Weve already discussedthe benefits of weightlifting belts, so well get right to your options in this post.
Most weightlifting belts will set youback $50toover $100, so its not a trivial investment.
Then the rest is just personal preference.
Powerlifting Belts vs. Weightlifting Belts
Youll find two main kinds of belts:powerlifting beltsandweightlifting belts.
Check out the video to get an idea of the visual differences.
Generally speaking, powerlifting belts are for people who frequently lift heavy insquatsanddeadlifts, aka powerlifting movements.
Weightlifting belts are for people who do Olympic lifting (snatchesandclean and jerks), CrossFit, and bodybuilding.
Going with a belt that matches your style of training is the quickest way to pare down your choices.
The most obvious feature that differentiates the two kinds of belts is their width.
Those different widths are intentional design choices.
When you do, you create greater intra-abdominal pressure to protect your spine under such heavy loads.
Thickness provides that stiffness to keep your spine from bending like a Slinky.
Its usually reserved for folks who plan on moving some otherworldly weight.
Most lifters, even the really strong ones, typically lift with a 10.
If youre not convinced, give the 13 a whirl.
Youll know when its too thick because youll likely have a hard time getting into proper lifting positions.
For powerlifting, most lifters that I talked tosuggest leather.
Leather belts tend to better constructed, more durable, and stiffer.
Grab a tape measure and measure firmly, making sure the tape goes level around your torso.
And be honest: dont call it 32 inches when its actually 34.
Also, you want to try on belts of varying widths.
There are 4-inch wide belts, but you’re able to also find belts that are3 inchesor2.5 incheswide.
For most people, 4 inches is that sweet-spot width between the rib cage and hip bone.
If thats the case, you might like a belt thatsslightly tapered in the front.
The video above by YouTube channelA7 Intlshows you the pros and cons of each.
A lever-style can be handy because it cuts down the number of steps.
Once you set your desired tightness, you just put the belt on and tap the belt into place.
Its great if you use the exact same tightness each and every time for any lift.
More specifically,in a deadliftyou might find wearing it around the mid stomach to be more comfortable.
During a squat, you might like it above the iliac crest.
Finally, keep in mind that your new belt needs to be broken in thesame way a shoe does.
Illustration by: Sam Woolley
