How to Choose the Best Weightlifting Straps for Training
Lifting straps are a must-have item to have in your gym bag if you’re doing serious deadlifting or rowing exercises. (And no, straps aren’t cheating if you know when to use them.) But there are several different types, and it’s important to match the straps to the type of lifting you’re doing.
I have four types of straps (up from three when I originally wrote this article in 2021), and I like each of them for different reasons – except, I think, the lasso straps, which are good, but which I use not very often. more. As we’ll see, this is a great all-around belt, but other types are more specialized for different tasks.
Why use lifting straps?
All types of lifting straps perform the same function: they wrap around your wrists and the barbell so you can lift objects without straining your grip. They are sometimes called deadlift belts because they are great for deadlifting, or weightlifting belts because they can be used in weightlifting training.
Important note: These are called lifting straps, not wrist wraps . Wrist bands are a different matter entirely. Also try not to call them “wrist straps” , although technically they do go on your wrists; you will only add to the confusion.
Lasso straps are the best option if you don’t know what to buy.
Lariat style straps are the cheapest and easiest straps you’ll most likely find if you walk into a sporting goods store and ask for straps. Here’s a typical pattern and you’ll see why it’s called lasso style. They have a loop and you pass the other end of the strap through the loop.
You pass your wrist through the large loop piece you created and then wrap the long tail around the bar. It’s important to note that you want the loose part of the strap to go under the bar and around your fingers. That way, they’re not just duplicating what your fingers are already doing.
Pros of lasso straps : They’re cheap, fit any bar thickness, and hold up pretty well for most exercises that most people want to do in the gym.
Disadvantages of lasso straps : They take at least a few seconds to install at the beginning of each lift and unroll at the end. They may also not be good enough for very heavy lifts, so you should get a pair of figure eights.
Some lasso straps to consider
Numbers 8 are best for times when things get really tough.
If you’re competing in strongman, you’ll need a set of eights. These belts are exactly what the name suggests: a figure-eight shaped piece of material. You put your wrist through one half, pass the strap under the bar, and then pass your wrist (the same wrist) through the other half. Once your thumb is in the right position, your fingers can go on vacation. (The company that makes mine, Cerberus, has a video on their product page where powerlifter and strongman Benedikt Magnusson shows you exactly how to use them.)
You’ll know you need eights if you lift the lasso straps and they start to unwind on you. This happened to me back when my best deadlift was somewhere around 250 lbs and I was doing high rack deadlifts at 315 lbs. My lasso straps just couldn’t keep up with him. I bought eights and ended up gaining a whopping 395 pounds in competition with them. (This was an 18-inch strongman deadlift; competitive powerlifting does not allow straps, but strongman athletes sometimes do.)
Advantages of figure eight straps : the barbell cannot be rolled out of the straps.
Cons of figure eight straps : They have to fit your wrist given the standard barbell size. If you also want to use eights on the axle (thick shaft), you will need to buy a second pair in a larger size. (If you’re going to a strongman show where a variety of deadlift implements will be used, consider the extended lasso straps above.)
Some Figure 8 Straps Worth Considering
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I have Cerberus eights . Be sure to measure and choose the correct size.
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Cerberus also makes “extreme” eights , which will probably let you lift an elephant or an entire pirate ship.
Versa Gripps (and their competitors like Cobra Grips) are best for quick clip-ons.
I got a pair of Versa Gripps while training with ring handle exercises. It’s very unpleasant to wrap lasso rings around, and the eights didn’t work either.
However, the Versa Gripps were perfect. These straps have a Velcro closure and then a short leather strap that hangs down. You simply place the bar between your hand and the grip strap, then place your fingers under the strap to secure it. This allows you to fasten the belt quickly and all you have to do to unbuckle the belt is release it.
Advantages of straps for bracelets : quick fastening and unfastening; secure hold.
Cons of bracelet straps : Name-brand brands can be expensive. You also have a flap of material on your wrist that makes it uncomfortable to use your phone or write with a pen.
Some Bracelet Straps Worth Considering
Keyhole belts are best for quick release.
There is another common type: Olympic weightlifting straps, sometimes called teardrop straps. They are shorter than lasso straps and are simply a piece of braid sewn together at one end. (There’s also an old-school style where they don’t even bother to sew them.) You insert your wrist into the loop and wrap the rest around the bar like a lasso strap.
The advantage here is that you can release them quickly. Olympic weightlifters who like to throw barbells and who often have to throw the barbell sharply will use them for deadlifts and rows, and sometimes for snatches. ( It’s not safe to use them for cleaning because you may end up in a position where you can’t let them go.)
If you are an Olympic weightlifter, these are the ones you should buy. If you are a strongman competitor or just want the most secure grip possible, you should use a figure eight. And if all this confuses you, just grab a couple of lasso style straps and you’ll be fine.
Pros of teardrop straps : quick release, cheap, slightly easier to set up than lasso straps.
Cons of teardrop straps : Not as secure as figure eight straps and not as quick to install as bracelet straps.
Some teardrop belts worth checking out