Best Weightlifting Wrist Wraps (2024)

April 8, 2021

So, your wrists are starting to hurt while Weightlifting. Maybe it's a mobility issue. Or maybe the sheer volume of lifting you're doing is putting more strain on your wrist than you are used to.

While wrist wraps aren’t there to fix underlying issues regarding wrist discomfort, they are the perfect Weightlifting accessory to protect your wrists and provide support when holding heavy loads overhead or in the front rack position.

By adding a flexible material that thickens the wrist, the wrist wrap can take some of the load away from the wrist.

I’ve used many different wrist wraps throughout my 20-year career as an International Weightlifter. When you are training most days of the week, and sometimes twice a day, wrist wraps become a necessary piece of training equipment.

Here are the best Weightlifting wrist wraps based on my vast experience of wearing them.

Header

Best Weightlifting Wrist Wraps

Best Stiff Weightlifting Wrist Wraps

Best Weightlifting Wrist Wraps For Beginners

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Product

Rogue Wrist Wraps

Gymreapers Wrist Wraps

Rip Toned Wrist Wraps

Stiffness

Less Stiff

Stiff

Less Stiff

Width

3"

3"

3"

Price

Rogue Wrist Wraps

Olympic Weightlifters have special requirements when it comes to wrist wraps compared to other strength sports. Weightlifters not only need support and stability but also flexibility.

If the wrist wraps are too tight, the wrists won’t be able to extend very far impairing the front rack position.

That is why the Rogue Wrist Wraps are the best choice for Olympic Weightlifters. They are made from 40% elastic, 10% polyester, 50% cotton making for the perfect balance of flexibility and support.

This material combination absorbs excess sweat so it doesn’t run down your hand impairing your grip with the barbell.

It has a thumb loop for easy application and a Velcro strap for a secure fit and easy adjustments when you want to tighten the wrist wraps during your session.

The Rogue Wrist Wraps come in three different lengths. 12”, 18”, and 24”. All of their wraps are 3” in width providing plenty of width to cover the wrists.

I would advise using the 18” wraps which is where most standard wrist wraps sit in terms of length.

12" is generally very short and better suited to wider, stiffer wrist wraps. 24” is just too long and will more likely block your wrist from moving at all defeating the purpose of a Weightlifting wrist wrap.

It’s important to note that Rogue has another wrist wrap named the White series. These are 30% stiffer than the Rogue Wrist Wraps I have covered here.

I would not recommend such a stiff wrist wrap as it will prevent you from extending the wrist in the front rack position.

Stiffer wraps like these are better suited for Powerlifters and Bodybuilders who want to keep their wrists straight when lifting.

Rogue Wrist Wraps are great value for money being one of the cheapest wrist wraps on the market.

Pros

  • Best value for money
  • Perfect balance between stability and flexibility
  • Comes in multiple sizes

Cons

  • Less stiff than other wraps providing slightly less support

Conclusion:

Regardless of your level, the Rogue Wrist Wraps are the best option to provide the best balance between support, stability, and flexibility.

Best Weightlifting Wrist Wraps

Rogue Wrist Wraps

Best Stiff Weightlifting Wrist Wrap

Gymreapers Wrist Wraps

If you are looking for a wrist wrap that is slightly stiffer offering more support and stability, then Gymreapers is your best option. Being 30% elastic and 70% polyester, you’ll have more support for your wrist when lifting.

These materials will also soak up any sweat so it doesn’t drip onto your hands improving your grip with the barbell.

The Gymreapers Wrist Wraps are made from high-grade nylon materials with enhanced stitching so they won't fall apart even with years of use.

They have a thumb loop to ensure you can wrap it tightly and a Velcro strap so you can make easy adjustments during your training.

Regarding sizing, they only come in 18” length which in my opinion, is the perfect length for Olympic Weightlifting providing optimum support and flexibility.

They are 3” wide just like the Rogue Wrist Wraps providing solid support.

Gymreapers Wrist Wraps are a little more expensive than Rogue Wrist Wraps but only by a few dollars.

I would advise going with this wrist wrap option only if you have very bad wrist problems that prevent you from lifting.

Pros

  • Stiffer providing more support while still being flexible
  • Enhanced stitching making them very durable

Cons

  • A little more expensive than other wrist wraps

Conclusion:

For those who need wrist wraps that are slightly stiffer, these are the ones. With enhanced stitching for increased durability, these will last you many, many years.

Best Stiff Weightlifting Wrist Wraps

Gymreapers Wrist Wraps

Best Weightlifting Wrist Wraps For Beginners

Rip Toned Wrist Wraps

Beginner Weightlifters may want a wrist wrap that is more flexible than others so it doesn’t restrict movement while providing some wrist support. The Rip Toned Wrist Wraps are your choice if you fall into this category.

They have options between a stiff and a less stiff option. The less stiff option is what you should go for. This model has slightly more elastic than other wrist wraps on the market making them more comfortable.

Rip Toned Wrist Wraps come in one length, 18”. This is in my opinion the optimum length for a Weightlifting wrist wrap to provide a good balance between support and flexibility. They are 3” wide like most wrist wraps on the market.

These wrist wraps come with the thumb loop for easy application and a Velcro strap to secure the wrist wraps and provide an easy way to adjust them during a training session.

You know they back their product as they have a lifetime replacement guarantee so you can essentially buy once and never buy again.

If you love having funky designs on your Weightlifting accessories, then these will be right up your alley with designs such as floral and camo.

Price-wise, these are the cheapest you will find on the market for an 18" length wrist wrap.

Pros

  • Cheapest wrist wraps on the market
  • Lifetime replacement guarantee
  • Less stiff allowing free wrist movement

Cons

  • Don't provide the same support as other brands

Conclusion:

You can't argue with a lifetime replacement guarantee. These are perfect for the beginner who wants the feeling of support with extra flexibility.

Best Stiff Weightlifting Wrist Wraps

Rip toned Wrist Wraps

What To Look For In A Weightlifting Wrist Wrap

With so many Weightlifting wrist wraps on the market; it can be difficult to sort through what the differences are between them. Further, it’s important to understand exactly what you need as a Weightlifter as your needs are different from other strength sport athletes.

Material

There’s a trade-off when it comes to material. The stiffer the material, the more support and stability it will provide. However, the more support and stability a wrist wrap provides, the less flexibility it will allow.

As an Olympic Weightlifter, it’s vitally important that you pick a wrist wrap that allows a lot of wrist mobility so you can comfortably rack the bar on your shoulders.

A mix of elastic, cotton, and polyester are your best choices. I really don’t like leather wrist wraps as they can be very uncomfortable as they are so stiff.

Thumb Loop

A thumb loop is a non-negotiable when it comes to wrist wraps. Pretty much every wrist wrap being sold now has them. If you come across a product without thumb loops, skip them. Putting them on, tightening them, and adjusting them will be a pain and you’ll end up ditching them.

Velcro strap

Most Weightlifting wrist wraps have a Velcro strap to secure them in place. Leather wrist wraps usually come with a buckle. The Velcro strap allows you to adjust them throughout your training session or between sets if you want to loosen them.

Buckles will keep your wrist wraps secured and tight through your whole session but the buckle mixed with the leather material will compromise the flexibility.

Width

There's a growing trend of thinner wrist wraps on the market that are around a wristwatch size in width. Honestly, I'm not sold on these. While they thicken the wrist at its thinnest point, essentially the crease between the hand and forearm, they don’t provide the same level of support as a thicker wrist wrap.

Length

Length is the final property of a wrist wrap you will need to decide on. As you’ve seen above, I recommend an 18” wrist wrap for the best balance between support and flexibility. 12” wrist wraps can be an option if you have a stiffer wrap.

24” is just too long and is better suited for other strength sports.

About the Author

Mona is a Bronze Medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She has been competing Internationally for 20 years in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting and has also been African Champion, Commonwealth Champion, and the youngest South African Weightlifter to compete on the International stage.

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