Using lifting straps can make a huge difference in your lifts and assist you in setting new personal records. They can be the difference between stagnating in your workouts or making the muscle gains you want to achieve.
We found through in-depth research that the Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps are the strongest and most secure lifting straps available. The figure 8 style design lets you pull some serious weight without worrying about the bar slipping.
Here are all the top lifting strap choices.
| Top 8 Best Lifting Straps | Why It's Best | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Harbinger Classic Cotton Padded Lifting Straps | Versatile, basic lifting straps. | ★★★★★ |
| Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Leather Suede Lifting Wrist Straps | Extremely durable, more comfortable than cotton. | ★★★★★ |
| Anvil Fitness The Last Pair of Lifting Straps You’ll Ever Need | Long strap allows for plenty of wraps around bar. | ★★★★★ |
| Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps | Figure 8 design allows extremely heavy lifts upwards of 1000 pounds. | ★★★★★ |
| Schiek Sports Model 1000-DLS Deluxe Dowel Lifting Straps | Interesting Velcro and rubber dowel design, adjustable straps. | ★★★★★ |
The Best Lifting Straps for Increasing Strength
Harbinger Classic Cotton Padded Lifting Straps
The Harbinger Classic Cotton Padded Lifting Straps are a lasso-style lifting strap made of cotton. This style of lifting strap is extremely versatile in use.
These are definitely durable and can handle the wear and tear of your gym. Unfortunately, they can be pretty uncomfortable due to very minimal padding for the hands and wrists.
The discomfort will be more obvious if you do very heavy compound lifts like deadlifts. This might not be an issue for you if you are keeping the weight relatively low.
Their extended length in the straps allows for a better grip on the bar when you’re using them. It’s really important to use lifting straps that you can trust.
Unfortunately, Harbinger has recently made some changes to this product that has left many customers unsatisfied with their purchase. The changes are mainly in the padding of the straps.
Harbinger advertises comfortable straps, but as we discussed earlier that is not the case. These are however a great value if you are okay with some discomfort when you do heavy lifts.
One final positive about this product is the sizing as it fits a variety of hand and wrist sizes. Most people should have no issue with the fit of these lifting straps.
Rip Toned Lifting Wrist Straps
The Rip Toned Lifting Wrist Straps are a lasso style lifting strap made of neoprene padded cotton. These straps have a variety of uses in the gym.
These are definitely padded better than the Harbinger Classic Cotton Straps claim to be. They offer nice support to the hands and wrist while you lift.
The neoprene padding helps with reducing discomfort while you do heavier lifts that would otherwise burn your hands. Deadlifts especially can do pretty substantial damage to your hands.
Be careful when using these to lift some seriously high numbers. Some users of this product found that they were damaged over time or straight-up broke while they were in the middle of an exercise.
However, this could have been exasperated by washing the cotton straps. Washing cotton straps too frequently in the washer or on the wrong setting can compromise the integrity of the material.
Be careful of this fact if you are purchasing any cotton straps; it could be the difference between safely working out and suffering an injury.
Rip Toned Lifting Wrist Straps have a lifetime satisfaction guarantee. This could be the right product for you if your lifts are not too heavy, you take care of the straps, and you’re looking for great value.
Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps
The Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps are a lasso-style lifting strap made of neoprene padded cotton. Lasso-style straps are great for a bunch of uses.
These lifting straps are padded well and offer plenty of cushioning for heavy lifts without all the wear and tear on your hands.
The straps are actually not quite as long as some of the other lasso-style lifting straps we have reviewed, so the wrap won’t be quite as long. The given 18 inches should be just fine though.
The cotton blend used is very strong and can support a whole lot of weight without tearing. We found that these straps are just more well made than a lot of other competing cotton lasso style lifting straps.
The Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps also come in a bunch of colors. You might find this product to be right for you if you’re particular about the color of your workout gear and are looking for this style of cotton lifting strap.
Gymreapers also has a lifetime satisfaction guarantee and will replace your lifting straps for no charge if you encounter any issues.
These lifting straps are made of cotton, so be careful to take care of them properly to avoid potential breakage.
Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Leather Suede Lifting Wrist Straps
The Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Leather Suede Lifting Wrist Straps are a leather suede lifting strap made in a lasso-style design. We have lots of lasso-style lifting straps on this list, but these ones are much different in material.
These straps come in two different sizes of bands for different lifts. The 3mm bands are for lifting weight over 400 pounds, and the 2mm bands are for lifts under 400 pounds. This versatility makes these straps awesome for both the aspiring lifter and the experienced gym rat. Pick whichever one suits your current strength.
Leather suede is a lot softer to the touch than cotton and provides more comfort while you’re lifting. The Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Leather Suede Lifting Wrist Straps are really comfortable compared to the competition and really set themselves apart.
The absence of additional padding also allows you to tighten these leather suede straps much more than you could if they were made of cotton and had neoprene padding on them. This creates a more secure bond between your hands, straps, and the weight.
Dark Iron Fitness stands by their product with a satisfaction guarantee. If you have any issues with your straps, you can simply return them or have them exchanged for a brand new set.
That will not be needed in most cases though. These straps are seriously durable and can withstand a whole lot of weight very frequently. You have to be moving powerlifter levels of weight to need anything more than this.
Nordic Lifting Wrist Wraps + Lifting Straps Bundle
The Nordic Lifting Wrist Wraps + Lifting Straps Bundle comes with a set of neoprene padded cotton lifting straps. This is the only bundle on our list, so it’s time to take a look at some extra goodies!
These are very similar to the other cotton lifting straps on our list. The neoprene padding makes using the lifting straps more comfortable for heavy lifts, and the cotton straps are fairly strong if you take care of them.
They are a lasso-style design and offer both versatility in the gym and a secure grip. The Nordic Lifting Lifting Straps have a one year warranty to give you some added value too. If any damage occurs to your lifting straps it will likely be within a year, and more likely within a few months.
The added bonus we get with this bundle is a pair of wrist wraps to stabilize your wrists during heavy lifts. Consider this bundle if you are looking to purchase wrist wraps already and don’t need anything beyond some basic cotton lifting straps.
You probably want to look elsewhere if you are looking to get into powerlifting, as this strap is not quite as sturdy as some of the others here.
Anvil Fitness The Last Pair of Lifting Straps You’ll Ever Need
The Anvil Fitness The Last Pair of Lifting Straps You’ll Ever Need could actually be the last pair of lifting straps you’ll ever need depending on how heavy you lift.
They’re neoprene padded cotton lifting straps that are quite long. The length of the straps is enough to wrap two or three times around the bar. This is plenty and will do the job just fine.
The loops are adjustable to give you the most control possible when you’re getting ready to push yourself to the limit. You can tighten them right up to your wrists to make them extremely snug.
These will do the job just fine for most people, but they’re not quite as heavy-duty as some would want. This really comes down to your individual needs as a consumer, and if you need a different material or style of strap.
Otherwise, these very well could be the last pair of lifting straps you will ever purchase. Anvil Fitness missed out on an opportunity to give customers a lifetime guarantee. Then they would really be the last pair of lifting straps you’ll ever need.
Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps
The Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps are the best lifting straps we reviewed. They are a figure 8 design made from webbed cotton.
Figure 8 straps offer a different design that makes these straps for the most serious lifters out there. These kinds of straps are great for a lot of reasons and are helpful for lifting extremely heavy weights.
The Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps come in three different sizes for varying hand sizes and uses in the gym. For example, there is a strap specifically for axle bars. Definitely make sure you’re getting the right ones when you purchase these.
Something nice about the Figure 8 design is that the straps can be twisted to tighten them for certain uses. This makes it pretty simple to make adjustments on the fly while you go about your workout.
They’re really comfortable and can withstand even the heaviest of lifts. These straps are our winners just due to the fact that you can depend on them, and with lifting weights, your safety is the most important thing as you push yourself.
There’s no one definitive way to use these straps, so you can be assured that you’ll find a comfortable way to use them that really helps you.
The smallest size is likely the right size for you unless you have really big hands. Get the size appropriate for the axle bar if that’s your intended use.
Schiek Sports Model 1000-DLS Deluxe Dowel Lifting Straps
The Schiek Sports Model 1000-DLS Deluxe Dowel Lifting Straps are unique in that they have an adjustable strap and rubber dowels.
The design is definitely unlike any of the other lifting straps we have on this list. We thought it made sense to cover another option in the lasso-style design that has produced positive results for people with its unique approach.
The adjustable nature of the lifting straps makes it a one size fits all situation, so if you’re worried about sizing this could benefit you.
Unfortunately, there can be issues with the lack of ability to adjust how the strap locks on to a bar. The size of how it fits your wrist is adjustable, but the rest is not.
The dowel and Velcro allow you to use a single wrap to attach the straps to the bar rather than having to do two or three. This is really convenient if the rest of the straps’ features don’t bother you.
The materials used are cotton and neoprene padding much like the other lasso-style lifting straps. The padding is comfortable and provides nice support. The straps are adjustable so there’s no real issues with fit or comfort.
Lifting Straps Buying Guide
Three Types of Lifting Straps
There are multiple kinds of lifting straps available for purchase. They all satisfy slightly different needs and use different designs to achieve this result. We featured two kinds of lifting straps on our guide, but will go over the three most common kinds.
Ultimately what kind of lifting straps you choose will depend on exactly what your needs are. There are a lot of styles of weight lifting out there that utilize different movements to build muscle, and these three kinds of lifting straps all meet different needs.
The Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps are in a figure 8 design, but that does not invalidate the other designs, as they have their own specific purposes. We focused on usefulness when deadlifting for our product choice, but many people seek lifting straps for other exercises, too.
Figure 8
The figure 8 design is the most secure and useful for anything extremely heavy like powerlifting. This doesn’t mean you have to be a powerlifter to use these straps, but instead that they can accommodate the most weight without risk of breaking.
They are definitely better for exercises like deadlifts that are based on pulling motions. You don’t want to be doing many other motions with figure 8 lifting straps due to the inability to quickly detach yourself from the straps. Olympic lifts are definitely off-limits when using a strap like this.
All in all, you want these if you are pulling a whole lot of weight. They are often tested for 1000 pounds and can handle the wear and tear of almost anything you can throw at them. These are the kinds of straps you will see if you go to any strong man competition or anything similar.
Our winner, the Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps, are in a figure 8 design.
Lasso
The lasso design is by far the most common on our list. This is because it is useful in a bunch of ways that the figure 8 design cannot be. Exercises like pull-ups are able to be done in addition to pulling motions like deadlifts.
It is appropriate for almost anyone to use lasso lifting straps, but they are especially good for beginners. They’re super versatile and can always be replaced down the road if you pursue some really heavy lifting.
They usually come in cotton, but can also use other materials. The Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Leather Suede Lifting Wrist Straps are a great example of a really durable material taking the lasso style lifting strap to another level of strength.
Products like the Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps are a great entry-level option for those who want high-quality lasso-style lifting straps.
Single Loop
We didn’t feature any single loop lifting straps as they are usually for Olympic lifting exercises like power cleans.
The bar is also not nearly as secure with this style of lifting strap. For most applications, you do not want to use lifting straps like this over the lasso or figure 8.
However, they may fit you and your needs if you do certain compound lifts. It’s worth noting that these straps are difficult to grip, but the other styles of lifting straps are immediately helpful even with a weak grip.
Single loop lifting straps can be used for almost anything provided you are able to use them effectively. We just recommend other products in their place unless you are in a very specific category of weight lifting.
Material
Nearly all of these lifting straps are made with cotton. It’s incredibly durable when used properly, but there is an issue with this if you don’t take proper care of them.
Being careless when washing your cotton lifting straps can result in them tearing and even completely breaking during your workout. It goes without saying that this could result in an injury, so taking great care of your lifting strips is important.
Avoid using a washing machine if possible as it will produce the best results to wash them by hand. This seems like a lot of work, but the truth is that it’s important to take good care of anything that is going to be helping you support a bunch of weight.
Some detergent and warm water will go a long way with these. Washing them often is a better deterrent for foul smells than waiting long periods of time between washes. That nasty smell of body odor can be difficult to get out once it has taken hold of the fabrics.
FAQs About Lifting Straps
What do lifting straps do?
Lifting straps give you additional security in your grip when you’re doing an exercise like deadlifts, pull-ups, shrugs, etc. Different kinds of lifting straps exist for different purposes, so the exact way they will assist you depends on the design. Check our guide above for information on how to pick from the various designs.
Regardless of what kind they are, all lifting straps wrap around the bar to help support the weight while you workout. Often times you are actually stronger than your grip strength would lead you to believe.
If you plateau in your deadlifts and do not already use straps, you could probably break that plateau just by using lifting straps. They would reveal that you are stronger than that and were being limited by your grip.
Are lifting straps really necessary for me?
There’s no harm in using them no matter what kind of weight lifting you like to do. It’s true that lifting straps are definitely the most useful for those who are doing certain kinds of exercises with high amounts of weight.
The best criteria for this is whether you feel like you are limited by your grip strength. It is common for people to be able to outlift their grip strength, so using lifting straps can reveal some additional strength you might not know about.
You should definitely use lifting straps if you’re doing any deadlifting or really any other heavy pulling motion. Bodyweight exercises like pull-ups can even be made easier when using lasso-style lifting straps.
Do figure 8 straps work better than lasso straps?
For deadlifting, they certainly do hold more weight and create a more secure wrap around the bar. Lasso straps are more versatile though, and will meet the needs of most people.
The design of the figure 8 strap just lends itself to pulling exercises so well. The answer of which style is better really depends on what you need it for.
Figure 8 straps are not the right choice for you if you need lifting straps for bodyweight exercises. In that case, you would be better off purchasing any kind of lasso straps.
How are leather lifting straps compared to cotton?
Leather is a really durable material for use in a product like lifting straps. They are really comfortable and can be preferable to cotton and neoprene padding for many people out there.
Comfort has a lot to do with what material is best for you, but you can lift without any worry of tearing when you use a material like suede leather.
Suede leather lifting straps like the Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Leather Suede Lifting Wrist Straps are a fantastic alternative to other cotton lasso-style lifting straps. They are a really great product and are one of our top choices for lasso style lifting straps.
The Best Lifting Straps On The Market
The Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Straps are simply stronger than the rest. They provide a level of security and strength that can’t really be beaten by other products in a lasso style.
Their figure 8 design is unbeatable for heavy pulling lifts like deadlifts. We feel that this is the primary use for lifting straps and that the best product is the most durable and dependable of them all.
They even come in three different sizes to satisfy the individual needs of anybody who wants figure 8 lifting straps. An axle bar size is even available. Serious Steel Fitness has really thought of everything with this one.
Powerlifters all over the globe depend on this kind of lifting strap to help them lift absolutely massive amounts of weight. It’s a tried and true design that will help you make instant progress.