If you lift regularly, you will have heard of wrist wraps, lifting straps and lifting hooks. They are often mixed up, but each one solves a different problem. Here is a plain-English guide to what they do and which one to use.
Wrist wraps: support for pressing
Wrist wraps are a length of strong elastic fabric that wrap around the wrist and often loop over the thumb. They help keep the wrist in a stable, stacked position during pressing movements such as the bench press and overhead press. They do not help with your grip on the bar, so they are best for pressing days rather than pulling days.
Lifting straps: more grip on pulls
Lifting straps are fabric or cotton loops that wrap around your wrist and the bar. By securing the bar to your wrist they take pressure off your fingers, so your grip is less likely to be the limiting factor on deadlifts, rows and pull-downs. They are a simple, low-cost way to keep training the big muscles when your hands tire first.
Lifting hooks: a stronger hold for heavy pulls
Lifting hooks are a more modern take on straps. A metal or composite hook sits under the bar and attaches to a padded wrist wrap, so you can hold heavy pulls with very little grip effort. Many lifters like them because they are quick to put on and there is no need to wind straps around the bar.
Which should you choose?
- Pressing and overhead work: wrist wraps.
- Deadlifts, rows and pull-ups on a budget: lifting straps.
- Very heavy pulls and fast set-up: lifting hooks.
It helps to keep some grip training in your routine and not use aids on every set. Save them for your heaviest or highest-rep work.
Shop grip and wrist support
Take a look at our weightlifting wrist wraps with thumb loop, lifting straps and lifting hooks with wrist wraps, or browse all training accessories. UK delivery is £2.99, and free over £50.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.