Lifting straps are an essential gym bag item if you do any serious amount of deadlifting or pulling exercises.
(And no,straps arent cheatingif you know when to use them.)
As well see, theyre a great all-around strap, but other types are more specialized to different jobs.
Why use lifting straps?
Important note:they are calledlifting straps,and notwrist wraps.
Wrist wraps are a totally different thing.
They have a loop, and you pass the other end of the strap through the loop.
Importantly, you want the loose part of the strap to gounderthe bar and wraptowardyour fingers.
This way, they arent just duplicating what your fingers are already doing.
These straps are exactly what the name implies: a figure-8-shaped piece of material.
Once your thumb is in position, your fingers can basically go on vacation.
My lasso straps just couldnt keep up.
I bought figure 8’s, and eventually pulled a whopping 395 pounds with them in competition.
Pros of figure 8 straps: Its impossible for the bar to roll out of the straps.
Some figure 8 straps to consider
These Cerberus figure 8’sare the ones I have.
ensure to measure and get the right size.
Versa Gripps were perfect, though.
These straps have a velcro wristband, and then a short leather-ish strap that hangs down.
These make it quick to strap up, and all you have to do to unstrap is let go.
Pros of wristband straps: Quick to strap up and unstrap; secure hold.
Cons of wristband straps: The name brands can be expensive.
(There’s also an old school style where they don’t even bother to stitch them.)
You put your wrist in the loop, and wrap the remainder around the bar like a lasso strap.
The advantage here is that you could release them quickly.
If you do Olympic weightlifting, these are the kind you should get.
Pros of teardrop straps: Quick release, cheap, slightly easier to set up than lasso straps.
Some teardrop straps to consider
