Weight lifting hooks and lifting straps are designed to make exercising with heavy weights safer. They allow the user to hold on easier to heavy dumbbells, barbells and pull up bars. Power lifting straps secure tightly around your wrist and have a length of heavy material that wraps around a bar to ensure a tight grip. Lifting hooks work in a similar fashion, also securing around the wrist. The difference is that weight lifting hooks actually have metal “j” hooks that wrap around a bar to create extra holding power. If you do a lot of free weight training you should consider buying a pair of lifting straps or lifting hooks to help maximize your workout. You’ll be surprised how much more secure you feel with the extra grip you’ll get with heavy dumbbells or at a pull up station on your power rack.