The Darwin’s Grip PRO series of trimmer accessories are designed to reduce pain and fatigue while trimming. “It’s a handle extension that allows you to stand up straight and square off your shoulders for a more natural position,” says founder Robbie Hamilton. “It adds more balance, reducing fatigue and increasing control and speed. It’s not for everybody; there’s that 1 percent that doesn't mind bending over while they work. But I know I would rather stand up straight.”
Hamilton was inspired to create Darwin’s Grip when he started a lawn care business in his 40s. “My business quickly grew to a two-man operation with 37 properties, but I couldn’t pick up any more yards due to lower back discomfort. After a few hours of trimming, I was plum worn out.”
He realized that the pain began as soon as he moved into the slightly bent position that factory handles on trimmers require. “Using an imaginary handle, I found a more comfortable position. As I stood there holding the imaginary handle with my back straight, shoulders square, and head straight forward, I noticed my mom’s old four-wheeled walker leaning against the trash can. Once I had studied it for a moment, it came to me that if the middle part was cut out, it might very well be the handle I was looking for.”
Hamilton modified the walker and attached the new handle with duct tape to his trimmer. “It worked! So, I replaced the duct tape with welds, gave it a new paint job, and straightened the middle bend in the bar. But then I noticed it seemed unbalanced and clumsy, so I added the 150-degree bend back to the middle and restored the control of the original. The Darwin’s Grip was born.”
He’s since redesigned the handle to create the PRO series, which combines the benefits of earlier versions into one unit. Today, it’s engineered for zero slippage and stands up to rugged commercial use. Operators can fully adjust along the X, Y, and Z axis to put it in the optimal comfort position. The lightweight aluminum handle is designed for a universal fit and should attach to 99 percent of commercial and most home-use trimmers in seconds. It only requires a 5mm Allen wrench for adjusting and is engineered for zero slippage once locked in place. New features include a redesigned no-slip heavy vise, an ambidextrous design, hammer fist ergonomics, a quick-release lever, and more.
The Darwin’s Grips PRO costs $69.95 and includes a bar, vise, saddle brace, 5mm hex tool, one pre-cut .095 trimmer line, and a tube of thread locker. Each unit comes with a 2-year warranty, and the company will buy back any units that don’t lead to 100 percent satisfaction.
Customers appreciate how easy it is to install and use and find that it allows them to trim longer. Many note how lightweight it feels, commenting that they don’t notice a difference with their trimmers while using it. “I can honestly say that the best part of my day is sitting back, cracking open a beer, and reading all the texts about how this device has helped so many people and that they’ll never use any stick equipment without it,” says Hamilton. “It’s amazing how good you can feel when you make people happy and help people ease painful situations.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Darwin’s Grip (ph 256-701-7605; admin@darwinsgrip.com; www.darwinsgrip.com).