Contents
- 1 Top 6 Best Lifting Wrist Straps
- 1.1 #1 Dark Iron Fitness Lifting Wrist Straps
- 1.2 #2 Heavy Duty PRO Metal Lifting Weight Straps
- 1.3 #3 Hustle Athletics Wrist Wraps Lifting Weight Straps
- 1.4 #4 Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Weight Straps
- 1.5 #5 Iron Bull Strength Wrist Wraps & Lifting Weight Straps Combo
- 1.6 #6 RIMSports Weight Lifting Hooks Lifting Weight Straps
- 2 How We Decided
- 3 Best Lifting Weight Strap Buyer’s Guide
To help you find the best lifting wrist straps, we have tried out a multitude of top models, testing them for comfort and ease of use, ensuring they were made with ultra-durable materials, such as suede leather. We ended up preferring products that offered a snug fit, increasing safety during intense exercises, and those that came with long-lasting warranties.
The best product we tried was the Dark Iron Fitness Lifting Wrist Straps, which are made from extremely durable suede leather, with reinforced stitching up and down the entire length of the wrist strap. We also liked the unisex design, which offers a snug fit to nearly any wrist size, helping to increase movement during deadlifts. Keep reading to learn more about the Dark Iron Fitness Lifting Weight Straps and the other models on this list.
Top 6 Best Lifting Wrist Straps
#1 Dark Iron Fitness Lifting Wrist Straps
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Suede leather material is extremely durable, with reinforced stitching along the side to prevent ripping and a unisex design that creates a snug fit to nearly any wrist, helping to achieve safe and efficient workouts.
- Best for power lifters
- Reinforced stitching prevents ripping
- Lifetime replacement guarantee
- Can pick up odors with repeated use
- Not recommended for lifts over 450 lb
- Lacks hook design as found with number 2 pick
These Dark Iron Fitness Lifting Weight Straps are of an extremely high quality, thanks to being made entirely from heavy duty suede leather, with thickness options in 2mm or 3mm, and a reinforced stitching along the side to help prevent accidental tearing. The straps are lightweight and do not dig into the skin during use and the company offers a lifetime replacement guarantee, both of which are fantastic features. We found these to be the best wrist wraps for powerlifting, thanks to a unisex design that offers a snug fit throughout nearly any exercise.
Though this product can handle a lot of weight, particularly the 3mm model, the company has not performed any tests for lifts above 450 pounds, so proceed with caution. Additionally, they cannot be machine washed and tend to easily pick up an odor, due to excessive sweating during workouts. The best lifting belt will also keep you safe.
#2 Heavy Duty PRO Metal Lifting Weight Straps
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Can handle weight pulls of up to 500 pounds, thanks to an innovative hook feature that grips the bar for you, with a unisex design that is highly adjustable and rated to fit nearly any wrist size.
- Best for injury recovery
- Adjustable unisex form factor
- Can handle up to 600 pounds
- Fits most, though not all, bars typically found in gyms
- Excels with pulling, though not pushing
These Heavy Duty PRO Metal Lifting Weight Straps feature a highly innovative and effective metal hook design, which quite literally grip on to the weight bars, producing a more stable hold as you go about pulling heavy weights, making them the best wrist wraps for injury, as you can use them to perform physical therapy exercises. The product is rated for lifts up to 500 pounds, which is fantastic, and the unisex design is adjustable and rated to fit nearly any wrist size.
The included hooks are fairly wide, however, and we found that they did not fit every bar that is typically found attached to machines at the gym, as some were too narrow. Also, this item excels with pulling of weights, but is not intended to be used for pushing, so bench presses are out. The best exercise ball will also help you get a good workout.
#3 Hustle Athletics Wrist Wraps Lifting Weight Straps
Award: BEST LIGHTWEIGHT
WHY WE LIKE IT: Highly functional weight lifting straps appropriate for use during a wide variety of exercises, with an extremely comfortable cotton and elastic design.
- Excellent for all fitness types
- Extremely comfortable cotton design
- Unisex and fully adjustable, with different size options
- Somewhat wide, so gets in the way of fitness trackers
- Hand wash only
- Velcro can catch on clothing
These Hustle Athletics Wrist Wraps Lifting Weight Straps are rated to increase performance with a wide variety of exercise types, such as shoulder presses and deadlifts, thanks to a cotton and elastic design that contours to the wrist, minimizing the risk of injury. We also loved the adjustability on offer, with a velcro strap, and the different sizes available for purchase, suiting wrists of all types, no matter the gender. The wide wide variety of uses make these the best wrist wraps for CrossFit, thanks to supreme versatility.
These straps are somewhat wide, however, and may get in the way of fitness trackers or smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch. Additionally, we found that the velcro used for adjustment purposes can accidentally snag on shorts or other items of clothing during use. Also, check out the best ab machine for a killer six-pack.
#4 Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Weight Straps
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly item with NeoTek pads, which takes the pressure off the hands during deadlifts, with heavy duty stitching, for durability, and merrowed end tabs to prevent fraying.
- Great for strongmen
- Tabs resist fraying
- Available in multiple colors and designs
- Not as adjustable as some items on list
- Thinner than top picks
These Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Weight Straps are an extremely budget-friendly item, while still excelling with maximum lift efficiency, thanks to comfortable NeoTek pads and heavy duty stitching, making them the best wrist wraps for Strongman exercises. We also loved the merrowed end tabs, which prevent fraying, and the wide availability of different colors and design choices, suiting the aesthetics of nearly any consumer.
Though these unisex straps are not quite as adjustable as our top picks, we still found that they fit fairly snug on a wide variety of wrist sizes. . For a killer workout, read about the best squat workout equipment.
#5 Iron Bull Strength Wrist Wraps & Lifting Weight Straps Combo
Award: BEST MULTIPACK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Multipack that contains a pair of lifting straps and a pair of wrist straps, each item excelling during a variety of exercises, thanks to heavy duty neoprene padding and double stitching throughout.
- Double stitching for added durability
- Thick cotton/elastic blend is comfortable
- Velcro stays attached under extreme pressure
- Arrive extremely stiff, though they soften over time
- May not fit larger-than-average wrists
This Iron Bull Strength Wrist Wraps & Lifting Straps Combo pack contains a pair of lifting straps and a pair of wrist straps, each excelling at their intended uses across a wide spectrum of exercise types. The thick cotton and elastic materials are extremely durable, as is the high grade velcro, which we found stayed snugly fit even during extreme workouts. We also loved the double stitching that runs throughout these items, as that increases the durability even further.
Though we found that the wrist straps excelled with small wrists, appropriate for both genders, it struggled to contain larger-than-average wrists, as it is 20 inches around, meaning larger wrists would achieve less layering. Read about the best door anchor as well.
#6 RIMSports Weight Lifting Hooks Lifting Weight Straps
Award: HIGHEST WEIGHT CAPACITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fortified metal hook design that excels with pulling exercises, thanks to double-sided stitching running throughout, for durability, and the ability to handle more than 500 pounds of weight.
- Industrial grade padded straps
- Double-sided stitching for durability
- Fortified metal hooks
- Not for smaller wrists
- Not for pushing exercises
These RIMSports Weight Lifting Hooks excel with pulling-based exercises at weights of more than 500 pounds, thanks to the fortified metal hook design. We also loved the double-stitching that runs throughout this pair of straps, as they further increase durability, and the industrial grade padded straps, which we found to be highly comfortable.
Though these excel with large and medium wrists, they don’t do so well with small wrists, as they are fairly thick and may not fit those wrists quite as snugly. Also, being as how this is a hook-based design, the product is for pulling exercises and not pushing exercises, such as deadlifts.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we focused primarily on durability and comfort, choosing products that allowed us to perform a wide variety of exercises, including deadlifts and pulls, efficiently and safely. To that end, we liked items made from high quality materials, such as suede leather and cotton/elastic blends.
We also populated our list with products that excelled with pushing exercises, such as our top pick, and those that do better with pulling-based exercises, such as our number two pick. Metal hook designs are extremely useful and efficient for pulling exercises, as they take the onus off of the hand and wrist in order to complete the exercise, allowing for the pulling of extremely high weights, more than 500 pounds in some cases.
We preferred items that came with long-lasting warranties, as long as a lifetime, and those that shipped with useful accessories, such as PVC carrying bags. Finally, we made sure all of the above picks were highly adjustable, usually via velcro or a similar method, and rated to be useful for both genders.
Best Lifting Weight Strap Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Pushing or Pulling
Lifting weight straps that feature a normal design, such as our top pick, are great for just about any exercise that involves pushing, including bench presses and deadlifts, among others. Some straps, like our number two pick, come attached to a large metal hook, making them excel with exercises that involve pulling down large amounts of weight, as the hook takes the pressure off of the hand itself and allows you to work intended muscle groups instead. - High Quality Materials
You are going to want to make sure that your chosen weight lifting straps are of a high quality, made from durable materials. They will be keeping you safe during intense workouts, after all. Look for items made from heavy duty materials, such as the suede leather found with our top pick, and those that provide a tight and snug fit, usually via a velcro tightener of some sort. - Unisex
Nowadays, most lifting weight straps feature unisex designs, easily shrinking down to smaller-than-average wrists. Many products also come in a variety of sizes, further increasing their universal compatibility. If you aren’t sure if a particular item will fit your wrist, most item pages offer lists of measurements, which we found to be extremely handy.
Lifting Weight Strap FAQs
Should I buy lifting straps?
This depends on if you are experiencing difficulty safely performing a certain exercise. If you are, these straps can come in extremely handy, increasing weight load and efficiency.
What companies make good lifting weight straps?
There are plenty of manufacturers out there that make excellent products. These include companies like Dark Iron, who makes our top pick, Harbinger, Rogue and Ironmind. We also enjoyed products made by Schiek and WOD Wear, among others.
Should I use lifting straps for deadlifts?
Some of the best deadlift straps can be found on the above list, but you should only use them for deadlifts if you are having trouble performing the exercise. Otherwise, you do run the risk of de-training several muscle groups.
Are lifting straps cheating?
Absolutely not. Lifting straps are a tool, and a useful one at that. They are effective when used in moderation and can only be considered aiding in “cheating” if you keep lifting beyond forearm failure.
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