Best Guitar Strap
A guitar strap distributes the instrument's weight across your shoulder, freeing both hands for playing. The right strap stays in place, doesn't stretch or slip, and for long playing sessions, reduces shoulder and neck fatigue.
What to Look for in a Guitar Strap
Width: Standard straps are 2" wide. Wider straps (3–4") distribute weight over a larger surface area — better for heavy guitars like Les Pauls or hollow bodies played for extended periods.
Material: Leather straps are durable and break in over time. Nylon (polypro) straps are affordable and washable. Suede-backed straps grip the shoulder and don't slide.
Adjustment range: Most straps adjust from 40"–60" (standard guitar playing lengths). Check the range before buying if you're very tall or play with a very low or very high guitar position.
Strap locks: Standard straps rely on friction on the strap button — they can slip off, dropping the guitar. Strap locks (Schaller, DiMarzio, Planet Waves) prevent this. Essential for gigging.
Best Guitar Straps
Levy's Leathers M8 — £30 | Best Overall
Genuine leather strap that improves with age — softens and moulds to your shoulder. 2" wide. Adjustable from 40"–58". Durable metal hardware. Levy's is the standard at which other guitar straps are measured.
Best for: Players who want a high-quality strap that will last for decades.
Planet Waves Auto Lock — £22 | Best Locking Strap
Built-in locking system — the strap locks onto standard strap buttons automatically when attached, preventing accidental release. No separate strap locks needed. 2" wide, nylon webbing.
Best for: Gigging players who want the security of strap locks without buying separate hardware.
Ernie Ball Polypro — £8 | Best Budget
Polypropylene webbing, metal buckle, adjustable from 40"–72". Durable, washable, comes in dozens of colours. The standard entry-level strap.
Best for: Beginners or players who want a simple, reliable strap without spending much.
Comfort Strapp Pro — £45 | Best for Heavy Guitars
4" wide neoprene padding that distributes guitar weight across a wider area — significantly reduces fatigue when playing heavy guitars (Les Pauls, SGs, archtops) for extended sessions. Suede backing prevents slipping.
Best for: Gigging musicians playing heavy guitars for 2+ hour sets.
Strap Locks
Strap locks replace standard strap buttons with a locking mechanism — the strap cannot release accidentally.
Schaller S-Locks — £22 | Industry Standard
The original strap lock system. Metal mushroom-shaped connectors that snap onto matching buttons. Used by the majority of touring guitarists.
Install: Replace your existing strap buttons with the Schaller locking buttons. Thread the matching Schaller connectors onto the strap. Snap together.
DiMarzio Quick Release — £18
Press-release mechanism — squeeze to release rather than unscrew. Slightly faster than Schaller for rapid guitar changes.
Dunlop Dual Design — £16
Compatible with both standard strap buttons AND Dunlop lock buttons — you don't need to replace the guitar's existing strap buttons.
Strap Height: Playing Position
High (chest height): Favoured by jazz and country players. Guitar neck at an angle — easier to reach the upper frets. Less physical extension at the picking hand.
Mid (waist height): Standard rock position. Balanced reach to both hands.
Low (hip height): Classic rock and metal look. Looks great, but requires more wrist extension — can contribute to wrist strain over time. If you play low, practise standing as well as sitting.
Practical rule: Your standing position should match your sitting position as closely as possible. Many players adjust their strap so the guitar sits at the same position standing as it does when seated with the guitar on the right leg.
Strap Locks Are Cheap Insurance for an Expensive Guitar
It's easy to treat strap locks as an optional upgrade rather than a genuine safety purchase, but the actual failure mode they prevent — a guitar slipping off a standard strap button mid-performance — causes real, sometimes irreversible damage to headstocks and finishes. At £16-22, strap locks cost a fraction of even a minor repair.
Any gigging guitarist should treat strap locks as standard equipment, not an accessory to consider only after a near-miss or an actual drop.
Common Mistakes
Skipping strap locks because standard strap buttons "usually" hold. As the Strap Locks section implies, standard friction-based attachment can slip, especially during energetic performance — the cost of prevention is trivial compared to the cost of a dropped guitar.
Choosing a narrow 2" strap for a heavy guitar played over long sessions. As the Comfort Strapp Pro entry explains, wider straps distribute weight across more surface area — a genuine comfort and fatigue difference for Les Pauls, SGs and archtops during 2+ hour sets.
Setting strap height purely for stage appearance without considering wrist strain. As the Strap Height section notes, a low hip-height position looks classic but demands more wrist extension — worth practising both standing and sitting if choosing that position, to catch strain issues before they become chronic.
Mismatching strap length adjustment range to actual height and playing position needs. Most straps adjust within a standard 40"-60" range — very tall players or those with unusual playing positions should verify a specific strap's range before buying rather than assuming universal fit.
ToneStakr's Take
For any player who gigs regularly, pairing a quality strap (Levy's M8 or similar) with genuine strap locks (Schaller or Planet Waves Auto Lock) is close to a non-negotiable combination — the cost is minimal relative to the guitar it's protecting. Players with heavier guitars and longer sets should specifically prioritize a wider strap like the Comfort Strapp Pro, since fatigue reduction over a full set is a real, cumulative benefit standard 2" straps can't match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a leather or nylon guitar strap?
Leather is more durable and genuinely improves with age as it softens and moulds to your shoulder. Nylon (polypro) is lighter, more affordable, and washable. Both work well in practice — leather tends to be the better long-term investment for players who keep a strap for years.
How do I stop my guitar strap from slipping off?
Install dedicated strap locks (Schaller, DiMarzio, or Planet Waves Auto Lock) or use strap button security locks — small rubber discs that grip the strap button shank to prevent accidental release during performance.
What strap width should I get?
2" is the standard width and works well for most guitars and players. Choose 3"-4" if you play a genuinely heavy guitar (Les Paul, archtop) for extended sessions, or if you already experience shoulder discomfort during long sets.
Is the Planet Waves Auto Lock strap a good alternative to buying separate strap locks?
Yes, genuinely — its built-in locking mechanism achieves the same security as separate hardware strap locks without requiring you to replace your guitar's existing strap buttons, making it a simpler one-purchase solution.
Does strap height affect tone or just playing comfort?
Primarily playing comfort and technique rather than tone directly — though a strap height that causes you to unconsciously tense your fretting hand or picking arm can indirectly affect dynamics and precision, which is a real, if secondary, tonal consideration.
Is it worth buying a second strap for a second guitar, or should straps be swapped between instruments?
For a gigging setup with multiple guitars used across a set, a dedicated strap per guitar (or at minimum, strap locks installed on every guitar) saves meaningful changeover time and reduces the risk of a rushed, improperly secured swap mid-performance.