If you’ve been strength training for more than a few months, you’ve probably heard of lifting straps. Maybe you’ve seen them hanging around the wrists of the heaviest lifters in the gym. But what are they, when do they make sense to use them – and are they for you?
This guide will give you the answer. We look at what lifting straps are, what exercises they help with and what separates GymOptimizer Original Lifting Straps from the generic products on the market.
What are Lifting Straps?
Lifting straps – also called lifting straps – are straps that wrap around the bar (or cable grip) and your wrist to mechanically secure your grip. Instead of holding the bar with your finger muscles alone, the strap is used to “hook” your hand around the bar.
This means you can lift heavier and train harder even when your grip starts to fail. Grip is typically the first thing to give up on heavy rows, deadlifts and pull-downs – not the back, not the legs. Straps remove this bottleneck.
When should you use Lifting Straps?
The question of when to use straps is much debated in the strength training world. Here’s the short version:
Use straps for:
- Heavy deadlifts above 80-85% of 1RM where grip is the weak link
- Barbell and cable rows, especially at high volume
- Pull-downs and machine-based pulling exercises
- The heavy sets in your working weight, not warm-up sets
Do not use straps:
- Olympic lifting (snatch, clean & jerk) – here grip strength is an integral part
- Light work and warm-up kit
- Exercises where you actively train grip strength
Many experienced powerlifters and bodybuilders use straps consistently on pull exercises. It’s not cheating – it’s smart programming.
What Makes GymOptimizer Original Lifting Straps Different?
There are plenty of cheap straps on the market. Many are made from simple, stiff cotton webbing with little thought given to ergonomics or durability. GymOptimizer Original Lifting Straps are designed differently.
Heavy woven cotton with vegan leather felt
The straps are made of heavy, tightly woven cotton for a solid grip on the bar. The ends are reinforced with vegan leather, which significantly increases friction and prevents the strap from slipping during heavy lifting. The result is a secure grip even when you’re in your heaviest set.
Rounded ends – faster setup
One of the annoying things about many straps is that they are slow to wrap. GymOptimizer Original Straps have unique rounded ends that make it faster and easier to wrap them around the bar. During an intense workout with short breaks, this is worth more than you might think.
Ergonomic comfort at the wrist
The rounded end also means there are no sharp edges against the wrist. It’s a detail you’ll notice by the 5th set in a heavy back session.
2 year product warranty
GymOptimizer provides a 2 year warranty on Lifting Straps. That says something about the confidence in the quality of the materials.
How do you wrap Lifting Straps correctly?
If you’re new to straps, technique is important. Here’s the fastest method:
- Insert the end of the strap through the loop so you have an adjustable loop around your wrist
- Place the loop around the wrist – it should be tight but not constricting
- Let the loose part hang down over the handle
- Wrap the strap 1-2 times under and around the bar
- Close your hand around the bar and strap – you’re ready
Practice makes perfect. Within a week, it’s an automatic movement that takes less than 10 seconds.
Original vs. Premium Lifting Straps – What’s the difference?
GymOptimizer has two versions of lifting straps: Original and Premium. What is the difference?
Original Lifting Straps are designed for serious strength training and bodybuilding. They are short (faster to wrap), made of heavy cotton with vegan leather felt at the ends, and are ideal for most lifters.
Premium Lifting Straps are GymOptimizer’s top model with further optimization for the heaviest lifts and extreme durability for those who train 5-6 times a week and never compromise.
Beginners and advanced lifters will enjoy the Original version. Elite athletes and the most dedicated powerlifters and bodybuilders should consider Premium.
Who are the GymOptimizer Original Straps for?
In short: all serious athletes who do heavy pulling exercises. Whether you train powerlifting, bodybuilding or just want to get more out of your back training, these straps remove the grip restriction so you can focus on what counts: muscle progression.
Available in black and green and sold as a set of 2.
FAQ
Are lifting straps cheating?
No, it isn’t. Straps are a tool, not a shortcut. They remove grip as a limiting factor so you can load the target muscles – back, hamstrings, trapezius muscles – optimally. Competitive powerlifters are not allowed to use straps for the actual competition lifts, but use them extensively in training.
When are you ready to use lifting straps?
You can use them from day one if you train exercises where grip is the weak link. There is no minimum strength limit. Straps are useful whether you lift 60 kg or 200 kg in the deadlift.
Do I have to use straps every time?
Not necessarily. Many athletes use straps only on the heaviest work sets and leave warm-up sets and lighter work without – to maintain some grip strength. It’s a sensible balance.
What is the difference between short and long straps?
Short straps (like GymOptimizer Original) are faster to wrap and suitable for most exercises. Long straps provide extra wraps around the bar and are primarily used for very heavy lifts where maximum safety is the priority.
Ready to take your lifting to the next level?
See GymOptimizer Original Lifting Straps here →
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