How To Choose A Weight lifting Belt

By stabilizing your trunk and supporting your spine, a weight lifting belt can help you increase your performance and lower your chance of injury.

Weight lifting belts that are well-designed reduce spinal load and promote appropriate alignment, allowing you to lift more weight.

A weight lifting belt might also protect you from injury on the job if your profession includes heavy lifting.

Weight lifting belts are available in a variety of styles and materials. We considered fit, pricing, construction, and manufacturer’s warranties when compiling this list of the best belts.

What Is a Weight Lifting Belt?

If you’re doing powerlifting or deadlifts, you might want to consider wearing a weightlifting belt. These belts can serve as a reminder to keep your spine in the proper position while also assisting in the stability of the spine during heavy lifting.

5 Best Weight Lifting Belts

ProFitness Genuine Leather Workout Belt

Weight lifting belts made of leather are often pricey and hard to use at first, so when pricing meets shape, function, and comfort, you know you’ve got a winner.

The cylinder-style belt is four inches wide and does not taper or change widths, providing the same degree of support from the back to the abdomen.

It’s significantly thinner than many other leather weight lifting belts, at five-millimeters (mm), which makes it slightly more supple, needing less break-in time and offering a more pleasant first fit.

Below are some of its pros and cons:

Pros

• It comes with a lifetime warranty as well as free returns and exchanges.
• It’s a unisex design that comes in a variety of sizes to fit a variety of body types.

Cons

• The 5-mm thickness may not provide all weight lifters with the support they require.

Price 45.68

Stoic Powerlifting

The classic form and function of a 10-mm leather weight lifting belt with a prong fastening is hard to top if you’re shopping for support.

As for a softer feel and a more comfortable fit, many leather belts have suede inner and outer layers. The Stoic belt, on the other hand, has only a thin inner layer, meaning the 10-mm thickness is constructed of premium-grade leather that is strong and supportive.

Below are Stoic’s pros and cons:

Pros

• It offers a reasonable price for a high-quality, competition-approved leather belt.
• With a 10-mm thickness constructed almost entirely of leather, it provides extra support.
• The company guarantees complete customer satisfaction.

Cons

• The thickness of the leather may make breathing it in more difficult.
• According to some reviews, the fit isn’t true to size, and you may need to size up.

Price 64.81

Element 26 Weight lifting Belt

The self-locking weight lifting belt from Element 26 is made entirely of nylon. It has a quick-release buckle that self-locks. This is designed for quick transitions. It’s also perfect for medium and heavy lifting.

Furthermore, this belt has a lifetime guarantee and is fully approved for usage in USA Weightlifting and CrossFit contests.

Below are some pros and cons of the Element 26 belt:

Pros

• It comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide range of body types.
• It’s legal in both domestic and international contests.
• The nylon construction may be more comfortable.

Cons

• Since nylon does not provide the same degree of support as leather, it may not be suited for all lifters.

Price 26.97

Rogue Powerlifting Belt

A lever closure bridges the gap between the less exact prong closure and the less secure hook-and-loop closure, allowing for more exact fitting and a secure locking system.

This weight lifting belt is competition authorized by the International Powerlifting Federation and is ideal for serious powerlifters.

The 13-mm leather provides adequate support for heavy lifting, while the four-inch cylinder-style gives continuous support from the back to the abdomen.

Below are some of the pros and cons of a Rogue’s belt:

Pros

• Heavy lifting is supported by high-quality materials and construction.
• It comes in a variety of sizes to fit a range of waist sizes.

Cons

• It has a hefty price tag.
• Since the belt has a tendency to run large, you should double-check the sizing.
• Some lifters may find the thick leather and cylinder style unpleasant.

Price 80.48

RDX Padded Weight lifting Belt

A typical criticism about weight lifting belts is that they are unpleasant and dig into the skin, ribs, and hips, especially among individuals who aren’t professional powerlifters or weightlifters.

Padded belts that provide back and abdominal support without the rigidity of a competition-level belt can be beneficial to people who seek support without the pain of a competition-level belt.

The RDX weight lifting belt has a 6.5-inch broad lumbar support region with a little taper through the waist and abdomen. It’s also constructed of polyester fabric with SpongeX padding for a softer, more flexible fit.

Below are some pros and cons of the RDX belt:

Pros

• It’s a comfortable all-around belt for typical strength training sessions.
• It offers a comfortable fit that can be adjusted.
• It’s a good belt for non-competitive strength trainers because of its low price.

Cons

• It doesn’t provide as much overall support and isn’t recommended for heavy lifting.

Price 14.99

Why Should You Use a Weight lifting Belt?

There are two basic functions of a weight lifting belt. It inhibits back hyperextension during overhead lifts and lowers stress on the lower back while the user is lifting in an upright position.

By squeezing the contents of the abdominal cavity, a belt relieves lower back discomfort. The intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) rises, providing extra support in front of the lower back’s bones.

During the lift, the spinal erector muscles, which ordinarily support the lower back, might produce less force. Increased IAP can also help lifters experience less lower back pressure during circuit weight training.

Wearing a belt also makes the lifter more conscious of their back’s position. The physical touch of a belt against the skin causes the lifter to think about their back position and which muscles they need to activate in order to maintain a proper posture.

This belt does not need to be worn too tightly in this scenario to have an effect. Even if IAP and muscle activity are unaltered, some lifters report feeling safer and more confident when wearing a belt.

Types of Weightlifting Belts

There are many different styles of weightlifting belts on the market. Powerlifting belts and bodybuilding/traditional belts are two of the most common types. Velcro belts are easier to put on and take off than leather belts, and bigger belts can provide additional spine support during weightlifting workouts.

If you want to prevent back hyperextension and twisting, a powerlifting-style belt with the same width all the way around is perfect. A traditional belt, on the other hand, can be worn in the usual way with the wide part of the belt at the rear.

How to Choose a Weightlifting Belt – Buyer’s Guide

Try them on and see what you think. Before you buy a belt, it’s a good idea to try on a few different styles. Look for a belt that gives you confidence and fits well on your body.

Consider leather. If you choose a leather weightlifting belt, keep in mind that it will need to be broken in. During this time, you may endure chafing and bruising. This period of time may be worth it to you if you enjoy the feeling of durability that leather brings.

Is the belt contest approved? As for competitive weightlifting events or championships, not all weightlifting belts are allowed. Whenever you buy a belt, double-check the criteria for each event on the tournament’s website.

Take accurate measurements. The weightlifting belt that fits you precisely is the safest and most effective. Don’t base your decision on the waist size of your pants. Instead, while wearing clothes, estimate your midsection where the belt will sit. When buying a weightlifting belt, always follow the manufacturer’s sizing guide.

FAQs

Do You Really Need a Weightlifting Belt?

If you’re doing powerlifting or deadlifts, you might want to consider wearing a weightlifting belt. A weightlifting belt can serve as a reminder to keep your spine in the proper position.

How Tight Should a Weightlifting Belt Be?

The tightness of a lifting belt varies slightly depending on the exercise, but in general, you should have around a finger width of space between the belt and your torso so it’s tight enough to feel around your waist while yet allowing you to breathe easily.

Should You Wear a Weightlifting Belt When Benching?

Most of the world’s best bench pressers use a lifting belt for bench press. Since a lifting belt stabilizes your serratus anterior muscles (essential for shoulder posture), gives you more confidence when lifting heavier weights, and supports your bench press arch, it’s a good idea to wear one.

Conclusion

By raising intra-abdominal pressure and reducing back hyperextension, weightlifting belts can help support the back. They’re best for lifts that require the spinal erector muscles to perform against a lot of resistance. Improper use of weightlifting belts, on the other hand, can have a variety of negative effects, including elevated blood pressure and abdominal muscular weakness. As a result, they should only be used in training on a limited basis.