Abstract: A blow molded container is blow molded with improved gripping areas. The gripping areas of the container contain a layer of an elastomer which has a greater coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction of the container surface. The elastomer preferably is selectively on the gripping areas for that container with the surface of the remainder of the container being that of the container as formed. The container is formed from a preform that has an elastomer layer of a size and shape to produce the elastomer on the gripping area of the container, providing a blow mold with a negative of the container and gripping area on the inner surface of the mold, orienting the preform in the mold such that the elastomer layer on the preform is adjacent to the negative of the gripping area on the inner surface of the mold, and injecting a gas into the preform to blow mold the container with the gripping areas overmolded with a layer of the elastomer.