How to Choose Between Lifting Wraps and Grips

When you’re serious about training, having the right gear is everything. Weightlifting aids can help you lift more weight, train longer, and stay safe while doing it. Lifting grips and lifting wraps support your wrists, improve your grip, and help you maintain proper form—especially during heavy lifts.

Whether you’re pushing for a new PR or working through high-rep sets, the right support can help you stay locked in. You might be wondering: what do wrist wraps do for lifting? Or how can weightlifting grips help you level up? Ahead, we’ll explore the subtle differences between grips and wraps to help you decide which one is best for your goals.

Lifting Grips vs. Lifting Wraps: What’s the Difference?

Lifting grips and lifting wraps both support your performance in the gym, but they do it in different ways.

• Lifting grips (like Versa Gripps) give you a stronger, more secure grip on the bar. They combine the functions of straps, hooks, and gloves into one tool. Perfect for pulling movements like deadlifts, rows, and pull-ups, they help reduce grip fatigue so you can focus on the lift. They’re also great for pushing moves like bench presses or shoulder presses, giving you extra control and wrist support.
• Lifting wraps (like Versa Wrapps) are designed to stabilize your wrists. They’re ideal for pressing exercises like bench presses or overhead presses, where wrist alignment and joint support are key.

Both tools help you lift safer and smarter—you just need to pick the one that matches your workout goals.

What Do Wrist Wraps Do for Lifting?

Lifting wrist wraps protect and stabilize your wrists during heavy lifting. By holding your wrist in a neutral position, they help align your joints and reduce strain. This improves force transfer from your arms to the bar and helps prevent injuries like sprains or strains.

When you’re lifting serious weight (especially during pressing exercises like bench presses, overhead presses, or lateral raises) this added stability can make a huge difference.

Wrist wraps also help you avoid hyperextension, which happens when your wrist bends too far backward under pressure. By locking in your wrist position, they give you more control—and confidence—when lifting.

Use wrist wraps for:

• Pushing Movements: During bench presses, overhead presses, or push presses, wraps help prevent wrist strain while giving you more control.
• Heavy or Max Lifts: For anything over 75–80% of your 1RM (one rep maximum), or during low-bar squats, wraps help keep your wrists stable.
• Increased Weight or Intensity: When pushing for PRs or adding volume, use wraps to support your joints and reduce your risk of injury.
•  Injury Recovery: Wraps help stabilize and protect wrists that are healing from injury, so you can keep training safely.

What Do Weightlifting Grips Do for Lifting?

Weightlifting grips—especially all-in-one options like Versa Gripps—are a versatile tool that combines the benefits of lifting straps, hooks, and gloves into one simple design. Like wraps, lifting grips stabilize your wrists while also locking your hands onto the bar. This reduces strain, improves grip, and prevents slippage—even when your hands are sweaty.

Weightlifting grips are ideal for both pushing and pulling movements like deadlifts, rows, and pull-ups. The gripping surface takes pressure off your hands and forearms, so grip fatigue doesn’t limit your performance. This means you can lift heavier, do more reps, and stay focused on form, while avoiding hyperextension.
Here’s when to use weightlifting grips:

• Heavy or Max Lifts: For high-percentage lifts or low-bar squats, grips protect your wrists and give you a stronger connection to the bar.
• Pushing Movements: Grips provide wrist support and control during pressing exercises like bench presses or lateral raises.
• Pulling Movements: For deadlifts, rows, and pull-ups, grips take the load off your hands and transfer it to stronger muscle groups.
• Increased Weight or Intensity: Grips are ideal for progressive overload, helping you push harder without sacrificing grip or form.
• Injury Recovery: Grips help stabilize and support recovering wrists while helping you maintain training consistency.

Train Better with Versa Gripps and Versa Wrapps

Bottom line: Both wraps and grips can help you train better by stabilizing your wrists, improving your grip on the bar, and helping you maintain good form. This is essential for mind-muscle connection, which can help you get bigger gains.

When it comes to safety, design, and durability, Versa products truly are in a class of their own. For pushing moves like bench presses and overhead presses, Versa Wrapps are your go-to grip. For pushing and pulling moves, Versa Gripps are your all-in-one solution.

Shop the entire collection of Versa Gripps and Versa Wrapps, and train better.