There are so many lifting straps on the market, and it can be a daunting experience for a strength athlete trying to find the best lifting strap for them. What we continue to find through sweaty gym sessions is that different straps offer different benefits. A lot of what makes a strap so great is heavily dependent on an individual's goals, wants, and needs, in addition to the help it can provide their wrists.
Whether you're an Olympic weightlifter, a strongman competitor, powerlifter, or just a normal gym rat - this is your definitive best straps list, where we go into detail on common designs, materials, and uses for lifting straps.
When push comes to pull (pun intended), we're strength athletes at the end of the day, just like you. Consider this a continuous list that not only highlights the best straps but considers what could be the best for different situations. Thus far, we've reviewed dozens of products ranging from all different styles, designs, and companies.
The best lifting straps need to be useful in every lifting setting, providing the correct amount of security, versatility, and durability. Having the confidence to pull heavy and build those glutes without worrying about a slip from lifting straps is a great advantage to have when going for PRs.
Gymreapers lifting straps combine the security and stability lifters want without being invasive or uncomfortable. The padding around the wrist allows for lifters to move heavier weight without pulling unnecessarily on their skin, and they even have an option without the padding for lifters who prefer it.
Gymreapers Lifting Straps
These pad-supported neoprene straps measure 18 inches long and are available in tan, green, and black. They can help provide a sturdier grip when handling barbells to prevent slipping and discomfort.
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Durable lifting straps need to be stitched well and made to endure wear and tear from all types of knurling and training - enter the Manimal Infinity Lifting Straps.
These lifting straps have clear labeling so you never have to concern yourself with which strap goes with which wrist - a nice long-term detail when the straps are broken in. Additionally, the poly-nylon mix used in the material gives these straps durability that users can be confident will go the distance even when going heavy on hang cleans and deadlifts.
Manimal Infinity Lifting Straps
Thesee one-and-a-half-inch wide and 24-ince long three millimeter neoprene lifting straps provide padding to the wrists. They are made with a poly-nylon mix for better durability.
Shop ManimalWeightlifting lifting straps need the advantage of being quick-release to avoid getting stuck with weight overhead when dumping the weight is the goal, which is why we're highlighting the Gymreapers Olympic Lifting Straps.
These straps are made of cotton with reinforced triple stitching. When catching a bar at the bottom of the snatch (or clean, though fewer lifters use straps for those), comfort plays a huge factor, which these straps can provide. Otherwise, there is the risk of compensating form to offset discomfort.
It's important to remember that movements like the snatch require a fast release when a bar is overhead and balance is lost, so having straps like these are ideal.
Gymreapers Olympic Lifting Straps
These tear-drop shaped lifting straps are great for cleans and snatches because they are reinforced with triple stitching along the seams. The soft cotton fabric allows for more comfort while lifting heavy.
Shop GymreapersThe best powerlifting lifting straps will need to be both secure and durable to withstand multiple heavy sessions of barbell training. That's why we like the Rogue Fitness Ohio Straps.
This strap offers a minimalist versatile lasso design. It's a great pick for lifters who bring straps to the gym with them, for “just in case” instances, or want straps to withstand ample loading.
Whether you're using them frequently or every once in a while, this simple strap is portable and effective for providing security and durability.
Rogue Fitness Ohio Straps
This lifting strap is designed with a botton build and offers additional padding to limit wrist friction and compression.
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Lifting big can often tax the grip, and some may need extra, reliable support to pull heavy, which is why we chose the Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 straps for the most secure lifting straps.
These straps are designed specifically to help avoid deadlifting mistakes and strongman-style pulling, so you know they're secure. In fact, we wouldn't recommend them for every type of lifter, as they do require some level of skill before using them.
Since these offer the figure 8 design, they literally stay attached to the wrists with weight even when you let go. This being said, these straps are certainly some of the most secure on the market.
Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps The Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps have been tested up to 1,000 lbs and have reinforced stitching to hold axels and barbells.
Shop AmazonGreat lifting straps for bodybuilding need to be supportive and fairly comfortable since these sessions are often much longer in nature, and we think the Harbinger Cotton Padded Lifting Straps do a great job of offering both comfort and support.
The Harbinger Cotton PaddedLifting Strap is a great fit for the lifter who needs a strap for routine use in the weight room. It provides versatility and can be used with both barbells and dumbbells.
Also, the added cotton pad provides comfort, so whether you're lifting slow or fast, the wrist's skin doesn't get torn up.
Harbinger Cotton Padded Lifting Strap
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The best straps for deadlifting need to provide maximal security when pulling absolute 1-RMs or performing high-rep sets, and the Gymreapers Figure 8 Lifting Straps check all of these boxes.
These straps are designed specifically for deadlifting and strongman-style pulling. The strap is made with heavy layered canvas cotton and contains extra padding along the wrists, along with double stitching throughout to handle heavy weight.
What really proves this strap as the ultimate deadlift strap is the double-looping around the wrist. This design allows you to feel incredibly secure to the bar and gives no chance of slippage due to grip. You can physically let go of the bar and still remain tied to your lift, and this is what makes Figure 8 our favorite choice for deadlifting.
Gymreapers Figure 8 Lifting Straps
These heavy duty cross-stitched figure eight lifting straps have a weight capacity of over 1,000 pounds. They are manufactured with quarter-inch-thick cotton webbing for durable support.
Shop GymreapersOn a budget and need a cost-efficient pair of lifting straps? The GoFit Cotton Lifting Straps are our top pick for you.
The cotton they use feels a little softer than some other cotton straps we tested. The cotton has a little more give, which was great for avoiding immediate chafing from increased friction.
While the straps were softer and had a little give to them, I realized they stretched somewhat when I used heavier weights. This would be a turnoff for those looking to perform frequent maximal-loaded lifts with these straps.
GoFit Cotton Lifting Straps
The GoFit Cotton Lifting Straps are the perfect options for the cost-conscious recreational lifter.
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Lifting straps can be used for a variety of reasons in strength training by multiple types of athletes. The main reason for using a strap is to support grip. A strap enables an athlete to hold more weight than their normal grip can handle.
For a weightlifter, a strap is often used when performing heavier pulls and snatches. Powerlifters will usually utilize straps when they're working to overload their muscles and nervous system, or for accessory work when their grip may be fatigued. Strongman-style training will utilize straps in a similar manner to powerlifting. The end goals are usually to strengthen and overload the body when grip is fatigued.
Whether you're a serious athlete or recreational lifter, straps can be a great tool to utilize in a well-thought-out program. They're a lifting accessory that doesn't require a ton of gym bag space and can come in handy when work is present, but grip is not.
There are three common types of straps and they include single-loop, lasso single-loop, and figure 8. Each has different attributes that will benefit a strength athlete in different scenarios.
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This strap is somewhat a jack of all trades, and you'll typically see this strap in Globo gyms and in bodybuilding style training. This strap is highly versatile in its abilities, meaning it can be used for deadlifting, along with lifts like pull-ups and lat pull-downs. This style strap is great for newer lifters who want good bar security and are looking to perform maximal lifts.
The lasso strap is easy to use and comes in a ton of varieties to accommodate a lifter's wants and needs. For example, if a lifter wants comfort, then the Harbinger Padded Cotton Strap would be a good fit. For a leather feel and preference, the Schiek Leather Strap would be a great fit. If a lifter desires a simple, minimalist option, then the Rogue Ohio Strap could be a good fit.
This strap, like the lasso, can be used for all styles of lifting. It's a versatile option and is the easiest to strap in with. Although, it's worth noting this style of strap offers the least amount of bar security. Those with weaker grips may experience some problems using this style strap.
While this strap is the least secure, it's often considered the best for Olympic lifting. This is the best strap when you need a quick release in lifting - like in the snatch and clean & jerk. Straps like the Attitude Nation Single-Loop strap were designed by Olympic lifter Jon North for Olympic lifters.
This style strap is the least versatile, but most secure. The figure 8 strap design is the basis for our Figure 8 Deadlift straps, which are made with extra padding to support the wrist during heavy pulls. This strap is ideal when performing maximal pulling lifts such as the deadlift and other strongman-type pulls.
This style strap doesn't have a quick release, so it's never recommended for power movements or occasions when dumping the bar may be required. These straps are often heavily made with a lot of material, as they're designed for holding maximal loads.
There are multiple types of strap material. The most common three are cotton, leather, and nylon. Each strap material will have a different feeling to it. In most cases, the material comes down to personal preference. Some materials will be harsher on the wrists as well, so for those with sensitive skin, the material can be a big factor. A strap that uses simple cotton like the Rogue Ohio Lifting Strap may be a little tougher on the wrist until they're broken in.
In addition, every material will offer different benefits and attributes to your lifting. For example, if you need a strong strap, something like the IronMind Strong Enough Lifting Strap is made of 100% nylon and is designed to support heavy strongman lifting.
Cotton is the most commonly used form of material in a lifting strap. This material absorbs sweat best out of the three, and the thicker the cotton, the better the sweat absorption. Most cotton straps require a few lifts to break in, and through all of our strap reviews, the average cotton strap takes about three to four good sweaty gym sessions to break in.
Softer kinds of cotton-like in the GoFit Cotton Lifting Strap took a little less time to break in, and this strap takes about 2-3 lifts to feel comfortable. It's worth noting that the softer the material - while comfortable on the wrist - the more the strap seemed to stretch with heavy lifts.
In some cotton straps, there's added padding for comfort like the Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps. The added foam pad is utilized to take the stress off the top of the wrist during heavy lifts. We found the added pad made a strap instantly more comfortable but took away from some of the sweat absorption other cotton straps offer.
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Nylon is another common form of strap material. This material generally offers a smooth feeling on the wrist, but still produces a little chafing when breaking in a strap. We noted that most nylon straps took about four to five workouts to truly break-in.
Like cotton, there were different styles of nylon, some harsher on the skin than others. The Attitude Nation Pink Lasso Strap was a tougher Nylon, so the initial breaking in took a little longer than a softer style.
This style strap isn't ideal for absorbing sweat; in fact, in our tests, a majority of the nylon straps moved on the wrists when getting progressively more sweaty. Someone using this style strap for a WOD or any other style of high-intensity training with lots of reps may experience difficulty with maintaining an optimal strap placement.
Most nylon straps are made for heavy lifting, as this material is generally stronger than standard cotton and leather. Nylon is less prone to stretching when force is applied to it, and outdoor equipment will often contain nylon because of its strength and durability. Some straps are made with nylon specifically for heavier lifting, such as strongman training, like the IronMind Strong Enough Lifting Strap.
This type of material is the least common of the three and is usually used due to personal preference. The feeling of leather on the skin is much different than the above two. Like cotton and nylon, leather comes in multiple forms and some are tougher on the skin than others. A softer leather, or what's used in the Schiek Leather Lifting Strap takes less time to break in. The Schiek strap takes about two to three workouts to feel comfortable on the wrist.
When it comes to sweat, leather doesn't absorb moisture well. In the middle of a sweaty workout, the leather straps we tried actually moved on the wrist and had to be tightened multiple times. One cool thing about leather is how it maintains shape when heavy loads are placed on it - it snaps back and barely shows stress.
With so many styles of straps on the market, finding the perfect fit can be a complex task. The best way to start when selecting your perfect strap is to consider your training styles, goals, and personal preferences. Remember that factors such as bar security, value, and versatility can be accounted for in pursuit of your perfect lifting strap.
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