As guitar players, we're constantly on the lookout for new gear. Although we often overlook the essential items in favor of a shiny new electric guitar, face-melting guitar amp, or yet another Tone Bender fuzz pedal clone. Don't get us wrong, these are all exciting purchases, but what good is a new guitar if you don't have one of the best guitar straps to hang it from your shoulder.
Not only does your guitar strap allow you to express your own style by adding your own unique flair to your favorite instrument, but it can also make playing the guitar more comfortable. Finding the best guitar strap for you can mean the difference between playing sessions that go on for hours and crippling shoulder or back pain that discourages you from picking up the guitar - Gibson Les Paul players take note.
Whether you play sitting down, stood up, or a little of both, a quality guitar strap can ensure your guitar stays securely in place and doesn't become one with the cold hard floor - and when you think about the cost of repairs or a new instrument, the relatively low price of these straps becomes even more worth it!
We've included some buying advice at the end of this guide for those looking for a little more guidance on finding the best guitar strap for them. Simply click the 'buying advice' button above to go straight there. If you'd like to get straight to our product choices - plus today's best prices - then keep scrolling.
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Best guitar straps: Our top picks
While it won't win any prizes for head-turning aesthetics, the Fender Broken-In Leather Strap does score highly where it counts. Of all the guitar straps on display here, this is one you could comfortably call the 'everyman'. It won't offend anyone, yet it'll quietly get on with doing its job, year after year.
Namely, the materials are well chosen, the buckle-less design gives it one less thing to go wrong in the middle of your solo, and the finishes are tasteful and give an air of authority and craftsmanship to the package. Pound for pound, this is one of the best guitar straps on the market today.
The Ernie Ball Neoprene Polylock guitar strap is another favourite, if you're more into functionality over dazzling looks. The extra thick padding means that crippling neck pain will be a thing of the past. Pair that with the built-in guitar strap locks, and you've got yourself a recipe for success.
Much like the Fender strap, it's unlikely to feature on a runway in Milan - but you're bound to see a few on stages worldwide.
Best guitar straps: Product guide
While for some a guitar strap is another way to express themselves, for others a strap is merely a tool to allow you to concentrate on playing. That's not to say there can't be a quiet elegance to a strap though. That's exactly where the Fender Broken-In Leather guitar strap comes in.
Coming in four tasteful finishes – green, brown, black and tan – this classy strap gives you the confidence that it will last the distance. Its oiled finish gives the cowhide leather a softness, while the generously adjustable length makes it ideal for guitarists of any height. Hands-down the best guitar strap available right now.
A sad fact of life, for many of us, is that the body starts to give up long before the mind does. So, while in our heads we could play for hours and hours every night of the week, often our neck and shoulders have other ideas. Thankfully, the good folk at Ernie Ball have a solution.
The Ernie Ball Neoprene Polylock guitar strap is designed, first and foremost, with comfort in mind. Coming in both 2” and 3” widths, this strap is the equivalent of playing with a pillow tucked under the strap. Not only that, Ernie Ball’s patented Polylock system securely attaches to your strap buttons for a safe connection without the need for modification.
It's fair to say nobody would align KLIQ with the bigger names in the guitar world. However, with its AirCell guitar strap, it may well have carved itself a nice little niche in the accessories world.
The AirCell boasts unique technology which packs a host of air-filled cells (you can see where they got the name from) onto its underside, making it one of the best guitar straps for comfort. These distribute weight more evenly, aided by the 3” strap width, while also giving a cushion to ensure heavier guitars don't take their toll on the player's neck and shoulders.
As well as comfort, the cells also provide the dual benefit of taking moisture away from the skin or clothing, allowing your shoulder to breathe over long playing sessions.
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As far as statement guitar straps go, Coffin Case’s velvet guitar straps are difficult to beat. Clearly modeled on the inside of a rather luxurious casket, what this strap lacks in subtlety it more than makes up for in dark, macabre vibe.
While we wouldn't want to typecast, it's easy to see how this strap would appeal to a certain type of player. It could be the colorway, it could be the name, or it could be the fact it's adjustable to a whopping 70”, making it ideal for players whose riffs are low, slow and full of foreboding.
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While it's true a guitar strap is merely a tool, an enabler, there's no harm in adding a bit of cool to the proceedings. Enter the Levy's guitar strap range. Where the other straps on this list focus heavily on function, comfort and durability, the Levy's MS17ASF range has all those things but then isn't shy of incorporating a dash of style too.
While it's not a cheap strap, as such, it is built with the highest quality suede and features a range of glorious leather and embroidered designs. These add a touch of class, meaning you'll look as good as you sound.
Chances are, if you're a guitar player, you've either seen or owned one of these babies over the years. The Fender Monogrammed guitar strap has been ubiquitous in guitar stores across the planet for decades now. Because style never goes out of fashion, of course.
Jokes aside, if you're looking at the lower end of the price scale, you can't go far wrong here. Fender doesn't generally put its name on bad gear so, even though this is a shade over ten dollars, it still comes with a certain level of quality, durability and ‘90s charm.
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As one of the acoustic world's best-respected names, you can be assured that the accompanying straps offered by Taylor will be of a superior level. The Taylor Wings guitar strap does not disappoint, offering multi-layer distressed leather in a tasteful dark brown finish.
The Wings straps come in either 2.5” or 3” widths, while the embossed logo and wings motif demonstrate a quiet confidence. This one would look rather dashing around the neck of any folk or country player, if we do say so ourselves.
The eagle-eyed among you will notice something familiar about the Levy's Deluxe Amped Grill Cloth guitar strap. Particularly those of you with a penchant for amps from a certain big brand beginning with F...
The addition of classic silverface-esque cloth within the strap gives it a unique, almost industrial feel, which we're big fans of. The strap itself is well made, featuring a three-piece cut out design and a foam padded back for extra comfort. We could see this style working with other well-known amp brands too...
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We're big fans of LM Products here at Guitar World. Each strap that comes out of the factory in Anderson, Indiana, is handmade, and the level of passion that goes into each one is apparent immediately. The leather is reassuringly heavy, while the brass detailing complements the simple design brilliantly.
The LM Products Odin guitar strap forms part of a wider range of Norse themed straps, with each boasting subtle design touches which ensure they are worthy of the names they bear. Indeed, it's not hard to imagine the All-father himself attaching one of these to his axe.
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Best guitar straps: Buying advice
As well as giving you the freedom to operate in a number of playing positions, a the best guitar straps also provides a level of protection against dropping or damaging your instrument.
While it's not the most glamorous of purchases, a guitar strap is arguably one of the most important for any player who is going to be spending a lot of time with their guitar. Even for players who predominantly play sitting down, a guitar strap helps give the instrument balanced and keep it steady, leaving you to concentrate on playing.
Modern guitar straps tend to land in a relatively small number of categories. You have the basic, entry-level models; these are typically made from nylon or polyester, and are likely to feature plastic buckles.
These straps are great for beginners as they are inexpensive, lightweight and come in a huge range of colors and designs. The payoff, however, is that durability isn't necessarily what they're built for, so we'd hesitate to venture on stage too many times with one. Cheaper straps are also prone to slipping on your shoulder, meaning playing sometimes becomes a secondary concern behind keeping the guitar still...
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It's worth considering the all important style-factor. A cool guitar strap can really complement a lush guitar finish and add to your on-stage persona, so you should definitely take that into consideration when choosing the right guitar strap for you.
At the mid-range, you start to see models made from a wider selection of materials like neoprene and leather guitar straps. You'll also often see padding included in the shoulder strap, making it more comfortable for longer playing sessions.
Travel to the higher-end of the market and pre-worn leather, metal buckles and memory foam enter the fray, all making for a much more enjoyable playing experience. Brands like Gibson, Taylor and Levy's make some of the best of these premium guitar straps, which are designed to serve you well your entire playing career. Naturally these come at a considerably cost.
