When you think about strength training, it’s doubtful that the first muscle that comes to mind is the neck. However, neck muscles are muscles all the same and can most certainly be trained and strengthened.
The best way to accomplish this is to use a neck or head harness. Neck harnesses are interesting contraptions that you secure around your head. They are made to attach a weight plate so you can do various exercises to quite literally workout your neck.
The neck is a vital part of the body, so it’s important to treat it properly and use only the best equipment. Improper exercising or use of harnesses can lead to serious injuries and intense pain.
For that reason, not only have we created this guide to lead you some of the best neck harnesses for strength training, but we’ve provided you with relevant information concerning these tools and how you can best use them.
5 Best Neck Harness for Training
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Benefits of a Neck & Head Harness
Neck training is very beneficial to a variety of athletes, like boxers, wrestlers, football players, rugby players, soccer players, and MMA fighters. Here is a brief list of benefits these athletes and others can experience from neck training:
- Lessens risk of concussions
- Reduces whiplash injuries
- Prevents spinal injuries
- Better balance
- Head stabilization
- Less neck pain
- Decreases chance of nerve damage
As you can see, many benefits come from engaging in direct neck training and strengthening. Even if you are not an athlete, several of these benefits can still be well worth the work. From less general pain to greater protection from concussions, the neck is an important muscle to focus on.
Selecting Your Head Straps
Since the neck is such an essential muscle, injuring it or training it the wrong way can do some damage and cause you serious pain; no one like having neck pain. Take a look at these essential details you should look for when buying a neck harness, as they could make or break your purchase.
Durability
When using a neck harness for strength training, you’re going to be attaching weights and moving and lifting them. Therefore, it is essential that the neck or head hardness you choose is made from quality, durable materials.
Imagine your harness snapping or ripping under the weight of your workout. Not only does this mean you have to invest in a new harness, but you could cause injury to yourself in the process.
Look for a sturdy harness made from quality materials. You will never regret spending the extra money on a harness that won’t break.
Adjustability
Everyone is a different size, and your athletic and training gear should fit properly. It would be nearly impossible to make a one size fits all neck harness, so you want to make sure that your harness is highly adjustable.
Your harness should also be easy to adjust. If you need to fix it while you’re in the middle of a workout, it shouldn’t derail your whole routine. Look for smooth straps with secure clasps.
Comfort
We’ve already mentioned how important it is to practice proper training methods to protect your neck from injury. Along with that comes comfort. If your neck or head harness is uncomfortable, that’s a sure sign that something isn’t right.
Rather than pushing through the discomfort of the wrong harness, you should find one that fits comfortably on your head and neck. That way, you can enjoy good workouts and avoid further injuries.
Just like any other exercise equipment, it should help you, not hurt you.
Neck Harness Reviews
After hearing a little information on head and neck harnesses, let’s get into the products. Using some of our guiding tips, we’ve put together our top five favorite harnesses for strengthening your neck.
1. DMoose Fitness Neck & Head Training Harness
Pros
- High-quality materials and construction for long-lasting use
- Comfortable and adjustable
Cons
- D ring design causes weights to sway
Not only does the DMoose Fitness Neck and Head Training Harness come in five different colors to suit your style, but it’s made to be durable, comfortable, and functional.
This DMoose harness had been designed to improve long-term stability. The durable construction features an adjustable strap made with double stitching to hold it all together strongly around your head.
Additionally, the steel chain that holds your weights is attached in the same way, serving to reduce stress on the seams and minimize wear and tear on the product.
Made from neoprene material, this harness is not only tough, but it’s comfortable. With the adjustable feature paired with comfy materials, wearers get increased stability and quality workouts. We also love that these harnesses are stylish as well as good for the environment and mildew resistant.
2. Title Neck Strengthener
Pros
- Offers a full range of exercise motions with comfortable, adjustable attachment
- Eliminates the need for chains or weights
Cons
- You can’t add or remove weight, and the product covers your eyes
The Title Neck Strengthener is less of a harness and more of a physical weight that attaches to your head, thus strengthening the neck.
Weighing in at ten pounds, this uniquely designed product secures around the top of your head across your eyes. Since it holds its own weight, there’s no need to attach additional weights for your workout.
With no chains in the way or heavy weights dangling, you can use this strengthener to perform a wide range of workouts in various positions. Use it to do forward, backward, and side-to-side exercises.
The innovative design is completely adjustable and easy to use, featuring a hook and loop closure.
3. Iron Mind Hercules Headstrap
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Solid straps for reliable workouts
Cons
- Comes with unclear instructions
The IronMind Hercules Headstrap is fully functional and ready for training all sides of your neck. The top of this product sits and wraps around the top of your head with a fully adjustable strap. Made from lightweight fabric, this head harness is not only comfortable and compact, but it is durable and strong.
The straps hang down from the side and meet at an additional strap designed to hold various weights. While we don’t recommend you try it, these straps are tested and approved to carry over one ton worth of weight.
With an aluminum frame and a unique color scheme, you can look good and feel confident using this harness to significantly up your neck training game.
4. RDX Head Harness
Pros
- Maximum comfort through padding and cushioned design
- Easy to adjust and fits snug to the head
Cons
- The top strap is not adjustable as side strap is
Functional, cool, and discrete are all excellent terms to describe the RDX Head Harness. While some harnesses portray a clunky, goofy kind of look, the RDX harness takes it down a notch to offer a sleek, non-invasive design for your most confident workout.
Handcrafted, this product is made for long-term use and gives it wearers high levels of resilience and durability. The headpiece is made with a triple layer of padding the assists with shock and provides incredible comfort where you need it most.
Along with the padding is soft padding and cushioning. This could possibly be the most comfortable neck workout you have ever experienced.
The headpiece is also adjustable and uses a super easy hook and loop system for a no-hassle experience and a solid, secure fit for a worry-free workout.
Finally, the HG-steel chains are built tough and can be attached to any weight for a customized training session.
5. Body Solid Nylon Head Harness
Pros
- Made from quality materials that are built to last
- Contains shock absorbing padding to lessen injuries like cuts and chaffing
Cons
- Product measurements run small
Using only high-quality materials, the Body Solid Nylon Head Harness is an excellent tool for athletes looking to strengthen their neck from all angles.
The double nylon construction is paired with extra-heavy D rings and a steel chain to allow you to use this harness with any kind of weight at any size.
With an adjustable strap, you can get the perfect fit for comfort along with the confidence that your harness won’t slip or move. You can also use it with high and low pulley machines.
The harness also includes neoprene padding, which is designed to absorb shock as well as mitigate cuts and chaffing. Not only can you train and strengthen, but you can do so without irritating abrasions or other injuries.
Neck Harness Exercises
There are a few different harness exercises that can help strengthen your neck. The first is used to strengthen the back of the neck. To do this, follow these steps:
- Attach the harness to your head securely.
- Lie down on a bench or some kind of platform on your stomach.
- Attach the weight to the harness.
- Slowly lift your neck up until you’re looking upwards, then slowly look back down.
- Repeat the previous step for your preferred number of reps and sets.
You can also use your neck harness to strengthen the front of your neck. To do this, use the same steps above, but lie on your back instead of your front. This will target the muscles in front of your neck.
Seated Harness Exercise
You can also use your harness to perform seated exercises for your neck. Follow these steps to perform a basic seated harness exercise:
- Sit at the end of a bench with your feet slightly wider than shoulder length apart and your toes pointed outwards.
- Place your neck strap and weight on the floor directly in front of you.
- Bend down until your torso is almost parallel with the floor.
- Strap the harness to your head in this position with the weight still on the floor but attached to the harness.
- Grab the weight as you sit back up straight. Slowly release the weight and place your hands on your knees. This will be your starting position for the exercise.
- To perform the movement, lower your neck slowly until your chin touches your chest, breathing in as you do so.
- Exhale and raise your neck back to starting position.
- Repeat the last two movements for your preferred number of reps and sets.
Avoiding Injury Using Your Harness
The key to building neck strength is to do so gradually and steadily. You should never rush into any kind of lifting too quickly. Your muscles need to grow before you move to heavier weights.
Start out small. Everyone needs to start somewhere, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed of using smaller weights. Don’t push yourself to lift too much too fast. This can lead to severe injuries such as muscle strain and pulled muscles.
Do plenty of research. If you have access to a trainer at a gym, ask them for tips before jumping blindly into a new exercise. It can be beneficial to also watch videos.
Perform every workout carefully and intentionally. Focus on your movements and take your time. Maintain a steady level of commitment and only increase your weight when you’re sure that you’re ready.
Remember to get enough rest to let your muscles heal. A healthy diet can also contribute to healthy muscle growth and maintenance.
Wrap-Up
As you can see from this list, there are plenty of options for anyone who wants to strengthen their neck muscles and achieve all of the benefits we discussed earlier.
From the select list above, one of our favorites is the RDX Head Harness. We especially like this option over some of the others because it features a triple layer of comfort padding that serves to make the harness extra comfortable for short and long-term use.
In addition to that, the harness is very durable and adjustable with an easy hooking system and strong chains.
Feel free to use this list to select your next head and neck harness. Remember that neck strength training, though not extremely prevalent, is very important in terms of preventing pain and injuries.
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