When the PSP first came out, my first impression was, “Wait, there’s only one analog stick? How does that work?” The answer to that question was never too enthralling, so I never bought the system. I always wondered why Sony just didn’t take their common Playstation controller, already well liked for its easy grip and functionality, and simply stretch it out and put a screen in the middle. At least add a second analog stick. What is this, another N64 controller?

Then came the Vita, and they got mostly what I asked for right. It had two analog sticks at least. It is still relatively flat though; I guess they still have the whole portability concept going through their mind. Like I would seriously go walk around a city on my way to work carrying a Vita like that guy in the commercial. Regardless, the Vita is flat, and our hands kind of get in their own way when we hold flat things (like books). People with long bony fingers like me might have a little trouble holding the Vita, especially when it comes to accidentally touching the rear touch screen. This type of thing can be a pain in games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss with sniping or trying to zoom in with the camera. We need something for our long bony fingers to grip onto.

Fortunately, there are a few grips that have been successfully created to alleviate the awkward handling of our Vitas. And they are definitely worth their price.

First there is the PDP (Performance Designed Products) Trigger Grips accessory (I have this model). The Trigger Grips snap on the back of the Vita easily and don’t block any part of the front or rear touch screens. This neat addition is designed to really make the trigger buttons on the Vita much easier to pull, and they function more like the trigger buttons of an Xbox controller than a PS3 controller. The Trigger Grips don’t have huge grips to wrap your fingers around, but they give you just enough space to not have to worry about touching the back awkwardly. It makes the analog sticks easier to control as well. I can definitely see this type of accessory a must have for Vita owners playing any first personshooting games like Resistance: Burning Skies now or Call of Duty: Black Ops – Declassified in the future.

The best thing about the Trigger Grips is that they will only cost you $17.99, a great deal.

Second is the Nyko Power Grip accessory (I don’t have this model). The Power Grip is designed in a similar way – to give the player something to hold on to. The grips on this model are much longer and much more rounded to really give your thumbs and fore fingers a place to rest. There is no cover over the Vita’s original trigger buttons like on the Trigger Grips, but that’s not the cool thing this model was meant for. The Power Grip is actually meant to extend the battery life of your Vita by up to a whopping 50%! The grips have their own battery life that it will give to the Vita system while it is connected. Which is perfect for long road trips or the like.

The Nyko Power Grip is a little bit pricier at $29.99, but it could potentially be a good buy if you are away from your charger often.