Wrist wraps and lifting straps are constantly mixed up. Understandable, both go around your wrist and both help you lift heavier. But they do something totally different. One supports your wrist when pushing, the other supports your grip when pulling. If you buy the wrong one, you won’t solve your problem.
In this guide you read exactly what the difference is, when to use which, what “wrist what “straps” actually are, and why most serious lifters have both in their have a bag.
In short
- Lifting straps improve your grip during pulling movements (pull). They link the weight to your wrist so your hands don’t give out before your back.
- Wrist wraps provide support to your wrist joint during pushing movements (push). They stabilize your wrist so it stays firm under the bar.
In other words: straps are for pulling, wraps are for pushing. They don’t replace each other, they complement each other.
What do lifting straps do?
Lifting straps wrap around the bar to support your grip. With heavy pulling exercises give up with your hands and forearms often earlier than the muscle you are training. Straps remove that limitation, so you get more reps and more volume on your back and pull work.
Do you use with: deadlifts, barbell rows, Romanian deadlifts, lat pulldowns, pull-ups, shrugs.
The problem that they solve: grip that fails before your back or legs are ready.
How you put on, read in how to use lifting straps.
What do wrist wraps do?
Wrist wraps wrap tightly around your wrist joint. With heavy pressing movements, your wrist quickly bends backwards, which costs strength and strains your joint. Wraps keep your wrist straight and stable, so you can push safer and more confidently.
Do you use with: bench press, overhead press, dips, and other heavy presses.
The problem that they solve: wrists that wobble or hurt under heavy pressure.
Wrist wraps vs lifting straps in one overview
| Lifting straps | Wrist wraps | |
| Goal | Support grip | Stabilize wrist |
| Movement | Pulling | Pushing |
| Exercises | Deadlift, rows, pull-ups | Bench, overhead press, dips |
| Solves | Grip that fails | Wrist that wobbles or hurts does |
And what exactly are wrist straps?
Here arises the most confusion. “Wrist straps” is used interchangeably for two things: sometimes people just mean lifting straps, sometimes a combination product with a wristband and a strap. Remember the function, not the name: is it about your grip when pulling, then you need lifting straps. If it’s about support for your wrist joint when pressing, then you look for wrist wraps.
Which one do you need?
That depends depending on what you’re struggling with:
- Does your grip give out on heavy pulls? Then you need lifting straps.
- Does your wrist wobble or hurt when pressing? Then wrist wraps are the answer.
Can you use them together?
Definitely. In the in practice you probably train both: a heavy pull day and a heavy press day. You just don’t use them both at the same time in the same exercise: straps on your pulls, wraps on your presses. If you don’t want to choose separately, then combine them affordable in the Lifting Straps + Wrist Wraps bundle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between wrist wraps and lifting straps?
Lifting straps support your grip when pulling (deadlift, rows). Wrist wraps stabilize your wrist joint when pressing (bench, overhead press). Different function, different exercises.
Do I need both?
If you both pulls as much as pushes: yes. If you mainly train back and deadlifts, start with straps. If you experience wrist issues when pressing, then wraps are more important.
Wrist wraps for deadlift or bench?
For bench and other presses. For deadlifts, you don’t need wraps but lifting straps, because it’s about your grip there, not your wrist position.
Which one should I buy first?
Look at your biggest limitation. If your grip fails on pulls, buy straps. If your wrist wobbles on presses, buy wraps. If in doubt, the bundle covers both.
Are wrist wraps the same as wrist braces?
No. A a wrist brace is medical and restricts movement during an injury. Wrist wraps are training gear that stabilizes your wrist during heavy sets and then again removes.
One gear one grips your grip, the other your wrist. With both, nothing stands between you and your heaviest sets.
