Neck Dive / Gibson V
“This is my 2nd strap from red monkey. It is great quality and very comfortable. The extra width eliminated the neck dive on my gibson V.”
Shannon Mooney
Guitar Straps – Handmade Leather
Red Monkey guitar straps are hand-built in Los Angeles from premium leather for players who want stage-ready comfort, durability, and presence. From classic black leather guitar straps to wide leather straps for heavy guitars and bass players, every strap is made to be worn, broken in, and played hard.
Explore our guides to choosing the best guitar straps, finding the right bass guitar strap, comparing wide vs. narrow guitar straps, or starting a custom guitar strap.
Not sure which strap is right for you? →
Guitar Straps Built for the Stage
Most leather guitar straps aren’t really built for playing—they’re built for price.
Thin cuts. Low-grade hides. Mass production.
They look good on day one, but they don’t hold up where it matters.
At Red Monkey Designs, we build handmade leather guitar straps in Los Angeles using premium full-grain leather—designed to handle real weight, real movement, and years of use.
These aren’t straps you replace.
They’re straps you grow into.
What Guitarists Say
★★★★★
Verified Red Monkey Guitar Strap Reviews
Heavy Guitars / Les Paul
“A great guitar must have a great strap. I’ve searched high and low and these are by far the best. So great, this is my 4th. The additional width of the Sundown makes playing my Les Paul for several hours a breeze.”
DuncanCraftsmanship / Leather Quality
“Craftsmanship - The strap is built like a tank and I cannot find a single imperfection. Stitching is solid and rivets are placed perfectly. A lot of time and talent went into making this strap.”
E.L.What Makes the Best Guitar Strap?
Not all leather guitar straps are created equal. The difference comes down to a few critical details:
- Material – Full-grain leather lasts longer, holds its shape, and breaks in over time.
- Width – A wider strap distributes weight and reduces shoulder fatigue.
- Build Quality – Hand-built construction outperforms mass production every time.
- Underside Lining – The right balance of grip keeps your guitar stable without restricting movement.
The best leather guitar straps balance durability, comfort, and control.
Guitar Straps Built to Last
A true leather guitar strap doesn’t wear out—it wears in.
Cheap straps crack, stretch, and fail.
Premium full-grain leather develops character, softens with use, and holds up for years.
This is the difference between replacing a strap and relying on one.
Best Guitar Straps for Heavy Guitars
If you play a heavier instrument like a Les Paul or bass, your strap matters even more.
A properly designed leather guitar strap:
- distributes weight evenly
- reduces shoulder strain
- stays balanced while you play
Anything less, and you’re fighting your gear.
Why Red Monkey Guitar Straps Stand Above the Rest
For over 30 years, Red Monkey Designs has been building leather guitar straps for players who demand more.
- Hand-built in Los Angeles
- Premium full-grain leather
- Designed for real-world performance
These straps aren’t made for the shelf.
They’re made for the stage.
FAQs
Yes. Red Monkey straps have been worn by touring artists and professional musicians across rock, country, metal, pop, and blues. Most recently, Lady Gaga, Shakira have called on Red Monkey for their tours.
Check out our ARTISTS page for some of our clients.
Red Monkey guitar straps have been hand-built for over 30 years right here in Los Angeles using premium full-grain leather and stage-ready hardware.
Wider straps tend to be preferred for heavier guitars and basses because they spread weight across the shoulder. We use very heavy leathers so a wider strap may actually create more shoulder drag when playing for long periods of time.
Narrow straps are great for lighter guitars and vintage style. Slash and Joe Perry, however, like the SLASHER guitar strap for their heavy Les Pauls.
Leather guitar straps are preferred by many players because they are strong, comfortable, long-lasting, and have a classic stage look. Red Monkey straps are made from 100% full-grain leather for premium durability and feel.
The best guitar straps combine comfort, durability, proper width, reliable hardware, and quality materials. Full-grain leather is one of the strongest choices because it breaks in over time while staying durable for years of playing.
Check our SIZING CHART to get the best results.
Most times, we DO NOT recommend using your current pant sizing or another companies belt sizing.
If you're unsure what size strap you need, email us and we'll help guide you through the process of choosing the best size for your height and weight and where the guitar hangs on your body. You can email: rmonkey@redmonkeydesigns.com
Yes, if you need something longer or shorter, simply put your sizing request into the ORDER NOTES section during checkout and we'll take it from there.
Strap locks are a specialty quick release system that many gigging musicians use. They not only help secure your strap to your guitar, they allow for quick release and changing of guitar straps. Many locking systems (e.g.. Dunlop, Schaller, Grover) have a slightly larger diameter hole for mounting. While our traditional guitar strap mounting hole will allow for mounting, we offer to punch the hole larger to make fitment of strap locks easier.
All our gear is HAND-BUILT to order. We generally ask for about 5-7 build days before shipping. Usually we ship more quickly and other times we need a tad more time. We appreciate your patience during our building process.
Due to the hand-built nature of our gear, we do not except returns for refunds. We want all our clients to be happy with their gear purchase. With that said, hand-built goods take time and extra labor to complete so we ask that you be sure to take extra care when ordering. Should you need to return an item, we gladly offer exchanges and or store credit toward future purchases.
If we've not started building your order, we will gladly cancel your order. Please let us know as quickly as possible after placing your order.