Cotton lifting straps let your back and legs work past the point where your grip gives out. Cotton is the classic material because it grips the bar well and softens with use.
We compared five cotton straps on length, padding, grip and ratings. For an even more secure hold on max pulls, see our best figure 8 lifting straps; for raw grip, see the best block gym chalk.
Top 3 Cotton Lifting Straps
Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps
- 21.5 in. long, 1.5 in. wide
- Cotton strap
- NeoTek padded wrist cushion
- Pair
Gymreapers Cotton Lifting Straps
- 18 in. cotton strap
- Padded neoprene wrist
- Pair
- Many colors
- 100% cotton, 4 cm wide
- About 60 cm (24 in.) long
- 5 mm neoprene padding
- Anti-slip weave
Cotton Lifting Strap Comparison
| Lifting Straps | Best For | Key Specs | Amazon Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps | Best Overall | 21.5 in. long, 1.5 in. wide; Cotton strap; NeoTek padded wrist cushion | 4.7/5 | Check Price |
| 2. Gymreapers Cotton Lifting Straps | Best Thick Cotton | 18 in. cotton strap; Padded neoprene wrist; Pair | 4.7/5 | Check Price |
| 3. RDX Cotton Lifting Straps | Best Padding | 100% cotton, 4 cm wide; About 60 cm (24 in.) long; 5 mm neoprene padding | 4.6/5 | Check Price |
| 4. Fitgriff Cotton Lifting Straps | Best Fit Options | Dense pure cotton; Neoprene padding; Two size options | 4.6/5 | Check Price |
| 5. Literal Savage 25 in. Cotton Straps | Longest and Cheapest | 25 in. heavy-duty cotton; Padded wrist; Pair | 4.4/5 | Check Price |
1. Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps – Best Overall
- 21.5 in. long, 1.5 in. wide
- Cotton strap
- NeoTek padded wrist cushion
- Pair
Pros
- ✓ 30,000+ ratings, the most here
- ✓ Long enough to wrap twice
- ✓ About $8
Cons
- ✗ Padding adds bulk
- ✗ Cotton stretches slightly
- ✗ Basic look
Harbinger’s padded cotton straps are the best cotton lifting straps for most lifters. With more than 30,000 ratings at 4.7 stars, they are the most proven straps we found, and at 21.5 inches they are long enough to wrap the bar more than once.
NeoTek padding cushions the wrist on heavy deadlifts and rows. At about $8, they are also one of the cheapest options.
Best for: Most lifters adding strap work
May not fit: Lifters who dislike padding
2. Gymreapers Cotton Lifting Straps – Best Thick Cotton
- 18 in. cotton strap
- Padded neoprene wrist
- Pair
- Many colors
Pros
- ✓ 27,000+ ratings
- ✓ Thick, grippy cotton
- ✓ Comfortable padding
Cons
- ✗ Slightly shorter at 18 in.
- ✗ About $15
- ✗ Padding wears over time
Gymreapers uses thick, grippy cotton and padded neoprene, with 27,000+ ratings.
18 in. length is a little shorter.
Best for: Heavy pulls
May not fit: Long-wrap fans
3. RDX Cotton Lifting Straps – Best Padding
- 100% cotton, 4 cm wide
- About 60 cm (24 in.) long
- 5 mm neoprene padding
- Anti-slip weave
Pros
- ✓ Long 24 in. strap
- ✓ Thick 5 mm padding
- ✓ About $13
Cons
- ✗ 3,300+ ratings, fewer than leaders
- ✗ Wide strap feels bulky
- ✗ Padding traps heat
RDX’s 24-inch straps have 5 mm neoprene padding.
Bulkier.
Best for: Comfort on heavy sets
May not fit: Minimalists
4. Fitgriff Cotton Lifting Straps – Best Fit Options
- Dense pure cotton
- Neoprene padding
- Two size options
- With or without silicone grip
Pros
- ✓ Choice of sizes and grip type
- ✓ 22,000+ ratings
- ✓ About $10
Cons
- ✗ 4.6 average
- ✗ Silicone version feels different
- ✗ Padding is thin
Fitgriff offers two sizes and an optional silicone grip.
Thin padding.
Best for: Small or large wrists
May not fit: Max padding
5. Literal Savage 25 in. Cotton Straps – Longest and Cheapest
- 25 in. heavy-duty cotton
- Padded wrist
- Pair
- Deadlift-focused
Pros
- ✓ Longest strap here
- ✓ Cheapest (about $7)
- ✓ Thick cotton
Cons
- ✗ Only about 167 ratings
- ✗ 4.4 average
- ✗ Long tail can be unwieldy
Literal Savage’s 25-inch straps cost about $7.
Few ratings.
Best for: Long wraps on a budget
May not fit: Review-volume seekers
How to Choose Cotton Lifting Straps
Length
18 to 21.5 in. suits most bars; 24 in. and longer wraps thick bars or wraps twice.
Padding
Neoprene padding cushions the wrist but adds bulk.
Width
1.5 in. is standard; wider straps spread pressure but can feel bulky.
When to use them
Save straps for heavy pulling sets so your grip still gets trained.
FAQ
Are cotton or nylon straps better?
Cotton grips the bar better and is more comfortable; nylon is slicker but very durable.
Do lifting straps weaken grip?
Only if you use them for every set. Train grip on warm-ups and lighter sets.
Are lifting straps allowed in powerlifting meets?
No, straps are not allowed on competition deadlifts.
Final Verdict
Harbinger’s padded cotton straps are the best cotton lifting straps for most lifters. Gymreapers has the thickest cotton, and RDX offers the most padding.
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