Wrist Wraps and Lifting Straps Serve Completely Different Purposes in the Gym.
Do you feel like your grip is weakening in the gym ? Are you experiencing wrist pain? If you’re ready to buy some “wrist straps” to help relieve your symptoms, let me stop you right there. What you probably really need is either wrist wraps or lifting straps. functions.
What are wrist bands?
Wrist wraps used in the gym are strips of fabric, elastic, or similar material that are wrapped around the wrists. The most common type is an elastic cloth bandage with a small thumb loop at one end; here is an example . You insert your thumb into it, wrap the elastic around your wrist (while pulling it tight), and then use Velcro to secure it. You can then remove your thumb from the loop, as the loop is only there to help you put the bandage on.
There are other styles of wrist band available. The old-fashioned version was simply a cloth bandage tucked in with the end inward. My favorite headbands are a slight variation: a piece of fabric with a sort of string at the end. I hold the hoop with my finger, wrap it, then wrap it with rope and tuck it under me. Here is an example of this style .
What do wrist bands do?
The purpose of the wraps is to stabilize the wrists when performing pushing movements such as the bench press or overhead press. The tighter they are, the more support they provide, which is why athletes in sports like strongman sometimes use very thick, stiff bands and wrap them incredibly tightly. As a regular gym goer, you might want to try some basic wrist bands if you’re experiencing a little pain in your wrists when you bench heavy weights, or if you feel like you need a little help with wrist stability.
What are lifting belts?
It’s time to ditch the bench press and start deadlifting! Straps (commonly called “lifting straps” and almost never called “wrist straps”) are lengths of strong sling material (think of what a dog leash or yoga strap is made of) that connects your hands to the barbell you’re lifting. .
There are several types of straps ( I wrote about the pros and cons of each here ):
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The simplest type is the lasso strap ; you pass the end through the loop, put your hand through the large loop you create, and wrap the loose end around the bar.
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Olympic weightlifters often prefer the teardrop version; you stick your wrist through it and then wrap it around the bar. Because it is shorter than the lasso strap, you can drop the bar and the straps will instantly come loose.
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If you want your grip to be really secure, invest in figure-eight straps . You put your hand through one loop, pass the crossed part under the bar, and then put your hand through the other loop. Wrap your thumb around the bar as usual and you will be completely locked in place.
What do lifting straps do?
The purpose of lifting straps is to help you hold the barbell during pulling movements such as deadlifts or rows. As we recently discussed, straps are a useful tool to help train your body, even if you have a weak grip or if you’ve done so much heavy-grip work today that your grip is starting to fail you.
“Wrist straps” aren’t really a thing
So what are “bracelets”? I would say they don’t exist. You’re thinking of either wraps or lifting straps . Choose the one you really need (see above) and then shop accordingly.
Why am I writing a post about something that, in my opinion, does not exist? Well, many people get confused and mix up wrist wraps and lifting straps in their minds. And this isn’t limited to newbies who haven’t learned the lingo; The sportswear company Gymshark sells “wrist straps” , which are actually wrist wraps. (This is the type with Velcro and thumb loops, as described above.) And there’s an article in GQ that ‘s been online for seven years that discusses lifting straps, but illustrates it with a picture of wrist wraps. (The title also uses the term “wrist straps”.)
If you search for “wrist straps” on your favorite online retailer, you will see a mixture of bracelets and straps. Opt for straps if you lack grip on pulling exercises such as rows or deadlifts, and bands if you need more stability during pressing or other pushing exercises. Something like a Cobra grip can do both jobs, but they’re not called “straps” either – they’re properly called grips.