What happened to the Country Power Hooks?

In the world of fitness and strength training, innovation is a wondrous thing. One such innovation that has garnered attention is the Country Power Hooks. For some, these tools, also known as dumbbell hooks or dumbbell power hooks, provided access to pressing exercises that may have been hindered by injury, by providing a simple and effective fix.

I believe the original Country Power Hooks came out in the 80's. Being an 80's child, I didn't try them until in my early 20's in the noughties (2000's). Personally, I was never very keen. Always having been taught that if you can't pick it up properly, it's too heavy, and never really suffering too bad an injury to prevent me doing so. Regardless, I appreciated the concept.

In this article, we’ll delve into what Country Power Hooks are, their benefits, and how they compare to other products like the Mad Spotter.

What Are Country Power Hooks?

Country Power Hooks are attachments designed to hold your dumbbells, allowing for easy setup and execution of exercises, especially those involving heavy weights. These hooks are typically made of durable materials, ensuring they can handle substantial loads without compromising safety. They are primarily used to aid in exercises such as bench presses, shoulder presses, and other lifts that are traditionally challenging to set up.

Why do I refer to them as Country Power Hooks?

The original Dumbbell Hooks were made by Country Power and called Country Power Hooks. I believe the original Country Power Hooks came out in the 80's. Being an 80's child, I didn't really know of them until trying them in my early 20's in the noughties (2000's). Personally, I was never very keen. Always having been taught that if you can't pick it up properly, it's too heavy, and never really suffering too bad an injury to prevent me doing so. Regardless, I appreciated the concept and still do.

The discontinuation of the originals probably comes from the fact that they're 40-years old and have been copied a great many times. This is kind of what happens. 12-years in to my Globe Gripz invention and 10-years in to making Deadlift Deadeners, I can testify to a great many copies being on the market. Like the Country Power Hooks, it doesn't make the product any less good, it just means sales will be curtailed somewhat. Hopefully, this article acts as some historical reference as to their origins, even if my knowledge is limited by only what I can remember. Someone is welcome to fill in any gaps and credits in the comments or by via email.

Benefits of Using Dumbbell Hooks

Safety and Convenience

One of the primary advantages of using dumbbell hooks is the start-position that they provide. By securely holding the dumbbells in place, these hooks eliminate the need for a potentially awkward movement to get into the starting position. This can significantly reduce the risk of injury, or avoid aggravating an existing injury, particularly for those lifting heavy weights or working out alone.

Enhanced Performance

With dumbbell power hooks, athletes can focus more on their lifts rather than worrying about the setup. This may be due to an injury effecting the set up, but not the lift itself. This can lead to better performance, as the lifter can maintain proper form and exert maximum effort on each rep. The hooks also make it easier to transition between exercises, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the workout.

Versatility

No matter how versatile you may be told they are, Country Power Hooks are really limited to your dumbbell pressing movements. It'll be pointless trying to use them on anything else, no matter what blurb you read.

Comparing Country Power Hooks to the Mad Spotter

Of the many modern copies, The Mad Spotter seems to have the most promotion. AI is pulling in all sorts of references about their design and usage acting more like a spotter tool, rather than a set up tool, like the original Country Power Hooks. They look the exact same to me!

Conclusion

While Country Power Hooks may no longer exist. They're clones do and there's plenty of choice of brand to pick yourself up a pair, if you like the look of them.

These dumbbell hooks offer a potential benefit that can enhance your workout experience. From increased safety and convenience to improved performance, these dumbbell hooks may be a valuable addition to your workout arsenal.

However, don't expect too much from. Having sold the originals and now copies for almost 20-years, I've experienced many wallies try to lift more using them. Don't! They won't help you lift more! They'll just help you in the set up, if you have a reason to find the set up awkward. If an injury isn't hampering your set up, please do not buy dumbbell hooks and spend the time and effort to correctly learn how to pick and put back your dumbbells properly.

Matt, AKA Gym Professor