Having the best guitar will not get you that far if the strap attached is uncomfortable, unbearable, and not stylish at all. Guitarists rock out on their guitars for hours and hence they need to have a strap that allows them to carry a guitar on their shoulders for long periods. It does not matter whether you play standing up or sitting down, having a guitar strap assures comfortability, secureness, and prevention of your guitar falling mid-way through a jam.
Continue reading this article to find out some of the best guitar straps on the market that you can get your hands on and a few helpful tips and tricks on what to look at when buying a strap.
3 Best Guitar Straps – Review
The KLIQ AirCell Guitar Strap brings the burden of the guitar off your shoulders with its AirCell technology. The aircells on the underside of the strap allow flexibility and a soft cushion that provides the user with ultimate comfort. The company has executed proper research to create the perfect strap for users.
Moreover, the aircell technology incorporated in the straps provides the weight of the guitar to be evenly distributed in the shoulder. In addition, the straps are shock absorbing and limit the shoulders to feel the vibrations and pulses from the guitar. Hence, the KLIQ Aircell guitar strap is perfect for those who enjoy jamming on their guitars for hours and have to sit through endless recording sessions.
Key Features
- Aircell Technology padding (shock-absorbing materials, 3 inch woven straps)
- Fully adjustable straps (range from 46 to 5 inches)
- Lightweight material (neoprene and black lycra)
- Wicks away sweat and moisture
Levy’s Leathers MSS2-4- BLK Guitar Strap
This brand has been dominating the market of guitar straps since their beginning in Novia Scotia in 1973. They are well-known for providing premium leather straps along with other straps made from materials such as vinyl, fabric, faux fur, and polyester. The MSS2-4-BLK strap is one of the most liked Levy’s straps in their products.
It comes with durable leather ends that provide security for long-lasting use. moreover, the ladder-style, feed-thru can adjust to lengths from 38 inches to 52 inches making the perfect length for wrist and hand positioning. The leather on this strap is hand-picked to assure the finest and most premium leather quality that will provide uncompromising standard, comfort, durability, and style. Hence, the MSS2-4-BLK strap promises simple, elegant, and comfortable use that will last for generations.
Key Features
- Width: 4.5 inches
- Length: 38 to 52 inches (available in XL size which adds 12 more inches to the overall length.
- Material: Garment
- Premium Quality Leather
Ernie Ball Locking Guitar Strap
The Ernie ball Locking strap is one of the most liked straps in the market. It provides a higher level of comfort and security compared to the other straps that compete with Ernie balls straps. This strap is amazing for redistributing the weight of the guitar and is particularly best suited for those users who have aches, chronic pain, and other ailments. Moreover, the Ernie Ball locking guitar strap has patent-pending PolyLock ends that securely clip the guitar strap to the guitar. You can jam on your guitar with zero hesitations of the strap unclipping and falling off.
Key Features
- Adjustable strap length from 46”to 54”
- Poly lock strap ends
- Material: Soft Neoprene
- Width: 3 inches
Best Guitar Strap – Buying Guide
With so many options to select from, a buyer can get overwhelmed with what guitar strap best fits their criteria and guitar. Therefore, to understand what features are important in a guitar strap, follow this buying guide to fully be satisfied with your strap purchase.
How heavy is your guitar?
Before buying a strap, you must consider the weight of your guitar. Most guitars range from weighing around 4 to 5 kilograms. Therefore, a good quality strap should allow you to easily play your guitar without feeling the pressure and strain on the shoulder.
Width
Keeping the above point in mind, a major criterion that prevents the strap from being uncomfortable and allows it to withhold high levels of weight is the width. Hence, if you are using a guitar that is on the heavier side, it is better to buy a wider strap. This is because wider straps will do a better job at distributing the weight on your shoulder evenly.
Strap material
Selecting the right material correlates with durability. Many guitarists prefer straps that are made out of leather, nylon, cotton, neoprene/ memory foam, and suede. Leather is mostly seen in many high-end straps that show a class of appearance and style. Whereas, nylon is a very common material used as its durability is longer as the material is very hard to stretch and rip. Guitar straps made from cotton are preferred by those who like their guitar not to move too much when playing it as cotton has high friction.
Air circulation
A very important feature to keep in mind when buying a strap is how breathable it is. Since you have the strap over your shoulder, it should have good airflow and moisture absorbing qualities that help keep the shoulder cool.
Does guitar type matter?
Almost all straps are made for all types of guitars. However, if you want a specific strap for a specific guitar, you must read the description of the straps carefully. A lot of the companies make straps that fit any guitar as they try to reach a larger target market that way. By limiting the type of guitar and strap, you also limit your reach.
Strap attachments
As the guitar is fully attached to the strap from two attachments, you must buy a strap that promises a solid grip. Some straps come with a proper locking system which assures that you will never have the moment where mid-session your guitar goes crashing on the floor.