What are lifting straps used for?
Lifting straps can make a big difference in your gym workouts, especially when you're lifting heavy or focusing on compound movements like deadlifts, rows, or pull-ups. Here’s why you should consider using them and how they can seriously level up your training:
1. Improved Grip Strength
Your grip strength is often the first thing to give out during heavy lifts. When that happens, your workout performance suffers. Lifting straps assist your grip, allowing you to focus on the target muscles rather than worrying about your hands slipping. This means you can lift heavier weights and complete more reps, which translates to faster muscle gains. If you're regularly hitting a strength plateau due to grip issues, straps can help you break through that barrier
2. Better Focus on Target Muscles
Lifting straps take the strain off your hands and forearms, helping you concentrate on the muscles you’re trying to target (like your back in Rows or legs in Deadlifts). When you don’t have to constantly battle to maintain a strong grip, you can execute your lifts to failure without your forearms giving in. Most intermediate and experienced lifters will have developed a stronger back & legs and will fail on lifts such as a deadlift, bent row, lat-pulldown in their forearms before the muscle they are actually targeting.
3. Injury Prevention
Using straps can prevent unnecessary strain on your grip muscles, wrists, and forearms when you're lifting heavy. This can reduce the risk of overuse injuries that might sideline you from your training, such as tennis elbow. It’s especially important if you’re lifting at maximal effort (or near your max) and don’t want to risk an injury.
4. Enhanced Performance in Specific Movements
Some exercises (like deadlifts, shrugs, or high-rep rows) require a strong grip, but lifting straps take away that limiting factor. For deadlifts, especially, using straps can allow you to pull more weight with better form, meaning you get more from your training session. Plus, they’re great for anyone who wants to focus on building their posterior chain without worrying about the hands being the limiting factor.
5. Durability and Support
Most lifting straps are made from strong, durable materials like cotton, nylon, or leather, and they give you a lot of support during the heaviest sets. They’re easy to use, and many high-quality ones are adjustable to fit your wrists comfortably. Unlike lifting chalk or gloves, straps are simple, reusable, and don’t wear out easily with regular use. Traditional weightlifting gloves wont stop wear and tear on the hands and will still form calluses as the same strain and force is still being transferred to the hand compared to straps where they take the majority of the force.