Gym Wrist Straps – Definitive FAQ Guide

If you are planning to buy gym wrist straps and don’t know much about this particular gym accessory, this is the guide for you. 

Moreover, you can also find this guide helpful if you have some questions in mind about these straps. Here, you can learn about the various aspects of gym wrist straps. 

This guide also throws some light on the type of gym wrist straps, their materials, and maintenance. So, let’s see what we have got here.

Table of Contents

Gym Wrist Straps Defined

To put it simply, gym wrist straps consist of a long piece of strap. This type of strap improves strength and efficiency when lifting heavy weights. Another popular name for wrist straps is ‘lifting straps’. 

Gym wrist straps are always available in pairs. Trainers also prefer using these straps while recovering from a wrist injury. In this way, they can put more focus on their training. 

Figure 1: Gym Wrist Straps

Uses of Gym Wrist Straps

There are numerous uses of gym wrist straps. Below are some of the most notable uses of this particular gym accessory:

Powerlifting

The major focus of powerlifting is to build strength for lifting more weight. While doing this type of training, some people may face gripping issues. This stops them to lift heavy weights. 

This is the time when gym wrist straps come into play. These straps help their body to lift more weight. 

Olympic Lifting

Olympic lifting is a type of weightlifting competition where the player lifting the heaviest weight wins. Hence it needs different techniques to enhance the ability of a body to lift more weight. 

One of these techniques is the use of gym wrist straps. This gym accessory allows the lifters to improve their grip. As a result, weightlifters can pay more attention to their techniques. 

Bodybuilding

The basic goal of bodybuilding is to build muscles. The bodybuilding exercises involve lifting weights to build muscles. Hence, bodybuilders widely use gym wrist straps when lifting weights. 

Important Features of a Gym Wrist Strap

Although gym wrist straps are simple accessories, they have certain features. The most essential of these include:

• Grip
• Support
• Closure
• Wrist padding
• Material
• Weight-bearing capacity
• Dimensions
• Length
• Width

Grip

This is one of the most essential features of the gym wrist straps. The grip of a wrist strap depends on its material and size. Hence, before making a purchase, keep this factor in mind. 

Support

A high-quality wrist strap offers maximum support to your wrist when lifting weight. So, make sure that the wrist strap you are buying must offer the necessary support. 

Normally, flexible wrist straps can offer more support to the wrist. The size of a wrist strap also affects its ability to offer the required support. 

Although gym wrist straps are available in a universal size, you should find an option that offers optimal support. 

Wrist Padding

A gym wrist strap offers maximum support and comfort to your wrist when lifting heavy weights. Hence, top-rated manufacturers use neoprene padding, which is 5mm thick. 

Closure

The closure is that part of a gym wrist strap, which the lifter wraps around the wrist as well as the barbell. When buying a lasso wrist strap, keep in mind that the strap must have sufficient length.

This allows you to tie the strap around a barbell. Besides, if you are going to buy a hooked strap, make sure that the barbell can pass through the hook.  

Material

The material of a gym wrist strap is an essential element to consider. The quality of a wrist strap depends on its material. In addition, the wrist strap must consist of non-allergic, and odor-free material. 

Weight-bearing Capacity

It is another important factor associated with a gym wrist strap. The wrist strap must be capable of bearing maximum weight without breaking. 

Usually, a high-quality wrist strap ensures a higher weight-bearing capacity. On average, a gym wrist strap can sustain a weight not exceeding 2000 pounds. 

Dimensions

Different types of gym wrist straps have different dimensions. However, the measurement should be definite for every strap. This is so, as too short or too long strap won’t serve the purpose. 

Listed below are some common measurements of various gym wrist straps. 

Lasso:

Length: 17 inches to 20 inches 

Width: 1.5 inches 

Closed Loop:

Length: 10 inches 

Width: 1.5 inches

Length

Just like other gym accessories, length also plays a key role when choosing a gym wrist strap. This is essential, as an excessively long strap would be difficult to tie. 

Besides, unwrap it would also take your time when you have finished the workout. On the contrary, a shorter strap won’t offer desired stability while doing weightlifting. 

Width

A reasonable width is also necessary to offer maximum grip. A too wide strap would hurt your wrist when lifting a heavy weight. 

Types of Gym Wrist Straps

Discussed below are the different types of gym wrist straps. 

Lasso

Loop strap is another popular name for the lasso wrist strap. It consists of a loop on one side and a long strap that passes through the loop. The loop clutches the wrist and the strap wraps around the barbell. 

Lasso strap is a common wrist strap used in commercial gyms. Due to its multipurpose use, this strap is a popular choice for bodybuilding exercises. These straps offer better stability than single-loop straps. 

But, lasso straps have a drawback too. These straps take some time to release the bar. Hence, they are not appropriate exercises like the jerk and clean. 

Lasso straps come in different materials and sizes. It is possible to modify their size for a perfect fit. However, a few users might consider it hard to wrap the additional strap around their barbell. 

Besides, loosening this strap is also difficult. 

Figure 2: Lasso Gym Wrist Strap

Single-Loop / Closed-Loop

Closed-Loop or Single-Loop strap has a different design. It has a V-shaped design with a closed top end. These straps may offer less support to your wrist.

These straps are suitable for those exercises where you need to release the barbell quickly. For instance, single-loop straps are a common choice for Olympic weightlifting. 

You can’t tie this to your wrist, which is a downside. Apart from this, the grip offered by a closed-loop strap isn’t that secure. 

Figure 3: Closed Loop lifting strap

Hook Straps

As the name suggests, this type of wrist strap comes with a hook. You can attach these hooks to the bar. There is no need to wrap it around the bar, which is a plus. 

However, the presence of a hook makes it difficult to ensure a proper grip. This is so, as the hook lowers the strength of your grip. 

Figure 4: Hook strap

Figure 8 Wrist Straps

These wrist straps have a unique design. They look similar to the digit 8. These straps consist of two closed loops. One loop clutches the wrist while the other loop goes around the bar. 

These gym wrist straps are highly suitable for heavyweight and strength training exercises i.e. deadlifts. Don’t use this strap during those exercises where you have to drop the barbell.

 In this scenario, the bar will stay attached to your wrist and may cause injury by putting strain on it. 

Figure 5: Figure 8 gym wrist straps

Manufacturing Materials

Normally, manufacturers use three types of materials for making gym wrist straps. Some brands use a single material while others use multiple materials. 

For instance, a strap made of both cotton and nylon is also available on the market. This type of combination makes them durable as well as comfortable to use. 

Discussed below are the materials that manufacturers use for making gym wrist straps. 

Cotton

Wrist straps made of cotton are soft and comfortable. They offer a gentle feel to the wrist. In addition, cotton straps absorb maximum sweat, leaving your hands dry. 

These gym wrist straps are less durable as compared to other materials i.e. leather and nylon. 

Figure 6: Cotton gym wrist strap

Nylon

These straps offer maximum durability. Hence, nylon straps are the perfect choice for Olympic weightlifting. The best feature of this material is its ability to release the bar quickly. 

Nylon isn’t a good absorbent. Hence, nylon straps exhibit poor sweat-absorbing qualities. Due to excessive sweating, the user may lose grip. 

Figure 7: Nylon Gym Wrist strap

Leather

Leather is among the most durable materials. Therefore, wrist straps made of leather can last longer. If a strap is made of top-quality leather, it can last for an extended period. 

Leather straps don’t slip. This ensures maximum grip. However, leather isn’t a comfortable material. Hence, it may cause rashes on the wrist. Apart from this, leather is not a good absorbent as compared to cotton. 

Figure 8: Leather gym wrist strap

Manufacturing Process 

With reference to the material used, the manufacturing process of a gym wrist strap may differ. Below are the common processes used for making cotton straps:

Weaving

The first step involves the weaving of the cotton threads to make straps. The quality of the gym wrist strap relies largely on this step. 

Hence, the strength and quality of a cotton strap depend on the weaving. A durable yarn made from the perfectly weaved thread can make a top-notch wrist strap. 

Coloring

The next step is coloring the gym wrist straps. You can order these straps in a color of your choice. The straps undergo the coloring process once weaved. Therefore, coloring these straps with a customized color is possible. 

Stitching

Once the coloring process is complete, the long straps pass through the cutting and stitching procedure. After cutting, these straps go for stitching. This gives them a perfect shape. 

The top-of-the-line manufacturers prefer the double-block stitching method. It offers maximum durability to the gym wrist straps. 

A few of the manufacturers also prefer using colored threads for stitching the wrist straps. For instance, they can use blue or red stitching on a black cotton strap. This ensures a nice appearance. 

In addition, manufacturers also stitch brand logos to the straps for giving them a customized look. 

Maintenance 

It doesn’t take a lot of effort while maintaining the gym wrist straps. You can clean these straps in the washing machine. Besides, using a less harsh cleaning solution is also advisable. 

Conclusion

Although the gym wrist strap appears to be a simple accessory, it is highly useful for multiple exercises. In order to get the most out of it, make sure to choose a wrist strap depending on its purpose. 

Yanre Fitness offers a variety of affordable and high-quality gym wrist straps. You can also choose your desired color and logo customization options. 

For more information and price quote, please contact us today.