Wrist Wraps Guide: Protect Your Wrists on Heavy Pressing Days

What Are Wrist Wraps?

Wrist wraps are strips of elastic or stiff fabric that wrap around your wrist joint to provide support and reduce extension under load. They’re most commonly used during pressing movements — bench press, overhead press, dumbbell pressing — and front squats where the wrist is under significant stress.

Don’t confuse wrist wraps with lifting straps. Straps attach you to the bar for pulling exercises. Wraps support your wrist joint during pushing exercises. They’re completely different tools for different problems.

Who Needs Wrist Wraps?

If you bench press over 80-100kg or overhead press over 50-60kg and notice your wrists bending backwards under the load, wraps can help. They’re also useful if you have pre-existing wrist issues from desk work (a common complaint among office workers who lift).

That said, wrist wraps should complement good technique, not replace it. On bench press, the bar should sit over the heel of your palm with a straight wrist. If your wrists are bending because you’re gripping the bar incorrectly, fix that first.

What to Look For When Buying

Stiffness: Wraps range from flexible (stretchy, comfortable) to competition-stiff (rigid, maximum support). For general training, a medium stiffness is ideal. Save the stiff wraps for powerlifting meets.

Length: 12-inch wraps are good for light support. 18-inch wraps are the sweet spot for most lifters. 24-inch and above are for competitive use.

Thumb loop: Most wraps include a thumb loop to anchor the wrap during application. Some lifters cut it off after wrapping — personal preference.

Material: Cotton-elastic blends are standard. Some premium wraps use reinforced stitching or wider elastic for better support.

Our Top Picks

1. Gymreapers Wrist Wraps (18”) — £10-£15

Medium stiffness, good build quality, and a comfortable fit. The best option for most gym-goers.

2. SBD Wrist Wraps — £25-£30

The competition standard. IPF-approved, extremely well made, and available in flexible or stiff versions. Premium price for premium quality.

3. Rogue Wrist Wraps — £15-£20

A solid CrossFit-favourite with a good balance of support and flexibility. Great if you need wrist support across multiple movement types.

4. RDX Wrist Wraps — £8-£12

Budget-friendly and surprisingly decent. The elastic loses tension faster than premium options, but at this price you can replace them easily.

How to Wrap Properly

Start with the wrap just below the wrist joint. Wrap around 2-3 times, pulling tighter as you go. The wrap should cover the wrist joint itself — wrapping too far down on the hand or too far up the forearm defeats the purpose. It should feel supportive but not cut off circulation.

Loosen wraps between sets. There’s no benefit to keeping them tight while resting, and it restricts blood flow.

Where to Buy

• Gymreapers Wrist Wraps on Amazon — best value
• SBD Wrist Wraps — competition-grade
• Rogue Wrist Wraps — CrossFit favourite
• RDX Wrist Wraps on Amazon — budget option

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