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Wrist supports & wraps

Wrist supports come in so many shapes that it can be hard to know what you are actually looking at. Since I design the SneakyDeez wraps myself, this is the section where I explain how wraps, sleeves, braces, splints and tape differ, and how to choose and wear the one that suits what you do.

I would start with the overview of the types of wrist support, and then read wraps versus straps versus braces if you are torn between two. The article on when to wear wrist support is a simple decision guide, and the one on what a wrist brace is covers when a rigid brace makes more sense than a wrap. The compression article explains what compression does and what it does not do, which is worth knowing before you buy anything.

When you have chosen, the guides to measuring your wrist size and wearing wrist wraps properly will help you get the fit right, and the washing guide keeps the elastic firm for longer. Gymnasts and calisthenics athletes have their own guide too. And if you are curious about where our wraps come from, there is a piece on the upcycled fabric and how each pair is made by hand in Slovenia.

Illustration of different wrist supports laid out side by side: a knitted compression sleeve, a soft velcro brace, a sweatband, a roll of sports tape and a pair of patterned wrist wraps

Start here · Wrist supports & wraps · 8 min read

Types of Wrist Support: Wraps, Sleeves, Braces, Splints and Tape Compared

Every type of wrist support side by side, from sweatbands to rigid splints, with a comparison table and honest advice on which one suits your training.

Read the article

Illustration of a bearded man sitting on a gym bench thinking, next to a pair of black and white patterned wrist wraps, a pair of looped lifting straps and a soft wrist brace laid out in a row

Wrist supports & wraps · 6 min read

Wrist Wraps vs Straps vs Braces: Which One Do You Actually Need?

Wraps support the joint, straps help your grip and braces rest an injured wrist. This short guide helps you pick the right one for pole, lifting or recovery.

Illustration of a woman at a table wrapping a soft pink tape measure around her wrist joint, with a cup of tea beside her

Wrist supports & wraps · 5 min read

How to Measure Your Wrist Size for Wrist Wraps (With Size Chart)

A one-minute guide to measuring your wrist with a tape measure or a strip of paper, plus our size chart in centimetres and inches and what to do if you're between sizes.

Illustration of a smiling woman with curly hair rinsing her hands over a basin of soapy water at a bathroom sink, wearing a black and white patterned wrist wrap, with a second wrap and a folded towel on the counter

Wrist supports & wraps · 6 min read

How to Wash Wrist Wraps So the Elastic Stays Firm

A simple hand wash routine for fabric wrist wraps, plus how to dry them, get rid of smells, store them and tell when a pair has done its job.

Illustration of a smiling woman with long dark hair sewing at a green sewing machine in a sunny workshop, with stacks of folded fabric on the shelves and a pair of black and white patterned wrist wraps with a yellow tab on the table

Wrist supports & wraps · 6 min read

Upcycled Fabric: How SneakyDeez Wrist Wraps Are Made

Where the fabric for your wraps comes from, why we reuse designer samples instead of new rolls, and how every pair is cut and sewn by hand in Slovenia.

Illustration of a friendly physiotherapist fitting a soft wrist brace onto a smiling woman at a small clinic table

Wrist supports & wraps · 7 min read

What Is a Wrist Brace, and When Do You Actually Need One?

A wrist brace is built to limit movement so a sore wrist can rest. Here's how braces work, the main types, and how to tell if you need one or a flexible wrap.

Illustration of a relaxed woman curled up on a sofa with a mug of tea, wearing a knitted compression sleeve on her wrist after training

Wrist supports & wraps · 6 min read

Wrist Compression for Support and Recovery: What It Does and What It Doesn't

An honest look at wrist compression: what it does, what the research says, how tight it should feel and how long to wear it, from someone who makes compression wraps.

Illustration of a young man holding an L-sit on low wooden parallettes in a gymnastics hall, with rings in the background

Wrist supports & wraps · 7 min read

The Best Gymnastics Wrist Supports: What Gymnasts, Calisthenics Athletes and Pole Dancers Use

A guide to the wrist supports gymnasts actually use, from elastic wraps to padded supports and tape, plus what works for calisthenics and pole and how to choose.

Illustration of a smiling woman with curly hair sitting on a gym bench and putting on patterned wrist wraps before training

Wrist supports & wraps · 6 min read

When Should You Wear Wrist Support? A Simple Decision Guide

Wrist support is brilliant for some situations and pointless for others. Here's how to tell which one you're in, and how to use support without leaning on it.

Illustration of a smiling woman sitting cross-legged on a mat, closing the yellow tab of patterned wrist wraps worn low on both wrists

Wrist supports & wraps · 7 min read

How to Wear Wrist Wraps Properly: Placement, Tightness, Sizing and Care

Where to place your wrist wraps, how tight they should feel, how to pick the right size and how to wash them, with the mistakes I see most often in class.