"I've had 3 broken wrists so far in my lifetime and the Old Bones wrist braces provide great support for BMX freestyle riding. They wear well and are comfortable."
"Every single compression garment I've ever tried... has ended up hurting me whenever I wear them. These wrist sleeves are amazing, they help so much and don't hurt at all. I am a tattoo artist and lately I have had such a difficult time with drawing and tattooing because of the pain in my wrists."
"Unlike so many other cold pads on the market, the wrist ice sleeve does not fall off! It even provides padding while using the computer."
Wrist Support for Typing, Gripping and Falls
Your wrists never get a day off. They type, grip a bar or a tattoo machine, pull a tap handle, and catch you when you slam. When they get sore, it's usually from the same motion over and over, a fall, or an old break that never felt quite right again. Everything here is built for that: compression you wear while you work or ride, and cold or heat for afterward.
How to Choose
For all-day wear, start with the sleeve. Our wrist compression sleeve (plenty of people call it a compression wrist brace) is knitted compression that hugs the wrist and thumb while your fingers stay free to type, game or grip. It's slim enough for a keyboard, a controller or under wrist guards, and it's the wrist product most of our reviews are about.
For support you can tighten, get the Wrist Wrap. The Wrist Wrap is one adjustable band with a hook-and-loop fastener, so you decide how firm it is: cinched for a heavy set, looser for a long shift. It's made from breathable four-way stretch instead of hot neoprene, fits either wrist, and is thin enough to wear under a glove.
For afterward, use the ice sleeve. The Wrist Ice Sleeve is our wrist ice pack. The whole sleeve is the gel pack, so it wraps your wrist and covers your hand for cold or heat, hands-free, after a tweak or at the end of a long shift. Run it 15 to 20 minutes at a time. For other joints, see all our ice sleeves.
Plenty of people use two: a sleeve or wrap while they're active, and the ice sleeve when they're done. See all three side by side on our wrist braces and sleeves page.
Who Wears Them
Skaters and BMX riders wear the sleeve under their wrist guards. Lifters reach for the wrap on pressing days. Desk workers, gamers and tattoo artists wear the sleeve through long sessions, including plenty of people with carpal tunnel or tendonitis, and bartenders, mechanics and builders wear one through the whole shift.
If the ache runs up into your forearm, see our forearm compression sleeves. For sore elbows, see our elbow sleeves and support.
Sizing
Measure your wrist with a soft tape, not by glove size. For the Compression Wrist Sleeve, measure around the narrowest part of your wrist: 6.5 inches or less is S/M, and 6.5 inches or more is L/XL. Right on the line, size down for a firmer fit or up for an easier one. The Wrist Ice Sleeve uses the same split, measured at the widest part of your wrist. The Wrist Wrap is one size and fits either wrist.
When to See a Provider
Our gear is for wrists that are sore, tired or on the mend, not for a fresh injury. If your wrist swells up after a fall, you can't grip or put weight on it, it looks out of shape, or numbness and tingling keep coming back, get it checked first. Then ask your provider when it's okay to wear a sleeve or wrap.
Working on another joint? Start at shop by body part.
FAQs
Should I get the wrist sleeve or the Wrist Wrap?
Get the Compression Wrist Sleeve if you want steady compression you pull on and forget about, including under wrist guards. Get the Wrist Wrap if you want to set how firm it is, tighter for a heavy lift and looser for a long day, or need something thin under a glove. Some people own both: the sleeve for work and the wrap for the gym.
Can I wear a wrist sleeve for carpal tunnel while I type?
Yes. Plenty of people with carpal tunnel wear the Compression Wrist Sleeve at the keyboard, the controller or the tattoo station. It hugs the wrist and thumb without taking away your dexterity, so you can still type and grip normally. Some also use the Wrist Ice Sleeve at the end of the day. If numbness or tingling is getting worse, check in with a provider.
How do I ice a sore wrist?
Freeze the Wrist Ice Sleeve, slide it on and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. The gel stays flexible when frozen, so it wraps the whole wrist and covers your hand, and the soft cover keeps the cold off bare skin. You can microwave it for heat instead; follow the included instructions for heating times.
Can I wear it under wrist guards or a glove?
Yes. The Compression Wrist Sleeve is slim enough to wear under wrist guards, which is how a lot of skaters and BMX riders use it. The Wrist Wrap is thin enough to go under a lifting or work glove.
How do I find my wrist size?
Go by a soft tape measure, not your glove size: small hands don't always mean small wrists. Both sized products split at 6.5 inches. Measure the Compression Wrist Sleeve at the narrowest part of your wrist and the Wrist Ice Sleeve at the widest. The Wrist Wrap is one size and adjusts to fit.
Do they fit either wrist?
Yes. The Compression Wrist Sleeve, the Wrist Wrap and the Wrist Ice Sleeve all work on your left or right wrist. If both wrists bother you, you'll want one for each.