How to Wear Wrist Wraps (Step-by-Step)

The Wrapping Steps

1. Position the wrap. Hold one wrap with the lace end hanging free. Place the body of the wrap across the back of your wrist, centred over the wrist joint. The lace should hang from the top (dorsal) side.
2. Thread and cross. Begin wrapping around the wrist - first under the wrist (palmar side), then back over the top. Maintain firm, even tension with each pass. Don't pull excessively tight on the first pass.
3. Overlap for full coverage. Each new pass should overlap the previous by roughly half the wrap's width. The goal is to cover the entire wrist joint evenly - think layered support, not spaced stripes.
4. Position over the joint, not up the forearm. Wrist wraps support the wrist joint, not the forearm. Keep the wrapping centred over the two bones at the base of your hand. Wrapping too high up the forearm gives you less actual joint support.
5. Tie off and secure. When you've used most of the wrap length, tie the laces in a firm double knot. Tuck any loose lace ends under the last layer of fabric so they don't flap during training.
6. Check fit and circulation. Squeeze your fist and open it several times. You should feel firm support with no sharp pressure points. Wiggle all fingers - they should move freely. If fingertips feel numb or tingle, the wrap is too tight; untie and redo.

How Tight Should Wrist Wraps Be?

Tightness depends on the exercise. Here's the general rule:

• Skill work (handstands, planche, ring holds): Firm but not cutting. You want to feel the joint supported without losing proprioceptive feedback - you still need to feel the balance cues through your hand. Think "snug and secure," not "compression cast."
• Heavy lifting (bench, dips, overhead press): Tighter is acceptable here since you're less reliant on fine feedback and more reliant on structural stability under load. Wrap firmly, but always verify circulation before loading up.
• High-rep or conditioning work: Moderate tightness. You'll likely be wearing them for longer and you don't want to fatigue the wrap or restrict blood flow over extended sets.

When to Loosen Between Sets

During rest periods between heavy sets (2+ minutes), loosen the knot and let the wrist breathe. Blood flow between sets is important for joint and tendon recovery. Re-wrap before the next set. For short-rest conditioning circuits, keep them on but don't wrap as tightly to begin with.

Left vs Right: Does It Matter?

Lace-up wraps are typically not handed (no left/right specific design). The only consideration is wrapping direction - you can wrap in either direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise around the wrist). Find the direction that feels most natural for each hand and stick with it for consistency.

How to Care for Your Wrist Wraps

• Washing: Machine wash in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle (30°C / cold wash). The lace-up mechanism holds up well to machine washing when bagged.
• Drying: Air dry only. Tumble drying can shrink the polyester and degrade the fabric tension. Lay flat or hang to dry.
• Frequency: Wash after every 2–3 sessions, or sooner if they're particularly sweaty. Chalk-heavy training sessions should prompt a wash sooner.
• Storage: Roll and store loosely - don't compress them tightly into a ball. Keeping the laces untied between sessions extends the life of the tie mechanism.