Outdoors & Fitness
The Best Lifting Straps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four lifting straps on design type, published length and width, sizing, stated materials and what each brand's own warranty text actually promises.
The short version
The Versa Gripps PRO is the pick because it solves the problem most lifters actually have, which is wanting grip support without wrapping and unwrapping between every set. It is the only strap here sized by wrist circumference across four sizes, and it is made in the USA. The Gymreapers Lifting Straps are the value buy and the sensible first pair: cotton with neoprene padding, 18 inches long, with a lifetime replacement guarantee. The SBD Figure 8 straps suit heavy deadlifts and shrugs specifically, where locking on is the point, and are the wrong tool for rows or anything you might need to drop. Skip the Iron Bull Strength Lifting Straps: the brand's own spec table grades them Level 1 while grading its own figure eight straps Level 4, and that is a strange thing to buy on purpose. Best for: anyone whose grip is the limiting factor on pulling movements.
Our picks at a glance
- Versa Gripps PRO - Buy. A patented grip pad with built-in wrist support that you can release instantly, sized to your wrist rather than sold one-size-fits-all.
- Gymreapers Lifting Straps - Buy. An 18 inch padded cotton lasso with a lifetime replacement guarantee, which is the sensible first pair for almost everyone.
- SBD Apparel Figure 8 Lifting Straps - It depends. Aramid-reinforced figure eights that tighten as the bar loads, which is exactly right for maximal deadlifts and wrong for almost everything else.
- Iron Bull Strength Lifting Straps - Skip. A perfectly ordinary padded cotton lasso that the maker's own spec table grades at the bottom of its strength scale.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Design type
- Stated material
- Published length
- Published width
- Sizing
- Maker's own strength grade
Lifting straps exist to stop your grip ending a set before your back does, and there are only three real designs doing it. A lasso wraps the bar and tightens as you pull. A figure eight loops through itself and locks you on. A grip pad sits in the palm and releases instantly. Each one trades away something different: speed, safety, versatility, or the ability to let go. The specs that decide between them are short, and a surprising number of brands do not publish them. We compared four straps covering all three designs.
A patented grip pad with built-in wrist support that you can release instantly, sized to your wrist rather than sold one-size-fits-all.
Best for: Anyone who trains high-volume pulling work and wants to release the bar instantly between sets.
- Four sizes fitted by wrist circumference, from XS at 5 to 6 in (13 to 15 cm) up to XL at 8 in (20 cm) and above.
- The patented quick-release design means no wrapping or unwrapping between sets, which is the reason most people stop using straps.
- Made in the USA, with a proprietary palm piece Versa Gripps describes as custom-engineered and exclusive to them.
- The palm piece material is never actually named on the product page, only described as custom-engineered.
- A Lifetime Warranty badge appears in the site header, while the warranty text asks you to return the item within one year of purchase for a courtesy inspection.
- No length or width is published, so you cannot compare the wrist cuff against a conventional strap.
- It is by some distance the most expensive option here.
An 18 inch padded cotton lasso with a lifetime replacement guarantee, which is the sensible first pair for almost everyone.
Best for: A first pair of straps, and anyone who wants padded lassos without paying for a system.
- Gymreapers publishes the length plainly at 18 inches, which is the number that decides how many wraps you get around the bar.
- Durable cotton with neoprene padding at the wrist, so the strap does not dig in under heavy shrugs or deadlifts.
- Backed by a lifetime replacement guarantee, which is unusually strong at this price.
- Lasso straps have to be wrapped and unwrapped for every set, which is slow compared with a grip pad.
- No width is published, only the length.
- One size only, so people with very small or very large wrists have no adjustment beyond the wrap.
- Cotton absorbs sweat and chalk and stiffens over time, which is normal for the material but worth knowing.
Aramid-reinforced figure eights that tighten as the bar loads, which is exactly right for maximal deadlifts and wrong for almost everything else.
Best for: Heavy deadlift and shrug work where being locked on is the whole point.
- The patented webbing weaves filament aramid fibre within spun fibres, so the strap has the strength of a synthetic wrap with the feel of a cotton one.
- The figure eight design sits flat against the base of the hand and tightens on the wrist as the weight loads, which means it will not slip.
- Manufactured in Great Britain, with the materials stated plainly as Kevlar fibre and polyester.
- A figure eight locks you to the bar, so you cannot release quickly if a rep goes wrong.
- It is a deadlift and shrug tool, not a general-purpose strap, and it is poor for rows and pull-ups.
- No length or width is published for any of the three sizes.
- No warranty is stated on the product page.
A perfectly ordinary padded cotton lasso that the maker's own spec table grades at the bottom of its strength scale.
Best for: Someone who wants a long cotton lasso in a specific colour and is not comparing.
- Fully dimensioned at 20 in long and 1.5 in wide, which is more than most brands in this group publish.
- 5 mm neoprene wrist support, and the material is stated plainly as cotton.
- Sold in a wide range of colourways if that matters to you.
- Iron Bull's own specification table rates these Strength Level 1, while rating its own Figure 8 straps Level 4 on the same scale.
- No warranty or guarantee is stated on the product page, where the comparable Gymreapers pair carries a lifetime replacement guarantee.
- At 20 in they are longer than the Gymreapers, which helps on thick bars and is otherwise just more strap to manage.
- Nothing here is done better than the cheaper lasso in this comparison, which is the problem.
| Criteria | PRO Top pick | Lifting Straps | Figure 8 Lifting Straps | Lifting Straps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Anyone who trains high-volume pulling work and wants to release the bar instantly between sets. | A first pair of straps, and anyone who wants padded lassos without paying for a system. | Heavy deadlift and shrug work where being locked on is the whole point. | Someone who wants a long cotton lasso in a specific colour and is not comparing. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Design type | Grip pad with quick release | Lasso wrap | Figure eight loop | Lasso wrap |
| Stated material | Proprietary palm piece, not named | Cotton with neoprene padding | Kevlar fibre and polyester | Cotton with 5 mm neoprene |
| Published length | Not published | 18 in | Not published | 20 in |
| Published width | Not published | Not published | Not published | 1.5 in |
| Sizing | Four wrist sizes, XS to XL | One size | Small, medium, large | One size |
| Maker's own strength grade | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Level 1 on Iron Bull's scale |
| Stated origin | Made in USA | Not stated | Manufactured in Great Britain | Not stated |
| Warranty on the page | Lifetime badge, one-year defect inspection in the text | Lifetime replacement guarantee | Not stated | Not stated |
Which one is right for you?
- Anyone who trains high-volume pulling work and wants to release the bar instantly between sets. Buy it Versa Gripps PRO
- A first pair of straps, and anyone who wants padded lassos without paying for a system. Buy it Gymreapers Lifting Straps
- Heavy deadlift and shrug work where being locked on is the whole point. It depends SBD Apparel Figure 8 Lifting Straps
- Someone who wants a long cotton lasso in a specific colour and is not comparing. Skip it Iron Bull Strength Lifting Straps
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a pair of straps gets used. The first is the design, because lasso, figure eight and grip pad are genuinely different tools and the wrong one sits in the bag. The second is how fast you can get on and off the bar, since the real reason people abandon straps is the wrapping between sets rather than any failure of the strap. The third is fit: wrist circumference varies enormously and most straps are sold one-size, so a brand that offers real sizes is offering something. The fourth is what the strap is made of and how long it is, which decides how many wraps you get and how the material ages. The fifth is what the brand will commit to in writing, because straps are cheap and warranties are where the difference shows.
The field splits cleanly by design. Lassos dominate because they are cheap, versatile and quick enough, and the differences between them come down to length, padding and whether anyone stands behind them. Figure eights are a specialist tool for maximal pulls, built around locking on rather than letting go, and the good ones distinguish themselves by webbing construction. Grip pads are the newest approach and the most expensive, trading a higher price for instant release and wrist support built into the same piece. We took one strap from each design plus a second lasso, because the lasso-versus-lasso decision is the one most people actually face.
The Versa Gripps PRO is the only strap here that does not wrap. The palm piece folds over the bar and your hand closes on it, and the patented quick-release means opening your hand is all it takes to get off. That sounds like a small thing until you count how many times you wrap and unwrap in a back session. It is also the only product in this comparison fitted to your body: four sizes by wrist circumference, from XS at 5 to 6 in (13 to 15 cm) through Small at 6 to 7 in, Regular or Large at 7 to 8 in, and XL at 8 in and above. Versa Gripps states the product is made in the USA and describes the palm piece as custom-engineered and exclusive, which is also the limitation: the material is never named. Two other gaps are worth flagging. There is no published length or width. And a Lifetime Warranty badge sits in the site header while the warranty text asks you to send the item back within one year of purchase for a courtesy inspection.
The Gymreapers Lifting Straps are the pair to buy if you have never owned straps. They are 18 inches of durable cotton with neoprene padding at the wrist, which is exactly the specification most lifters need and rarely see printed. The padding is the part that matters on heavy shrugs and rack pulls, where an unpadded strap cuts into the back of the wrist. Gymreapers also backs them with a lifetime replacement guarantee, which at this price is a genuine outlier and worth more than most feature lists. The limitations are the limitations of lassos in general. You wrap for every set and unwrap after it, which is slower than a grip pad. There is one size, so the fit comes entirely from how you wrap. Width is not published, only length. And cotton absorbs sweat and chalk and stiffens over months, which is normal and not a fault. For most people this is the straightforward right answer.
The SBD Figure 8 Lifting Straps are a specialist tool executed carefully. The figure eight design sits flat against the base of the hand and tightens on the wrist as the bar loads, so the heavier it gets the more securely it holds, and SBD states this explicitly as the design intent. The webbing is patented and unusual: filament aramid fibre woven within spun fibres, which SBD says delivers more strength than a nylon wrap while keeping the comfort of a cotton one. Materials are given as Kevlar fibre and polyester, manufacture is in Great Britain, and there are three sizes. What you are buying is the inability to let go. On a maximal deadlift or a heavy shrug that is precisely what you want. On a row, a pull-up or anything you might need to bail out of, it is a liability. SBD publishes no length or width for any size and states no warranty on the product page.
The Iron Bull Strength Lifting Straps are a reasonable cotton lasso undermined by the brand’s own spec sheet. They are 20 in long and 1.5 in wide with 5 mm neoprene wrist support, all of which is printed clearly, and that level of dimensioning is better than most of this category manages. The problem is a single line in the same table: Strength, Level 1. Iron Bull grades its own products on this scale, and its Figure 8 straps, listed with the same cotton material on the same style of table, are graded Level 4. Buying the item the maker itself places at the bottom of its own scale is a difficult decision to defend, particularly when the comparable Gymreapers lasso is padded, 18 in, and carries a lifetime replacement guarantee while Iron Bull states no warranty on the page. Nothing here is bad. It is simply beaten at its own price by the other lasso in this comparison.
Versa Gripps PRO vs Gymreapers Lifting Straps: which should you buy?
The Versa Gripps PRO and the Gymreapers lassos are the two most people will choose between, and the decision is about friction rather than strength. Both will hold a bar you cannot hold yourself. The difference is that the Versa Gripps comes on and off in a second, is sized to your wrist, and puts wrist support and grip in the same piece. The Gymreapers pair asks you to wrap the bar twice, does the job, and costs a fraction as much with a lifetime replacement guarantee behind it.
The honest test is how many working sets you do. If you strap up for two heavy deadlift sets a week, the wrapping is trivial and the lasso is the obvious buy. If you are doing five sets of rows, four of pulldowns and three of shrugs, the wrap-and-unwrap tax adds up to real time and real irritation, and that is what the Versa Gripps is actually selling. Wrist size is the tiebreaker: if yours falls at either end of the range, being able to buy an XS or an XL is worth paying for, because a one-size lasso on a small wrist never sits quite right.
What to look for
- Pick the design before the brand: lasso for versatility, figure eight for maximal pulls where locking on is the point, grip pad for speed between sets.
- Check whether a length is published: it decides how many wraps you get around the bar, and two of the four straps here do not state one.
- Look for padding at the wrist: an unpadded strap is fine for deadlifts and unpleasant for high-rep shrugs and rack pulls.
- Prefer a brand that offers real sizes: wrist circumference varies a lot, and almost all straps are sold one-size, so sizing is a genuine differentiator.
- Never use figure eights for anything you might bail out of: they are designed to tighten under load and do not release quickly.
- Read the warranty text, not the badge: one brand here shows a lifetime badge while its written policy asks for returns within a year of purchase.
Our final take
Straps are a cheap fix for a common problem, and the main mistake is buying the wrong design rather than the wrong brand. The Versa Gripps PRO is the pick if you do a lot of pulling volume, because the instant release and the four wrist sizes solve the two things that make people stop using straps. The Gymreapers lassos are the sensible default and the best value in the group, padded, 18 inches, with a lifetime replacement guarantee. SBD’s figure eights are excellent at one job and dangerous outside it. The Iron Bull pair is the skip, not because it is bad, but because the maker’s own table grades it Level 1 and the cheaper alternative here is better supported.
Questions, answered
Do lifting straps make your grip weak?
Only if you use them for everything, which is the actual risk rather than the myth. Grip is trained by holding heavy things without assistance, so if every set of every pulling movement is strapped, that stimulus disappears. The usual approach is to work up unstrapped and put the straps on for the top sets where grip would otherwise cut the set short, plus high-rep work where the hands fail long before the back does. Used that way, straps let you train the muscle you were trying to train and leave your grip work intact.
Lasso, figure eight or grip pad: which design should I buy?
Start with how quickly you need to let go. A lasso wraps the bar and tightens under load, and you can still release it fast enough for most work, which makes it the versatile default. A figure eight loops through itself so the strap effectively locks your hand to the bar, which is superb for maximal deadlifts and shrugs and genuinely unsafe for anything you might need to bail out of. A grip pad sits in the palm and releases the moment you open your hand, which is the fastest between sets and the least locked-on at the top end. Most people want a lasso or a pad; figure eights are a specialist purchase.
What length of lifting strap should I look for?
Longer straps give you more wraps around the bar, which means a more secure hold and more strap to manage. The two lassos here are 18 and 20 inches, which is the normal range and both will wrap a standard bar at least twice. Shorter straps suit people with smaller hands and thinner bars; longer ones help on thick-handled bars and axle work. The number matters enough that it is worth noticing which brands publish it, because two of the four straps in this comparison do not state a length at all.
Are lifting straps allowed in competition?
Generally not in powerlifting, where the deadlift must be held with the hands, and generally yes in strongman events where they are often expected. Weightlifting does not use them in competition either. Federations set their own rules and those rules change, so check the current rulebook of the federation you compete under rather than relying on general advice. In training there is no restriction anywhere, and most competitive lifters use straps heavily in training even when they cannot use them on the platform.
How long should a pair of lifting straps last?
Years, if you buy a reasonable pair and keep them dry. The usual failure points are fraying where the strap wraps the bar and the stitching at the wrist loop, both of which are gradual rather than sudden. Cotton straps stiffen as they absorb sweat and chalk, which is normal, and washing them occasionally helps. The warranty language is worth reading here: one brand in this comparison offers a lifetime replacement guarantee, one shows a lifetime badge while its warranty text asks for returns within a year, and two say nothing on the product page at all.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Versa Gripps PRO vs Gymreapers Lifting Straps.
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