalk you want.
This Primo chalk ball is a refillable pouch of powdered chalk, you rub the pouch on your hands to cover them in chalk so you never need to get the powder out of the bag.
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If you want the best value possible then you are better off buying chalk in bulk and that is where this 1lb bucket from TITGGI shines.
• Packaging
This chalk comes in a plastic bucket that includes a handle and a secure fastening snap lid.
• Design
A bucket of chalk is intended as a way of buying in bulk and saving money, it is really designed for the chalk to be used straight out of the bucket but it could be. What will normally happen is that the chalk will be decanted to a pedestal or something similar for use.
• Mobility
A big bucket of chalk isn't particularly mobile, but this tub does come with a chalk ball included so you can take it with you more easily.
• Texture
This chalk has a nice texture, it is fairly smooth but not as smooth as some of the others in this list, you do get a really good grip when using it, however.
• Smell
This chalk is odorless, so it neither smells good nor bad, it just doesn't smell of anything!
• Comfort
Made from 100% magnesium carbonate this non-toxic chalk feels great on your skin and is a brilliant sweat absorber.
• Drying Time
As this is powdered chalk it doesn't have a drying time and is ready to use as soon as you rub it on your hands.
• Longevity
This chalk is really fine and that helps it stick to your hands and last a long time and keep your hands dry for a long time too.
• Value For Money
Buying chalk in bulk like this is a great way to save money if you are a regular chalk user, and the free chalk ball makes this great value for money.
If you want the best value possible then you are better off buying chalk in bulk and that is where this 1lb bucket from TITGGI shines.
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If you just want chalk and you are not bothered about anything else then this SPRI chalk block is a great value proposition. A block of chalk is the classic way of using chalk for powerlifting, just grab the block and rub it on your hands, job done.
People sometimes use block chalk as barbell chalk but we don't recommend this as it blocks the knurling and actually reduces grip.
• Packaging
The chalk comes in a very nice looking cardboard box and the block of chalk itself is then wrapped in paper. If you buy a multipack then each individual block of chalk is wrapped.
• Design
A block of chalk is about as simple as you can get and if you are an old-school weightlifter then it is what you will be most familiar with. Lots of gyms just use big blocks of chalk like this and they actually work really well as hand chalk for gym.
• Mobility
One big block of chalk is not very mobile, it is not intended for taking with you when you go to gyms. It is more for home gyms or for leaving at the gym. You can take some off and crush it and put it in something like a zip lock bag, but at that point, you might as well just buy powdered chalk.
• Texture
This chalk has a nice soft texture, one slight negative is that the chalk block is a little too crumbly.
• Smell
Doesn't really have any discernible scent to it.
• Comfort
Fells nice on the hands and definitely improves grip and reduces palm sweatiness.
• Drying Time
As this is a block of chalk there is no drying time, it is ready to use as soon as you apply it to your hands.
• Longevity
Doesn't need to be reapplied often but some of the other chalks on this list will last you a little longer.
• Value For Money
If you don't need the absolute best chalk in the world and just want a cheap option then this chalk block is a great buy and is good value.
A block of chalk is the classic way of using chalk for powerlifting, just grab the block and rub it on your hands, job done.
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7. Healthy Plan Spider Hand Chalk
- Type: Liquid Chalk
- Size: Combo kit, 1 x 1.7oz travel bottle and 1x 8.3oz bottle
If you want to inject a little color into your gym routine then this Healthy Plan Spider Chalk could be the one for you. This chalk is available in orange, pink, and classic white.
• Packaging
You get both a nice little travel bottle, complete with carabiner and a larger bulky bottle with this kit which is perfect and means you can always keep the travel bottle topped up.
• Design
The bottles are really nice and the carabiner is a very nice touch and means you can just clip the chalk to your gym bag so you never forget it.
• Mobility
Very portable, you can take this chalk with you anywhere and most gyms allow the use of liquid chalk, even those that ban the use of powdered chalk.
• Texture
This chalk doesn't dry too thick and leaves a nice comfortable layer of chalk which helps with your grip.
• Smell
As all liquid chalk do this chalk has the same sort of smell as hand sanitizer.
• Comfort
Feels great on the hands and the colors look great too.
• Drying Time
Dries really fast, the chalk can be fully dry in 5-10 seconds which is a lot quicker than many other liquid chalks.
• Longevity
Can last for a full gym session, if you are training really hard and sweating a lot then you may need to apply it twice but that's it.
• Value For Money
This combo deal is actually great value for money and the fact you can use the larger bottle to fill up the smaller one is another great feature.
If you want to inject a little color into your gym routine then this Healthy Plan Spider Chalk could be the one for you. This chalk is available in orange, pink, and classic white.
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Lifting Chalk Types
1. Powder
A loose powder of chalk, you dip your hands in and rub it over your palms. This is a very cheap way to get chalk but it has one large drawback, it gets very messy.
And it is because it gets messy that this form of chalk is often banned in a lot of gyms, they just don't like the mess it creates. It also has a habit of forming big chalk clouds which then gets in your hair, face, and mouth.
2. Blocks
This is the classic way of using chalk for powerlifting, a solid block of chalk. You then rub the block onto your hand to disperse the chalk all over your palms.
Chalk in a block is usually cheap and it is more likely to be allowed in gyms than the powdered version is.
The downsides to chalk blocks are that it is not particularly mobile and that the chalk can often break and crumble which means it just turns into a powder in the end anyway.
3. Balls
A ball is a cleaner and more mobile way of being able to use powdered chalk. You have a bag or ball which you then fill up with powdered chalk. You then rub this chalk ball only on your hands to get the chalk onto your palms.
The bag stops the chalk from getting everywhere and also creatiung chalk clouds, this means you are much more likely to be able to use this in a gym than powdered chalk.
4. Liquid
This is probably the best way of using chalk if you go to the gym and don't have a home gym. You apply the chalk as a little dot on your palms and then rub your hands together to spread it out.
The chalk then dries in a few seconds and works just like any other chalk. This is a great product if you work out in a gym that doesn't allow regular chalk.
What To Look For in Lifting Chalk?
1. Grip
The most important thing with any lifting chalk is obviously the amount of grip the chalk offers, that is the whole point of using them after all.
You want a chalk that offers plenty of grip and keeps your palms nice and dry. Good chalk will make you feel more connected to the barbell and therefore the weight you are lifting. This helps psychologically as you feel more in control as well as the obvious mechanical advantage of having a better grip.
2. Longevity
The next important thing is how long your chalk lasts on your hands. You don't want to have to be reapplying the chalk every few sets.
Some chalks will last you a full session from just a single application while with some poorer chalks you may find you are reapplying every few minutes.
3. Tidiness
This might not sound that important at first, but it can be crucial if you work out at a commercial gym. Some chalk is banned by commercial gyms because of the mess they make, no gym wants to have to go around cleaning up chalk.
The liquid chalk is by far the cleanest on this list and leaves behind very little mess, it is because of this that many people are allowed to use this style of chalk in gyms where chalk is otherwise banned.
FAQ
Is There a Difference Between Lifting Chalk and Regular Chalk?
Yes, they are very different. Regular chalk is usually calcium carbonate whereas lifting chalk is magnesium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate is actually an irritant and can irate your eyes and skin so you should never even attempt to use it as gym chalk.
Is Liquid Chalk or Dry Chalk Better?
Liquid chalk is easier to apply and lots of people prefer the feel of liquid chalk to dry chalk. Dry chalk is usually cheaper and can be bought in really large quantities. At the end of the day, it is purely personal preference as to which you prefer so we recommend trying them both out and seeing how they feel for you.
Why Do Gyms Not Allow Chalk?
The main reason why gyms don't allow chalk is the mess that it leaves behind. The barbell can get messy as well as the floor around where you were working out.
If everyone at the gym is doing this it can become a problem and then the gym needs to hire additional cleaners which obviously costs them money.
If the knurling on a barbell gets clogged with chalk it can also cause rusting, so these need to be cleared with a wire brush regularly.
Another factor is dust clouds that can annoy other users, if people are using powdered chalk then it can easily get blown into the air into a sort of dust cloud. This massively annoys other gymgoers who don't want to get covered in chalk.
Do Olympic Lifters Use Chalk?
Yes, chalk is an essential part of an Olympic lifters’ build-up routine. This quote is taken from Olympics.com
“They also often rub chalk on their hands to make it dry before a lift, which prevents the barbell from slipping.”
Conclusion
If you are looking for workout chalk then we highly recommend the WBCM Liquid Chalk it is really comfortable and quick-drying liquid chalk that will greatly improve your grip. If you have any questions about powerlifting chalk then comment below.
References:
- Do Olympic lifters use chalk? // Olympics.com: https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/weightlifting-olympics-rules-history-snatch-clean-and-jerk
Why Trust Us?
With over 20 years in Olympic Weightlifting, our team does its best to provide the audience with ultimate support and meet the needs and requirements of advanced athletes and professional lifters, as well as people who strive to open new opportunities and develop their physical capabilities with us.
All products we select are primarily approved and tested by the Olympic Weightlifting Champion Oleksii Torokhtiy. Under his guidance, our team provides honest and reasonable assessments of the products we review by checking their characteristics, packaging, design, comfort and durability features, and general product rating. We select products from only high-quality and trusted sports brands, thus vouching for their quality.
The product testing process is described in more detail here
Author: Ihor Shymechko
Pro Olympic Weightlifter, Coach
Best Results: Snatch – 208 kg,
C&J – 240 kg
Ihor has been a professional weightlifter since 1996, boasting over two decades of competition experience. His notable achievements include clinching the European Championship in 2009 and securing a silver medal in the 105kg division at the Senior World Championships in 2011. Ihor represented his country in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics. After retiring from competitive weightlifting, he transitioned to coaching, leveraging his vast experience to guide athletes who now compete on both national and international stages.
If you have any questions/suggestions/any other inquiries considering product reviews, you can reach out to us via email – reviews@torokhtiy.com
Still have questions after reading our article? Unlock your full potential by engaging with our experts and community! Don’t hesitate — leave a comment below and Ihor Shymechko will provide a personalized answer and insights to help you reach your goals.