Forearm Forklift 2-Person Lifting Straps — Up to 800 lb, Crisscross Design

Forearm Forklift 2-Person Lifting Straps overview

The Forearm Forklift 2-Person Lifting Straps are a pair of 3-inch-wide polypropylene webbing straps, each 9 feet 4 inches long with three arm-hole loop positions per end — 12 preset combinations giving up to 48 inches of adjustment to fit different lifters and loads. You crisscross the straps under the item being carried, and each person slips an arm through a loop, creating 8 points of contact for balance. The design routes the item's weight onto the forearms instead of the lower back, which is meant to help keep the spine more neutral during a two-person carry rated up to 800 lb. See our best ergonomic equipment guide for more on reducing manual-handling strain.

One claim worth a closer look: the straps are widely marketed as "OSHA accepted" to reduce back injuries. OSHA doesn't run a formal product-acceptance or certification program for lifting straps — that's the manufacturer's own characterization, not an independently verifiable government certification, and we're presenting it as such rather than restating it as fact. The mechanical principle behind the straps (spreading a load across two people's forearms with better leverage) is sound, and the manufacturer's marketed "up to 66% lighter" feel is their claim, not an independently tested measurement. For a different carry style, see the Forearm Forklift shoulder harness or the general-purpose lifting and moving straps harness.

Where it fits

It's built for moving day, appliance delivery, and warehouse or jobsite material handling where two people need to carry a heavy, awkward item — furniture, mattresses, major appliances, crated equipment — without a dolly or lift. It's not a substitute for mechanical lifting equipment on very heavy or oddly balanced loads, and it's designed as a 2-person system, not for solo use. Pair it with a solid grip — our leather work gloves and impact-resistant gloves guides cover hand protection for handling furniture edges and corners, and knee pads help if the move involves kneeling to load a low truck bed. General PPE ground rules are in our OSHA 1910.132 PPE requirements guide.

Pros & cons

Specifications

Related guides

• Best ergonomic equipment
• Best leather work gloves
• Best impact-resistant gloves
• Best knee pads
• OSHA 1910.132 PPE requirements

Related resources

• Forearm Forklift shoulder harness lifting system
• Forearm Forklift lifting & moving straps harness
• Shop ergonomics
• Read the full 2-person straps review
• Read the shoulder harness review

Frequently asked questions

What are these straps made of, and how long are they?

3-inch-wide polypropylene webbing, 9 feet 4 inches (112 in) long per strap, each with three arm-hole loop positions that give 12 preset combinations for up to 48 inches of adjustable length to fit different-size lifters and loads.

How do the straps actually work?

You crisscross the straps under the item being carried, and each person slips an arm through a loop. That creates 8 points of contact for balance and routes the load's weight onto the forearms rather than the lower back, which is meant to help keep the spine more neutral than a bent-over lift-and-carry.

What's the weight capacity?

Up to 800 lb per the manufacturer's current listings for this exact strap and color family. That's the rated capacity for the pair working together on a properly balanced load — not a per-person figure, and real-world capacity still depends on the item's size, balance, and how well it's secured.

Is it really "OSHA accepted"?

That phrase appears widely in the manufacturer's and retailers' marketing copy, but OSHA doesn't operate a formal product-acceptance or certification program for lifting straps the way it does, for example, NRTL listing for certain electrical equipment. Treat "OSHA accepted" as the manufacturer's own characterization rather than an independently verifiable government certification.

Does it really make loads feel 66% lighter?

That figure comes from the manufacturer's marketing, not an independent test we've verified. The mechanical principle behind it — spreading the load across two people's forearms with better leverage — is real, but treat the specific percentage as a marketing claim rather than a measured result.

How much do the straps weigh, and what color are they?

About 2 lb for the pair, and they come in orange. They pack down small enough to keep in a moving kit or vehicle.

What items are these straps meant for?

Furniture, major appliances, mattresses, and other heavy, awkward household or jobsite items that are easier to carry with two people than one — moving day, appliance delivery, warehouse and jobsite material handling.

Can they be used on stairs?

They're designed for carrying, and moving heavy items on stairs is inherently higher-risk regardless of the tool — go slowly, communicate with your carrying partner, and consider a dolly or professional movers for a difficult stairwell rather than relying on straps alone.

Do I need gloves with these?

Grip gloves aren't required for the straps themselves, but they help with handling the item's edges and corners during the carry — see our work glove guides for options that pair well with lifting and moving tasks.

Does using lifting straps replace good lifting technique?

No. The straps change how the load is carried, but proper body mechanics — bending at the knees, keeping the load close, communicating with your carrying partner, and not twisting under load — still matter and reduce injury risk regardless of the tool.

How do I store and maintain the straps?

Keep them dry and coiled or loosely folded rather than knotted; inspect the webbing and stitching for fraying or damage before each use, and retire a strap that shows cuts, abrasion through the webbing, or damaged stitching rather than continuing to load it.

Is this a one-person or two-person product?

It's designed as a 2-person system — one strap loop for each lifter, crisscrossed under the item. Using it solo changes the load distribution and balance it's designed around, so it's intended and rated for use by two people together.

Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety. Specifications reflect Forearm Forklift's published data for the L74995CN 2-person straps; "OSHA accepted" and "66% lighter" are the manufacturer's own marketing characterizations, not independently verified certifications or measurements — always pair any lifting aid with proper body mechanics.