Regardless of whether you play at home sitting down or you're ready to go out and get gigging, you'll need one of the best guitar straps. Admittedly, getting a new strap isn't the most exciting thing in the world, but a good strap will last you a long time and make your playing experience much more comfortable, as well as secure your pride and joy from any accidental falls.
A guitar strap lets you hang your guitar from your shoulder, and even if you only play at home, it can make playing a much more ergonomic experience. A good strap will be adjustable for each player and playing style, whether you want to wear it slung low like Slash or prefer a more technical position with your guitar up high like Tom Morello. They’re available in a huge array of styles and materials too, so you’re bound to find one that matches your style.
Best guitar straps: Product guide
Material: Cowhide leather
Width: 2.5”
Adjustability: from 46” to 54.5” length
+ Ultra-durable
+ Will only get better with age
+ Classic and comfortable
- Not so vegan friendly
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. We found that the 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.
Material: neoprene
Width: 2” or 3”
Adjustability: from 46” to 54” length
+ Ultra-comfy
+ Good value
+ Built-in strap locks
- Not a statement piece
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.
Material: polyester with leather ends
Width: 2”
Adjustability: from 44” to 52.5” length
+ Classic looks
+ Affordable
- Not the most individualistic
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, we feel it still comes with a certain level of quality, durability and ‘90s charm.
Material: neoprene
Width: 3”
Adjustability: from 46” to 56” length
+ Comfortable
+ Lets your skin breathe
+ Great value
- It's a bit bulky
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, in our opinion. 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.
Material: red quilted velvet, seatbelt-quality webbing
Width: 2”
Adjustability: from 40” to 70” length
+ Mad Dracula vibes
+ You'll make a statement
+ Perfect for your Goth project
- Width might cause discomfort
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.
Material: suede with leather applique
Width: 2.5”
Adjustability: from 41” to 54” length
+ Looks awesome
+ Will outlast you, probably
+ Comfortable
- The price
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.
Material: Distressed leather
Width: 2.5” or 3”
Adjustability: from 42.5” to 58.5” length
+ Looks stunning
+ Comfortable
+ Durable
- There are cheaper leather straps
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 Element guitar strap does not disappoint, offering multi-layer distressed leather in a tasteful dark brown finish.
The Element straps come in either 2.5” or 3” widths and take inspiration from their flagship 800 range of guitars with the unique Element branding, as seen on their fret markers. This one would look rather dashing around the neck of any folk or country player, if we do say so ourselves.
Material: leather, foam insert
Width: 2.5”
Adjustability: from 43” to 56” length
+ Extra padding for comfort
+ Solid build quality
+ Looks killer
- If you like amps beginning with 'M'
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...
Material: leather
Width: 6-8cm
Adjustability: up to 150cm length
+ Very comfortable
+ Affordable
+ Made with premium leather
- Only available at Thomann
As the name suggests, this Harley Benton strap is padded for extra comfort – and this is the main selling point of this strap. It immediately lightens any guitar, which is down to the padding and width of the strap in equal measure. The build quality is impressive for what you pay – but not too surprising when you consider the quality of all other Harley Benton gear. It has a great reputation for being budget friendly and of great quality – and this strap lives up to that reputation.
It is only available at Thomann, which is a bit of a downside – but with pretty affordable worldwide shipping, we'd say you're still saving money.
Best guitar straps: Buying advice
How to choose the best guitar strap for you
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