The 10 Best Lifting Hooks

Editor's Notes

November 10, 2020:

Lifting hooks are all about providing a secure grip on bars when using weights that may be too heavy for your hand strength alone. Because of this, we made sure to only focus on options that are built tough enough to handle the strain we expect users to place on these items. This means that have to be made with strong metal, durable fabric, and high-quality stitching.

Rod style options, like the Grip Power Pads Pro, Plustrong Gym Power, Lifting Lab Non-Slip, and Haulin' Hooks Ladies are the most traditional. They have been used by bodybuilders for decades, though these days they often feature some kind of grip-enhancing coating on the hooks. While most appreciate this, we realize some may find it makes it more difficult to release bars when finished with a set, which is why we included the Haulin' Hooks Ladies. They don't have any kind of coating on the metal and, though we reviewed the women's model, they can be found in a men's option as well.

Wide, single-hook models, such as the DMoose Fitness 8mm, Wyox Sports Gloves, Iron Bull Strength Steel, RDX Reverse are a newer iteration of the lifting hook and one we personally like better. Not only do they more evenly distribute the weight, but they aren't prone to causing painful pressure points like some may experience with rod style lifting hooks. The RDX Reverse stand out from most others because they have a hook that bends towards the hand, instead of away from it. Some may find this offers a more secure-feeling grip, however, it can make hooking them onto and disengaging them from the bar a bit trickier.

Though the Grip Power Pads Cobra aren't technically hooks, they serve the same purpose. Plus, they offer a lot of hand protection, reducing the chance of getting blisters or unsightly callouses.