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If you should improve your performance and protect your wrists from injury, you need to consider investing in a pair of wrist wraps. Wrist wraps are a kind of support gear that wraps around your wrists to supply extra stability and support. The very best wrist wraps may even allow you to lift heavier weights and improve your technique!

But not all wrist wraps are created equal. Depending in your goals, preferences, and kind of training, you’ll need a special form of wrist wrap. Some wraps are longer and stiffer, while others are shorter and more comfortable. Whether you’re into bodybuilding, powerlifting, weightlifting, or CrossFit, you’ll find the perfect pair of wrist wraps on this list for you.

How We Selected the Best Wrist Wraps

We’re a various team of certified fitness experts, exercise enthusiasts, and knowledgeable product testers. Now we have dozens of years of combined experience using wrist wraps for various activities and sports, and we tried out greater than a dozen different pairs of wrist wraps specifically for this guide.

To allow you to select the most effective wrist wraps to your needs, we’ve compiled an inventory of the eight top-rated wrist wraps in the marketplace. We’ve reviewed their features, advantages, pros, and cons and compared them. During testing, we judged wrist wraps on their materials and construction, length and stiffness, closure mechanism, price, and more — rating each wrist wrap with a rating between 1 to five.

Our Top Picks for the Best Wrist Wraps

Best Wrist Wraps Overall: Iron Bull Strength Classic Wrist Wraps

Pros

• Comfortable and solid wrist support
• Easy-to-use Velcro closure system
• Multi-purpose design
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Ten colours available

Cons

• 18-inch length may be too short for some
• Not IPF-approved

The Iron Bull Strength Classic Wrist Wraps offer great wrist support. They’re 18 inches long, which supplies you at the least two wraps around your wrist if you could have a median construct. I find the 18-inch length to be excellent; it’s not so long that there’s a ton of bulk on my wrists attributable to the additional material, and their support is adequate for many weight training exercises.

Their three-inch width provides loads of wrist coverage, covering enough of the bottom of your hand and wrist area for the wrap to do its job. Also, the cotton-elastic mix gives enough stretch for solid compression and wrist support in your workouts. I especially just like the blended material of those wraps  — they’re soft, and the cotton breathes enough to assist avoid excess sweating in the primary place.

Furthermore, the Velcro closure system of the Classic Wrist Wraps is intuitive and straightforward to make use of. The thumb loop offers a wonderful anchor point to assist put them on tightly, and, unlike other brands, the double-stitching is top of the range. I especially like how the Velcro section is sticky and well-sized. Some brands use such a protracted strip that may cause the additional material to hold off the top, which might get caught on things and unravel your wraps. Plus, the thumb loop makes it easy to hold over a hook to dry between workouts. 

Considered one of my favorite features of the Iron Bull wraps is their multi-functionality. They’re suitable for various training styles, from bodybuilding and Olympic weightlifting to CrossFit and powerlifting.  Their 18-inch length and cotton-elastic mix make them lightweight in your wrists for the dynamic workouts of CrossFit and supportive enough for heavier powerlifting. This implies that you would be able to proceed using them when you should switch up your training styles without having to purchase a special pair of wrist wraps.

Unfortunately, the Iron Bulls aren’t perfect. The 18-inch length is a solid general length, but most individuals with average wrists will only find a way to get two revolutions of the wraps around their wrists. This implies you’ll have less support on heavier lifts, which may be noticeable in the event you’re at a sophisticated level in powerlifting.

On that note, these wrist wraps are USPA, IPL, IWF, and USAW-approved… but they aren’t approved to be used within the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). Suppose you’re a competitive powerlifter or aspire to compete in the very best level of powerlifting in the longer term and need to make use of wrist wraps in competition. In that case, this implies you’d must buy a separate pair that’s approved for IPF use — you may want to think about the SBD Wrist Wraps as an alternative if that applies to you.

All of the above considered, we rank these 4.5 out of 5 stars for his or her great wrist support, easy-to-use Velcro closure system, and multi-functionality for various training styles. 

RELATED: Best Home Gym Equipment Essentials for Cardio, Strength Training, and More

Best Wrist Wraps for Powerlifting: SBD Wrist Wraps

SBD Wrist Wraps

4.5

• Material: 70% polyester/30% rubber (flexible), 56% rubber/44% polyester (stiff)
• Length: 15.7 inches (S), 23.6 inches (M), or 39.4 inches (L)
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: Yes

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Pros

• Approved for IPF and USPA use
• Excellent construct and sturdiness for powerlifting
• Various lengths and stiffnesses available
• Manufactured in Great Britain
• SBD brand is world-renowned in strength sports

Cons

• Is perhaps uncomfortable for some
• Costlier

The standout feature of the SBD Wrist Wraps is that they’re IPF-approved. Investing in a pair of wrist wraps that you would be able to practice with lets you push your training harder, so you’ll be able to (hopefully) get even stronger while getting comfortable using them before a contest. This manner, you’ll step on the platform confidently in your support wear — letting you focus entirely on executing your attempts as an alternative of worrying about your gear and the way it’s fitting.

Should you live and breathe powerlifting, these wrist wraps is not going to disappoint. They’re designed specifically for excellent wrist support; the thumb loop is heavy-duty and attached along industrial-grade fastening. But they didn’t stop there. 

SBD crafted them to match the utmost allowable width of 8 centimeters/3.15 inches, so that you’ll get the most effective coverage between your hand and wrist for a solid cast-like level of support. They even have proprietary wide elastics in these wraps. One customer who bought the stiff mediums said they took just a few times to interrupt in, but after that, they offer you the most effective protection from heavy weights. I’m seriously impressed and assured that whether you’re pushing recent bench press PRs or back squat records, these wraps will allow you to hit them safely.

What surprised me probably the most concerning the SBDs is their range of lengths and stiffnesses. On their product page, they’ve three different lengths available: small (15.7 inches long), medium (23.6 inches long), or large (39.4 inches long). Combined with their detailed sizing chart, because of this whether you could have small, average, or large wrists, you could find a wrist wrap length that can work great for you. 

Their two stiffness options, flexible or stiff, are built with various amounts of polyester and rubber (elastic). For instance, the flexible wraps have a 70% polyester-30% rubber mix that enables some wrist flexion and improved comfort attributable to the upper amount of polyester. The stiff wraps are woven with significantly more rubber, giving them more stretch and compression to totally immobilize your wrists. SBD mentions that almost all athletes will prefer the medium-length flexible wraps, but use their size guide to find out the perfect length for you.

These wrist wraps may be uncomfortable, especially in the event you select their “stiff” option. One reviewer mentioned that their large-sized stiff wraps are excellent but can get really tight and begin to chop off blood circulation to their wrists. 

After I didn’t see the fabric specs on their product page, a Breaking Muscle staff member reached out through their live chat and discovered that the stiff wrist wraps are 56 percent rubber (elastic) and 44 percent polyester mix. With over half the wraps’ material being elastic and nil cotton included, it’s no surprise these could be a tad uncomfortable.

It should come as no surprise that excellent quality comes at a price. On the time of writing, the SBDs retailed for $42.50. This makes them the costliest wrist wraps out of all those featured in this text and possibly out of the budget of financially constrained lifters.

All of the above considered, we rank these 4.5 out of 5 stars for his or her IPF approval, excellent construct quality and sturdiness, and various length and stiffness options available.

Best Wrist Wraps for Weightlifting: DMOOSE Wrist Wraps

Pros

• Quality construction for Oly lifting
• Flexible material allows for wrist mobility 
• Two lengths available
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 12 color options

Cons

• 12 inches is simply too short for average wrists
• Not approved for weightlifting federations

Despite their inexpensive price, the DMOOSE Wrist wraps have a solid quality construction. The thumb loop features double stitching, so it should arise to the rigorous Olympic lifts you’ll be performing with them. I discovered the Velcro fastening strip to be of excellent quality, so it won’t wear down inside a few months because the poor-quality wrist wraps do.

These wrist wraps from DMOOSE are the most effective for weightlifting because, unlike other wrist wraps featured in this text, these haven’t any polyester included. When woven with elastic, cotton is more flexible in comparison with polyester, and this pays off big time for the Olympic lifts. 

This lack of restriction allows you sufficient wrist mobility to your wrists to rotate freely within the snatch and to increase fully within the front rack portion of the clean and jerk. Despite its flexibility, the cotton-elastic mix still gives noticeable wrist support when the bar is prolonged overhead in the ultimate step of each exercises.

I appreciate that these wrist wraps are offered in a 12-inch and an 18-inch option. The latter will fit and work well for average-sized wrists, but the previous remains to be useful. Regardless that they’ll outgrow them, 12-inch long wrist wraps can be the perfect length for many teenagers because their bones are still growing, and the wrist wrap length they need is significantly smaller than that of the typical adult. 

Nevertheless, you may additionally find the 12-inch length useful in the event you are petite and/or have extremely small wrists – be certain to make use of the sizing chart before ordering a 12-inch size simply to make certain it’s the suitable fit.

Although the 12-inch length is an option, I wouldn’t recommend it if you could have average-sized wrists. 12 inches won’t give you sufficient length on the wraps to get an adequate variety of revolutions for the wraps to supply significant support.

Sadly, it doesn’t seem like these wrist wraps are approved for any weightlifting federations. Which means if you should wear wrist wraps in a future weightlifting competition, you’ll have to take a position in a separate pair to make use of them in each your training and your competitions.

All of the above considered, we rank these 4 out of 5 stars for his or her Olympic lifting-friendly design, two length options, and cozy material.

Best Wrist Wraps for CrossFit: 2POOD Wrist Wraps

Pros

• Lightweight and supportive for long CrossFit workouts
• Hook and loop closure is secure, easy-adjusting
• Official wrist wraps of the NOBULL CrossFit Games

Cons

• Some reports of poor Velcro
• Not IPF-approved

These are the most effective wrist wraps for CrossFit attributable to their lightweight, supportive design. Out of all of the wrist wraps on this round-up article, this pair of 12-inch wraps is the shortest we’ve featured, but that’s good for CrossFit. 

The standard WOD could be as much as half-hour of continuous movement, so the very last thing you should do is always tighten, loosen, and otherwise fiddle together with your 18 to 24-inch wrist wraps. Because of their 12-inch length, you’ll be able to’t apply the 2POODs super tight in the primary place, so that they’ll stay comfortable and non-constricting during the complete workout. 

Plus, the secure hook and loop closure means these wrist wraps won’t randomly fly off during your WOD, whether you’re crushing some dumbbell power snatches or butterfly pull-ups. Considered one of our product testers explained that they might see these being an asset because you’ll be able to set and forget them. 

Their cotton-polyester-elastic material is great for exercises like thrusters, where some extra wrist support could be helpful, but they won’t hamper the wrist mobility needed for handstand walks. Further, the Velcro a part of the fastening system is simple to use and adjust, so using these for the primary time is a bit of cake even for beginners.

Sponsorships aren’t all the time an indicator of quality, however it’s hard to disclaim the influence that the 2POOD wrist wraps have on the CrossFit community. In any case, these wrist wraps became the official wrist wraps of the NOBULL CrossFit Games. Which means they got a considerable amount of publicity from the athletes, who presumably ended up wearing them throughout the events, and the fans who attended in person or those that watched online.

Surprisingly, some customers have left reviews about how the Velcro isn’t quite what that they had hoped for. As an alternative of the Velcro strip being higher quality and sticky, several customers mention that it didn’t last greater than a month on their wrist wraps before it began deteriorating and losing its adhesiveness. For instance, one customer left a note saying that the wrist wraps perform great, but they’ve been experiencing Velcro issues with one in every of them, so it’s not gripping because it should and is leaving them barely disillusioned.

Finally, the 2POOD wrist wraps aren’t IPF-approved, but I don’t think that matters much. Unlike the SBD wrist wraps, these aren’t designed to allow you to excel at powerlifting — they were made to help your CrossFit performance.

All of the above considered, we rank these 4 out of 5 stars for his or her lightweight support, security, and easy-adjustability tension system.

Best Wrist Wraps for Benching: Gymreapers Wrist Wraps

Pros

• Durable materials and construction
• IPF, IPL, and USAPL-approved
• Lifetime substitute guarantee
• Nine color options

Cons

• Not supportive enough for serious benchers
• Stiffer materials are less comfortable

The Classic Wrist Wraps from Gymreapers are excellent for benching. They feature a heavy-duty thumb loop, so you need to use your thumb to anchor the wrap down before cinching it tight. I especially appreciate the 30/70 elastic-polyester mix; that is stiffer than a cotton-elastic mix. The previous is what you wish when attempting to bench press as much weight as possible since the more rigid polyester material will provide more stiffness. 

One customer said that these wraps have lots of elasticity, which helps provide higher support on heavy pushing movements because they’ll offer higher support attributable to the quantity of stretchiness in the fabric. Also, the three-inch width is generous and offers loads of hand & wrist coverage for maximal support. 

Gymreapers has made a serious push to get their support wear certified by well-known federations, and it shows. Their wrist wraps are IPF, IPL, and USAPL-approved, which implies that in the event you’re competing in any of those federations, you’ll be able to practice with the identical gear in your training as you’ll compete with on the platform for a competitive edge.

I’m blown away by their warranty, which offers a lifetime substitute — that is practically unheard of for wear-and-tear items. The profit is that whether or not they fail attributable to a factory defect or regular old wear and tear, you could have total peace of mind about getting a substitute without cost. 

One commenter explained that even after they had a small issue with one in every of their wrist wraps, Gymreapers just sent one other set. So, in the event you want complete peace of mind, I feel these are value it. One other reviewer mentioned that they used all of them the way in which as much as a 385-pound bench press, they usually did the job. In the event that they can hold as much as a near-400-pound bench press, they’ll hold as much as almost anything.

It’s great that they’re approved in multiple federations, but seriously strong bench pressers may not find the Gymreapers wrist wraps supportive enough. As a consequence of their 18-inch length, these will only wrap around average-sized wrists twice as an alternative of the three revolutions you’ll get with a 24-inch wrist wrap. Since you get one less revolution, these wraps will feel less supportive. On an elite bench press attempt, that lack of stability is just not something you’ll typically want.

In comparison with cotton wrist wraps, the elastic-polyester mix of the Classics is noticeably less comfortable. If you could have sensitive skin otherwise you bruise easily, you may not enjoy using these as much as you’ll a cotton-elastic wrist wrap just like the DMOOSE Wrist Wraps.

All of the above considered, we rank these 4 out of 5 stars for his or her durable materials and construction, their approval for the IPF, IPL, and USAPL federations, and their lifetime substitute guarantee.

Best Premium Wrist Wraps: SBD Wrist Wraps

SBD Wrist Wraps

4.5

• Material: 70% polyester/30% rubber (flexible), 56% rubber/44% polyester (stiff)
• Length: 15.7 inches (S), 23.6 inches (M), or 39.4 inches (L)
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: Yes

Check Price

Pros

• Excellent quality and size options
• Manufactured in Great Britain
• SBD brand is world-renowned in strength sports
• IPF-approved

Cons

• Shipping fees aren’t waived
• Wrist wraps are in metric sizing

That is the second time we’ve featured the SBD Wrist Wraps in this text. In comparison with the Best Wrist Wraps for Powerlifting section, we’ve included why they’re also our top selection for premium wrist wraps below.

First, the construct quality of the SBD Wrist Wraps is great. From the extra-thick thumb loop with commercial-grade stitching to their proprietary wide elastics, these wrist wraps live as much as the hype. That’s why we’ve named them twice on this list—their quality makes them definitely worth the premium price point.

I’m impressed that they took note of the utmost allowable width from the IPF rules on wrist wrap dimensions and matched it. The three.15-inch width signifies that your hands and wrists will get probably the most robust support in the marketplace. However the story is removed from over; SBD offers their wraps in three sizes (small, medium, and enormous) to suit as many lifters as possible while even catering to their wrap stiffness preferences. 

Yes, that’s right — they provide two stiffnesses to their wraps: “flexible” to permit more wrist movement and “stiff” to immobilize your wrist completely. With this quality and range of selection, it’s clear that they’re the premium wrist wrap option.

Many brands source their products from developing countries since it’s cheaper. Unfortunately, these savings often come on the expense of worse staff’ rights and unsafe manufacturing processes. The SBDs are designed and manufactured in Great Britain, so that you’re supporting local manufacturing and jobs, which adds to the list of reasons these are the most effective premium wrist wraps.

Regarding support wear, SBD is the cream of the crop. Regardless that “SBD” means “Squat, Bench, Deadlift”, which refers to the ability lifts themselves, the standard and workmanship that backs this brand could possibly be why most of the top athletes in powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and Strongman/Strongwoman resolve to sport this gear. 

With that in mind, it’s hard to go fallacious with these wrist wraps when the SBD brand is trusted by many athletes at the highest of their sport. Oh, and being approved by probably the most stringent powerlifting federation on the earth (the IPF) is a pleasant touch, too.

For a way well-made these are, I’m amazed at their affordability. The SBDs retail at just $42.50 they usually have all the pieces you expect in a premium wrist wrap: a sturdy yet flexible material with a secure closure system — all of which is manufactured in Great Britain. Coupled with their IPF approval, two stiffness options, and three lengths, they’re the final word selection for anyone who wants the most effective wrist wraps in the marketplace.

Unfortunately, shipping fees aren’t waived. I wasn’t expecting the shipping to be free, but considering the premium price and small packaging in comparison with larger home gym equipment items, shipping could disappoint some shoppers. Full disclosure: I did a mock checkout with these wraps, and the 3-6 business day option with USPS was only $5.00 — nothing to get worked up about.

Lastly, these wrist wraps from SBD are all in metric sizes only. For example, the lengths are 40, 60, and 100 centimeters for the small, medium, and enormous wraps — respectively. This may occasionally seem trivial, but because the premium wrist wrap option in this text, it could be great to see imperial sizes offered as well for American shoppers.

All of the above considered, we rank these 4.5 out of 5 stars for his or her excellent quality, sizing, and stiffness options, local manufacturing, and brand trust.

Best Stiff Wrist Wraps: Gymreapers Stiff Wrist Wraps

Pros

• Stiff, heavy-duty construction
• Multiple length options
• Lifetime substitute guarantee
• Three color decisions

Cons

• May be uncomfortable
• Not IPF-approved
• Higher priced at $42

These wrist wraps from Gymreapers are your ticket in the event you desire a stiff level of wrist support. First, they’re constructed from more rigid cotton that’s less flexible than the Iron Bull Strength Classic Wrist Wraps. There’s also a reinforced elastic material woven into the cotton that strengthens the essential body of the wraps. The tip contains a longer, flexible area with the Gymreapers logo in silicone in order that maximal compression could be applied to your wrist. Even the thumb loop is thicker and has more durable stitching to avoid tears and maximize durability. 

I’m glad there are multiple length options offered for these wrist wraps. 4 sizes can be found: 12-inch, 18-inch, 24-inch, and 36-inch. Which means whether you could have a petite wrist, an average-sized wrist, or a bigger wrist thickness, you could find an excellent fit to your wrist wraps. 

Nevertheless, the extra-long 36-inch wrap also allows regular lifters to size up in the event that they want. Doing so would allow you to get one or two additional revolutions around your wrists with the wraps, making them even tighter and maximizing their stiffness.

Much like the Gymreapers Classics, the stiff wraps are backed by a powerful warranty — the lifetime substitute guarantee. This warranty stipulates that you would be able to get a free substitute to your wrist wraps throughout their life. Defect issues are also covered without charge.

The key downside to those wraps is that they’re simply not as comfortable as standard cotton wrist wraps due to the particular cotton and reinforced elastic materials. Discomfort is only the start, though. Within the worst-case scenario, an over-zealous wrapping job could cause bruising or minor cuts in your skin.

Truthfully, I’m shocked that these aren’t IPF-approved. The Classics from Gymreapers are certified for competition use within the IPF and have less robust specs than these, so I believed needless to say the identical would go for his or her stiff wrist wraps. Their compression and material can be ideal for competitive powerlifting, warranting a submission to the IPF-approved gear application process… possibly next 12 months?

Lastly, these wrist wraps aren’t probably the most inexpensive. They retail closely to the opposite costliest pair of wrist wraps on this list, around $30 on the time of writing, but you do appear to find a way to save lots of 10 percent in your order by entering your email address into the pop-up window on their website.

All of the above considered; we rank these 4 out of 5 stars for his or her stiff, heavy-duty construction, 4 length options, and lifelong substitute guarantee.

Best Budget Wrist Wraps: Harbinger Red Line Wrist Wraps

Pros

• Highly inexpensive support wear
• Amazon Prime perks and customer approval
• Solid wrist wrap features
• Five colours

Cons

• Construction material not listed
• Not IPF-approved

These Harbinger wrist wraps are the most effective budget option I discovered. It should come as no surprise that they’re widely inexpensive, roughly $16 on the time of publishing. In comparison with the costliest pair of wrist wraps on our list, the SBD Wrist Wraps, these budget-friendly ones cost you a couple of third of their price — before shipping fees. 

Speaking of shipping fees, these wrist wraps are sold on Amazon, which implies that in the event you’re a Prime member, you’ll be able to save much more! Two-day (or faster shipping) is usually available to Prime members while shopping through Amazon, supplying you with access to their generous and convenient return policies.

For a way well-priced these are, I’m pleasantly surprised with the features they’ve. They’ve what appears to be a decent-quality thumb loop, a durable elastic body, Velcro that appears like it should work for at the least just a few months, and an 18-inch length that shall be suitable for many weight-lifting activities.

What caught my eye on the product page was the quantity of praise these wrist wraps have received from customers. Harbinger is a widely known brand that’s been in business for years, however it’s comforting to know that almost all customers are pleased with the standard of those wrist wraps. For instance, they achieved a 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 4,400 reviews. 

One Breaking Muscle staff member also saw a special notice when viewing the page that said, “Customers normally keep this item” and explained that in comparison with similar products, the Harbinger wrist wraps had fewer returns than average. Perhaps that’s a testament to their excellent quality.

Unfortunately, I had no luck finding their construction material on the product listing. While I wouldn’t be surprised if these were made with an extra-cheap material to chop costs even further to generate a profit, they give the impression of being like a cotton-elastic mix like many wrist wraps on this list. I feel it’s pretty far-fetched to expect these to be IPF-approved, considering their budget-friendly price, so don’t expect to step on a contest platform with them any time soon.

All of the above considered, we rank these 3.5 out of 5 stars for his or her budget-friendly price, inclusion of useful wrist wrap features, and availability of Amazon perks for Prime members.

Advantages of Using Wrist Wraps for Lifting

Wrist Stability and Support

The essential advantage of using wrist wraps is stability. When worn appropriately across the base of your hand and wrist, the stiffness and compression from the wrist wrap material prevent your wrist from moving — much like how a forged immobilizes an injured limb. This effect is most noticeable in free-weight pressing exercises just like the barbell bench press or barbell overhead press, where they limit wrist flexion and extension even when the load is heavy.

Nevertheless, wrist wraps will proceed to support your wrists even in the event that they flex or extend under load. For instance, some lifters use wrist wraps to maintain the wrists prolonged on their low-bar back squat, holding the barbell in the proper spot across their rear delts. Despite being bent backward with a whole lot of kilos pushing down on them, powerlifters proceed to set world records with prolonged wrists while squatting — and their wraps proceed to maintain their wrists protected even under these extreme loads.

Additional Support After Injury

Injuries to the hand, wrist, or forearm can sometimes prevent you from holding a barbell or dumbbell appropriately, even after you’ve healed. In extreme cases, even a slight deviation from a neutral wrist position under heavy weight could cause severe pain and/or further injury. In these situations, wrist wraps may provide enough wrist stability, compression, and support so that you can proceed to exercise. All the time seek the advice of your medical doctor to make sure you’ll be able to train safely after an injury.

After breaking their wrist years ago, one in every of our Breaking Muscle staff members finds it still bothers them after they perform the barbell overhead press, despite the fact that it’s technically healed. Using wrist wraps on their heavier sets allows them to push the movement hard without wrist pain. 

Weight May Feel Lighter in Your Hands

The burden of a barbell in your hands can feel lighter or heavier depending on how tight you grip it. It’s because of proprioception, which is how your body senses itself and the world around it. Proprioception is triggered by receptors in your skin, muscles, tendons, and joints that send signals to your brain. The more you squeeze the barbell, the more signals you send, and the more aware you’re of the load and body position. 

When applied tightly, the compression in your forearm muscles from wrist wraps could make your fingers curl inward, making your grip stronger than usual. That is why some elite deadlifters use wrist wraps after they deadlift. They make you are feeling more confident and robust — so wrist wraps can provide a psychological profit which may encourage you to lift heavier or push for more reps than you’ll without them.

When Should You Use Wrist Wraps?

Generally, you’ll wish to wear wrist wraps on exercises where force pushes down into your wrist joint — probably the most common examples are below.

Pressing exercises

Bench presses and overhead presses are the preferred lifts to make use of wrist wraps for. During these exercises, maintaining a neutral wrist position is useful to transfer force more efficiently into the implement you’re lifting. Wrist wraps are sometimes used with the free-weight variations of those pressing exercises, but they’ll still provide noticeable advantages when used on their machine variations, too.

Back squats

Surprisingly, wrist wraps may also be an asset on back squats — particularly low-bar back squats. Because the low-bar position requires the barbell to be placed lower in your back across your rear delts, this style sometimes forces lifters to carry their wrists in extension to maintain the bar in place. Unfortunately, this position could be painful with a whole lot of kilos pushing downward — wrist wraps might help absorb the load and make the position painless.

Olympic lifts 

It is best to also consider wearing wrist wraps on Olympic lifts like snatches and clean & jerks. Although the primary a part of each lift is a pull from the ground, each movements finish overhead able that can put downward pressure in your wrists. The difficulty is that each exercises, especially the clean and jerk, require a big amount of wrist mobility throughout the initial parts of the movement. Because of this, think about using a shorter wrist wrap and/or experiment with the tightness and strategy of how you set them on.

Deadlifts

As mentioned previously, some elite deadlifters use wrist wraps after they deadlift. It’s because the compression in your finger-flexing muscles may cause your hand to shut, which might trick you into pondering you could have a stronger grip. The secret is to make a fist and wrap the wrist wraps as tightly as you’ll be able to.

More often than not, you’ll find lifting straps more helpful on deadlifts than wrist wraps. Nevertheless, they may be value practicing with and using in case your federation allows them to be utilized in competition — because wrist straps almost definitely won’t be permitted. 

What to Consider When Buying Wrist Wraps

Materials and Construction

Wrist wraps are often made from a thumb loop on one end, an elastic body, and a Velcro closure system on the opposite end. The thumb loop helps to secure the wrap around your wrist, while the elastic body provides support and stability to your wrist joint. The Velcro closure system lets you adjust the tightness and fit of the wrap in keeping with your preference and luxury.

There are various kinds of materials used for wrist wraps, similar to a cotton-elastic mix or a tri-blend of elastic, polyester, and cotton. Cotton and elastic wraps are softer and more breathable, but they might stretch over time and lose their elasticity. Elastic, polyester, and cotton blends are more durable and proof against stretching, but they might be less comfortable and more vulnerable to causing skin irritation.

One other essential factor to think about is the development of the wrist wraps, especially the seams. Since wrist wraps are subjected to lots of pulling and tension during use, they need to have strong and durable seams that may withstand the stress. Double-stitched seams are advisable at a minimum, especially for the thumb loop, the anchor point that gets probably the most tension if you placed on the wrist wraps. It is best to also check the standard of the Velcro and be certain it is just not too rough or too weak.

Much like knee sleeves, there’s a big amount of pulling and tension involved in using wrist wraps. They need to have double-stitched seams at a minimum, especially for the thumb loop, because that’s the anchor point that gets probably the most tension when the wrist wraps are being placed on.

Length

The length of wrist wraps can range from 12 inches as much as 36 inches long. Listed below are probably the most common lengths.

• Twelve inches is an excellent length for teenagers attributable to their still-developing bones and for adults with extremely small wrists. Moreover, 12-inch lengths are suitable for CrossFit because they supply lightweight support without compromising the high degree of wrist mobility needed in the game.
• Eighteen inches could be great for those with smaller wrists and Olympic weightlifting; due to shorter length, they won’t wrap around your wrists as persistently, which might offer you more mobility in your snatches and cleans while still giving some support to your jerks.
• Twenty-four inches is the sweet spot for most individuals because this length allows for about three wraps around the typical person’s wrist, which is excellent for providing a noticeable level of support.
• Thirty-six inches is beginning to get excessively long. Bizarre people will find these wrap around your wrists lots, which might add an excessive amount of bulk to your wrist area. That said, some folks with large wrists may find that the 36-inch length gives enough revolutions to supply adequate support. Also, experienced powerlifters can sometimes prefer 4 to 6 wraps around their wrists than the usual two to a few that 20-inch wraps will offer.

Stiffness

Considered one of the essential aspects to think about when buying wrist wraps is stiffness, which relies on two things: the fabric and the length. 

Wrist wraps with a mix of cotton, elastic, and polyester will provide more tension than those only constructed from cotton and elastic. This implies they may support your wrists higher and forestall injuries, but they can even limit your range of motion and suppleness. 

Longer wraps also mean you can perform more wraps around your wrist, increasing stiffness and stability. Nevertheless, too many wraps can cut off blood circulation and cause discomfort. Due to this fact, you need to select the stiffness level that suits your goals and preferences.

Sort of Training

Several types of training would require various kinds of wrist wraps. Depending in your goals and preferences, select wrist wraps that fit your specific needs. Listed below are some common types and the corresponding wrist wraps that may match best for them:

• General fitness: Should you’re doing general fitness exercises, similar to push-ups, dumbbell presses, or kettlebell swings, you won’t need heavy or stiff wrist wraps. You may go for lighter and more flexible wrist wraps that provide enough support that you simply’d find in a 12-inch length.
• Powerlifting: Should you’re doing powerlifting exercises, similar to the back squat and bench press, you’ll need more rigid and supportive wrist wraps to handle heavy loads and forestall wrist injuries. It is best to go for thicker and stiffer wrist wraps with more elasticity and fewer give. 24-inch is an amazing length or 36-inches for advanced powerlifters.
• Olympic lifting: Should you’re doing Olympic lifting exercises, similar to snatch, clean, or jerk, you’ll need more flexible and dynamic wrist wraps that may mean you can move your wrists freely and quickly. Go for thinner and softer wrist wraps constructed from a cotton-elastic mix and aren’t any longer than 18 inches.
• CrossFit: Should you’re doing CrossFit exercises, similar to thrusters, burpees, and pull-ups, you’ll need shorter and fewer compressive wrist wraps that may handle different movements and prolonged workout periods. It is best to go for lightweight wrist wraps which can be constructed from cotton and are between 12 to 18 inches long.
• Strongman/Strongwoman: Should you’re doing strongman/strongwoman exercises, similar to atlas stones, farmer’s walk, or log press, you’ll need durable and resilient wrist wraps that may withstand extreme pressure and abrasion. Select stiff wrist wraps constructed from a tri-blend for prime elasticity and low give — the 24 to 36-inch length is right for this sport.

Competition Approval

Should you plan to compete in powerlifting meets, you could need to envision if the governing bodies approve your wrist wraps for those sports. Different federations could have different rules and regulations regarding the specifications and usage of wrist wraps.

For instance, the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) is the world’s leading powerlifting federation that organizes international events just like the World Powerlifting Championships. The IPF has strict rules on the scale, material, design, and brand of wrist wraps that could be utilized in competitions. The utmost length of wrist wraps is one meter (39 inches), and the utmost width is eight centimeters (three inches). The IPF also has an inventory of approved brands that could be utilized in its competitions.

It is best to all the time check with the competition organizers before using wrist wraps to make sure they comply with their rules.

Final Thoughts

Wrist wraps are a precious accessory for anyone who wants to enhance their performance and protect their wrists from injury. They are available in different sizes, colours, styles, and stiffness levels. When buying wrist wraps, you need to consider the fabric and the length of the wrap, as they affect the stress and support the wrap provides.

Best Wrist Wraps: Side-by-Side Comparison

Best Wrist Wraps Overall

Description:

• Material: Cotton-elastic mix
• Length: 18 inches
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: No

Best Wrist Wraps for Powerlifting

Description:

• Material: 70% polyester/30% rubber (flexible), 56% rubber/44% polyester (stiff)
• Length: 15.7 inches (S), 23.6 inches (M), or 39.4 inches (L)
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: Yes

Best Wrist Wraps for Weightlifting

Description:

• Material: Cotton-elastic mix
• Length: 12 or 18 inches
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: No

Best Wrist Wraps for CrossFit

Description:

• Material: Cotton-elastic-polyester mix
• Length: 12 inches
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: No

Best Wrist Wraps for Benching

Description:

• Material: 30% Elastic and 70% Polyester mix 
• Length: 18 inches
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: Yes

Best Stiff
Wrist Wraps

Description:

• Material: Stiff cotton with reinforced elastic
• Length: 12, 18, 24, or 36 inches
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: Yes

Best Budget Wrist Wraps

Description:

• Material: Not listed
• Length: 18 inches
• Closure type: Velcro
• IPF-approved: No

FAQs

What’s the most effective brand of wrist wraps?

The very best brand of wrist wraps is Iron Bull Strength because their Classic Wrist Wraps have great wrist support, feature an easy-to-use Velcro closure system, and are functional for various training types. 

Who makes the most effective wrist wraps for powerlifting?

SBD makes the most effective wrist wraps for powerlifting attributable to their IPF approval, excellent construct quality and sturdiness, and various length and stiffness options.

What type of wrist wraps should I get?

Most individuals should get wrist wraps which can be 18 to 24 inches long. If you could have smaller wrists or use them for Olympic weightlifting, get a 12 to 18-inch length. If you could have large wrists, are an experienced powerlifter, or like Strongman/Strongwoman training, consider a 36-inch length as an alternative.

How long should I wear my wrist wraps?

It is best to only wear wrist wraps for the time it takes to finish your set. To properly support your wrist, they have to be uncomfortably tight and should be removed or loosened after your set. 

What are the most effective wrist wraps for CrossFit?

The very best wrist wraps for CrossFit are the 2POOD Velcro Wrist Wraps due to their lightweight support, secure and easy-adjusting tension system, and being the official wrist wraps of the NOBULL CrossFit Games.