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The 7 Best Wrist Wraps for Heavy Lifting, According to Certified Trainers
Crush your bench presses with a little extra reinforcement.
OKAY, SO you're starting to lift heavier. Much, much heavier. Good work. But before celebrating, take note of how your wrists respond under heavier loads. If you're struggling to maintain a neutral wrist position while benching or pressing overhead, for example, it may be time to integrate wrist wraps.
This is where wraps come into play to provide extra support to keep wrists in check. That's right—they're not just for show. For some, they provide the stability to tackle heavy lifts without compromising form. At their core, wrist wraps are built to help you avoid wrist hyperextension, which occurs when the wrist joint extends beyond its normal range of motion.
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"You should be fighting to maintain a neutral wrist on many lifts (think bench presses, snatches, and jerks, anyway)," explains Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., MH Fitness Director. "But wrist wraps assist in this process, thanks to a thumb loop that pulls your wrists into near-flexion, preventing them from shifting into extension."
From budget-friendly Amazon options to International Powerlifting Federation-approved cult favorites, we've spent hours testing and researching the best wrist wraps out there. Men's Health fitness editors, in collaboration with fitness experts including Former CrossFit athlete and functional bodybuilder Marcus Filly, have compared testing notes on dozens of the best wrist wraps to identify which ones are worthy of a recommendation. Throughout our meticulous evaluation process, we've carefully considered all the essentials: support, durability, comfort, length, and price.
Now, we're not saying wrist wraps are a magic solution. Especially for those early on in their lifting journey, understanding how to maintain a neutral wrist position without the aid of these accessories is crucial.
"My general feeling about supportive equipment like wrists wraps is that we should use them only when absolutely necessary," explains Filly. "Save the use of these tools for your top sets in an effort to keep you safe, feeling good, and being consistent in the gym."
Keep reading for our list of the best 7 wrist wraps to keep your wrists locked and loaded with every rep.
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Talene Appleton is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where she covers fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. She was previously the Associate Editor of General Surgery News, and a nutrition writer for The Food Institute. Talene is a retired professional dancer, and loves to spend her free time cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family.
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., is the fitness director of Men's Health and a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He's logged training time with NFL athletes and track athletes and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men's Health in 2017, he served as a sports columnist and tech columnist for the New York Daily News.
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