Armstrong Amerika
- Highest Quality Materials
- Comfortable Wrap-Around System
- Perfect for All Abilities
- Help Build Muscle
- Strong and Durable
View on Amazon
-Tim Warner, Sports & Fitness, Director of Testing
Top 3 out of 15 Brands We Tested
Armstrong Amerika |
Best All-Around (Most Durable and Well-Made) View on Amazon |
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Hustle Athletics |
Best Deadlifting Straps (Heavy Duty Lifting Straps) View on Amazon |
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Harbinger |
Best Clip-On Style (Adjustable Pad Forms to Bar) View on Amazon |
Wrist Straps
Best Weightlifting Straps
Any experienced weightlifter can tell you that even the little things can make a big difference in your growth, performance and strength. Wrist straps are one example. Even though these accessories are small which makes them easy to be overlooked by newer lifters, they become more and more useful as your training continues.
A good quality set of wrist wraps can enhance your lifts and help protect your wrists from the excess strain of lifting heavy weights. These straps can help you secure your hands for a firmer grip on heavy barbells. This will help you target muscles and give you a greater workout without losing your grip.
As far as weightlifting accessories go, wrist straps are one of the best-priced items you can buy. Because of this, there is no reason to not pick up a pair for your personal gym bag. Our research has uncovered details on the best wrist wraps you can buy. No matter what your abilities or goals, you’ll be more informed on what to buy after reading our guide.
Important Features
Materials – During your search you’ll find that wrist strap brands use a variety of materials in their construction. No matter which type of wrist accessory you finally choose, you’ll learn that two fabrics in particular dominate the selections: cotton and nylon.
Each of these fabrics has its advantages although cotton is more popular and more durable. When cotton is woven into a tightly-interlocking pattern, the resulting cotton straps are incredibly durable. The fabric also remains breathable which is a bonus when you’re using your straps often.
Length – Along with material, the length of your wrist straps can completely change how they work and feel. Strap length can range anywhere from 12” to 36”. This variety in length can make deciding on a size difficult. Thankfully, if your goals are clear, it’s much easier to narrow down to a size that will work best for you.
At the shorter end, you’ll find straps from 12” to 18”. These shorter straps provide basic support to your wrist joints but don’t overly restrict your movement. Shorter wraps work great for beginning or lighter lifters who can lift without needing extra reinforcement on most of their lifts. These also work well for CrossFit and other workouts where unrestricted movement is important.
If you only want to buy one set of straps, shorter wraps will be more versatile than longer straps that lock up and restrict your wrist movement.
How to Wear Wrist Straps
One confusing aspect of learning how to use wrist straps is the basic first step of attaching them to your wrists! Beginners can feel intimidated and may give up for fear of not knowing how to attach them.
While the proper method can take some getting used to, learning how to attach your new wrist straps is simple enough and can be picked up easily. Each lifter has their favorite way to attach, but one popular way is this: wrap one hand exactly where you want it on the bar. Then, wrap your second hand close to your first hand (this way you can use both hands to help wrap), then slide your second hand down the bar and into position. Here is a step-by-step explanation:
- Start out by laying out your wrist straps flat. Then, slide the long end of the strap through the loop to form a simple cuff. Once you have that cuff, you can slip your wrist through it. Be sure that the foam cushion pad is on the top of your hand (if you have one on your strap).
- Make sure to keep the strap below your wrist and on your hand – don’t let it slide up your arm past your wrist or it will put too much pressure on your wrist and hurt your joints when you lift any weight.
- Once you have your first wrist in the cuff, run the excess length of strap out and wrap it around the bar. Finish under the grip of your hand so that you can hold it in place while lifting. Be sure to place this first hand exactly where you want it, then wrap your second hand close to your first hand (this way you can use both hands to help wrap), then slide your second hand down the bar and into position.
Wrist Strap Review Conclusion
Unlike other weightlifting accessories, there aren’t big differences in construction and durability between different models and brands of wrist wraps. Most straps fall into a similar price range and will last a long time with proper washing and care. Base your decision on what fits and feels right to that you end up with the perfect pair for your workouts.
Recommended Wrist Straps
Armstrong Amerika
- Highest Quality Materials
- Comfortable Wrap-Around System
- Perfect for All Abilities
- Help Build Muscle
- Strong and Durable
View on Amazon