So many wrist wrap options, so little differences between them. Yet these small differences mean a lot when it comes to weight lifting, which is what we’re here to help you understand.
You have quite a few choices when it comes to this handy little band that helps you reach your lifting goals, so we’re going to show you the top ten choices of athletes and everyday gym goers in our list below.
Whether you’re new to the wrist wrap or you’re an experienced lifter looking for some new suggestions, we have useful tips and information for everyone below.
Check it out!
Know the Difference
There’s a difference between a lifting strap and a wrist wrap, and each one helps you achieve different things in weight lifting:
- Wrist Wraps. These offer more support for the wrist and they help prevent excessive flexion. There is no contact with the bar of the weight, only around your wrist.
Wrist wraps will allow you to lift and train more frequently with heavier weights. It provides you with the extra support you need to do more lifts and repetitions where your wrist alone might not be able to handle the same load.
- Lifting Straps. These are used to aide your grip during deadlifts, pulldowns, etc. and don’t provide any support to your wrists.
They attach to or wrap around the bar and around your wrist.
When to Use
Wrist wraps are most commonly used in CrossFit, powerlifting, squats, deadlift and bench press.
The positioning is important on the wrist (you don’t want it too high nor too low) because the overall purpose of the wrap is to support the wrist joint.
Straps are often made of a cotton webbing with a piece of Velcro so you can secure the end.
Here is a tip:
- Thin Material. Straps that are made from a thinner material will be more flexible. These are great for the snatch, clean and jerk techniques.
- Thick Material. Thicker material will provide more support for the wrist, which comes in handy for the bench press or the shoulder press.
When Not to Use
Wrist wraps are a great aide to many athletes and to those who lift.
What you want to avoid is becoming too dependent upon them. They can stunt muscle development in your forearms if you wear them too often, which might possibly cause you to go backward with your training progress rather than improving.
Avoid using them during warm-ups and for most gymnastics movements. Of course, there are exceptions and each person has their own opinion about when and when not to use wraps, so make sure you speak with a professional who can show you when and how to properly use them.
Top 10 Wrist Wraps Table
Thumb Strap
You’ll notice that most of the best wrist wraps have a thumb strap on them, which serves to prevent slippage while you’re wearing the wrap.
This helps keep the wrap right where you placed it, so it won’t slide up or down during use.
It is a handy feature to have and an important one if you want serious wrist support, but not all wrist wraps have it.
You’ll notice that number 10, which is aimed at CrossFitters, doesn’t have it. A great wrap, but it does have its limitations for certain activities.
Top 3 Best Wrist Wraps Reviews
1. Jack’s Fitness Wrist Wraps, Red on Black
Jack’s Fitness wraps are a favorite for lifters and boxers alike.
They measure 12 inches in length by 3 inches wide and have an extra wide Velcro patch to provide you with excellent grip. They also have a thumb strap to prevent them from slipping up or down on the wrist and are ideal for bench press, heavy weights, powerlifting, CrossFit, body building, boxing, kettle bell, punching bag workouts or deadlifts.
Bottom line: these are well made and the company has a solid customer service team.
Hard to go wrong with a product like this!
2. Steel Sweat Wrist Wraps 18 inches
The Steel Sweat wraps cost just a hair less than the previous pair.
They’re longer (18 inches versus the 12-inch Jack’s Fitness wraps) and also 3 inches wide. You get the large Velcro area to secure the strap and a thumb strap to keep it in place.
The cotton used is thicker than some of the other wraps out there, making ideal for those who need extra support, and the stitching is secure.
Don’t forget that you can machine wash these!
Another great option if you’ve already tried the Jack’s Fitness pair and they didn’t provide you with the support you were looking for.
3. LIFT Wrist Wraps (18″, Professional Quality)
The next best wrist wraps on our list are from Evolutionize.
They’re made of nylon rather than cotton, and you’ll notice the square rubber-like material on the strap end where the Velcro is, making this part of the wrap more rigid than other wraps. They also use a heavy-duty elastic to provide a superior level of support that immobilizes the wrist when necessary, yet still allows you to wrap it more lightly if you’d like a little extra movement. They also have the thumb loop.
Since these are so heavy-duty, they may not feel as comfortable as some other wrist wraps you’ve tried.
They are very effective at protecting and supporting the wrist, yet the fit may cause discomfort on other parts of the hand.
If you’re looking for something a little less heavy-duty, check out numbers 5-10 on our list above.
They are all great alternatives that will fit a variety of wrists and budgets!
