Top 10 Weightlifting and Powerlifting Belts

Before we get to the belt, you have to make sure that you are performing your lifts with the proper form and technique. There are several do’s and don’ts associated with weightlifting form and powerlifting technique and it is good to learn about these techniques so that your weightlifting training is safer and more effective.

You will want to start by lifting an appropriate amount of weight. It means a weight that you are comfortable with and can conceivably lift around fifteen times. As you continue these reps, you will gain strength and can gradually begin to increase the amount of weight you are lifting. If you are a male or female weightlifter, then you have probably heard the term Valsalva maneuver. The Valsalva maneuver is simply the act of trying to exhale with both the nostrils and mouth closed. Doing this will increase the pressure in your ears and chest when you brace before you lift heavyweights. It is also considered a means of helping to equalize the pressure in your ears. During the Valsalva maneuver, there is a reduction of the filling of the right and the left side of the heart. The stroke volume, as well as blood pressure, will fall as the heart rate increases.

Now that we have that out of the way let’s talk about the actual belts. If you are a beginner lifter, you might be confused about the whole belt thing, and why you need it in the first place. First things first, you shouldn’t use a belt for every gym activity you do. Belts work wonders for lifting, but they won’t be so helpful for other exercises. You need to be able to perform the Valsalva maneuver the right way, so the belt you have must not be too wide at the front since that would prevent you from doing it. Technically, the belt acts like a wall that your abs push against.

The limited space acts together with the added force to increase the pressure applied to your spine, stabilizing it. It also makes your torso rigid and a stable foundation that can help you lift better. An ideal belt is three to four inches wide, all-around - anything slimmer than that will not work, and anything wider than that might be too much if you have a smaller frame. Also, you don’t need to wear a belt all the time. Some people argue that you shouldn’t wear a belt at all. You truly need it when you attempt to lift heavy loads. Anything that is below 90% of your one-rep max doesn’t need the help of a belt.

Also, you have to make sure that you are wearing your belt the right way. It has to be tightened as well. You might want to move the belt to a more comfortable position, like under your gut, but avoid doing this since it defeats the whole purpose of the belt. You can do a simple test to determine whether you tightened your belt too much - take a breath and hold it in and place your belt around your abdomen. Squeeze your muscles, and if your belt allows you to squeeze them with actually providing something to squeeze the muscles against, you’re on the right track!

You probably already know that the fitness community is pretty much divided when it comes to the belt. Some believe that you need it, while others think that it hinders your progress. The main benefit of the belt is the increase of intra-abdominal pressure, as we already mentioned before. The weightlifting belt is quite effective at doing this and plays an important role. The pressure keeps your core rock solid while creating a safe session. You can still increase your intra-abdominal pressure by flexing your abs as you breathe, but a belt will increase that pressure significantly, giving your spine proper support.

Something that a weightlifting belt should not be used as is a back brace. However, if you are using your belt the right way, chances are that the strain your back endures will also be lowered, and you won’t feel so fatigued. Again, all of this ties back to the pressure we talked about. A high level of IAP keeps your core tight, thus reducing the strain on your lower back.

The belt can also be a good reminder to maintain proper lifting form. Maintaining proper lifting form can be easier said than done though - there are a lot of little things you should keep watch of, which is especially tough when you are lifting heavy loads. The belt will gently remind you to keep your abs flexed when you attempt the movements.

One thing the belts certainly do is allow you to lift more weight. Some people report being able to lift 10-15% more, instantly, just by wearing a belt! It will make you progress faster, making you bigger and stronger in a shorter period.

So as you can see, belts are quite effective aid. But there are still some things you must keep in mind if you do decide to wear a belt, to remain safe. If you suffer from hypertension or any other heart disease, a belt might not be such a good idea for you. Some studies have determined that wearing a weightlifting belt can cause a spike in blood pressure, most notably diastolic pressure. This spike is only temporary though, and it will be back to normal once you take the belt off. A belt can boost your confidence, and give you a sense of false security. It might be viewed as a good thing, but it can also be a drawback.

You might think that you can lift more than you can handle with the belt strapped around your gut, and you could injure yourself this way! A weightlifting belt can also limit the development of your lower back - at least that is what some people claim. It all boils down to how you use the belt. If you use it as a back brace, you will hinder the growth of the muscles of your lower back, but if you use it the right way, you will have no issues.

One more thing to worry about is the durability of your belt. Finding a good belt that fits you well can be a cumbersome task, and if you need to pay more than you’d like for it than that makes it all the more cumbersome. It is why we want our belts to last a long time - when you already tried so hard to find a good one, it might as well last a long time to save you from searching for a new one again!

There are a few things that affect the life of your belt. The material a belt is made out of plays the most crucial role. Leather belts will, of course, last the most, as leather is quite hardy, to begin with. If you take care of it the right way, and if the construction is good, you can even expect to get a decade out of it! Nylon belts won’t last as much, but they are not as heavy and are more flexible, so you might consider sacrificing durability. The clasp can also affect the life of your belt. If you bought one that has a flimsy closure, you could kiss the belt goodbye as soon as it breaks! You won’t be able to adjust the fit properly with a bad clasp, so your belt would be rendered useless. Luckily, a good belt is easy to find, and you have our guide as proof!

Your weightlifting belt needs to fit you the right way. An ill-fitting belt will not support you the right way, nor will it let you lift using proper form. It all creates a chance for you to injure yourself, which is something that you need to avoid.

First things first, you need to look at the width of your belt. For powerlifting, you need a belt that is around four inches wide, consistently. Weight lifting belts are slightly different - The back support is usually 4-inches wide, but it tapers off at the front. Some belts have extra padding in the back, but that's only for your comfort and nothing else. This width plays a significant role since powerlifting and weightlifting need different types of support. If you like to do both things, there are belts specifically designed for that as well, so you won’t need to look at two different styles.

The thickness also affects the fit. Usually, belts are 10 to 13 millimeters thick. A thicker belt will be stiffer, and this stiffness keeps your spine from bending. When you're first buying a belt, deciding which one is better can be a tough task. More support sounds like a better choice, but in reality, for a beginner, this thickness can be too much. Thicker weights are the best for people who want to lift super heavy loads. But even the huge lifters like to use the 10mm belts! You can always give the 13mm a go, and see what works best for you.

The material can also affect the fit to some degree, but we will discuss that in greater detail in the materials section. And finally, you have to know your measurements before buying the belt. You need to measure your waist correctly, at the navel. Measure your waist firmly, and be sure that the tape goes evenly around. You don’t want the belt to pinch you when you lift! That could throw you off, and you could hurt yourself. All in all, you have to figure out what works the best for you-you have to make sure that the fit is right!

Weightlifting belts are traditionally made out of leather. Today, however, many belts are made out of nylon, foam, suede, and feature many inserts made out of a huge variety of materials. But essentially the base material for every belt you can find today is either leather or nylon, and those are the two types of material we will be discussing.

The very first difference between the two is the buckling system. Leather belts have three different styles of the system: single-prong, double-prong, some are even triple-pronged, and levers. The ends of the belt will have holes, just like your regular leather belts do. The buckles are usually made out of stainless steel, to make the belts even more durable. The buckles, prongs, and levers are strong and are made to avoid any bending while you lift. On the other hand, nylon belts also have steel buckles, but only on the fastening section on the belt. The strap that does the actual tightening will be nylon or cloth, and it will be more adjustable than the leather buckling system.

The construction of the belts is also different. Leather belts will be thicker than nylon belts. It means that they will make your torso more rigid and will give your spine more support. Leather belts are thicker because multiple layers of leather are constructed together and then enclosed with either single or double stitching. The thickness and stitching play a significant role in the belt's durability as well. Nylon belts are much thinner than leather belts, and the various stitching patterns depend on the style of the belt.

Leather belts are better for you if you lift the serious weight. It is because they give you the most stability, providing you with the chance to lift your max every time. Nylon belts are better if you are into CrossFit, functional fitness, or if you are a recreational lifter. They are lighter, not so rigid, and quite versatile, which also makes them great for beginners. So your perfect belt material is the one that caters to your needs!