The Best Guitar Straps (2022 Buying Guide)

Here Are Some Of The Best Guitar Straps Out There!

A guitar strap – much like a capo or a guitar stand – is a pretty essential guitar accessory.

Guitar straps come in all different styles, lengths, and materials – but they all serve the same fundamental purpose. A properly fitted guitar strap gives you safety and security as you play – standing or sitting.

I mostly play acoustic and whether playing campfire songs or standing for an audience, my acoustic guitar strap is a must-have.

Of course, the best guitar straps are the ones that work well for you. I’ve had leather guitar straps, nylon, and even clear plastic (never again)… and now I know which style works best for me.

In this guide, we’ll walk through some of the best guitar straps on the market right now (like the Woven Art Tribute Strap), break down the different kinds of guitar straps, how to attach them, and discuss what to consider when buying an acoustic guitar strap, electric guitar strap, and even a bass guitar strap.

The 9 Best Guitar Straps

For those who know they need an awesome guitar strap, you can check out three of the top picks for guitar straps right now.

These guitar straps have been selected based on a combination of personal experience with the materials, a range of reviews, and overall function and quality.

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

ART Tributes Vintage Woven Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A beautifully woven design with reinforced ends
• Pros: Comes with picks and strap locks, made for all guitar types (with lace or leather piece included)
• Cons: Thinner width may not be best for a bass guitar

For those searching for a cool guitar strap, the ART Tributes Woven is a great choice. Among the more colorful guitar straps, this simple strap made from cotton is a popular choice!

D’Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A simple, adjustable nylon guitar strap with locking mechanisms built-in
• Pros: Auto-locking ends means no need for additional strap locks or strap blocks
• Cons: Doesn’t work for acoustic guitar (unless you have a headstock button which isn’t common) and may not fit the buttons/setup on your specific guitar

The D’Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap is great if you have an electric guitar with two buttons to lock on to.

KLIQ AirCell Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A padded guitar strap with moisture-wicking technology
• Pros: A thick width plus padding ensures nice soft contact on the shoulder
• Cons: Higher price tag, but you pay for the material and rich padding

If you want the most comfortable guitar strap, the KLIQ AirCell might be for you. With a very wide design and loads of adjustability, it’s a heavy-duty strap made for comfort. And if you like KLIQ, you can also check out their lighter woven styles.

TIMBREGEAR Extreme Comfort Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A sleek and soft guitar strap with leather ends
• Pros: Strong leather ends, pick holder in the strap, adjustable length
• Cons: A thinner overall width might not work for a heavier guitar

The TIMBREGEAR guitar strap is a well-made simple strap with a really nice design. It comes with strap locks which are handy to have if you’re worried about the leather slots slipping off the buttons.

Ernie Ball Black Polypro Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A classic, adjustable guitar strap from a known name in the guitar world
• Pros: Easily adjustable, real leather ends, made from polypropylene (a woven form of plastic) so it’s strong
• Cons: Doesn’t come with a tie string for acoustic

It doesn’t get much more classic guitar strap than a black, adjustable strap from Ernie Ball. Even though it doesn’t come with a lace to tie, it’s the kind of strap that makes a great gift for guitar players if you’re not sure about their style and want to get them something functional.

Perri’s Leathers Deluxe Soft Italian Leather Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A beautiful, genuine leather strap fit for many guitars
• Pros: Soft suede underside, adjustable, good weight distribution due to wide design
• Cons: A little bit pricier, but you’re paying for a full leather strap

Leather guitar straps are definitely a popular choice. They are thick and durable and great for heavier guitars especially. If you like the look but don’t want real leather, you can also get a PU leather strap (mostly fake leather with real leather ends).

Levy’s Leathers 2″ Polyester Printed Guitar Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A nicely designed strap from a reputable brand
• Pros: Great design, easily adjustable, genuine leather ends
• Cons: Polyester strap lacks any extra padding

A Levy guitar strap is another popular option. Some consider 2 inches a wide guitar strap while others may want more width. In any case, Levy’s make some of the best leather guitar straps around. Here’s a 3 inch wide Levy’s leather strap handcrafted in Canada!

Fender 2 Vintage Tweed Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A durable Tweed strap with a bit of “give” in the material
• Pros: Beautiful design, reinforced leather ends
• Cons: Thinner width might cause discomfort on heavier instruments

If you are dead set on buying a brand name guitar strap, then a Fender guitar strap is a great option. The Vintage Tweed has a look and design that is easy on the eyes and won’t completely break the bank.

Performance Plus GS1200 Classical Guitar Neck Strap

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:44

• Features: A simply designed neck strap with a durable hook
• Pros: Easy to apply and remove, adjustable length
• Cons: Very thin, only suitable for classical guitar or ukulele

For those searching for a classical guitar strap, the Performance Plus GS1200 is one of the only truly good options. The nice thing is that it can also be used for different types of ukuleles – especially the heavier ukuleles like a tenor ukulele.

What Is A Guitar Strap And Why You Need One

Before you get buying a guitar strap for your guitar, it’s important to know what a guitar strap is, what it is not, and why you should have one.

A guitar strap is a long piece of material that fastens to your guitar in two places (except for classical, see below), commonly goes around your neck, sits on one shoulder, and bears the weight of the instrument across the front of your body.

There are different types of guitar straps and they attach in slightly different ways based on the kind of guitar you have. So, there is no true “universal guitar strap” because while one strap may fit many guitars, no strap fits all guitars equally.

Within each type of guitar strap, there are numerous styles to choose from that vary by strap material, strap length, and a few other features like padding.

As we mentioned above, a guitar strap is essential because it offers you instrument stability when you play and can make playing much more comfortable. We’ll dive into benefits of guitar straps later in this article.

And while you can make your own guitar strap, you’re much better off just buying one. If you can afford the guitar, you can easily afford a good guitar strap that will keep you and the guitar safe and secure in the future.

Different Types of Guitar Straps

Generally, guitars straps are all very similar in what they do (support a guitar) and how they do it (they have slotted ends) but they differ by which guitar they are best suited for.

Below, we’ll breakdown the different types of guitar straps and outline the pros and any possible cons for each.

Acoustic Guitar Straps

Acoustic guitar straps are generally lighter and/or thinner than straps for electric or bass guitars. This is because acoustic guitars (again, generally) aren’t as heavy due to their hollow body design.

Acoustic guitar straps generally fasten to the guitar using one strap button and one tie (lace or leather) near the headstock since they usually lack a second button. However, some acoustic guitars have two buttons to attach a strap to.

The best acoustic guitar straps are ones that come with both so you have the choice of which method of attachment you wish to use. A good example of this kind of strap is the ART Tributes since it comes with lots of different accessories.

If your acoustic strap has a smaller profile (i.e. it’s not thick and padded), then acoustic straps are generally good to stay on the guitar when you store it in a gig bag or hard shell case.

However, the smaller the strap, the more painful it can be over time as it sits on your shoulder and neck area.

Electric Guitar Straps

Since all guitar straps come with two slots for strap buttons, many guitar straps will work as an electric guitar strap.

However, the best guitar straps for electric guitars are the ones that take into consideration the weight of the instrument and the placement of these buttons on your electric guitar.

Because electric guitar players mostly play standing and generally involve some (or a lot) of movement, some consider the best electric guitar straps to be the ones with a locking mechanism (like the D’Addario Auto Lock).

There are other ways to keep an electric guitar strap secure using other strap locks or strap blocks. It really depends on how much movement you are doing with the guitar. We dive into attaching the strap to an electric guitar below.

Bass Guitar Straps

Bass guitar straps are no different from electric straps as they usually secure to the guitar using two buttons.

However, the best bass guitar straps are the ones that account for the weight and size of the bass guitar.

Since bass guitars are generally heavier, you’ll want a strap with a wider area that distributes the weight more evenly across the neck and shoulder. A good example of a wide and padded bass guitar strap is the KLIQ AirCell.

Bass guitar straps are usually much larger and might be slightly more cumbersome to store away but they are an essential piece of your set up.

Classical Guitar Straps

Lastly, there actually are classical guitar straps but they are less common than for the other types of guitars.

Since classical guitars don’t usually have strap buttons on them, a classical guitar strap will go around the player’s neck and feature a special tiny hook that links the strap to the soundhole.

The best classical guitar straps are those that are minimal in design and still allow the player the security of any other guitar strap. A good example of this is the Performance Plus GS1200.

How to Attach a Guitar Strap

If you are wondering about how to use a guitar strap and – more importantly – how to attach a guitar strap properly, it’s really not that difficult but it’s important to get right.

As mentioned above, guitar straps fasten differently based on the guitar you have, the design of the strap, and the accessories that come with the strap.

Most commonly, the slotted ends of guitar straps fit around what are known as strap buttons.

Straps either fasten button to button or button to lace/leather strap.

How to Attach an Electric Guitar Strap

If you have an electric guitar (or even a bass guitar), there are generally two strap buttons on the guitar – one at the base of the body and one on the body near the neck.

The slotted ends of any basic guitar strap fit around these two buttons. However, the guitar strap can slip off the strap button. This is why there are strap locks (see below).

Read More: Electric Guitar: Parts and Components Explained

How to Attach an Acoustic Guitar Strap

If you have an acoustic guitar with only one button, one end fits around the strap button at the bottom of the guitar body.

The other end attaches to the headstock with a small lace or small leather strap. This small tie goes before the nut and under the strings and attaches to the hole on the strap where the button would fasten.

If you have an acoustic guitar with two buttons (one at the base of the guitar and one near where the neck meets the body – the “heel”) then you attach the strap like you would with an electric guitar with two buttons.

How to Attach a Classical Guitar Strap

A guitar strap on a classical guitar is less common because they are usually played sitting down. Classical guitars also don’t usually come standard with strap buttons.

However, there is also a special version guitar strap that goes around your neck, under the guitar body, and has a small hook for attaching to the sound hole of the classical guitar (and even to ukuleles).

How to Attach a Guitar Strap Using Strap Locks/Blocks

If you replace the regular strap buttons with strap locks, the guitar strap attaches much the same way.

The only difference is strap locks have two pieces – the button which is fixed on the guitar and the locking mechanism that attaches to the ends of the strap.

This locking-end clip (that is fixed to the strap) securely locks onto the base button on the guitar. There is a mechanism to lock it in place and easily release it if needed. This also only works if you have two buttons to attach to (like on an electric guitar).

A simpler way to “lock” the guitar strap is with a strap block – a small piece of material that helps to secure the strap on the button without switching out the buttons to accommodate strap locks.

3 Benefits Of Using A Guitar Strap

There are a number of benefits of having and using a guitar strap:

Guitar Stability and Security

Overall, a well-fitted guitar strap keeps the guitar secure to your body and stable when you play – even if you play sitting down.

For some, this is a personal preference. You don’t need a strap to play sitting on a guitar chair or stool (more for acoustic players).

However, having a strap is recommended because it will never impede your playing (if on properly) and will only ever benefit you by securing the guitar to your body aside from you holding it in your lap.

For instance, if you are new to learning guitar, a strap can help you focus on reading your guitar theory book without worrying about whether you are going to drop the guitar or not.

Also, guitars aren’t the lightest and most compact things you can hold. It only takes a second to shift the guitar’s weight in your grasp and the next thing you know you’ve dropped the guitar or it’s not sitting where you’d like it to be for optimal playing.

Play Standing

Even if you are playing an easy acoustic song, it’s nearly impossible to properly play guitar standing without a guitar strap.

This goes for both acoustic players, electric guitar players, and especially bass guitar players. Bass guitars are heavy and require extra support in the form of a strap.

You’d also look ridiculous trying to both hold the guitar secure and play while standing if you didn’t have a strap. Don’t be a hero – buy a guitar strap.

Style

This might not be the defining factor for buying a guitar strap but it’s important to some guitar players. A guitar strap can definitely allow you to portray your unique style.

There are so many different guitar straps out there – from leather guitar straps (like the Perri’s Leathers) to cool guitar straps with unique patterns (like the TIMBREGEAR).

Of course, any classic black guitar strap (like the Ernie Ball) can really add to your set-up and give you confidence as a musician (especially if you’re newer to the spotlight).

6 Things To Consider In A Good Guitar Strap

Considering how important guitar straps are, you should definitely think about a few factors before you buy one. This way, you can be sure you’re purchasing the right strap for you and your guitar!

Strap Material

What the guitar strap is made out of can impact comfort, look, and to a degree, function.

There are lots of different materials used to make guitar straps with the most common ones being nylon, leather, cotton (woven) and even plastic, to name a few.

Leather guitar straps are usually the most durable and rugged. Some straps even just have leather ends where the button slots are for style and extra strength. They can also be lined with suede for a more comfortable feel.

Polyester/nylon is light and also very durable. Depending on the thickness of the strap, nylon may irritate the skin and/or feel like it’s digging in. Often, these straps have additional neck padding to prevent this.

I once had a clear plastic guitar strap that was thick and strong but heavy and not very nice on the eyes. It worked well, though!

Fastening Ends/Strap Locks

Another thing to consider is your type of guitar and how the strap connects to the instrument. Does it come with extra lace or leather to tie to the headstock? If no, then it sounds like it’s for an electric guitar or bass only.

You can also buy quick-release guitar straps (see the Auto Lock) which have the locks built into the strap to connect to the guitar buttons.

Some straps even come with strap blocks – those little pieces of round material to help stop the strap from sliding off the buttons.

Strap Length/Adjustability

The length of the guitar strap is another important factor. Adjustable guitar straps are standard but there are still overall fixed lengths that you can buy.

The right overall length for you will depend on your instrument, the size of your torso/upper body, and the height at which you like to have the guitar for your hands.

So, you can’t necessarily buy long guitar straps and expect them to work for you because they might be adjustable only within a limited range. This is especially the case if you are looking for a strap for a short person or child.

As for how to adjust a guitar strap, you can either slide the metal clasp to shorten and lengthen the strap (if made from nylon) or change which slotted hole your strap is sitting in (often these are made from leather).

Strap Width

Besides length, the width of the guitar strap is also important to think about. Mentioned briefly above, a wide guitar strap helps to distribute the weight of the instrument across your upper shoulder and neck. However, these can feel bulky to some.

A thin guitar strap can feel less cumbersome but may dig into your shoulder a bit more – this depends on the material of the strap.

Most guitar shoulder straps may cause some level of discomfort at first – something that the width of the strap can help with.

Padding

Another way to have a comfortable guitar strap is to get one with padding. Some straps have a plush underside – made from foam or from another material – that helps to keep the strap sitting comfortably across the shoulder.

The KLIQ AirCell has neoprene padding for this exact reason. If you are overly skinny or bony in the shoulders, a padded strap might be important to you.

Price + Quality

Lastly, the price and quality of the guitar strap are pretty important factors to consider. You can buy a designer guitar strap if you’d like but a higher price might not necessarily translate into a better product.

At the same time, cheap guitar straps might save you a bit of money in the short term, but poor quality can break, cause you shoulder and neck pain, and worse, damage the guitar if it breaks at the button or somewhere along the stitching.

Buying a good quality guitar strap for your guitar – made with good quality materials and construction – in the beginning, might even save you a hefty guitar repair bill down the line!

And there you have it – a rundown of some of the best guitar straps you’ll find out there today. If it wasn’t already clear, a guitar strap is pretty important for a number of reasons.

Having a guitar strap that fits you well, works for your type of guitar, and you like the look of can do a world of good when it comes to your overall playing experience.

As always, Happy Strumming,

-E