Figure 8 lifting straps are a tool for pulling more weight than ever. Here’s a review of the best figure 8 lifting straps for deadlifting like a champion.
Something that every lifter learns is that grip strength is a limiting factor to how much you can put on the bar.
This makes sense: as your big muscles get bigger (back, chest, shoulders), your forearms and wrists struggle to keep the pace. This doesn’t mean you have a “weak” grip but rather that our bodies are naturally designed to pull more weight than our hands and wrists can cope with.
This is where lifting straps—and more specifically, figure 8 lifting straps—come in handy. They allow use to pull more weight. Figure 8 lifting straps differ from other types of weightlifting straps and weightlifting hooks as they are designed to specifically help in heavy lifting situations, such as deadlifts and strongman-style pulls.
They are easier to put on compared to most straps and they provide an enhanced feeling of bar security.
If you are in the market for a new pair of figure 8 straps, and you want a full breakdown of the best ones for lifting more weight than ever, you are in the right place!
Let’s get right into it.
The Best Figure 8 Lifting Straps for Crushing Deadlift Day
Serious Steel Fitness Figure 8 Lifting Straps
⭐ Best overall figure 8 lifting straps
I love these straps. I featured them as best in class for figure 8 straps in my guide to the best weight lifting straps (which you can read here). Made for maximum bar security, the Serious Steel figure 8 straps are made for heavy-duty pulling in the gym.
They are double-stitched for heavy use, are available in three different sizes, and are covered with a one-year warranty.
They’ve been tested to handle up to 1,000lb (the straps, not your wrists) and Serious Steel offers an 80cm strap perfect for thick bars and axel pulls.
If you are struggling with grip strength on the bar, and you want to focus on the pulling motion of the lift and not worry about your grip failing you, the Serious Steel figure 8s will help you take your deadlift to the next level.
While more experienced lifters will absolutely love these bad boys thanks to the heavy-duty stitching, variable size and color options, and the vise-like grip they give you on the bar, they may be too stiff for newbies or beginners.
Serious Steel Fitness sells these bad boys for $24 (check Amazon for current pricing and availability).
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Best overall figure 8 lifting straps | Too stiff for beginners or newbies |
| Heavy-duty stitching | |
| Three colors and three size options | |
| Give a vise-like grip on the bar |
Gym Reapers Figure 8 Lifting Straps
⭐ Best deadlifting straps — runner-up
Used by countless powerlifters and athletes across the planet, the Gym Reapers Figure 8 Straps are well built, comfortable, and available in three different sizes for a custom fit on the barbell.
Made of thick cotton and double-stitched for maximum durability, these figure 8 straps will keep you locked on the bar and focused and blasting PRs instead of worrying that your grip will fail you.
Gym Reapers sells these in three different sizes, but they run quite large, with medium working for most larger men.
Priced at just under $20 (check Amazon for current pricing), these straps are comfortable and do the job.
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Four colors and three size options | Double-check sizing; some complaints of improper sizing on the straps |
| Built for powerlifters and strongman athletes | |
| Lifetime warranty |
Rogue Heavy Duty Figure 8 Lifting Straps
⭐ Best figure 8 lifting straps for Crossfit athletes
Rogue makes a lot of exceptional fitness equipment and apparel for athletes and gymgoers, including my favorite adjustable weight bench, kettlebells, and bumper plates for home gyms.
Made with extra thick cotton webbing and a basket weaving for all sorts of support, the Rogue Heavy Duty Figure 8 Lifting Straps live up to their name, with some reviewers noting that the straps are almost overbuilt as they are so stiff and bulky.
While I found my set of straps comfortable and secure for deadlifting (and even doing pull-ups on occasion), reviews are really split on them, with users either really liking them or really not liking them. The Rogue Heavy-Duty Figure 8 Straps have a lowly 2.8/5 review rating on Rogue’s own website.
Made in the United States (one of the few figure 8 lifting straps that can lay a claim to this), the Rogue Figure 8 straps are one size fits all, emblazoned with the Rogue logo, and are sold for about $27 a pair (check Rogue’s website for current pricing and availability).
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| It’s Rogue! | Only one size option |
| Good for larger hands | Reviews are not great |
| Made in the USA |
Iron Ape Figure 8 Weightlifting Straps
With a long history in powerlifting and strongman competition, the Iron Ape 8 Figure 8 Straps have been tested to up to 3300lb (nope, that’s not a typo).
These straps have the most size options, four total, with mediums suitable for wrists up to 6.5” and an XL version that Iron Ape recommends for giants. Made of thick cotton and with reinforced stitching, they will help you focus on a great lift instead of pulling up short because of a failing grip.
Pricing is on par with most of the other low-cost options on this list, with a pair of Iron Ape Figure 8 Lifting Straps running for around $20 depending on the size you end up choosing (check Amazon for current pricing and availability).
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| More “flex” compared to the SSF straps | No padding; not suitable for beginners or those with soft skin |
| Tested to handle 3000+ lbs | |
| Four size options | |
| Built to last |
Power Sports Leather Figure 8 Lifting Straps
⭐ Best leather figure 8 lifting straps
Leather is a strong fabric that is often seen with gym accessories, including weightlifting belts, dip belts, and even weightlifting gloves. Instead of the more common nylon, Power Sports offers their figure 8 straps with leather.
The straps are double weaved and have a neoprene cushion in the wrist holes to give you total comfort and support when hammering away on the barbell.
Power Sports sells these in pairs, but as with a lot of strength and fitness equipment these days, are frequently sold out (check Amazon for current stock and pricing).
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Best leather figure 8 straps | Frequently out of stock 🙁 |
| Neoprene inside; good for skin that blisters or chafes from regular straps | Limited size options |
| It’s made of old school leather! |
RDX Figure 8 Weightlifting Straps
RDX’s Figure 8 Straps have a slightly different design compared to the other more traditional figure 8 straps on this list.
The straps are heavy-duty nylon and then the hand holes are lined with neoprene, adding a level of comfort and support that makes this ideal for lifters who are new to these kinds of straps.
Sold in pairs, and one-size-fits-all, the RDX Figure 8 Straps are comfortable, provide exceptional wrist support, and will help secure your grip on the bar the next time you step up to deadlifts, pull-ups, and so on.
The RDX straps are priced very competitively, at under $19 a pair (check Amazon for current pricing and availability).
Figure 8 Lifting Straps — FAQs
Is it better to deadlift without figure 8 straps?
This is one of those age-old Broscience debates that never seem to die off. Whether you should deadlift with or without figure 8 straps depends on your unique training circumstances.
As we will see below, many excellent and powerful reasons exist to incorporate them into your training.
The key with any training aid, whether gloves, a weightlifting belt, or weight lifting hooks, is to not overdo it with figure 8 straps and turn them into a crutch.
Use figure 8 straps strategically on days where you want to hit more volume, chase a new PR, or simply on days where grip fatigue is running high.
Figure 8 straps are simply another tool in your hit to strengthen and improve your deadlift.
What is the difference between normal lifting straps and figure 8 straps?
Figure 8 straps, as you can guess from the name, are shaped in a figure eight pattern and are attached to the bar through the tension of the loop around your wrist. Lifting straps are attached using Velcro.
Figure eight straps are so popular with serious lifters because there is no risk of the Velcro popping loose mid-lift, you can get a tighter (or looser) fit, and there is more strap to play with.
In my experience, I also find there is less “pull” on the top of the wrist when using figure 8 straps, with force being more evenly distributed around the top of the hand and wrist joint.
What are the benefits of figure 8 straps?
Lifting with figure 8 straps has a lot of potential benefits.
They include:
✅ Push and pull more volume. The grip tends to be the weakest spot in the kinetic chain when it comes to heavy lifts. In other words, your grip is the first to fail. Deadlifting straps allow you to push past the point where your grip would typically falter, allowing you to push more weight and volume.
✅ Ideal for those recovering from wrist, forearm and bicep injuries. Lifters coming back from injury in these locations can benefits greatly from using figure 8 8lifting straps. Placing hands in a supinated position can be difficult for some lifters due to previous injury or even mobility issues, and for these athletes and trainees, lifting straps are a no-brainer.
✅ Great for building confidence. Chasing new PRs in the gym is a great feeling. But sometimes we need that extra shot of confidence to know we can handle a specific weight. Using straps are a great bridge to doing that 1RM without straps. Research has found that lifters get a “psychological boost” when using straps in the gym1.
✅ Increased training frequency. Lifting straps have been shown to reduce grip fatigue and improve grip recovery between lifting sessions of 80% max of deadlift in a group of well-trained males2. The straps also increased mechanical performance and the RPE (rate of perceived exertion) was lower when using straps compared to going strapless for the same amount of weight.
✅ More force production. One of the reasons that it can sometimes feel “easier” to pull heavy weight with straps on is because straps reduce the amount of grip strength required and increasing the amount of work being done by the target muscle groups. As a result, you generated significantly more power. Another study with experienced lifters found that using straps increased force output by 20-28% when doing sets to failure with 90% of 1RM3.
The Final Rep
Ultimately, choosing the right deadlifting or figure 8 straps for you can make a huge difference to edging closer to your goals in the gym.
Figure 8 straps are an excellent tool for banging out more weight, reducing grip fatigue, and even increasing overall training frequency. (Plus, seeing those extra plates on the barbell is kinda nice, too!)
To recap our top choices:
The SSF Figure 8 Lifting Straps are our returning champ thanks to a bombproof construction, variable sizes/colors, and heavy-duty stitching.
GymReapers Figure 8 Straps land in our runner-up spot thanks to lots of color options and the fact that it’s used by countless competitive strongman athletes and powerlifters.
And the Rogue Heavy-Duty Lifting Straps round out the top three. Made in the USA, it’s the ideal straps for Crossfit athletes and OLY lifters.
Choose the right figure 8 straps for you, take your deadlift to the next level, and say good-night to those PRs!
More Deadlifting Gear Guides and Resources
We love deadlifting and we love testing out the newest and greatest gear for deadlifting and writing about it. Below are some other deadlifting gear guides and round-ups to help you level up your deadlift.
3 Best Deadlifting Slippers (and Why You Should Use Them). Deadlifting slippers are a tool for safer, stronger lifts. Here is a breakdown of the best slippers for deadlifting, and why you should add them to your training.
The Best Deadlift Platforms for Heavy Lifts. Deadlift platforms are a way to protect your floor, lift safely, protect your lifting equipment, and chase new PRs with confidence. Read on for the best deadlift platforms for every kind of budget.
