We currently have a wide range of Wrist Wraps, with different length and stiffness options. But which Wrist Wrap do you need? Why do you need Wrist Wraps? Which length should you choose?

Why Use Wrist Wraps?

Wrist Wraps allows you to train heavier with more confidence as well as preventing injuries and keeping your wrist healthy. Studies between 1990 and 2007 on weight training injuries to the wrist suggest that wrist wraps can reduce or prevent several types of wrist injuries:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Syndesmosis
• Tendonitis
• Wrist Strain

They do also help you with performance. They are used for two main reasons: to keep your wrist straight or to help improve grip. Wrist Wraps for Bench Pressing, Shoulder pressing and any Pressing movement will improve joint position by preventing hyper-extension. When squatting, wrist wraps allows the wraps to absorb the load instead of your elbows and wrists. You can also keep a closer grip which lets you keep your upper back tighter and there is less chance of the bar moving. Deadlifting with wrist wraps may help to hold the wrist in a flexed position. When the wrist is flexed, it is harder to open the hand, thus giving you a bit of help with your grip. 

Which Length Should You Choose?

In general, the longer the wrist wrap the more you can do with it and the more support it provides. However, you do not want to try to wrap 1m worth of wrist wrap if you don’t need it or know what you’re doing. If you are looking for some support but with some mobility in your wrist, then you should be looking at the shorter wraps. But if you are looking to lift maximum weight in sports like powerlifting and strongman then you would be looking to immobilize your wrist keeping it in a fixed position to reduce the risk of injury. Thus the 24” to 35” lengths would be the best choice. If you are hitting some heavy bench press (equipped or raw) where you are dealing with hundreds of Kgs, then you want the longest wrist wrap that your sport will allow you to use (most powerlifting feds will allow up to 1m). In this case you want your wrist to be like it is in a cast and cannot move at all! This will not only protect your wrist but keep your forearm and wrist as one. As a bonus this will improve your line when benching also. 

Which Wrist Wrap Do You Need? 

The main difference between our wraps is the stiffness. The rule of thumb is the stiffer the wrap the more support it gives. This is the idea for very heavy pressing movements however if you are looking to do movements like cleans, snatches or front squats then you need to be able to flex your wrist a bit – in this case super stiff wrap would be a disadvantage. You need to pick your wraps based on one of 3 things: what you need them for, the support level you need or your personal preference. 

Don’t Use Wrist Wraps to Hide Mobility and Flexibility Issues!

A common excuse for wearing wrist wraps is pain or discomfort when the wrist is in extension such as the receiving position of a clean or when performing front squats. More often than not, an athlete who has discomfort in their wrist when cleaning or front squatting probably has a poor rack position due to poor mobility in their upper body. Poor thoracic extension, lack of shoulder flexion, external rotation, and wrist flexibility can all play a role in a poor rack position. Wrist wraps don’t make you more flexible.