The Best Guitar Straps
The right guitar strap will accomplish two important things. First, it will hold up your guitar. As simple and obvious as that sounds, it's the most important, because you don't want to secure your expensive Fender Jaguar to your shoulders with a flimsy strap. Second, it complements your image. If you play classical guitar in an orchestra, you probably aren't looking for a strap covered with skulls and crossbones. To help you find the perfect strap, we donned our axes, cranked up our amps, and tested the most popular brands of guitar straps.
What to Look For
While choosing a guitar strap design or color that says something about you as a player is important, comfort, durability, and performance are paramount when it comes to guitar straps. The last thing you need to worry about on stage or during rehearsal is your chintzy guitar strap coming loose and causing you to flub an important riff. With that in mind, a few guitar straps caught our attention. Kliq’s Aircell strap is one of the most comfortable straps on the market thanks to its thick neoprene padding. The clever design helps distribute weight evenly across your upper body so that your guitar doesn’t strain your back. If you’re looking for an ultra-secure strap, D’Addario’s Planet Lock strap features a locking system to ensure your guitar never slips out of the strap’s hold. To learn more about our favorites, keep on reading.,
Tifanso Soft Cotton Guitar Strap
No frills
This soft cotton strap from Tifanso has a little bit of everything. Made from soft, comfortable cotton with leather tips, it’s comfortable to wear, and it’s adjustable from 37 inches (in case you hold your guitar like John Lennon) to 62 inches (if you prefer to hold it like Jimmy Page). The leather tips have cut-outs to fit onto the strap bolts of your guitar, but the strap also comes with safety locks. And if you’re the type of player that constantly drops picks, you’ll love the little pockets that hold three extra for easy access.
Pros:
- The inclusion of extra strap locks should make even the most seasoned guitar players feel more comfortable with their purchase of Tifanso’s guitar strap.
- Being that most styles of guitar music require picks, it’s a handy and convenient perk for Tifanso to include three guitar picks with your purchase.
Cons:
- While the pick holder on Tifanso’s guitar strap is mighty convenient, it’s only compatible with small picks.
Hootenanny Guitar Strap
Looking groovy
In a perfect world, your guitar strap matches your guitar and the music you play. With Hootenanny’s guitar strap, you’re sure to make the impression you want. Available in five equally groovy designs, these straps make a statement. Of course, they’re practical as well, featuring a comfortable cotton weave, safety straps for the neck of your guitar, and an adjustable range from 35 inches to 60 inches. The Hootenanny Guitar Strap also features three pockets for picks and extra locking straps, making it a great value as well.
Pros:
- The gorgeous paisley design harkens back to the rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic of the 1960s while still infusing a decidedly modern sensibility.
- The matching picks that Hootenanny includes with your purchase are just as stylish as they are high-quality.
Cons:
- If you’re the type of player who likes to run their strap through the wash on occasion, you might want to look elsewhere. Unfortunately, the seams on this strap tend to weaken after a machine wash.
Kliq AirCell Guitar Strap
Rock and relax
If you’re the type of musician who plays for three or four hours a night, then comfort is one of your biggest needs from a guitar strap. With its proprietary AirCell technology and three-inch wide neoprene padding, this strap from Kliq takes comfort to the next level, even if you’re playing a heavy Les Paul or bass guitar. The strap is balanced to distribute weight evenly across your shoulders, reducing back and shoulder strain, while the material is designed to wick away moisture, preventing excess sweat.
Pros:
- Personalization means everything when it comes to finding the perfect guitar strap for you. Kliq’s ten color selection is chock full of vibrant colors that will help you stand out from the pack.
- The neoprene built-in shoulder padding makes this strap stand out as one of the most comfortable ones on the market.
Cons:
- The design and feel are premium quality, but the squeaking sound that the strap can make when you’re moving around on stage can be a bit annoying.
D’Addario Planet Lock
On lock
One of the worst things that can happen during a live gig is to have your guitar fall off its strap. D’Addario, one of the most trusted brands in guitar accessories, prevents this catastrophe with their Planet Lock strap. The locking clips at the end of the strap fit practically any guitar and stay locked in place until the side pin is released. Unlike other strap lock systems, Planet Lock is designed to fit securely on your guitar’s existing strap bolts, so there’s no changing out hardware on your guitar. In addition, the locking hardware won’t scratch the finish on your guitar.
Pros:
- Where the locking mechanism on other guitar straps can feel a bit wonky and difficult to adjust, this one is exceptionally user-friendly in comparison.
- The 60-inch adjustable length offers comfort and versatility to all kinds of players in every genre.
Cons:
- We’re in love with so much about the Planet Lock, but we can’t deny that its inaccessibility with strap pads is a disappointing downside.
Frequently Asked Questions
After a gig, my guitar strap is kinda sweaty and gross. Can I wash it?
Some guitar straps can be washed in a machine. Others, such as leather straps or straps with metal parts, will have to be washed by hand. Here’s a tip: after each gig, dry off the metal parts of your strap. Then, get a rag, water, and some laundry detergent and clean the parts that aren’t leather. Lay the strap out in a warm place to dry. Then use some leather cleaner on the leather parts to help keep the material supple.
Do guitar straps work for other stringed instruments like mandolins and ukeleles?
It depends on the strap bolts (or “buttons” or “pegs”) attached to the instrument. Generally speaking, you can use a guitar strap on any stringed instrument that you wear over your shoulders. However, check the instrument first to see if it has the corresponding attachment for the strap. A mandolin, for example, may not have two strap bolts, so you’ll need a strap with thin leather strings that can tie around the nut on the neck.
How do these straps with just a hole on one end secure to the rear of my guitar?
If you purchased this style of strap, it should come with a plastic washer to help secure the strap to the rear button. The strap bolt on the rear of your guitar should have a small screw in the center. Unscrew the bolt and remove it, then place the strap hole over the hole in the rear of your guitar. Now, place the washer on top and insert the bolt. Screw it in tight, and you should have a configuration where your strap never slips off accidentally.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.