The flip side of stability and support is also something that needs to be taken into consideration. What good is an ultra-supportive belt if you can’t move enough to complete your lift? The highest-ranking belts on our list pair a high level of support with an unrestrictive design that still allows you to move naturally through the range of motion of a lift. Belts that impede movement or, worse, pinch and cause pain weren’t ranked well if they made the list at all. Comfort The fastening system is one of the most important elements of a weightifting belt. Refer to the section above for more details, but as a general rule of thumb:

Third, a properly-worn weightlifting belt can reduce discomfort and help stabilize the trunk ( 4), allowing you to lift more safely. Bourne, N. D. and Reilly, T. Effect of a weightlifting belt on spinal shrinkage. Br. J. Sports Med. 25:209-212, 1991. Learning to train without a belt, says Horschig, helps you "build a solid foundation of stability so that if you decide to use a belt when reaching for heavier weights one day, you do so with better technique." He goes on. "A belt is designed for serious lifters who want to reach high levels of performance, lift very heavy weights, or maintain power output over multiple reps pf lifting," he says. The belt helps you increase intra-abdominal pressure, helping you stabilize your core during lifts like deadlifts and squats, especially when you're handling more than 85 percent of your one-rep max. It’s also made with nylon, so it can take some punishment and still look and feel great. It’s 4 inches throughout, creating consistent pressure where you need it most.Most weightlifting belts are made either from leather or nylon. You may come across different blends of materials including cloth coverings and foam inserts, but the base pretty much always comes down to leather or nylon. Leather is often considered the gold standard for weightlifting belts, but it isn’t the best material to use in every situation. Nylon works well for highe Wearing a weightlifting belt is not a requirement for weight training. In fact, I’d go so far as to say you don’t need to wear a weightlifting belt at all if you’re not training at near-maximal (meaning above 80% of your max for a specific rep range). It’s actually really important to master beltless training and learn how to engage your core without the support of a weightlifting belt.

Sure, we now know which the top eight weightlifting belts for CrossFit are, but if you’re new to weightlifting belts, you may have quite a few questions. A high-quality piece of equipment that is designed to help improve your deadlift, this belt is ideal if you’re serious about your deadlifts and want a belt that’s easy to secure and provides maximum support. Best Weightlifting Belt for Small Waists: 2POOD 3-inch Weightlifting BeltThe Bear KompleX weightlifting belt magically combines the comfort of a nylon belt and the adjustability of Velcro while remaining as strong as a heavy-duty leather belt. Gymreapers has become one of the most popular names in the fitness accessory space. Their belts, wraps, straps, and sleeves strike a great balance between performance and price. My Belt Fed Strength Lever Belt is one of my prized possessions. Nobody is doing custom like Belt Fed, and their craftsmanship is truly incredible. This husband & wife team takes pride in their work, leaving no stone unturned when bringing your vision to life. You’re a recreational lifter and want a heavier belt for primarily compound movements like squats and deadlifts and you have no desire to cross-train or do CrossFit with your belt investment. Many beginners in CrossFit, powerlifting and Olympic lifting assume that wearing a weightlifting belt automatically allows them to lift more weight. This is not so. Weightlifting belts help you maintain better technique and stability during lifts at very high loads, thus increasing the chance that the lift is successful. I get that that looks like “belt equals more weight,” but again, it’s smartest to view weightlifting belts as a support tool, not as a crutch.

Additionally, this belt has no double-loop fastening system either, as it is with the Fire Team belt mentioned above. Pros As usual, we started by simply scouring the internet and trying to compile a list of every belt in an Excel spreadsheet. Here’s a small portion:If you’re someone who lifts just as a hobby, that’s going to come down to preference. Belts don’t make you stronger or allow you to lift more weights, but they can be a great aid if progressive strength is one of your goals (which we assume it is, since you’re going to the gym on a regular basis). Heavy Stitching: Most lever belts have a nice durable stitching pattern throughout to promote leather and mesh durability. Typically, you’ll see belts use a single-stitch pattern around the outskirts of its material. Less common, this type of mechanism is great for a super tight fit, but the quality of the ratchet component will be key. Cheaper ratchets have a tendency to pop open under high loads of pressure. What Materials Are Weightlifting Belts Made Of?

Position the belt roughly an inch or two above your pelvis, covering as much of your abdominal and spinal erector muscles as possible. You'll want the belt to be tight enough that you can't slide your hand between the belt and your skin, but not so tight that you can't fully expand your torso when taking a deep inhale. The biggest benefit of using a weightlifting belt is that it increases intra-abdominal pressure. When worn correctly, a belt can provide a rigid 360-degree surface to press against, which increases core stability and reduces spinal compression ( 1)( 2). Zink AJ, Whiting WC, Vincent WJ, McLaine AJ. The effects of a weight belt on trunk and leg muscle activity and joint kinematics during the squat exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2001 May;15(2):235-40. PMID: 11710410. A belt is a useful piece of equipment to keep in your supportive strength arsenal. Belts are primarily used to prevent injury and support the torso during heavier movements by supporting proprioception and the creation of intra-abdominal pressure. The use of a belt can provide a strength athlete with extra support around the torso to increase a lift’s safety. Lander JE, Simonton RL, Giacobbe JK. The effectiveness of weight-belts during the squat exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Feb;22(1):117-26. PMID: 2304406.Harman, E. A., et al. Effects of a belt on intra-abdominal pressure during weightlifting. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 21:186-190, 1989. Rather than having a fixed prong, this belt has a prong that can travel up and down. It works easily and has no impact on the amount of tightness once engaged. If you are looking for a durable yet functional belt to assist you in heavier lifts such as deadlifts, squats and bench, the Gymreapers Lever Belt is a great option. A weight belt stabilizes your spine so you can move more weight. 2. Belts Create Better Body Biomechanics