Lifting straps for small wrists: why yours don't work
Six threads and 251 comments say the same thing — and the fix most people are missing is that figure-8 straps come in one size that does not fit everyone.
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If your deadlift or RDL stops because the bar slips out of your hands while your legs still have reps left, that is one of the most common plateaus in strength training. And “train your grip” is usually the wrong answer to it.
What people are actually saying
We pulled a year of r/xxfitness threads. Six separate posts, roughly 251 comments, all circling the same problem:
| Thread | Score | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| At what point do I start using straps when grip is limiting? | 23 | 62 |
| Grip strength? | 38 | 45 |
| Is there something for lacking grip besides straps? | 33 | 43 |
| Low grip strength affecting my RDLs? | 32 | 38 |
| Stuck at the same RDL weight for 6+ months | 20 | 37 |
| Straps for smaller wrists? | 12 | 26 |
In their own words:
“I’ve been lifting for about a year and finding that I am struggling with grip strength. For instance, when I deadlift, the barbell weight I can pick up in my hands is too light for my legs.”
“I feel that my forearm/grip gives in way before my hamstrings or glutes.”
“When I deadlift (135lbs), I can’t get the same amount of reps on my third and fourth sets… because the bar slips from my fingers, even with a mixed grip.”
And then the one that actually explains the problem:
“I got lifting straps and they’ve been okay but I don’t think they’ve made too much of a difference.”
So it is not simply that people lack straps. The straps they bought are not working.
The gap nobody writes about: strap sizing
One lifter spelled it out:
“I like the look of the figure 8 style straps, but worried they’ll be too big for my wrists (~5.5 inch circumference) — has anyone come across smaller ones?”
That is the whole problem in one sentence. A figure-8 strap is a closed loop — unlike a lasso strap, there is nothing to adjust. The loop is cut to a fixed size, and almost every listing sizes it for an average adult male wrist. If your wrist is around 5.5 inches, the loop stays slack, the strap never locks against the bar, and the product “does not work.”
We screened the figure-8 straps currently on sale. Only one of them states a size range at all. The rest list no wrist dimension whatsoever — which is why so many people buy the wrong one and conclude that straps are overrated.
Best for smaller wrists
score
Strongman Figure 8 Lifting Straps, 10–14"
$18.90
The only listing in our screen that publishes an actual size range. That alone makes it the sensible starting point if standard figure-8 straps have felt loose on you — you can check the number against your own measurement before buying instead of guessing.
- Type
- Figure-8, closed loop
- Stated size range
- 10–14 in
- Padding
- Yes
- Buyer rating
- 4.3 / 5 from 161 reviews
Pros
- Publishes a size range — almost unique in this category
- Padded, which matters at heavy loads
Cons
- 161 reviews is a thinner evidence base than the market leaders
- The range is loop length, not wrist circumference — measure before ordering
Best overall
score
Gymreapers Figure 8 Lifting Straps
$24.97
The most-reviewed figure-8 strap on sale and the one the rest of the category is priced against. If you have average-sized wrists and want the option with the deepest track record, this is it.
- Type
- Figure-8, closed loop
- Stated size range
- Not published
- Buyer rating
- 4.4 / 5 from 1,390 reviews
Pros
- 1,390 reviews — the deepest evidence base in the category
- Built for strongman and heavy deadlift loads
Cons
- No published sizing — the exact complaint lifters keep raising
- Most expensive option here
score
RDX Figure 8 Lifting Straps with Wrist Cuffs
$14.99
Highest rating of any strap with a serious review count behind it, at $10 less than the category leader. The wrist cuff gives a bit more support than a plain loop.
- Type
- Figure-8 with wrist cuff
- Stated size range
- Not published
- Buyer rating
- 4.5 / 5 from 1,162 reviews
Pros
- 4.5 stars across 1,162 reviews — the best rating-to-depth combination
- Cuffed design adds wrist support
- $10 cheaper than Gymreapers
Cons
- No published sizing
- Cuff adds bulk some lifters dislike
score
BEAST RAGE Figure 8 Loop Straps
$9.99
Under ten dollars with 477 reviews at 4.5 stars. If you are not yet sure straps are the answer to your plateau, this is a low-risk way to find out.
- Type
- Figure-8 loop, padded
- Stated size range
- Not published
- Buyer rating
- 4.5 / 5 from 477 reviews
Pros
- Under $10
- Rating holds up across 477 reviews
Cons
- No published sizing
- Less proven at very heavy loads than the leaders
Lasso, figure-8 or hook?
| Type | Grip strength | Fits small wrists? | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lasso | Good | Yes — adjustable | Wrapping takes practice; slips when sweaty |
| Figure-8 | Strongest | Only if sized right | Fixed loop, and sizing is rarely published |
| Hook | Strongest | Yes | Forearms get no training at all; less bar control |
If your wrists are on the smaller side, start with lasso straps. They adjust, so sizing cannot be wrong. Move to figure-8 only once you know the loop length works for you — which is exactly why the one listing that publishes a range is worth the extra few dollars.
Measure before you buy
- Measure your wrist with a tape, around the wrist bone. Roughly 5.5–6 inches is on the smaller side; 7 inches and up is average for an adult man.
- Check the listing for a size range. If there is none — and usually there is none — assume it is cut for an average male wrist.
- Cotton grips better, nylon lasts longer. Nylon gets slippery once your hands sweat, which is the exact moment you need the strap.
- Take the padding at heavy loads. Unpadded figure-8s leave marks on a heavy deadlift.
One thing straps will not do
Straps are a tool, not a cure. Use them on every set and your forearms never get stronger. The standard approach is warm-ups and lighter sets bare, straps only for heavy or high-volume work — which is what one of the lifters in those threads had already worked out:
“I lift without straps until my grip starts to give out then I use the straps.”
How we analysed this
We do not physically test equipment. We are not a testing lab and we will not pretend to be one. What we do instead is measure the things most review sites skip: whether demand is actually growing, how entrenched the competition already is, and what buyers say went wrong.
- Demand — twelve months of weekly Google Trends data per category. We read the level and the slope, and reject anything trending down.
- Saturation — median review counts across the top search listings. Heavy review counts at high star ratings mean buyers are already well served.
- Real complaints — forum threads and low-star reviews, where people describe what broke, what did not fit, and what they sent back.
The ForgeFit score on each pick is the mean of the factors shown on that card. It is our own assessment, not a retailer's star rating — where we cite a buyer rating, we label it as one and name the source.
Sources for this guide
- r/xxfitness threads from the past 12 months, collected 28 August 2026 — six posts and roughly 251 comments on grip as a limiting factor.
- Amazon US search listings for figure-8 lifting straps, captured 28 August 2026 — prices, ratings, review counts and published sizing as shown at that time.
Common questions
What wrist size are figure-8 straps made for?
Almost no listing says. In our screen of the figure-8 straps currently on sale, only one published a size range at all. That is the root of the complaint — buyers with smaller wrists have no way to check fit before ordering, so they buy a loop that stays slack.
Are lifting straps cheating?
They shift the limit from your grip to the muscle you are actually training. If your hamstrings have reps left when the bar slips, straps let you train the hamstrings. They also mean your forearms get less work, which is why most lifters use them only on heavy or high-volume sets.
Lasso or figure-8 for deadlifts?
Figure-8 holds harder, which is why strongman competitors use them. Lasso adjusts, which is why they are the safer purchase if your wrists are smaller than average or you do not know your size.
Will straps fix my grip strength?
No — they work around it. If grip strength itself is the goal, that needs direct work such as farmer's carries and holds. Straps stop grip from capping your other lifts while you build it.
Why is there no hands-on testing in this guide?
Because we have not tested these straps and will not claim otherwise. What we contribute is analysis of what buyers report and which listings actually publish the information you need. See how we analyse.
Grip is not the only thing that quietly caps home training. See the other five problems.