There are multiple tools and workout routines you can use to build a strong core, and ab straps are an implement that should not be overlooked. To use these core-burners, you simply fasten your straps to a pull-up bar or rack, slide your arms through, and engage your core to drive leg lifts and crunches while hanging above the ground. An added bonus is that you’ll also get some upper body work since your arms suspend you in the proper position.
If you have a home gym or want to start performing more leg lifts at your current gym, then ab straps could be a great investment for you. Ab straps come in varying materials, have different levels of padding, and various ways of securing the straps to the support beam, but all ab straps generally look and function similarly. After considering traits like maximum weight support, material used, and overall durability, we’ve picked out a few of the best ab straps on the market to help you find your own pair.
Best Ab Straps of 2024
- Best Ab Straps Overall: Gymreapers Ab Straps
- Best Ab Straps for Comfort: Armageddon Sports Ab Straps
- Best Ab Straps for Durability: Gymreapers Ab Straps
- Best Ab Straps for Pull-Up Bar: Vikingstrength Ab Straps
- Best Ab Straps for the Money: Vikingstrength Ab Straps
Best Ab Straps Overall
When it comes to working your core, ab straps can be useful for targeting all of the abdominal muscles, but you want to make sure you’re picking up a high-quality pair. Solid ab straps are strong, durable, and easy to use. Our top pick for ab straps checks all of these boxes.
Gymreapers Ab Straps
These heavy-duty ab straps are designed to enhance your core strength and stabilization through hanging abdominal exercises. Gymreapers Ab Straps are adjustable, lightweight, and padded, making them not only extremely functional but comfortable for high-rep sets too.
Add some variety to your core training with Gymreapers Ab Straps. They’re adjustable and padded for both functionality and comfort. Pick from your favorite of four colors and pick these up for a reasonable price.
The straps have a capacity of up to 350 pounds due to strong 600D Cordura nylon and reinforced webbing. The straps are 18 inches long with padding 12 inches in length and eight inches wide. They’re sold in pairs and come with two six-inch, heavy-duty carabiners. Choose from your favorite of four colors — Black, Red, Ranger Green, or Tan for about $39.99 a pair before tax and shipping charges.
Who Should Buy Gymreapers Ab Straps
- Heavier athletes looking for ab straps that can hold up to 350 pounds.
- Customers seeking added comfort from a wide and padded design.
- Users who like color choices. Having four colors to choose from is rare for ab straps.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Gymreapers Ab Straps
- Those who are looking for more versatile straps. These are strictly ab straps.
- Anyone who doesn’t like added padding in their equipment.
- People who are pinching pennies. These are reasonably priced but there are some bargain options out there.
Padded, adjustable, and strong — these ab straps cover all the bases of what makes a high-quality product. On top of that, they’re reasonably priced for the value they provide. If you’re looking to diversify your core training, these are a great overall option.
Best Ab Straps for Comfort
One of the issues that may come with ab straps is arm comfort. Since your bodyweight rests solely on your arms, you’ll want ab straps that are wide and padded to help ease the stress — this pick does just that.
Armageddon Sports Ab Straps
Featuring a one-inch cushioned pad for extra arm comfort, these straps won’t pinch your arms and their 8.5-inch width will keep your arms locked in place throughout any core series. These straps come with large carabiners that will attach to any pull-up bar, and the straps themselves are durable nylon, so you need not worry about breakage.
These straps have a one-inch cushioned pad for arm comfort, and their 8.5-inch width will keep your arms firmly in place throughout any core workout.Â
Though the carabiners can support up to 10,000 pounds, the straps themselves can only accommodate 400 pounds, which is on the lower end of the spectrum for ab straps.
Who Should Buy The Armageddon Sports Ab Straps
- Athletes who want padded arm material for comfort and support.
- Those who want a large stainless steel clip for security.
- Anyone who wants a durable nylon material that resists abrasion.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Armageddon Sports Ab Straps
- Folks who are looking for a cost-effective ab strap option — these straps are fairly expensive.
- Customers who want a small product that is easy to travel with.
Though these ab straps are a bit larger and more expensive than others, you can’t beat their comfort — with a one-inch thick pad and wide arm support, you’ll never have to worry about arm pinching again.
Best Ab Straps for Durability
When it comes to durability, you’ll want ab straps that can accommodate a lot of weight and a lot of usage — this pick does not disappoint on either front.
Gymreapers Ab Straps
Not only are these ab straps designed to be comfortable, with padding that measures 12 inches long and eight inches wide, but they’re durable and strong too. Gymreapers Ab Straps can hold up to 350 pounds of weight, which comes thanks to the heavy-duty materials used to produce them.
Add some variety to your core training with Gymreapers Ab Straps. They’re adjustable and padded for both functionality and comfort. Pick from your favorite of four colors and pick these up for a reasonable price.
These bad boys are made from super-durable 600D Cordura nylon with reinforced nylon webbing with rivets for durability. They’re held up by two, six-inch carabiners. You can pick up a pair in your choice of four colors — Black, Red, Ranger Green, or Tan — for about $39.99, plus tax and shipping.
Who Should Buy Gymreapers Ab Straps
- Heavier users who want their ab straps to have a high weight capacity.
- Anyone looking for durable nylon straps with reinforced stitching. These are designed to last for years.
- Folks who want padding in their ab straps to help improve comfort when performing high-rep sets.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Gymreapers Ab Straps
- Customers who are looking for the most cost-effective option. These are priced reasonably but there are some other cheaper options out there.
- Folks who want the option to use a spring clip or an endless loop to secure their ab straps.
These ab straps offer great durability with their high weight capacity, reinforced stitching, and riveting for extra strength at stress points. Gymreapers Ab Straps can add more core exercise options to your workouts for years to come.
Best Ab Straps for Pull-Up Bar
When attaching your straps to a pull-up bar, you’ll want a pair you can get on and off with ease, so you can use your pull-up bar for other exercises when the straps aren’t attached. This pick comes with a heavy-duty steel carabiner that can attach and detach from the bar quickly and easily.
Vikingstrength Ab Straps
The Vikingstrength Ab Straps are made of double-stitched nylon for durability, and they come with a heavy-duty carabiner to keep your straps securely fastened to any pull-up bar you choose to use. And once you’re done, simply unclip the carabiner and slide the straps off the bar. These measure 39 inches long with a width of six-and-a-half inches.
These straps are made of double-stitched nylon for durability, and they come with a heavy duty carabiner to fasten your straps to any pull-up bar. And once you’re done, you can just unclip the carabiner and slide the straps off the bar with ease.Â
The arm support is padded for comfort, and your purchase comes with a free storage bag, so you can easily tuck these away in between workouts. In addition, the Vikingstrength app has workouts you can use to guide you through ab workouts specifically made for their straps. You can be confident in your purchase with a 100-percent money-back guarantee.
Who Should Buy The Vikingstrength Ab Straps
- Anyone who wants to increase the intensity of their pull-ups. Adding extra weight with this ab strap can do just that.
- Folks who want durable straps with double stitching that helps provide resistance to early breakdown.
- Customers who want a carrying case for convenience and accessibility.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Vikingstrength Ab Straps
- Athletes who want ab straps that are wider than three and a half inches will want to check out other options.
- People who don’t want to use a carabiner and like to tie their ab straps onto a bar for added stability.
For a relatively low cost when it comes to ab straps, this option provides durability and stability on pretty much any pull-up bar. Clipping and unclipping these straps from the bar is as easy as it gets — just slap the carabiner on any sturdy bar and hop on to start your core work.
Best Ab Straps for the Money
While some ab straps can cost close to $100, this pick is more cost-effective and offers similar durability and high quality to much more expensive options. Save some money by opting for the Vikingstrength Ab Straps.
Vikingstrength Ab Straps
If you’re strapped for cash but still looking for some ab straps, then these ones from Vikingstrength are our favorite choice right now. They’re durable with double stitching, a heavy-duty steel carabiner, and durable nylon. Though tough, they still include padding for comfort. One place that these may disappoint for some is their width at six-and-a-half inches — narrower than many other options.
These straps are made of double-stitched nylon for durability, and they come with a heavy duty carabiner to fasten your straps to any pull-up bar. And once you’re done, you can just unclip the carabiner and slide the straps off the bar with ease.Â
If you’re okay with that width, then these are a solid option with a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee and an accompanying app loaded with workouts for your new ab straps. Pick up a pair of Vikingstrength Ab Straps for under $20 before tax with free Prime shipping — one of the best deals out there, in our opinion.
Who Should Buy Vikingstrength Ab Straps
- Anyone who wants comfortable ab straps. These have padding for when you’re hitting high-rep sets.
- Folks who are on a budget but still want a high-quality pair of ab straps. These are affordable, but still made to last.
- Athletes who want some guidance with what exercises to perform with ab straps. The accompanying app will help in that department.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Vikingstrength Ab Straps
- Athletes with larger arms may find these have too narrow a width.
- Anyone who wants super padded arm material. These have padding, but other ab straps on this list offer thicker padding.
- Those who are looking for a more high-end option may want to check out other picks on this list.
This cost-effective pair of ab straps is both durable and offers some extra comfort from padding. Its material is double-stitched, and its price point is much lower than many other options on the market. As long as the size of these will fit your arms, this is a great budget find.
Benefits of Ab Straps
Ab straps are pretty straightforward pieces of fitness equipment and because of that, their benefits are as well. You can use them to train abs — it is in the name after all — and your entire core with knee raises and windshield wipers. That said, you can be crafty and creative to reap even more benefits from them. You can also work your hip flexors with straight leg raises, or train your back and trap muscles with hanging shrugs — the potential is limited to your creativity.
How We Chose the Best Ab Straps
While many ab straps might seem similarly built, there are a few key factors we used to differentiate them and pick out the best options for you — the two main ones being construction and performance.
Construction
There are three main construction characteristics we considered when looking at the best ab straps on the market. First, we looked at the overall material from which the straps are designed. Quality straps are often made with nylon and cotton blends that are reinforced with additional stitching to prevent early wear, tear, and fraying.
Second, we evaluated the straps used to support the arm holders. Great straps are thicker in design and have reinforced stitching to prevent breakdown from friction on the bar. Thinner straps can work, but they may be more prone to sliding and breaking down earlier.
[Read More: The Best Ab Exercises & Workouts, According to a CPT]
Lastly, we considered the carabiner used to connect the straps. Since these straps are designed to hold weight, then a thicker steel carabiner is often a better bet for long-term durability and use. Rest assured that all of the picks on this list are high-quality in all three of these construction categories.
Performance
When it comes to performance with ab straps, we tried to gauge the characteristics most fitness enthusiasts would be after. We looked at how the arm holders will feel on the upper arms, as this can be a big deciding factor for new lifters and advanced lifters alike who want to avoid friction or harsh stress on their arms. We included both heavily padded and lightly padded options on this list to accommodate those looking for comfort, and those who want to be able to control and feel their movements a little better through thinner material.
[Read More: The Best Upper Body Exercises and Workouts]
Another factor we considered is how much weight each ab strap is designed to hold. Most ab straps can support anywhere from 300 to 1,500 pounds, and heavier users, or athletes using lifting chains with their core work are going to want ab straps whose weight capacity falls into the high end of that range. We have options on both ends of the spectrum on this list for users of all weights.
How Much Do Ab Straps Cost?
Ab straps are some of the more affordable fitness accessories. While they aren’t as cheap as lifting straps, they aren’t exactly as expensive as other gear, like weightlifting shoes or some lifting belts. Reinforced and multi-use ab straps may cost more than more basic options, so weigh your needs when deciding on which product you want to purchase.
| Best Ab Straps Overall | Gymreapers Ab Straps | $39.99 |
| Best Ab Straps for Comfort | Armageddon Sports Ab Straps | $58.95 |
| Best Ab Straps for Durability | Gymreapers Ab Straps | $39.99 |
| Best Ab Straps for Pull-Up Bar | Vikingstrength Ab Straps | $19.99 |
| Best Ab Straps for the Money | Vikingstrength Ab Straps | $19.99 |
You can pick up a pair of ab straps that are still quite sturdy for as little as about $20. There are also some other options that have padding or reinforced stitching that command a higher price, which can climb up to around $60.
What to Consider Before Buying Ab Straps
As you’re scrolling through this list, you’ll want to have a few thoughts worked out before you make your decision. From weight capacity to pricing, here are the main aspects of ab straps we think you should consider before buying.
Weight Capacity
While most ab straps can handle a decent amount of weight, there is a wide range between different brands. In general, most ab strap weight capacities range anywhere from 300 pounds to 1,500 pounds. Before deciding which ab straps to buy, you’ll want to think about how much weight you’ll need them to support.
If you’re a heavier athlete, you should err on the higher side of this weight capacity range, while lighter athletes can pick out pretty much any pair of ab straps without worry. If you’re using lifting chains or another form of weight in your core training, you’ll also want to factor this weight into your calculations, and opt for ab straps within that higher weight capacity range, as well.
Padding
Though most ab straps are made of a similar nylon or cotton blend material, the amount of padding varies vastly between ab straps. Some larger ab straps have up to one inch of padding in their arm material, while other thinner options have none. Before you decide which side of this spectrum you’re going to opt for, you’ll want to consider what kind of support you want.
If you want to feel your movements a little more and have more control over the ab straps, something thinner is going to be a better option for you. On the other hand, if you’re more concerned with comfort than anything else, you’ll want to stick to something with thick padding.
[Read More: The Best Home Gym Equipment, Tested and Verified by Experts]
Price
Pricing on ab straps can range anywhere from $15 up to $100, so it’s important to set your budget at the beginning of your hunt. If you’re looking to stay on the low end of that range, know that the product you are getting will likely be less durable than more expensive options. And if you’re okay with spending somewhere in the high end of that range, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when it comes to usage — these options are going to be more durable, so you should be using them more often to make their cost worth your while.
Final Word
Ab straps are a great tool for building a strong core, especially for athletes who love performing leg lifts and variations of them. What’s great about ab straps is that most of the time, they are easy to transport or store in a small home gym, so you can use them virtually anywhere a support beam is available.
Ab straps are a fairly inexpensive piece of equipment, so most fitness enthusiasts who are trying to fire up their core can afford to grab a pair. Be sure to take a hard look at your fitness goals and the characteristics you want in a pair of ab straps, then use this list to find the perfect pair that can rock you to your core.
Ab Straps FAQs
I’m a beginner, what type of ab straps should I buy?
Most beginners should start with an extra-padded option. The last thing you want to worry about when trying to learn how to use ab straps is comfort. There are options that have one-inch thick padding, and these would be especially great for beginners looking for comfortable arm material to support them as they test out these new core movements.
How much do ab straps cost?
Ab straps are some of the more affordable pieces of equipment that you can purchase though some with padding or multiple uses are generally more expensive. They can be as inexpensive as about $20 and range up to around $60.
What are the best ab straps available?
Everyone has different preferences for their ab straps since some people like padding while others don’t, some folks like wider straps while others prefer more narrow ones. Our favorite are Gymreapers’ ab straps since they’re lightweight with padding and reinforced stitching.
How much weight can ab straps hold?
Ab straps can generally support anywhere from 300 pounds to 1,500 pounds. If you are a heavier athlete or enjoy adding lifting chains to your core work, you’ll want to err on the higher end of that range.
Are expensive ab straps worth it?
It depends on how much use you are going to get out of them. If you’re paying more money for ab straps, you can expect that they will probably be more durable than some less expensive pairs. If you’re using your ab straps on a daily basis, you’ll want a pair that can accommodate that. If you’re using your straps less frequently, then you can probably opt for a less expensive pair that may not be as durable. All in all, expensive ab straps will be worthwhile if you make ample use of them.
