For climbing
For climbing, dead hang and towel hang score the same on every criterion, so use whichever is free, or both.
Both are good choices that work the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work
Dead Hang. Builds grip endurance and gets the shoulders used to hanging.
Towel Hang. Grip strength on an uneven hold, with no hangboard needed.
For combat sports, towel hang rates well ahead on our research criteria: more carry-over to combat sports, more injury protection.
For forearm growth, towel hang rates higher on our research criteria: more of the work on the forearms, easier to progress. Dead hang gives more stretch.
For climbing, dead hang and towel hang score the same on every criterion, so use whichever is free, or both. Both are good choices that work the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
About the same: both are easy to learn.
Dead hang needs a pull-up bar, so a home gym covers it. Towel hang needs a pull-up bar, so a home gym covers it.
About the same: both rate Good for injury protection in our research rubric.