The best lifting straps are designed to loop around your wrists and the barbell, enhancing grip, providing support to the wrists, and enabling you to finish more reps. They can take your weightlifting to the next level, but there is no single best set of straps that are ideal for everybody.
Choosing the best lifting straps means finding the set that works best for you and your situation. In this guide you’ll find 9 of the best weightlifting straps available to buy online – we’ve tested and reviewed them and included a buyers guide to help you choose the set that’s best for you.
Table of Contents
Toggle9 Of The Best Weightlifting Straps Of 2024:
1. Rip Toned Lifting Straps for Weightlifting
The 23.5-inch Rip Toned Lifting Straps for Weightlifting are made from 100% cotton with a comfortable, neoprene padding. The non-slip grips ensure you can get a secure and reliable grip while the 23.5-inch length means the straps will wrap around the bar an extra time, minimizing the risk of slippage and ensuring peace of mind to hit your personal best.
The grips are reasonably priced, the extra length beneficial, and the neoprene padding is comfortable. The padding can take some getting used to because while it does offer comfort and protection from calluses, it takes some practice wearing and wrapping the straps. Otherwise, these are very good lifting straps.
Pros
- Reasonable price
- Neoprene padding is comfortable
- 5-inch length means extra wrap
Cons
- Neoprene padding can get in the way when wrapping
2. Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps
The Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps are 18 inch cotton wrist straps with a cushioned neoprene collar that is comfortable while also providing support to your wrists. The straps come in a selection of colors, are very reasonably priced, and the length allows you to wrap them around the bar two or three times.
The wraps are comfortable thanks to the padding, but they can fray and eventually tear quite easily when they rub against the abrasive surface of the bar. Also, they may not be strong enough for powerlifters that are lifting very heavy weights.
Pros
- Good price
- Extra length so they can wrap around the bar multiple times
- Neoprene padded collar is comfortable
Cons
- Not durable when lifting very heavy weights
3. Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps
The Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps are 21.5” long, which is even longer than the Gymreapers above, so they can wrap multiple times around the bar to give you the greatest stability and security. They are made from 1.5” wide cotton and have heavy-duty stitching designed to prolong their life and prevent them ripping during use.
The Harbingers are cheap, typically costing less than any of the other products on this list and are well-suited to beginner lifters. While the straps are cheap and have reasonable padding on the collar, they are quite thin and despite the heavy-duty stitching, they can start to tear if you’re a regular lifter of heavy weights: great as an inexpensive trial or a budget set for lighter weights.
Pros
- Cheap
- 5” long is ideal for wrapping around the bar
- Cushioned collar for comfort
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy use
4. Rogue Fitness Leather Lifting Straps
While cotton is a relatively strong material, it can’t compare to the strength and durability of real leather. The Rogue Fitness Leather Lifting Straps are 20 inches long, 1 ½ inches wide, and 1/8 inch thick which means that they’ll comfortably wrap around the bar a couple of times.
These are leather grips and the leather can be quite thick and immobile at first. It will take a few weeks to wear them in, during which time the hard leather can dig into the wrists somewhat. After that wearing-in period, though, the leather will be more supple and more comfortable to use while still offering incredible strength.
Because the Rogue Fitness Leather Lifting Straps are made from leather, you don’t have to worry about the stitching giving way, but they do come at a premium with these being the most expensive on the list.
Pros
- Made from durable and tough leather
- Good grip from the leather
- Comfortable to use after a wearing-in period
Cons
- Expensive
- Uncomfortable for the first few weeks
5. Warm Body Cold Mind Lasso Lifting Wrist Straps
The Warm Body Cold Mind Lasso Lifting Wrist Straps are 22 inch long lifting straps made from cotton and using double stitching designed to prevent tearing of the straps. These are long straps so they will wrap around a bar a few times and the neoprene collar offers comfort and padded protection.
The Warm Body Cold Mind straps are reasonably priced. While the straps are comfortable around the padded area, they can dig in a little, making them uncomfortable. The straps are 1.6 inches wide, which is only a fraction wider than the 1.5 inch variants, but it does make them a little less mobile and less comfortable. However, they do hold up well compared to other cotton straps.
Pros
- Reasonable price
- 22 inches long
- Durable
Cons
- Can dig in and be uncomfortable
6. IronMind Strong Enough Lifting Straps
IronMind Strong Enough Lifting Straps are basic cotton lifting straps. They are 19 ¼ inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. They’re made from cotton but, unlike a lot of straps, they do not offer any extra padding or cushioning which will put some potential buyers off.
Despite being a simple design, they are quite expensive, but IronMind grips do have a strong following because they are thin and lightweight. Although the straps are said to be strong enough for Strongest Man competitions, they can fray with heavy deadlifting use, and typically fray where the strap passes through the loop.
Pros
- Lightweight lifting straps
- Used in World’s Strongest Man competitions
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Can fray around the loop area
7. Serious Steel Heavy Duty Lifting Straps
The cotton Serious Steel Heavy Duty Lifting Straps are simple cotton straps with no padding or extra cushioning around the wrist area. They are 20 1/2 inches long which enables them to be wrapped around the bar. They are 1 1/2 inches wide which means that they are wide enough to provide decent support without being so wide as to be uncomfortable.
The straps are reasonably priced but the loop that you put your wrist through is very large and it can’t be tightened, which means that it isn’t a suitable set for those with small wrists. The Serious Steel straps are suitable for larger wrists, but you will need to keep an eye on the stitching area, which is true of most cotton straps.
Pros
- 5” inches long
- The cotton is durable
Cons
- No padding
- Not ideal for smaller wrists
8. Gymreapers Figure 8 Lifting Straps
Figure 8 lifting straps really tether your hand to the bar and they can provide even greater security and stability than Olympic straps but they do tend to be bulkier and they can take some getting used to if you’re making the swap from the loop style to the figure 8. Also, once locked in, you really are locked in, which means that this style is not suitable when you need to ditch the bar or dump the weights. They are effective for heavy deadlifts and shrugs, though.
Gymreapers Figure 8 Lifting Straps are cotton straps that are really thick and come in a choice of three sizes. The sizing chart is a little off so order a size lower than you need. If they’re still too big you can try twisting the strap around to make them fit closer.
Pros
- Figure 8 straps offer even more grip and support
- Thick cotton straps
- Durable
Cons
- Very large for their supposed size
- Material is rough
9. GoFit Cotton Support Wrist Straps
The GoFit Cotton Support Wrist Straps are made from a tough but machine-washable cotton. They are a basic strap with no padding or cushioning, and they are short so you might struggle to wrap them around the bar enough times to give support and peace of mind. The cotton itself is also quite stiff so while they will get more comfortable over time, the GoFit Cotton Support Wrist Straps can dig in and feel abrasive when you first use them.
Pros
- Really low price
- Machine washable
Cons
- Short
- The cotton is quite abrasive and stiff at first
Buyers Guide To The Best Lifting Straps
The best lifting straps for you will depend on the type of lifting you do, how often you’re at the gym, and personal requirements. Below, we’ve included details of some of the primary features of lifting straps to help you find the pair that best meets your needs.
Material
- Cotton – Cotton is softer and more pliable than leather, which is good for flexibility but bad for durability. Some cotton can be machine washed: especially important for sweat soaked cotton. Cotton is less expensive than leather, and more flexible, but it is not as durable or as strong.
- Leather – Leather is a naturally strong material that provides a lot of support and should prove extremely durable. However, it can be stiff, especially for the first few weeks of use until it is worn in, and leather lifting straps typically cost more than their cotton counterparts.
Types Of Lifting Strap
- Loop – The most common type of lifting straps are a loop design. The hand goes through the loop, which can be tightened around the wrist and the free end is wrapped around the bar. Because the free end doesn’t fasten, you can drop the bar and let go of the weights while still wearing the loop. This type of strap is best for Olympic lifting.
- Figure 8 – The figure 8 strap is a piece of material that is looped through itself to create a figure 8. Your wrist passes through both loops, effectively securing you to the bar. This means that you have a secure grip on the bar, but it also means that you can’t drop weights from height and because of the amount of strap that wraps around your wrists, this type can be bulky and a little uncomfortable. Figure 8 straps are most often used for heavy deadlifts and shrugs.
Strap Length
The loop style of strap comes in a range of lengths, ranging from around 18 inches to 22 inches. The shortest straps really only go part way around the bar or wrap around once to improve grip and offer a little stability to the wrist, but longer straps can wrap two or three times around, offering a secure hold. The best strap length will depend on personal preference.
Strap Width
Most lifting straps are 1 1/2 inch wide. This offers stability and support without being so wide as to be cumbersome or restrictive. However, you will find some straps that are slightly narrower or wider, to meet your preferences.
Verdict – Which Are The Best Weightlifting Straps?
Lifting straps offer support and improved grip. This means that they can give you the confidence to lift more, for longer. If you’re looking to increase weight but seem to have plateaued, try a pair of lifting straps. If you’re recovering from injury and want to ensure that your wrists have the extra support they need, get some wrist straps.
Although there are a lot of pairs of lifting straps to choose from we found the Rip Toned Lifting Straps for Weightlifting offered the best value for money and comfort while the inexpensive but good quality Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps came a close second.
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