Pound for pound, hand wraps could be the most powerful martial arts gear of all.
These unassuming strips of fabric might be small and inexpensive (and a great stocking stuffer at this time of year). But they also happen to the best hand and forearm support for boxers, kickboxers, and MMA fighters. And anyone else who punches things for work, fun, and fitness, for that matter.
At that rate, hand wraps are already giving strikers more than enough bang for their buck. But with a little creativity, they can do even more.
Here are five ways you can get the most out of your hand wraps, ranging from the practical to the fanciful.
Boxing and More
Hand wraps play a couple of valuable roles in martial arts, combat sports, and fitness programs that involve punching a target.
Most importantly, properly worn hand wraps provide support for the soft tissue and small bones in your hands and wrists. This helps strikers to avoid injuries and general discomfort during training and competition.
But that’s not the only way that hand wraps can make your training more comfortable. They’re also designed to absorb sweat, which means that they’ll prevent your hands from getting too wet and clammy while you’re working on your punches. And they’ll keep your gloves from slipping around, distracting you, and rubbing on your skin.
Cross-Training
For the record, we do not recommend replacing professionally made braces or sleeves with a set of hand wraps. This is just a possible hack for people who don’t have equipment that’s been specifically designed for more thorough hand and wrist support outside of striking-based training on hand right away.
But if your hand or wrist is feeling a little cranky and you don’t have access to a brace or sleeve, hand wraps can offer you some of the same support they provide during punching exercises. It’s not a perfect fix, but that little bit of extra compression holding everything in place can help you feel more stable while you do any movements that require you to lift heavier objects or put any pressure on the area.
Packing
Hand wraps’ sweat absorbing powers can applied to other walks of life, too. If your shoes, hats, gloves, or other clothes and accessories get wet, you can stuff them with an old, dry pair to help soak up some of the excess wetness. They won’t magically soak up all of it, but they can take care of the worst of the wetness until you can find a place to air them out properly. And because hand wraps are so small and practical, it’s easy to throw an extra pair in your gym bag or suitcase just in case you’ll need a little added drying help somewhere on your journeys.
Anxiety Management
This is another in case of emergency hack. Because properly wrapped hand wraps offer a degree of compression, you can put them to work in other situations that might require some kind of compression in a pinch. Like managing anxiety. Hand wraps will never replace compression clothing or weighted accessories that have been specifically designed for people with anxiety. But if you find yourself struggling when you don’t have access to those things, hand wraps can provide a little bit of grounding compression.
Holiday Decorations
Now we’re getting a little whimsical. But hear us out: If you’re looking to do a little something different with your holiday decorations this year, and you’re a fan of martial arts and combat sports, a few pairs of hand wraps strung together would make a really fun garland.
