Pros and Cons of Using Wrist Straps

1. Pros and Cons of Using Wrist Wraps

3. If you have ever done lifting in your life, then you would know about two significant pieces of equipment lifters wear in the gym: wrist straps and wrist wraps. Both help in achieving better performance and offer protection from possible injuries. However, both aren’t used for the same purpose. Wrist strap vs wrist wrap? Wrist wraps are wrapped around the wrist and offer joint support when doing any type of heavy pressing. Lifting straps, however, are also wrapped around the wrist but also around the bar you are supposed to lift. They support a weak grip when doing any type of heavy pulling

4. We have pointed out all the differences between wrist straps and wrist wraps, their pros and cons, when is the best time to use each of them and whether you need them or not. Continue reading to know our take on wrist strap vs wrist wrap

5. Wrist Straps: Wrist straps, also called lifting straps, are straps, that are looped around the wrist and wrapped around the bar to make a hook-like system between the barbell and the lifter’s hand. Their main function is to let the lifter grip more weight. As you excel in your lifting career, you eventually reach a point when your muscular strength develops beyond your grip’s capacity. 

6.  At this point, wrist straps act as a helpful tool to let you keep building your strength.  You’ll also find wrist straps benefiting other workouts where your grip is heavily involved, like barbell rows, chin-ups, and latpulldowns.

7. What Are Wrist Straps Used For? The reason why lifters use wrist straps is that grip strength often acts as a limiting factor during heavy pulling movements, including deadlifts or rowing variations. Strength potential is amazing, but often the grip, controlled by the smaller forearm muscles becomes the limiting factor. Though there are hand techniques to minimize this, like a mixed grip or hook grip, to prevent the bar from slipping, there is always a limitation.

8. This is also true for the strongest lifters, and it’s rare to see someone do a heavy deadlift without using lifting straps. They eliminate the demand for grip strength by locking the wrist to the bar.  This is why wrist straps are used, by eliminating the possibility of grip failure, you can lift a max lift, with your only constraint being how much you can physically lift.

9. Wrist Strap Pros : • They enable you to quickly increase your ability to grip. • Easy to use. • They let you lift heavier in most exercises.  • Allow you to push yourself to lift more repetitions than normal. • Relatively inexpensive. • Can be used for multiple exercises. • One pair can last a lifetime. • Don’t occupy too much space in gym bags

10. Wrist Strap Cons: • You can develop an over-reliance, if you use them too much, stimulating a weaker overall grip. • Leather straps aren’t good at absorbing sweat well, thus they deteriorate faster.

11. Are Wrist Straps Worth It? Do wrist straps help bench during a workout? Yes, they do. They make a significant difference for people with a weak grip. In fact, every serious lifter carries a pair of wrist straps in their gym bag. But that doesn’t mean you should use them to mask a weak grip. Use wrist straps for the immediate benefit of being capable of lifting more weight without your grip failing. But, also think of ways to train your forearms and hands to build your natural gripping abilities.