Best Hook Grip Tape For Olympic Weightlifting

So, you’ve learned to hook grip, but now you’re finding your thumbs are sore and the skin is tearing because of how much you’re training Weightlifting each week.

Never fear, I have you covered. A simple taping of your thumbs can save you daily pain from skin tearing and knuckle bruising. With so many options of tape you can get (just look on the shelf at your local pharmacy), how do you know which one works specifically for the hook grip in Olympic Weightlifting.

Here are my top picks based on what I use and my own experience as an Internationally competitive Weightlifter.

Best Hook Grip Tape For Olympic Weightlifting

WOD & DONE

This is my go-to tape for my thumbs when hook gripping.

Longevity During Training

This is my number one criterion for determining whether a hook grip tape is worth its weight.

I’ve used many different brands and types of tape throughout my 20-year Weightlifting career. Many don’t last throughout a training session. They usually slip off as I start sweating or just become loose and irritating.

I’m currently using WOD & DONE tape in the height of summer in a sweaty garage. This tape stays on my thumbs throughout my whole training session from heavy cleans through to various pulls and squats.

Its stretchy design is what allows it to fold around your thumb and for it to not come loose when you bend your thumb.

Surface

My second criterion for determining how good a hook grip tape is the surface of the tape. It should be rough and grippy so it provides a stronger hook grip. Most normal strapping tapes are smooth which doesn’t bode well for hook gripping a barbell.

WOD & DONE have done a great job creating a grippy surface. It’s not too rough where it will wear and tear on your fingers. It is just right for the perfect barbell grip.

Stickiness

As mentioned with WOD & DONE’s superior longevity, the stickiness of the tape plays a clear role in this. Once the tap is stuck to your thumb, it stays there. Whether that is sticking to your skin or to the tape itself.

Comfort

Comfort is not something you'd think matters with tape but different tapes surprisingly have many different feelings of comfort. Firstly, the stretchiness of WOD & DONE aid tremendously in how comfortably this tape fits.

Secondly, this tape is very thin so it doesn’t add extra bulk between your thumb and the barbell.

Quality

This tape can withstand all loads you put it through. It doesn’t matter whether you are pulling 200 kgs or cleaning 120 kg, this tape won’t rip or fall off. In fact, just trying to tear this tape is difficult.

Colors & Design

WOD & DONE have outdone themselves regarding color choices. You have a choice of pink (my personal favorite), blue, black, and yellow. You can be as colorful as you like and even use one color on each thumb if you want to stand out from the crowd.

Each color tape has the same design with the WOD & DONE logo printed across them. The blue-colored tape has an extra pattern design if that intrigues you.

Ease Of Use

When you’re training multiple times a day and week, it can be a pain to have to cut your own tape for every session. WOD & DONE have all of their strips pre-cut and you get 32, 6-inch pieces in every roll. If you tape both thumbs, that is 16 training sessions which is enough for 4 a week.

Runner Up Hook Grip Tape For Olympic Weightlifting

Rocktape

I used to be sponsored by Rocktape and their hook grip tape is still one of the best on the market.

Longevity During Training

Just like WOD & DONE, these have a stretchy design which enhances their longevity when training. You will not have any problems with Rocktape becoming loose or slipping off in training.

Surface

The surface on Rocktape is virtually identical to WOD & DONE. That means you have a grippy surface that isn’t so rough it ruins your fingers. It provides the perfect friction against the barbell.

Stickiness

Rocktape has no issues with stickiness. You’ll find this sticks and stays stuck on your skin and onto the tape itself.

Comfort

Because the tape is elastic, it is comfortable when bending the thumb and when trapping it between the barbell and fingers. Further, it is also very thin so there is no extra bulk getting in the way of your hook grip.

Quality

Rocktape is just as durable as WOD & DONE. I know of heavyweight Weightlifters that use Rocktape and routinely clean and jerk over 200 kg in training and have no problems with the tape.

Colors & Design

This tape generally comes in red or black with the Rocktape logo printed over the tape.

Ease Of Use

Just like WOD & DONE, Rocktape is precut into 32, 6-inch pieces in each roll. This saves having to cut your won every training session.

Best Rigid Hook Grip Tape For Olympic Weightlifting

While I would highly recommend the above tapes for hook grip because they are stretchy, I know some Weightlifters like rigid tape. For that reason, I have included this.

BSN Medical Leukotape P Tape

Longevity During Training

This is where rigid tape lacks compared to the above stretchy tapes. Because they don’t stretch, they become loose very quickly after a few times hook gripping the barbell.

Surface

While the surface does provide some friction, once it gets sweaty and wet, the friction isn’t so good. It can become more slippery whereas WOD & DONE and Rocktape stay grippy regardless of sweat.

Stickiness

Another small issue with rigid tape is the stickiness. You’ll find most team sport athletes don’t use rigid strapping tape like Leukotape P straight onto the skin. This is because once you sweat, the tape starts to slip and become loose.

They’ll usually have a base layer of thin mesh tape and sticky spray to ensure it stays on. The same happens when you use Leukotape P on your thumbs. It starts to slip and you sweat.

Comfort

Because the tape is rigid, it can feel very restrictive when you bend your thumb. It may feel like it’s going to cut into your thumb due to its lack of give.

Quality

Leukotape P is quality tape, however. As far as rigid tape goes, this is the best you'll find. Other brands such as d3 tape are very bad and even worse for stickiness and longevity.

Colors & Design

There is only one. The brown/skin color style tape. There will be no color matches with your clothing and shoes going on with this hook grip tape.

Ease Of Use

This hook grip tape is quite easy to rip without scissors. Other than that, taping your thumb is a little more difficult than with stretchy tape as it has no give so you can end up with various lumps and creases you may not want.