The simple, pad-free Schiek 1000 LLS leather straps are surprisingly comfortable and easy to clean.
Schiek is one of the more popular companies in the training accessories space. You may have seen its adverts with former Mr Olympia winners Jay Cutler, Phil Heath and Brandon Curry. Its most recent lifting straps – the 100 LLS – are made of real leather, which gives them an old-school look that I really like. But does that heritage look mean outdated performance, though? I put them through their paces through hundreds of dumbbell, barbell and resistance machine reps to make sure they’re not all form over function.
Men’s Fitness verdict
I like these premium leather lifting straps and am a big fan of Schiek’s no-quibble replacement policy. They can get a bit slippery though.- Leather construction
- Easy to clean
- Great customer service
- No wrist padding
- Can get slick when sweaty
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Schiek 1000 LLS design and build quality
These lifting straps come in two colors – black and tan – and both look as good as they perform. The design is simplicity itself and the leather is easy to clean. They’re 21in (53.4cm) in length and 1.5in (3.8cm) wide. The company logo is stitched on and there’s no padding on the inside for the wrist, but the strap itself shouldn’t irritate the skin or pull any hair.
These can be used in any training environment, but if you train in hot conditions you may want to give an extra tug or two on the handle before you begin your set. Keep in mind that if your equipment has aggressive knurling, such as a powerlifting barbell would, it may impact your straps as well.
Beginners or people that focus on general fitness training will be satisfied with the Schiek 1000 LLS due their simplicity. Advanced lifters will find these to be dependable as well. I have a pair in my gym bag for when I travel, and they’ve lasted me for several years. I find them easy to use with machine handles or dumbbells.
For the advanced lifters, they should hold up through harder workouts. If a strap does happen to break, Schiek has great customer service, with a no-quibble strap replacement policy.
How the Schiek 1000 LLS compares
When comparing the JerkFit Death Grips to our two top-rated lifting straps – the DMoose and No Conformity straps – there are a few differences. Length-wise, at 21in / 53.3cm they fit between the two (the DMoose are 24in / 61cm and the NoCo 20in / 50.8cm). At no point did I feel they weren’t long enough.
Their leather construction makes them easier to wipe clean after every use, as opposed to washing every so often. Like the NoCo there are two colors to choose from – black and tan. But the DMoose straps have plenty more color options. They’re significantly cheaper than the Shiek straps too – though I’ve no doubt the leather 1000 LLS straps will still be around long after the DMoose straps have started to fray. And even if they did give out, you’ve got the peace of mind from that no-quibble guarantee.
User experience
There’s no extra padding on these Schiek straps, but even after long, heavy sets my hands never felt beaten up. For me the leather felt like enough padding on its own. I liked the extra width, too, which stopped the edges of my palms rubbing on knurled handles.
The leather construction may be a love-hate thing for some. While it adds to the visual appeal of these straps, I did find they could become slick with sweat. It’s not the most breathable material and during sweaty sessions it does become noticeable. That said, I didn’t feel it impacted my performance or decreased
How we test the best lifting straps
Our tester Roger Lockridge is an experienced product reviewer of all manner of fitness kit. He tested these lifting straps over at least a month at various weights and through a range of exercises at high rep ranges. Roger assessed each pair in terms of grip, comfort and durability. He then provided an overall score, taking availability, value and ranges of colors, sizes and other options into account.
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