Lifting Straps Guide: Stop Letting Your Grip Hold Back Your Gains

What Are Lifting Straps?

Lifting straps are strips of fabric (usually cotton, nylon, or leather) that wrap around your wrist and the barbell to lock your hand onto the bar. They effectively remove grip as the limiting factor on pulling exercises, letting you focus entirely on the target muscles.

There are three main styles. Lasso straps are the most common — a loop goes around your wrist and the tail wraps around the bar. Figure-8 straps create a closed loop so the bar literally cannot leave your hands. Hook grip straps use a metal or rubber hook instead of wrapping.

Who Needs Lifting Straps?

Anyone whose grip gives out before their back, traps, or hamstrings do. This is incredibly common on exercises like heavy deadlifts, barbell rows, dumbbell rows, Romanian deadlifts, shrugs, and lat pulldowns.

If your deadlift is stalling at 140kg but your legs and back can handle more, straps let you keep progressing while you work on grip strength separately. The key is to use them strategically — do your warm-ups and lighter sets without straps, then strap in for your heavy working sets.

What to Look For When Buying

Material: Cotton is the most common and works well. Nylon is more durable but can be slippery on knurled bars. Leather is premium and moulds to the bar over time.

Length: Standard straps are about 50-60cm. Longer straps give more wraps around the bar but take longer to set up.

Style: Lasso straps are the most versatile and what we recommend starting with. Figure-8s are great for heavy deadlifts but useless for dumbbell work. Avoid hook grip straps — they feel unnatural and limit your wrist movement.

Padding: Some straps have neoprene wrist padding. It’s a nice comfort feature but not essential.

Our Top Picks

1. Gymreapers Lifting Straps — £10-£15

Cotton lasso straps with comfortable padding. The go-to recommendation. They last ages and work on everything.

2. Versa Gripps — £20-£25

A hybrid strap-glove system that’s quick to use and popular with bodybuilders. More expensive but incredibly convenient — you can grip and release the bar instantly without unwrapping.

3. RDX Lifting Straps — £5-£10

The budget king. Basic cotton straps that get the job done. At this price, there’s no reason not to have a pair in your gym bag.

Tips for Using Straps

Wrap the strap around the bar in the same direction your fingers curl. Roll the bar towards you to tighten the strap before lifting. With practice, you should be able to strap in within 5-10 seconds per hand.

Train grip separately with farmer’s carries, dead hangs, and plate pinches. Straps are a tool, not a permanent fix.

Where to Buy

• Gymreapers Straps on Amazon — best overall value
• Versa Gripps Official Store — premium quick-release
• RDX Straps on Amazon — cheapest option that works

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