5 Best Wrist Wraps for Calisthenics in 2025

Calisthenics workouts utilize our own body weight to generate resistance. Consequently, a significant portion of the exercise load is felt by our wrists. This is why many athletes opt for using wrist wraps for calisthenics to mitigate the pressure. If you’re looking for the best wrist wraps for calisthenics, these are our top recommendations. We’ll also talk about when and how to wear them for maximum benefits. Let’s begin with a quick rundown of our picks:

Why Use Wrist Wraps for Calisthenics?

Wrist wraps primarily see use as a protective and performance-enhancing tool in weightlifting disciplines — most notably, powerlifting. Wrist wraps are designed to provide stability to the wrist joint, which makes push-based exercises like bench presses or overhead presses more comfortable.

So, can the same principle apply to calisthenics? Yes, many calisthenics exercises apply direct impact on the wrist and rely on push-based motion from our hands to generate momentum. For example, push-ups are one of the most popular calisthenics exercises, with hundreds of viable variations. In many ways, they are the calisthenics athlete’s answer to bench presses. Studies comparing the two exercises showed they share many of the same mechanics and target nearly identical muscle groups.

What Are The 3 Benefits Of Using Wrist Wraps For Calisthenics?

We briefly mentioned how similar principles apply to both weightlifting and calisthenics when using wrist wraps. Keeping this in mind, here are some compelling reasons why you should use performance wraps in your upcoming calisthenics workout:

1. Joint Health

Arguably the most common type of hand injury in calisthenics is wrist sprains. They occur when our wrist spends a prolonged time under pressure in a position beyond its normal range of motion, also known as hyperextension. Push-ups are one of the most common exercises where people experience hyperextension. Studies observing push-ups showed that maintaining the wrist in a neutral position is important to prevent injury and long-term wear on the wrist. One of the benefits of wrist wraps is exactly that — keeping the wrist in a neutral position by preventing unwanted movement.

2. Increased Power

In calisthenics exercises like push-ups or dips, athletes often find that their joints give out before the target muscles. This can be frustrating, as it indicates the potential for more repetitions before muscle fatigue sets in, if not for wrist pain and discomfort. This issue is particularly noticeable for beginners. Calisthenics wrist wraps can enhance joint stability, allowing you to perform exercises more comfortably and with more force.

The improved stability can potentially lead to extended rep ranges and increased weight lifted, especially in weighted exercises. A study examining the effects of wrist wraps on shot put (Olympic throw) athletes found that those using wrist wraps achieved greater throwing distances, indicating that the enhanced joint stability contributed to increased power.

3. Mental Edge

In complex movements like calisthenics, confidence can make a difference in our performance. Oftentimes, the presence of wrist wraps and knowledge of their perceived benefits can help us overcome challenges and take on exercises more confidently. A study looking at the effects of wrist wraps on bench presses observed that, although there wasn’t a statistically significant increase in performance, athletes perceived bench pressing with wrist wraps as more stable.

4 Disadvantages Of Using Wrist Wraps During Gymnastics

Gymnastics and calisthenics share some commonalities. Both disciplines utilize body weight against gravity for resistance, and exercises in both put a fair amount of strain on the wrists. However, it doesn't necessarily imply that gymnasts would derive the same benefits from wrist wraps as a calisthenics athlete would. Here are some drawbacks of using wrist wraps during gymnastics.

1. Hindering Development

Gymnasts should allow their joints to develop naturally over time. Introducing wrist support too early in training might impede the natural growth of wrist strength, flexibility, and mobility, all of which are crucial for numerous gymnastic exercises and drills.

2. Mental Reliance

Excessive reliance on any exercise equipment can lead to mental dependence. Relying too heavily on wrist wraps in gymnastics may give you a sense that you need them to perform, potentially staggering your overall progress.

3. Reduced Mobility

Gymnastics demands intricate and rapid movements, with the body transitioning between positions within milliseconds. Regardless of how tightly or loosely you fasten them, wrist wraps can potentially impede joint mobility, leading to a loss of momentum or the risk of injury during an exercise.

4. Competitive Restrictions

For aspiring gymnasts looking to compete at any level, it's important to note that the use of assistance tools is typically prohibited. Therefore, if any of the aforementioned considerations pertain to you, competing in the future might pose a challenge.

How To Choose Wrist Wraps For Calisthenics?

Wrist wraps may be considered expendable, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't offer longevity. We certainly wouldn't want our readers to invest in products that fall short. Hence, selecting the appropriate calisthenics wrist wraps for your workout level is crucial. Here are some essential factors to keep an eye out for before you make a purchase:

1. Comfort

Comfort is arguably the highest form of consideration for most people. Wrist wraps should fit snugly, but they shouldn’t restrict your movement. Getting the right size is also a big part of comfort, so pay attention to that as well.

2. Materials

Materials determine a variety of factors of your wrist wraps, including their comfort, durability, and pricing. Most wraps are made from a soft material like cotton blended with elastic to give it some stretch. Pure cotton wraps may be slightly more expensive than material meshes, but that’s not always the case.

Pro Tip:

"The WBCM Elastic Velcro Wrist Wraps are the absolute best wrist wraps and, although there are some great wraps on my list, nothing can top them.

When choosing wrist wraps for your calisthenics workouts, it's vital to prioritize longevity and functionality, rather than viewing them as expendable items. To make an informed choice, consider factors like comfort, ensuring they fit snugly without restricting your movement, and take note of the materials used, as they impact comfort, durability, and pricing. Soft materials like cotton blended with elastic are commonly used, with pure cotton wraps sometimes costing more than material blends."

3. Longevity

Look for wraps with reinforced stitching and durable materials to ensure they withstand rigorous calisthenics sessions. Investing in a high-quality pair may cost a bit more initially, but it will pay off in the long run as they last through numerous workouts.

4. Support

Calisthenics workouts require a mix of support and freedom of movement. Some wraps, like the Element 26, are designed to target specific areas of the wrist, providing extra stability where it's needed the most. However, if you don’t require specific wrist assistance, the 18-inch long and 3-inch wide wraps are a good place to start. If you have a history of wrist issues, wrist wraps will prove a game-changer.

5. Stitching

Double stitching isn’t there just for appearance's sake. When wrist wraps give out, usually it starts with the stitching coming undone. That’s why we often recommend wraps meant for weightlifting, which are more rigorous in design than pure cross-training ones.

3 Alternatives To Using Wrist Wraps During Calisthenics

So, you want to train immediately but don’t have wrist wraps at your disposal yet. Here are some tools you might have access to that you can use as a temporary replacement for wrist wraps.

1. Boxing Wraps

Boxing wraps are designed to offer stability to your hand and wrist, and they can serve as a temporary solution for calisthenics. However, it's important to keep in mind that when boxing wraps are applied correctly, they leave less mobility for the wrist and hand. This may actually make certain calisthenics exercises more challenging rather than providing the intended support.

2. Paralletes, Links, and Handles

Maintaining wrist health is crucial for calisthenics athletes. To support this, calisthenics parks are equipped with essential tools like parallettes, links, and floor handles. These tools enable you to position your wrists more naturally, reducing stress on the joint. If you're training at home, investing in these tools is a relatively inexpensive but invaluable step toward ensuring long-term wrist well-being.

3. DIY Wrist Wrap

You can also opt for making your own calisthenics wrist wraps, for example, from an old cloth rag. Cut it out to about the size of a regular wrist wrap, i.e. 18 inches long, 3 inches wide. You can create a small hole in the cloth for the thumb loop. Wrap it around your hand as you would a wrist wrap and you’re set. Note, however, that this do-it-yourself solution will provide less protection than the actual wrist wrap.

FAQ

Are Wrist Wraps Good For Calisthenics?

Yes, many calisthenics exercises are highly demanding on our wrists, and wrist wraps can help by providing extra stability and support.

Can You Use Boxing Wraps For Calisthenics?

You can use boxing wraps for calisthenics. However, when properly wrapped, they might feel too restrictive.

Are Wrist Wraps Good For Push-Ups?

Yes, the majority of our weight during push-ups is borne by our wrists. Instability at the wrist is a common cause of push-up failure. By adding additional stability to our wrists, wrist wraps can assist in making push-ups more comfortable, resulting in improved performance, higher rep range, etc.

Conclusion

Those were the best wrist wraps for calisthenics to get in 2025. Calisthenics, as a workout form, relies on our own body weight for resistance. Many of the popular exercises, including push-ups, handstand drills, and mountain climbers, require us to support our weight directly on our wrists.

As a result, wrist instability and pain are common, which is where wrist wraps prove to be invaluable. In our experience, the Warm Body Cold Mind makes the best calisthenics wrist wraps. However, our other picks are also worth mentioning for their respective pros and cons.

We'd love to hear from you too. Are you a calisthenics athlete? If so, share your favorite calisthenics exercise with us. Leave a comment and don't forget to follow our social media pages for more valuable fitness content.

Also Read:

• What Is Gym Chalk Used For
• Liquid Chalk vs Regular Chalk
• What Do Wrist Wraps Do
• How to Wear Wrist Wraps
• Wrist Support for Push UPS
• Wrist Pain From Lifting
• Wrist Straps for Pull UPS
• How to Get Better at Handstands

References:

1. Dillon R. Harris, Dakota R. Harris, Thomas D. Cardaci, Harry P. Cintineo, LesLee K. Funderburk, Steven B. Machek, "The Impacts of Wrist Wrap Type and Sex on Bench Press Muscular Strength and Power," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings 2, no. 15 (2023).
2. Marilia Coutinho, “The Wrist Wrap as a Protective and Performance Enhancing Device in Powerlifting,” Academia.edu, https://shorturl.at/koqAI (accessed Oct. 17, 2023)
3. Olga Polovinets, Alon Wolf, Ronit Wollstein, “Force Transmission Through the Wrist During Performance of Push-Ups on a Hyperextended and a Neutral Wrist,” Journal of Hand Therapy 31, no. 3 (2018): 322-330.
4. Roland van den Tillaar, “Comparison of Kinematics and Muscle Activation between Push-up and Bench Press,” Sports Medicine International Open 2019 Sep 5;3(3):E74-E81
5. “Scaphoid,” Physiopedia https://www.physio-pedia.com/Scaphoid (accessed Oct. 17, 2023)
6. W. Lawrence Judge, M. Jeanmarie Burke, J. Tiffany Patrick, D. Tyler Guidry, L. Donald Hoover, A. Elizabeth Wanless, M. David Bellar, “Effects of Wrist Wraps on Throwing Distance in Highly Skilled Shot Put Athletes,” International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport 15, no. 1 (2015): 343-358.
7. All photos are made by WBCM Media team.