The barbell deadlift is one of the most popular and effective exercises that you can perform. It works almost every major muscle in the body, burns fat, builds muscle, and can improve your overall fitness. But, to lift big, you sometimes need a little help. If your grip is struggling, then you may not be able to deadlift as much as you need to.
Luckily, there are a few solutions to this problem. The first one is to build your grip strength, using exercises such as shrugs, farmer’s walks, and rack pulls. Another option is chalk, but not all gyms allow this as it can make a lot of mess.
The final option is to use deadlifting straps. These straps help to strengthen your grip on the bar, allowing you to lift more weight and get a better workout. Deadlifting straps are used by powerlifters to help them set personal bests.
You don’t want to overuse them, and it is still important to work on your grip strength, but a decent set of lifting straps can really help you to hit that new personal best. Or squeeze out that final set when your body is willing, but your hands are sweaty and tired.
In this article, we will be taking a look at eight of the best deadlifting straps available for you to buy.
8 Best Deadlifting Straps
Deadlifting straps can come in many different guises, but the main two are straps and hooks. Straps are made from cotton or nylon, often with neoprene or silicone attached to improve your grip further. Hooks are almost exactly the same, but they use a bit of material to hook around the bar.
The idea is that the hook can hold the bar, making it easier to grip. Some people find this to be the case, but once you start lifting a certain weight, they become less effective. They are great for beginners, though, and also for high-rep sets.
Heres Out top 3 Best Deadlifting Straps
| Name | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Quality | Cobra Grips Pro | Check Latest Price |
| Best Overall | RIMSports Weight Lifting Hooks | Check Latest Price |
| Best Budget | DMoose Lifting Straps | Check Latest Price |
#1 Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps
Gymreapers lifting straps are incredibly popular with customers. This is due to a combination of the straps being excellently priced and being surprisingly durable. They are one of the lowest-priced lifting straps on this list, yet this is by no means reflected in their quality. These straps should last a regular gym goer a long time.
There are only a couple of downsides. The straps have not been made to be left and right. They are identical. This sounds like a petty complaint, but it means that you need to wear one upside down when wearing both for a deadlift.
The other issue is that heavy lifters and powerlifters may find that they are not durable enough to deal with the amount of work required. This is fair enough considering the price and the target market. There are more expensive and more durable straps out there for the pros.
Overall, these straps are incredibly comfortable, excellent value for money, and they should last a regular gym goer several years before needing to be replaced. Unless you are deadlifting 200kg three times per week, in which case you’ll want to invest a little more in more durable straps.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Really supports the wrist
- Excellent value for money
- Durable enough for regular gym goers
Cons
- Straps are identical, rather than having been made for left and right hands
- Not durable enough for intense use
#2 DMoose Lifting Straps
DMoose is a well-known and loved company in the fitness equipment world. You can always expect high-quality products at rock-bottom prices. The straps themselves are pretty standard. There’s not much to say.
The padding is superb, the grip is ideal, and they offer excellent value for money. They have the same issue as the Gymreapers straps, in that you get two identical straps rather than a left and right-hand version. Another (minor) issue is that the very popular stars and stripes version does tend to fade very quickly.
If you are deadlifting in a crowded, sweaty gym, though, does it really matter if your straps look a little faded? If you want a low-priced set of deadlifting straps, then DMoose is a great option.
Pros
- Highly reputable company
- Amazing value for money
- Great selection of styles
- Padding contributes to superb grip
Cons
- Straps are identical, rather than having been made for left and right hands
- The Stars and Stripes decal fades very fast
#3 Hustle Lifting Straps
Another set of decent yet unspectacular lifting straps. It is quite difficult to say anything good or bad about these straps. They are fairly durable but will not survive frequent heavy lifts. They have a good grip but aren’t particularly comfortable. One of the best things about Hustle lifting straps is that they have a lifetime warranty.
If you are struggling to properly grip the bar during a deadlift, then Hustle lifting straps are a great option. They aren’t quite as nice to look at as the DMoose straps, and they aren’t quite as comfortable as the Gymreapers, but they are well-made, durable, and heavy-duty. You will have few complaints if you go for them.
Pros
- Durable design
- Non-slip silicon grip
- Heavy-duty cotton material
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Some people find them uncomfortable while lifting
#4 grip power pads Lifting Straps
These straps by Grip Power Pads are very different to the other straps we’ve looked at so far. They use a leather strap that you use to cover your palm as you grab the barbell. Instead of wrapping the strap around the barbell a few times, as you would normally, you grip the barbell with your hands, and the strap goes in between.
You are either going to love this or hate it. It depends on the reasons why you are using straps in the first place. If you keep losing your grip due to a lack of strength, then these straps are not a good choice. If you need straps because your hands sweat a lot, then they are ideal.
The straps themselves are well made, and they look amazing. You will also be impressed with how comfortable they are to wear.
Pros
- Beautiful-looking straps
- Comfortable
- Great for sweaty hands
Cons
- You can’t wrap them around the bar in the same way
- More expensive than other straps
#5 Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps
It can be tempting to focus on the highly patriotic pro-America designs of these straps. But this is a style choice, and has no bearing on whether the straps are good or not.
Luckily, the straps are very good. Highly durable and well-designed, and they come with a lifetime warranty. They are a little more expensive than similar straps on this list, but the difference is marginal. If you enjoy the designs and overt nationalism then paying a few extra dollars won’t matter.
They look really cool, particularly the camo version, and they will help you with your deadlift. If that appeals to you, then you will be very happy with this purchase.
Pros
- Well-made
- Durable
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for very heavy lifting
#6 Cobra Grips Pro
If money is no option, then get yourself a pair of Cobra gips, provided you prefer the lifting hook style rather than the traditional strap. Cobra grips are stylish, durable, and effective. They manage to help those of you with sweaty grips (just like Taview), but they are also good for those of you with weak grips. They are an ideal strap for beginners and for experts.
There are many varieties available, and they can be kept on your wrists throughout your workout and are equally effective with any other pulling exercise.
So why are they not our top-rated pick of the straps? Well, because they cost about the same as four other straps combined! Cobra grips are expensive. Some would say ludicrously expensive.
They are a worthwhile investment for experienced gym goers who turn up 4-5 times each week. If you are a beginner, or you only go to the gym a couple of times each week, then save your money and get a cheaper set of straps.
Pros
- The most durable straps on this list
- Amazing grip
- Great aesthetics
- Huge range of colours available
Cons
- Expensive
#7 AQF Weight Lifting Straps
There isn’t much to say for or against Gradient Fitness lifting straps. They are good enough to warrant a place on this list, and they will serve any customer well. But they are just a standard set of lifting straps. They are very comfortable, and the reinforced stitching can help you to lift heavier without risk of ripping.
Some users have reported that they have a slightly shorter shelf life than some straps, and there is no lifetime warranty on them. But they are inexpensive, look good, and should suit a beginner or casual gym goer very nicely.
Pros
- Reinforced stitching helps the straps last longer
- Decent price
- Very comfortable
Cons
- Not quite as durable as some on this list
#8 RIMSports Weight Lifting Hooks
The last straps on this list are proper hook straps. This means that they have a hard plastic hook. So, instead of wrapping these straps around the bar, you hook the bar onto the hard plastic hook. This takes your grip strength out of the equation, but sacrifices security for convenience.
If you are training for hypertrophy and looking to hit ten rep sets, then hooks are a great choice. But, if you are looking to hit a new personal best, the hook can be problematic.
Ultimately, you will either like the hook or hate it, if you don’t like the sensation, then hook straps are not for you.
RIMSports has made a good hook, and it is quite comfortable. But the material, when combined with humid conditions (i.e. a crowded gym) can lead to your wrists getting very hot and sweaty. Which can affect your lifts and make for an unpleasant experience.
Pros
- The hook makes reps easy
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable
Cons
- Hooks are not great for max lifts
- Can make your wrists sweaty
What Are the Benefits of Lifting Straps?
While it is important to ensure that you aren’t overusing lifting straps, they have two massive benefits. They can allow you to lift slightly more weight than you would normally, helping to strengthen your hamstrings, glutes, back, and core if your grip is holding you back.
They can also help you to grind out an extra set if your grip has become fatigued. Let’s say you’re training for hypertrophy (bigger muscles) and you have four sets of 10 reps to perform.
The first three sets are fine, but after that third set you know that your grip can’t handle the weight anymore. Without lifting straps you’d have to finish your workout early. But with straps, you can grind out that last set as the straps can improve your grip strength temporarily.
Types of Straps for Deadlifting
There are many straps that have slight differences, but there are two main types of straps for deadlifting. Regular lifting straps, and hooks. A lifting strap will be made of cotton or nylon, and will often have a second material such as silicone that is used to improve the grip on the bar. But they are pretty simple designs.
Hooks are very similar to lifting straps but instead of wrapping the strap around the barbell, you have toughened hooks that you can hook onto the bar. Some people prefer this, as they feel that the hooks take grip strength out of the equation entirely. They are great for hypertrophy training.
But most powerlifters prefer straps to hooks, as the bar stays stationary in your grip while wearing straps, but it can roll slightly in hooks. Not a problem if you are grinding out reps. But an issue if you are going for a personal best lift.
What Makes a Good Strap for Deadlifting?
When reviewing a complicated piece of fitness equipment such as a treadmill or a supplement, there are many factors that can affect whether they are good or not. With deadlifting straps, there is only one. How durable the strap is.
A durable strap won’t break during a lift, it won’t fall apart within six months of use, and you can feel safe and secure while using it. All of the eight deadlifting straps in this review are picked for their durability, with other factors being of less importance.
Other minor considerations include the price and whether it represents good value for money or not, how comfortable the strap feels, and how effective it is at improving your grip strength. Though there isn’t much difference in that regard. Once a strap has been made to last, it will help you immensely.
Final Verdict
We have taken an in-depth look at eight of the best deadlifting straps that are available to buy. Of these eight, our favourite is the first one that we mention. The lifting straps sold by Gymreapers. They are durable, feel incredibly comfortable when wrapped around the bar, and they represent excellent value for money.
RIMSports weight lifting hooks are a great option if you are training for size rather than strength, as they allow you to remove your grip from the equation entirely, making it easier to perform as many reps as possible.
Always remember though, that deadlifting straps and hooks should be used strategically. You still need to build that grip strength, as otherwise you will always be held back in what you can achieve. Save the straps for that last set, or that new record.
