A standard piece of apparatus you’ll see gym-goers put on is a weightlifting belt. They arrive in quite a lot of supplies and types — starting from nylon belts with hook-and-loop closures to leather-based belts with locking prongs — with the aim of placing stress in your core and serving to to maintain your physique secure, so that you’re much less more likely to wobble and maintain an damage throughout heavy lifts.
So, must you spend money on one?
For most individuals, power coaching doesn’t require the assist of a weightlifting belt. In any case, your physique comes geared up with its personal inside weightlifting belt — the transverse abdominis.
“Strengthening this muscle together with the remainder of your core can assist stabilize not solely your backbone, but additionally your total physique,” says Trevor Thieme, CSCS. “And, to be trustworthy, if a load is so heavy which you can’t handle it safely and with good kind with out the assist of a weightlifting belt, then you definitely in all probability shouldn’t be lifting it.”
Sporting a weightlifting belt additionally doesn’t train your physique the way to deal with heavy masses by itself in actual life conditions. In different phrases, it doesn’t improve your “useful health,” so until you’re a powerlifter, we suggest you forgo the belt.
However if you’re a powerlifter, or really feel a powerful must put on a weightlifting belt, you possibly can’t go fallacious with these choices.
1. Rogue Health Nylon Lifting Belt
WIDTH: 5 inches
FITS WAIST SIZES: 26 to 46 inches
PRICE: $37
This contoured, versatile nylon and foam belt makes use of a hook-and-loop locking system and has a three-inch webbing assist strap. It’s a favourite amongst CrossFitters, however if you happen to plan on doing Olympic-style weightlifting, you might have considered trying a extra supportive choice.
Get it on Amazon.
2. ProFitness Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 2 to 4 inches (tapered)
FITS WAIST SIZES: 24 to 49 inches
PRICE: $35
If consolation is excessive in your precedence record, this 7 mm-thick weightlifting belt is made with pliable, “pre-broken-in” leather-based and suede. The tapered design helps to maintain it from digging in to your ribs or hips, and the two-pronged buckle and tapers vary from 4 inches vast within the again to 2 inches vast within the entrance.
Get it on Amazon.
3. Darkish Iron Health Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 4 inches
FITS WAIST SIZES: 23 to 49 inches
PRICE: $35–$50
This modern black-and-red leather-based weightlifting belt makes use of a two-pronged buckle and may reportedly assist heavy lifts as much as 600 kilos. The 4 mm-thick buffalo conceal leather-based is mushy and comparatively simple to interrupt in however nonetheless offers comfortable assist.
Get it on Amazon.
4. Rogue Health Ohio Lifting Belt
WIDTH: 4 inches
FITS WAIST SIZES: 21 to 45 inches
PRICE: $143
This handcrafted belt options 10 mm-thick, vegetable-tanned leather-based for heavy-duty assist, plus a single-prong buckle design for simple adjusting. As with most leather-based belts, count on a short “break-in” interval because the leather-based softens and contours to your physique.
Get it at Rogue Health.
5. Iron Bull Energy Powerlifting Belt
WIDTH: 4 inches
FITS WAIST SIZES: 25 to 50 inches
PRICE: $90
This powerlifting belt is out there in black, blue, grey, purple, inexperienced, purple, and pink to coordinate along with your exercise gear (or your temper). The ten mm-thick suede leather-based offers most assist, and a two-pronged buckle ensures the proper match.
Get it on Amazon.
6. Schiek Mannequin 2004 Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 4.75 inches
FITS WAIST SIZES: 23 to 50 inches
PRICE: $60
This nylon weightlifting belt is all about versatility — it’s obtainable in a number of colours, suits a variety of waist sizes, and has a Velcro closure for fast changes. The patented form is designed to contour round your ribs and hips for higher consolation and suppleness, which is good if you happen to’re transferring between heavy lifts and different power workout routines.
Get it on Amazon.
7. RitFit Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 6 inches
FITS WAIST SIZES: 22 to 59 inches
PRICE: $20–$26
This finances choose is constructed from nylon, a water-proof foam core, and a hook-and-loop closure. It’s the widest weightlifting belt on this record, however the contoured design helps to maintain it comfy.
Get it on Amazon.
What to Contemplate When Selecting a Weightlifting Belt
If you’d like additional assist to your heavy lifts, right here’s what to search for in a belt.
1. Locking mechanism
Weightlifting belts have three forms of locking mechanisms: lever buckle, Velcro, or pronged buckle.
In case you suppose you’ll need to regulate your belt mid-set, a pronged buckle belt is your greatest wager because you received’t should take it off to take action. If you’d like a belt you possibly can rapidly take away, a lever buckle or Velcro closure is greatest.
2. Width
Weightlifting belts differ in width from 4 to 6 inches. Some have a contoured or tapered design, whereas cylindrical ones are the identical width all the way in which round.
The very best width is a matter of private consolation. It ought to be supportive with out sliding or limiting your vary of movement.
3. Materials
Most belts are both leather-based or nylon. Leather-based tends to last more if you happen to hold it conditioned, however is usually heavier and extra inflexible than nylon. Due to their rigidity, leather-based belts are greatest for powerlifters.
Nylon belts have a tendency to supply extra flexibility, which could be useful if you happen to’re carrying it as you progress between power coaching workout routines.