Wraps, Straps, Sleeves & Belts

[DrewZ]

Just ordered a pair of neoprene knee sleeves for leg day.
Been using lifting straps on back day for about a year now, use them on heavy sets.

I'd like to get a lifting belt for deads/squats/leg press but I'm not sure what I need.

Was curious on what you all use - pros/cons/preferences?

[Schwarzenegger]

Just ordered a pair of neoprene knee sleeves for leg day.
Been using lifting straps on back day for about a year now, use them on heavy sets.

I'd like to get a lifting belt for deads/squats/leg press but I'm not sure what I need.

Was curious on what you all use - pros/cons/preferences?

I use neoprene knee sleeves. I was talking to an old strong man guy, mid 40's, won a few local comps. He said he wished he had used sleeves when he was my age as his knees are messed over the years from dead lifting 700+ and squatting 500+.

I use straps for deads and on back day as I begin to fatigue. And I always use a belt for anything over 225. I squat 385 for 3 and dead lift 495 for 4. Wanna be as safe as possible so I can keep training injury free, hence the belt.

There are diff kinds, 6inch ones are pointless. Powerlifting belts are good for squats but not for deads cuz they pinch ur sides and hard to get low (for me anyway, I'm 6'1") cuz they are bulky.

Padding or no padding is a matter of preference. Depending on leather quality, the non padded ones can be more comfortable than the padded ones. And vice versa. All depends on how it feels, so try before u buy, if possible.

A side note on straps, I had been using cotton ones for years. The straps would dig into the wrist when I would go super heavy, which I would just chalk up to part of the game. Then I tried neoprene padded straps and wow, night and day diff. Prolly just me being a bitch tho hahah

[DrewZ]

Thanks for the reply.

Heres the knee sleeves I just bought, can't wait to try them;


Love the neoprene padded straps, I can't imagine using the ones w/o it.

I think it is time I invest in a belt.
I'm up to 360# for 3 on deads, and 325# for 3 on back squats.
I feel I'm really pushing it for my size without one.

I think it might make doing leg press safer too, I tend to go pretty heavy there compared to my deads/squats.
When I'm done & putting weights back I've hurt my low back.
It's funny how you can move all this weight, and then tweak your back putting a single plate back with bad form...haha

I'm not a very big guy, 5'7 on a good day.

Looking into belts - what kind of latch/clasp should I get?
I'd like something easy to put on and take off, I don't want to wear the thing for my whole workout.

[Docd187123]

Just ordered a pair of neoprene knee sleeves for leg day.
Been using lifting straps on back day for about a year now, use them on heavy sets.

I'd like to get a lifting belt for deads/squats/leg press but I'm not sure what I need.

Was curious on what you all use - pros/cons/preferences?

I don't use straps personally as I don't want to hinder my grip strength but so long as you're doing your warmups and some work sets without them and save the straps for the very heavy sets I see no problems with them.

I don't use knee sleeves or wraps either but might look into the wraps as I do have knee issues. One thing that's helped with my knee issues, elbow tendinitis and other minor injuries is voodoo floss. I HIGHLY recommend you look into it.

As for a belt, this is something I do use. I do my warmups without the belt and save it for my heavy working sets on deads, squats, press, and sometimes bench. My recommendation, and what I'm using currently, is the Inzer 13mm lever lock belt. It's an amazing belt. It's extremely thick and takes time to break in but well worth it. Pros are no need to mess around with prongs, it's 4in all the way around which is perfect for a lifting belt, once it locks it does not come loose, and so much more. The cons are it's pricy at about $90-100, the 13mm is very thick and interferes with my deads (wear the belt backwards, lever on your back and it eliminates his problem), and if you need to adjust the belt for different lifts you'll need a screwdriver or nickel to change the adjustment. Still, this is by far the best belt I've ever used.

[Schwarzenegger]

Thanks for the reply.

Heres the knee sleeves I just bought, can't wait to try them;

Love the neoprene padded straps, I can't imagine using the ones w/o it.

I think it is time I invest in a belt.
I'm up to 360# for 3 on deads, and 325# for 3 on back squats.
I feel I'm really pushing it for my size without one.

I think it might make doing leg press safer too, I tend to go pretty heavy there compared to my deads/squats.
When I'm done & putting weights back I've hurt my low back.
It's funny how you can move all this weight, and then tweak your back putting a single plate back with bad form...haha

I'm not a very big guy, 5'7 on a good day.

Looking into belts - what kind of latch/clasp should I get?
I'd like something easy to put on and take off, I don't want to wear the thing for my whole workout.

I got the same rehband knee sleeves. As for belts and latches. I'm not a fan of powerlifting belts except for squats. I stick to double prong on bodybuilding tapered-front leather belts and single prongs on powerlifting belts. Single prong on powerlifting cuz easier to get off, the belt is already sturdy enough. Double prong on regular belts for the support cuz those belts are moldable thinner leather. At the end its all about preference and functionality

[almostgone]

I use the Rehband neoprene elbow sleeves and have been very satisfied thus far. They have reduced my elbow woes a decent amount. (I know you weren't asking about the elbow neoprene sleeves, but thought I'd would give you a little feedback on the brand in general).
I do have my eye on some NeoG knee braces. Several people have reported that they really like them.

[Docd187123]

I use the Rehband neoprene elbow sleeves and have been very satisfied thus far. They have reduced my elbow woes a decent amount. (I know you weren't asking about the elbow neoprene sleeves, but thought I'd would give you a little feedback on the brand in general).
I do have my eye on some NeoG knee braces. Several people have reported that they really like them.

To help with your elbow woes, look into voodoo floss and Dr. Kelly Starrett. No more elbow woes/tendinitis for me

[almostgone]

To help with your elbow woes, look into voodoo floss and Dr. Kelly Starrett. No more elbow woes/tendinitis for me

Thanks for the info, Doc. I'll definitely check it out!!

[Dens228]

I use medium weight knee sleeves from Elite FTS for legs, but only on my last warm ups and then work sets. I use straps for bicep work. I started doing it when I had an injury and learned that at least for me it actually helped target my biceps more. Funny part is I don't use them for back work. Most of my back work I use thicker, rubber grips and don't need the straps.

[DrewZ]

Lots of great info here.

Really appreciate it, thank you!

[hellomycognomen]

Only thing use are Harbinger lifting gloves and a chain dip belt.

[FiLL]

Just ordered a pair of neoprene knee sleeves for leg day.
Been using lifting straps on back day for about a year now, use them on heavy sets.

I'd like to get a lifting belt for deads/squats/leg press but I'm not sure what I need.

Was curious on what you all use - pros/cons/preferences?

I also use lifting straps, they are awesome, just use my own brand ones that I got for my business.

As far as lifting belts go, I bought a basic one from a company called Sting and use it on leg day for squats and leg presses, its comfortable and does the job for me.

[swolehead]

how many reps are you guys doing with these weigh belts. also just sharing my personal expexperience on wrist wraps if there the ones I'm thinking of wen I first started lifted I used them and they cause my forearm to lag behind the rest of my body as it got stronger requiring me to rely on them and eventualy trying to do realy heavy shrugs the stress the put on my wrist tore both of my ligaments in my wrist so watch out

[DrewZ]

how many reps are you guys doing with these weigh belts. also just sharing my personal expexperience on wrist wraps if there the ones I'm thinking of wen I first started lifted I used them and they cause my forearm to lag behind the rest of my body as it got stronger requiring me to rely on them and eventualy trying to do realy heavy shrugs the stress the put on my wrist tore both of my ligaments in my wrist so watch out

I use these -

They have a foam pad that covers the top part of your wrist.

My forearms were starting to look like popeye in comparison to my bi's/tri's, I didn't mind if I worked them a little less.

[swolehead]

mine didn't have that pad could a save me a couple months of being in a brace and not being able to train back good find

[FiLL]

mine didn't have that pad could a save me a couple months of being in a brace and not being able to train back good find

Gotta get them with the neoprene padding, would never use them without.

[marcus300]

I use Neo G knee supports for my heavy leg days,
wrist straps to help with the load of the weights I use,
wrist supports to help my wrist joints,
belt nearly all the time,

when you have been training as long and has heavy as my you need a bit of support in areas what are slightly under pressure, I train extremely hard and very confident that not many can match me

[2iron]

I use these -

They have a foam pad that covers the top part of your wrist.

My forearms were starting to look like popeye in comparison to my bi's/tri's, I didn't mind if I worked them a little less.

I have bad injuries to my right hand and forearm from work so a good strap is crucial for me to lift heavy. I had staps like those and were ok to me but still cut off my circ and really fatigued my forearm. I recently picked these up and I am killing my back days now and my hands and forearm feel terrific.

[DrewZ]

I have bad injuries to my right hand and forearm from work so a good strap is crucial for me to lift heavy. I had staps like those and were ok to me but still cut off my circ and really fatigued my forearm. I recently picked these up and I am killing my back days now and my hands and forearm feel terrific.

Those look pretty nice, are they a specific type? name on those bad boys?
Thanks.

[2iron]

Those look pretty nice, are they a specific type? name on those bad boys?
Thanks.

Name versa gripps pro. You can google them. They are the priciest grips ive bought. I really cant believe how well they work.

[Dens228]

Try having the strap go around your wrist above the bone protrusion on the outside of your wrist rather than between that and your hand. So, not right on the wrist joint. I think you'll find that helps.