If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best neck harness for a stronger neck, then I’d recommend the Vikingstrength Neck Harness and Strength Trainer as the best one.
When you are working toward building a balanced and symmetrical physique, it is important to not overlook any single body part.
One of the most ignored areas is the neck.
A stronger neck translates into more power during other lifts. It also creates a more solid upper body appearance.
A great way to train the neck is by using a neck harness.
Understandably, finding the best neck harness can be tough if you do not know what to look for.
We’ve reviewed five of the top neck harnesses available. Here’s our list.
- Neck and Head Harness by DMoose Fitness
- Head Harness with Neck Support by RIMSports
- Padded Leather Head Harness by Harbinger
- Neck Harness and Strength Trainer by Vikingstrength
- Adjustable Head Harness by Schiek Sports
How the Neck is Put Together: A Basic Overview
If you have ever taken a look at muscles like the biceps on a clinical anatomy chart, you will notice that they are put together in a pretty simple way.
Grab a weight, bend the elbow, and the bicep will contract.
The neck, on the other hand, is very complex. It is built with layers upon layers of tiny muscles.
These muscles connect everything from your eye sockets to your collar bones. They allow your head to move in virtually any direction.
Most importantly, the muscles of the neck protect and support the sensitive upper spine.
Despite their small sizes, neck muscles can become very strong and thick with regular resistance training.
Think about the athletes who seem to have the thickest necks. If you said football players and wrestlers, you’re correct.
These athletes constantly subject their neck muscles to ballistic motion.
If slamming into a running back every day is not your ideal way to get stronger, finding the best neck harness for your training regimen is a great alternative.
Recognizing When Your Neck Is Weak
There are many ways to tell if your neck muscles are weak compared to the rest of your body.
If you have never directly worked them with resistance, they are probably not as strong as they could be.
Here are some other ways to tell:
- Heavy coughing and sniffling seems to strain the areas under your jaw and near the shoulders.
- A “kink” happens if you turn your head suddenly. This can happen when driving a car, reaching to catch something, or turning over quickly when you sleep.
- Your neck muscles strain, stretch, or cramp while performing other lifts. This commonly happens during lifts like the bench press, deadlift, and pull ups.
- You tend to slouch unintentionally when you use a computer or mobile device. Weak neck muscles contribute to conditions like “turkey neck.”
- Your neck is visually less contoured than the rest of your upper body. Does your head look a little bit like a lollipop on a stick? You might need to spend some time using a harness.
Yes, neck muscle weakness can happen with general fatigue. However, any type of weakness is an indication that the muscles in your neck are “unequally yoked.”
Straps and Chains? How do Neck Harnesses Work?
If you have never used a neck harness before, you might be surprised by the way it looks.
Why are there straps, hooks, and chains? Is this a device that is held over from gyms in the Medieval era?
The straps of a neck harness fit around the crown of your head. They might also have a support strap that wraps under your chin.
Near the temples of the harness, a chain dangles to about the level of your chest. This is where weight is added.
The chain fits through the center hole of a standard weight plate.
When the harness is snug and balanced, the weight you attach will add resistance to your natural neck movements in a slow and controlled manner.
Not all harnesses are alike. For that matter, neither are all heads and necks! Don’t be afraid of wearing a neck harness for the fear of looking silly to other people in the gym.
Others will look sillier when you are the one walking around with a hulk-like neck. Just be sure to experiment with neck harness styles and sizes before you add any weight.
When it comes to making the neck muscles stronger, comfort is key.
Neck Training Evolution
Training science has improved vastly in recent years. Old neck harness styles were poor, made from uncomfortable materials, and they were difficult to keep clean.
Popular harnesses “way back when” looked like slings. They would fit a single point on the head like the very top, or around the back where the spine inserts into the skull.
Sling-styles had the potential to be very dangerous. They directed pressure to the fissures of the skull. They would also slip off very easily with any swinging motion and cause whiplash.
Many people who used older harness styles also understood very little about how the muscles of the neck work.
Muscles like the quads and pecs need tremendous loads in order to grow.
Neck muscles, in contrast, require lighter loads and smooth motions to become stronger. Modern neck harnesses are ergonomically designed, so anyone can use them.
How to Spot a Quality Neck Harness
There are three main things to look for when choosing the best neck harness.
- It should have ample padding on any part that touches your head. This includes the chin strap.
- It should have hooks and accessories that allow multi-directional training.
- It should be manufactured from materials that do not wear and corrode quickly. All of the harness’s surfaces should also be easy to clean.
Here’s a Look at Five Top Neck Harness Models
The five neck harnesses we’ve reviewed are good for use in commercial and home gyms.
They are unisex by design, easy to pack around, and quite safe when used properly.
DMoose Fitness Neck and Head Harness
Wide and thick straps are the main feature of the DMoose Fitness Neck and Head Harness. The cage that the straps create covers a great deal of the head’s surface area.
This might seem like too much for people beginning their neck strength training, but it does allow for maximum weight control and balance.
The wide chin support strap also centralizes the weight that is used very well. This particular model is a company-acknowledged improvement on previous designs that tended to wear quickly.
Pros
- Very wide strapping with enclosed and stitched padding.
- Heavy chain with replaceable connector clips.
- Suited for athletes like boxers and strongmen who prefer heavy neck training.
Cons
- Strapping system is complex when it comes to adjusting size.
- D-hooks tend to rub the face when heavier weight is used.
RIMSports Head Harness with Neck Support
For something like the best neck harness, even the experience of putting it on is important.
The RIMSports Head Harness with Neck Support is very easy to put on because of its simple cradle design and strong velcro panel placement.
It is a great harness for people who prefer to stand while doing exercises because the chain attachments start below the chin.
Pros
- Universal shape is adequate for any head size.
- Surfaces are plain and easy to keep clean.
- Breathable material is excellent for working out in outside environments.
- Comes with a free online book that teaches athletes about neck training.
Cons
- Simple neoprene padding wears thin quickly.
- Long chain straps tend to create a swinging motion when weighted.
Harbinger Padded Leather Head Harness
The Harbinger Padded Leather Head Harness is a very basic and effective harness for beginners. Only one strap on the forehead needs to be adjusted to fit any athlete.
The minimal design allows any weight to hang naturally. It is also ideal for athletes who use neck strength training to target other muscle groups.
This harness allows for a great deal of free motion in the neck, and will undoubtedly cause the traps, upper chest, and middle back to activate during workouts.
Pros
- Easy to put on and adjust.
- Very simple chain clips.
- Takes up very little room on a gym’s equipment rack.
Cons
- Leather and rivet holes tend to stretch over time.
- No chin strap.
- “Poof” padding collects sweat and grime.
- No hooks for lateral neck motions.
Vikingstrength Neck Harness and Strength Trainer
The Vikingstrength Neck Harness and Strength Trainer is designed for extended neck strength training sessions.
In particular, conditioned athletes who are looking to protect their “most important link” will get the most out of it.
It is over-padded to make it feel like a helmet, and it can be adjusted to fit the largest hat sizes. Cross-stitching at the temple prevents pressure no matter what weight poundage is used.
Pros
- Padding is wider than the nylon straps to prevent rubbing.
- Strapping covers almost the entire crown portion of the head.
- Chin strap wraps around the entire jawline.
- Harness includes a neck training course book authored by Vikingstrength fitness experts.
Cons
- D-hook loops are not reinforced.
- Chain might be to long for workouts using a bench or seat.
Schiek Sports Adjustable Head Harness
The Schiek Sports Adjustable Head Harness is perfectly designed for athletes who truly understand the importance of total neck strengthening.
It has attachments that facilitate extension, flexion, side-to-side, and shoulder mobility angles.
The chain is measured to allow added weight to hang at a moderate depth, and the chin strap never restricts breathing.
Pros
- Attachments for working out at any angle.
- Nylon straps breath very well.
Cons
- Very little strap padding.
- Complicated main adjustment buckles.
- Tends to fit well only on smaller heads.
- Side hooks can rub on the cheeks.
Which Neck Harness is the Review Winner?
The trophy for the best neck harness has to go to the Vikingstrength Neck Harness and Strength Trainer.
It is clearly made to accommodate any athlete, at any level of fitness, and who has any type of head shape.
Though this harness might not do wonders for a person’s hairstyle, it will help neck workouts to be effective, enjoyable, and safe.
There is a sensible simplicity in its design that adheres to things that are preferred in a great harness.
The comfort level provided by the padding is exceptional, the smooth surfaces contribute to a clean gym environment, and the attachments help with versatility in any athlete’s strength program.
The only troublesome setback listed in the Vikingstrength harness review was that the loops for the chain hooks can wear out.
This is minor problem compared to how safe and comfortable the harness really is. If you train your neck enough to wear through nylon loops, you’ve done some work!
Thank goodness Vikingstrength offers to replace certain worn products for athletes who love their equipment.
