If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best CrossFit wrist wraps for heavy pressing is, then I’d recommend the WOD Nation Wrist Wraps as the best one.
CrossFit training is quite intense, and heavy lifting requirements will eventually demand that you get yourself a pair of wrist wraps.
More importantly, while wrist wraps are a pretty simple piece of equipment, not all wrist wraps are created equal.
We’re going to break down what wrist wraps are and how they can aid you with you CrossFit lifting.
We’ll look into the specific features that you should look for when choosing the right wrist wrap for you.
Once you have this information, you’ll take a look at our top 5 best crossfit wrist wraps, going over their strengths and weaknesses and looking at our #1 recommendation.
Here are the top CrossFit wrist wraps we’ll be reviewing:
- Rip Toned Wrist Wraps 18″ Professional Grade with Thumb Loops
- DMoose Fitness Wrist Wraps
- WOD Nation Wrist Wraps
- Dark Iron Fitness Leather Weight Lifting Wrist Wraps
- Plate Fitness Products Wrist Wraps
What Are Crossfit Wraps Used For?
Before we can present to you what the best CrossFit wrist wraps are, it would be wise for you to first get in touch with what wrist wraps are and what function they serve.
As stated earlier, CrossFit training involves a lot of intense and heavy lifting.
Regardless of whether you are training upper-body lifts such as the bench and shoulder press, or lower-body exercises like the deadlift, much of the weight is going to require heavy recruitment of the wrist joints.
The constant use of heavy weight on your wrist can eventually lead to discomfort and even pain in the wrists.
While this isn’t a total indicator that your wrists are in trouble, your workout performance can start to decline due to the displeasing sensations going on in that area.
Introducing wrist wraps can greatly reduce or even eliminate this problem from your WOD (Workout Of the Day).
They support your wrists by preventing them from bending too far in one direction or another.
This allows you to either add more weight to your sets, do more reps or both.
In addition, adding wrist wraps can allow you to start training quicker in the case that you are suffering from wrist injuries.
Wrist Wrap Features & Determining What Wraps Are Right For You
As mentioned, not all wrist wraps are the same.
There are 4 simple, but critical features that you should look for to determine which wrap you should use.
When sorting through the best CrossFit wrist wraps, the features you will be looking at are the material, closure, length and thumb loop.
Material
The material for a wrist wrap should be firm, as you want it to properly support your wrist from bending too much.
The ends of the wraps are often slightly softer so that they feel easy on the skin and fit comfortably.
So wrist wraps are made out of machine-washable material, which adds to convenience.
Closure
There are two types of closures: Velcro and Tying; Velcro is the most popular and most convenient, but you want to make sure that the Velcro used on your wrist wraps is made to last.
Length
Your wrist wraps have to fit in order for you to use them, so you want to make sure that you choose a wrist wrap that is the right length.
The length you choose will be based on how thick your wrist are, how heavy you lift, and how tight you want the wraps to be.
So wraps are made to fit all wrist sizes, but other have several sizing options.
If your wrist are small and you lift light, then small lengths between 14-18 inches should do fine. However, thicker wrists or heavy lifters will require lengths between 22 – 30 inches.
Thumb Loop
Thumb loops are included in the best CrossFit wrist wraps, but this you shouldn’t assume that all wrist wraps have a thumb loop.
They are there to no only help you put on the wrist wrap, but it’s also there to make sure the wrist wrap stays in place.
Are Wrist Wraps & Lifting Straps The Same Thing?
Some of you may be familiar with lifting straps, and due to the similarity in appearance, it’s quite easy to confuse these two pieces of equipment.
They both even go on the wrist, so a beginner might easily assume they are the same thing.
However, the function of these items is quite different.
Lifting straps assist with maintaining grip.
While grip strength is tied to muscles in your wrists, lifting straps do nothing to actually support your wrists.
Wrist straps, on the other hand, prevent your wrists from taking too much stress.
This can have a very beneficial impact on maintaining grip, but the key focus is to support your wrists.
Top 5 Best Crossfit Wrist Wraps
Now that you know what crossfit wrist wraps do and what their key features are, let’s dive into the top 5 best crossfit wrist wraps.
Rip Toned Wrist Wraps 18″ Professional Grade with Thumb Loops
Rip Toned’s 18″ Wrist Wraps are made for both men and women, coming in a multitude of colors that fit both sexes.
As mentioned, 18″ wraps usually are meant for people with smaller wrists, or for those who are lifting lighter. However, these wraps come in two types: medium-stiff and stiff.
Medium-stiff provides greater mobility and flexibility, and fits nicely for those who are looking to lift lighter and require less support.
However if you have small wrists, but want to be able to lift heavy, then the stiff variety should suit you well.
One important note wit the stiff variety is that they are very, very stiff. It can take some time to “break in”, regardless you might want to be careful when you first start using them.
To add, the thumb loop is well-stitched but it is somewhat large.
As a result you might find yourself needing to re-adjust the wraps every once in a while when you are doing higher-intensity activities.
On top of this, there is a lifetime warranty for these wraps, so you can replace them in case of issues.
Pros
- Stiff option for heavy lifting with smaller wrists
- Suits both men and women
Cons
- Stiff Option is extremely stiff
- Thumb loop is somewhat loose
DMoose Fitness Wrist Wraps
DMoose Wrist Wraps provide yet another selection for those with small wrists or those who do not lift very heavily.
The wraps come in 12-inch and 18-inch sizes, and are built to last utilizing highly flexible material.
These wraps are very focused on providing a very comfortable fit. They are made of cotton, polyester and elastic fibers making them very easy on the skin and offers a lot of mobility.
On top of these features, DMoose provides equal attention to wrist-wrap stability and secure fitting.
The thumb loop holds the wrap in place quite well, and the Velcro closure is double-stitched to ensure that it stays fastened to the wraps.
The downside to the comfort and flexibility is that these wraps are geared towards low-to-medium levels of support.
However, they do come with a lifetime warranty, meaning that you can replace them anytime there is a problem.
Pros
- Good for beginners
- High level of comfort
- Well-designed closure and thumb loop for optimum security
Cons
- No options for larger wrists
- Not good for heavy lifting or advanced crossfit athletes
WOD Nation Wrist Wraps
WOD Nation Wrist Wraps provide a great support that is suited for all types of crossfit athletes.
With 12, 18, and 24-inch sizes, WOD’s wrist wraps are suited for crossfit athletes of all kinds.
These wraps offer great security with reinforced stitching hold the Velcro closure in place.
The thumb wrap ensures that the wraps stay in place so that you are stuck re-adjusting the placement of the wrist band.
In addition, these wraps come with a special carrying bag to help you easily store and keep your gloves safe.
There are also a large variety of colors to suit all tastes and preferences.
WOD includes a lifetime warranty, so you’re secure knowing that you can have them replaced if an issue ever arises.
Pros
- Super Stitching
- 3 sizes to accommodate large and small wrists, as well as beginner and advanced crossfit athletes
- Secure Velcro and thumb loop
Cons
- Thumb loop is somewhat small
Dark Iron Fitness Leather Weight Lifting Wrist Wraps
Dark Iron Fitness All-Leather Weight Lifting Wrist Straps provide a very comfortable yet durable wrap that is set to last.
Made with suede leather, these wraps are built so that you will never have to replace them or worry about them falling apart.
These 22-inch wraps are ideal for heavy lifters who need support of their intense crossfit workout.
However, the suede material provides a very comfortable, relaxed fit that you can use them for extended periods of time.
These wraps are backed by a lifetime warranty so if you have any issues then you are sure to have your gloves replaced.
They also include a secure thumb loop and Velcro strapping to make sure your wraps stay in place.
Pros
- Suede material for long-lasting use
- Highly comfortable and meant to be used for long periods
- 22-inch length that fits a variety of crossfit athletes
Cons
- Thumb loop is a bit tight
Plate Fitness Products Wrist Wraps
Plate Fitness Products wrist wraps ideal for all lifters.
Even though it is only 18″, these particular wrist wraps are a one-size-fits-all design for both beginner and advanced crossfit trainers.
These wraps look to blend comfort and flexibility while still providing optimal support.
The reinforced stitching and durable material make these wraps heavily resistant to wear and tear.
The 2.5-inch thumb loop and commercial-grade Velcro ensure that these wraps stay in place while you work out.
Designed for both men and women, these particular wraps are backed by a lifetime warranty, ensuring that you can get them replaced in case of breakdown.
Pros
- Made to fit all sizes even though it is only 18 inches
- Provides maximum support while being flexible
Cons
- Can have an foul odor
Final Thoughts
As you can see, wrist wraps are a rather simple piece of equipment. One great thing is that they are relatively inexpensive.
So even if a particular pair doesn’t work out for you, it won’t be a mistake that breaks you bank account.
There were qualities that all of the top 5 recommended brands displayed. They all came with lifetime warranties, used Velcro enclosures, and had thumb loops.
It goes to show why they are the top 5, and the real difference between them comes down to variations in size.
From our analysis, we recommend the WOD Nation brand of wrist straps. One of the key reasons comes from the variety in size.
They have size options for each type experience level and wrist size.
As such, they are the brand that offers the most well-rounded support, catering to advanced and beginner crossfit athletes.
