Lifting belts, wrist wraps and tape

A belt and a pair of wraps are cheap insurance for your heaviest sets. Neither replaces good technique.

Reviewed 5 Nov 2026 · 1 source · 6 picks

A lifting belt gives your core something to brace against on heavy squats and deadlifts. Wrist wraps hold the wrist stiff under a heavy press or front rack. Both are for your top sets, not for every rep of every session.

For hybrid athletes, a flexible nylon belt often makes more sense than a stiff leather one: it is quick to tighten and loosen, and it does not dig in during workouts that mix lifting with movement.

Criteria

What to look for

Leather or nylon

A stiff leather belt suits heavy, slow lifts. A nylon belt with a hook-and-loop closure is faster to adjust and better for workouts.

Width and fit

Measure around your waist where you wear the belt, not your trouser size. A belt that is too long cannot be tightened properly.

Wrap length

Shorter wrist wraps allow more movement for workouts; longer ones give more support for heavy presses.

Tape for skin and support

Rigid athletic tape protects hands and fingers. Kinesiology tape is stretchy and used mostly for comfort; it does not hold a joint in place.

6 picks

Worth a look

Belt
Nylon lifting belt
Light, flexible and quick to adjust. The practical choice for workouts that mix lifting with running and carries.
Best for Workouts and Olympic lifts
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Belt
Leather lifting belt with lever
A stiff belt for heavy squats and deadlifts. A lever buckle tightens quickly to the same hole every time.
Best for Heavy strength blocks
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Wrist wraps
SBD wrist wraps
Stiff wraps from a powerlifting brand for heavy pressing and front-rack work.
Best for Heavy presses and jerks
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Wrist wraps
Gymreapers wrist wraps
Flexible wraps with a thumb loop, a common choice in functional fitness.
Best for Workouts with front-rack work
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Tape
Rigid athletic tape
Zinc-oxide tape for hand protection, finger taping and blister care. Small rolls fit in a gym bag.
Best for Hands and fingers
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Tape
Kinesiology tape
Stretchy tape many athletes use for comfort around joints. Treat any effect as comfort, not support.
Best for Comfort on sore spots
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

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FAQ

Questions

Does a lifting belt weaken my core?

Not when you use it only on heavy sets. Train without one most of the time and you will keep building the bracing strength the belt supports.

Should I wear a belt at Hyrox?

Few racers do, since the loads are moderate and the belt gets in the way on the runs. Check the current rulebook if you plan to ¹.

Wrist wraps for wall balls?

Usually not needed. If your wrists hurt in the front rack, work on mobility and grip width first, and read our niggles page on wrist pain.

References

Sources

HYROX. Official rulebook and station standards, current season. hyrox.com/rulebook. Accessed 2026-11-05.

Lifting belts, wrist wraps and tape

A belt and a pair of wraps are cheap insurance for your heaviest sets. Neither replaces good technique.

For hybrid athletes, a flexible nylon belt often makes more sense than a stiff leather one: it is quick to tighten and loosen, and it does not dig in during workouts that mix lifting with movement.

What to look for

Leather or nylon: A stiff leather belt suits heavy, slow lifts. A nylon belt with a hook-and-loop closure is faster to adjust and better for workouts.
Width and fit: Measure around your waist where you wear the belt, not your trouser size. A belt that is too long cannot be tightened properly.
Wrap length: Shorter wrist wraps allow more movement for workouts; longer ones give more support for heavy presses.
Tape for skin and support: Rigid athletic tape protects hands and fingers. Kinesiology tape is stretchy and used mostly for comfort; it does not hold a joint in place.

Worth a look

Nylon lifting belt
Belt. Light, flexible and quick to adjust. The practical choice for workouts that mix lifting with running and carries. Best for: Workouts and Olympic lifts.
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Leather lifting belt with lever
Belt. A stiff belt for heavy squats and deadlifts. A lever buckle tightens quickly to the same hole every time. Best for: Heavy strength blocks.
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
SBD wrist wraps
Wrist wraps. Stiff wraps from a powerlifting brand for heavy pressing and front-rack work. Best for: Heavy presses and jerks.
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Gymreapers wrist wraps
Wrist wraps. Flexible wraps with a thumb loop, a common choice in functional fitness. Best for: Workouts with front-rack work.
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Rigid athletic tape
Tape. Zinc-oxide tape for hand protection, finger taping and blister care. Small rolls fit in a gym bag. Best for: Hands and fingers.
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link
Kinesiology tape
Tape. Stretchy tape many athletes use for comfort around joints. Treat any effect as comfort, not support. Best for: Comfort on sore spots.
Check on Amazon *Affiliate link

When to belt up: Learn to brace without a belt first. Then use it for working sets above roughly 80% of your one-rep max, and take it off for warm-ups and accessory work.