How to Use Lifting Straps: Deadlift More Weight Without Losing Grip
If you're serious about pulling heavy weight, lifting straps are the difference between a set that stops at grip failure and one that stops at muscle failure. Whether you're grinding through deadlifts, heavy rows, or shrugs, Battle Bunker Lifting Straps keep your hands from being the weakest link. But most people either misuse them or reach for them at the wrong time.
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Shop Battle Straps — $15.49 →In this guide, we cover what lifting straps are, when to use them, how to wrap both lasso and figure-8 styles correctly, common wrapping mistakes, and when to leave them in the bag.
Quick answer: To use lifting straps, loop the strap around your wrist, thread the free end under the bar and back over the top, then roll the bar toward you to cinch the wrap tight. Grip the bar with the strap inside your hand. Use them for heavy deadlifts, rows, shrugs, and high-rep pulling — not for Olympic lifts or warm-ups.
What Are Lifting Straps?
Lifting straps are simple but effective tools: strong loops of material that wrap around your wrist and the barbell to give you extra grip support. When your grip gives out before your back, traps, or hamstrings do, straps let you keep training the target muscle without your hands being the limiting factor.
Battle Bunker Straps are built for serious lifters: 18 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, heavy-duty cotton with reinforced stitching, 3mm neoprene padding, and a non-slip texture. Once locked in, the bar stays put.
When Should You Use Lifting Straps?
Lifting straps aren't for every lift. You still need to build raw grip strength. But they're the right call when pulling movements get heavy:
Deadlifts, especially high-rep sets or when chasing PRs.
Barbell and Dumbbell Rows: keeps the focus on lats, not forearms.
Shrugs and Rack Pulls: load heavier than your grip can handle alone.
Pull-Ups and Lat Pulldowns: useful when your grip fails before your back does.
General rule: use straps for heavy pulling and volume work, not for every single set.
Step-by-Step: How to Wrap Lasso Straps
Lasso straps (the most common style, including Battle Bunker Straps) have a single loop with one free end. Here's how to get them locked in:
Thread the strap. Slide the free end through the loop to create a circle. Put your wrist through so the strap lays flat just below your wrist joint.
Place your hand on the bar. Take the free end under the barbell, then wrap it back toward you over the top.
Roll and tension. Roll the bar toward you while pulling the strap tight. This cinches the wrap and locks it in place.
Grip and lift. Keep your hand closed over the strap and bar. The strap supports your grip so you can focus on the lift.
How to Wrap Figure-8 Straps
Figure-8 straps are a fixed double-loop design used by powerlifters and strongman competitors. They lock your hand to the bar more aggressively, making them ideal for max-effort deadlifts where zero movement between hand and bar is the priority.
Hold the strap in a figure-8 shape with two loops.
Slip one loop over your wrist from the bottom up.
Place the second loop over the barbell from the top, then slide your palm into it so your hand is against the bar.
No rolling or cinching needed. The geometry locks it.
One caution: figure-8 straps lock you to the bar. They're slower to release, so use them for straight deadlifts and rack pulls, not exercises where you need to bail quickly.
Common Mistakes When Wrapping Straps
Most strap problems come down to setup, not the straps themselves.
Not wrapping tight enough. A loose strap slides under load. Cinch it down every time before you pull.
Positioning the loop too high. The strap should sit just below the wrist joint, not up on the forearm. Too high cuts circulation and reduces leverage.
Positioning the loop too low. Too far toward the palm creates an awkward angle and causes the strap to roll mid-lift.
Wrapping in the wrong direction. For lasso straps, the free end goes under the bar and back toward you. Reverse wrapping makes tensioning harder and increases the chance of slipping.
Skipping the roll. Rolling the bar toward you after wrapping is what actually locks a lasso strap. Skip it and you're working with a loose setup.
Strapping in on warm-up sets. Light sets build grip. Save straps for working sets.
When NOT to Use Lifting Straps
Straps used in the wrong situation create problems.
Olympic lifts. Never use straps on snatches or power cleans. These require a quick release and free wrist rotation. Straps make both impossible.
Every session, every set. If you're strapping in for everything, your grip will fall behind your pulling strength. Train grip directly at least twice a week.
Raw powerlifting competition. Most raw federations don't allow straps. If you're competing, practice without them so the transition isn't a shock.
Any lift where quick release matters. If bailing or re-gripping fast is part of the movement, straps add unnecessary risk.
Pro Tips for Maximum Results
Chalk combined with straps is a hard grip setup to beat on heavy deadlift days.
Practice wrapping with both hands. Speed between sets matters in high-volume training.
Use straps strategically: heavy sets, PR attempts, and high-rep back work. Not everything.
FAQs About Lifting Straps
Q: Do lifting straps make you weaker?
A: No. They let you push the target muscle harder. Train grip separately and you won't lose anything.
Q: Are 18-inch straps long enough?
A: Yes. They're faster to wrap and work well for bodybuilding, powerlifting, and hybrid training. Longer straps (22-24 inches) are bulkier and slower, though some strongman competitors prefer them for max pulls.
Q: How long do straps last?
A: With quality construction, expect years of regular use. Cheap straps fray in months.
Final Word
Lifting straps aren't cheating. They're smart training. If your grip is giving out before your back or hamstrings do, you're leaving gains on the table. Learn to wrap them right, know when to use them and when not to, and stop letting grip be the reason a good set ends early.
Grab your pair of Battle Bunker Lifting Straps: 18-inch heavy-duty cotton, non-slip grip, padded comfort, built for lifters who pull heavy.
