Weight lifting belts are one of the essential sport gear you need to possess especially if you are lifting heavier weights and you are trying to set new personal records. It is for your safety to wear one, because if by any chance your form collapse during your lifts, you may end up living a pitiful life. This article will help you choose the best weight lifting belts for your protection
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** Below, you'll find more detailed reviews, but you can click links above to see current prices and read customer's review on Amazon
HOW DO I FIT A WEIGHT LIFTING BELT?
- Measure your waistline with a measuring tape. I suggest that you measure the belly button level. You might end up having the wrong measurement or size on where you wear your pants.
- When you measure, don’t tuck in or suck in. Just be in a relaxed position.
- Take note of the measurement in either inches or centimeters and purchase the corresponding size for your belt.
REASONS TO WEAR A BELT
1. Spinal Protection
- Using a belt will increase the pressure around the abdominal area. This means is that the abdominal cavity is pressed against the spine to support it on the inside.
- A common misconception is that the belt is the sole support of your lower spine. The belt helps the contraction of the core muscles to support the lower spine.
- Even if you’re packed with minerals, supplements, and multivitamins, it is still advised to wear your weightlifting belt to ensure your safety.
2. Aids Your Form
For example, if you are executing a deadlift and the weight is heavy, your back will curve which can trigger a lot of stress on your lower spine. The belt's function is to keep your lower back straight and help decrease the stress on your lower back.
3. Better Performance
Your weight load will significantly increase due to the aid of a weightlifting belt. If you are lifting over 80% from your one rep max, it is advised to wear a belt.
4. Better Stability
- When you are going down in a squat without the aid of the belt, have a spotter watch your form, and he will eventually tell you that you are leaning forward because it is heavy for you even though you have a good form.
- A weightlifting belt will help you stabilize your core, and this is important when you’re going up in the squat. It will support you on the way up, and prevent sudden form changes along the way.
5. Confidence in your lifts
It could be psychological, but wearing a belt might give you confidence. It can make you feel safer than without wearing one. You might want to add more weights and break that plateau of yours.
DON’TS ABOUT WEIGHT LFTING BELTS
1. Don’t wear a belt if it’s not heavy
If you're wearing a belt and if it's not above 80% of your one rep max, you are just going to fool yourself by not strengthening your core at all. It's not a good practice in wearing weightlifting belts all the time.
2. Don't wear one just for "show"
You might have the best weightlifting belt, but if you're lifting numbers are not impressive, then you are just showing off your brand new good looking belt. Of course, you wouldn’t want to wear one on a spinning bike, recumbent bike or treadmill, would you?
3. Don’t get used to wearing belts
You need to learn and train to strengthen and stabilize your core muscles first, and wearing a belt will delay that. If you're planning to go massive on your lifts remember that weightlifting belts are only for support.
TOP 10 BEST WEIGHT LIFTING BELTS
Product Name | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
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B+ | $$ | ||
A- | $$ | ||
A+ | $$$ | ||
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Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- Composed of lightweight, sturdy materials.
- It has a great padding support.
- It has a great comfortable wear on the body.
- Size could be expandable.
CONS
- The sizes are not according to the charts.
- The Velcro support often pops out.
Our Opinion:
It is potentially an all-around weightlifting belt that helps your back from doing different kinds of Olympics. The 6-inch wide provides comfortable back support that is both recommended for men and women. The belt also caves into the contour of your body, which makes it a convenient belt.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- Highly functional weightlifting belt.
- Sturdy and comfortable fit.
- Secure belt buckle.
- The belt is highly durable
CONS
- The dye on the belt could stain your skin and clothes.
Our Opinion:
The materials used for this product seem promising. The width of the belt is a suitable fit for all kinds of lifters. If their product ever fails you, the manufacturer can replace it. They said that it supports the back correctly, so it orients your body naturally.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- The latch on the belt makes it easier to remove
- The belt is easy to adjust than other belt buckles.
- It has a snug fit around your waist.
CONS
- The belt has an unpleasant odor.
- The sizes are not according to their referred size charts.
Our Opinion:
This belt has a latch-type securing system instead of the old-school buckle belt. What this means is that it allows quicker adjustments and detachments. You won’t have a hard time wrestling with the latch to secure it to your body.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- The belt is light-weight and economical.
- The belt is easy to wear, and it is comfortable around the waist.
CONS
- The belt tends to slip and slide off
- The Velcro is only found on the smaller strap
Our Opinion:
Even though it has a low profile and basic design, it still does its job. It is sturdy and we would recommend it from beginner to advance lifters. The edges are smoothened up so it wouldn’t irritate your skin as much.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- An all-around lifting belt.
- Has a soft padding that makes it light and comfortable to wear.
CONS
- The prongs tend to damage the fabric.
- The belt is stiff and it leaves space at the back.
Our Opinion:
The 6-inch size provides full lower back support. The fabric is soft, and the belt is lightweight.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- The thickness of the belt is reasonable enough for heavy lifting.
- The belt is easy to adjust if you’re planning to bulk or cut overtime.
- The belt has a solid construction.
CONS
- There is an excess at the tail end of the belt that goes past the last hole set.
- The prongs of the belt are too straight that could bring discomfort to the user.
Our Opinion:
It has a wide array of sizes which makes this belt one of the top choices lifters in very weight class. It features a robust and stable structure. The fabric doesn’t fade over time.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- Easy-to-use durable lifting belt.
- It gives considerable support for different types of training.
CONS
- The Velcro can’t handle a heavier load.
CONS
Our Opinion:
This belt allows you to perform different types of exercises, although it is not meant for heavier lifting. If you are looking for a belt that does the job, and supports your back along your workout, this is the belt for you.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- A heavy-duty belt that has a light-weight clip.
- A decent belt that lets you add weight on various exercises.
CONS
- The chain is too thin to handle heavier weights when doing dips.
- Poor welding on the chains as there are still rough edges.
Our Opinion:
This belt is equipped with a chain attachment that allows you to add a weight plate if you’re going to do bodyweight exercises like dips and pull-ups. From the looks of the photo, the chain doesn’t look like it can handle bigger loads.
Via amazon.com
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- The handicraft of the belt is well executed.
- It is a light weight belt, and comfortable to wear.
CONS
- Not consistent with size deliveries.
Our Opinion:
This belt looks promising as it has a simple, but sturdy looking design. You won’t have anyproblems with this belt. It’s a Velcro-type belt, and as we all know, Velcro loses its adhesiveness over time. I would still recommend this belt because it would do its job.
DESCRIPTION
PROS
- The dial allows the belt to be more snug around the waist especially if you’re switching from heavy lifts to body weight movements.
CONS
- The dial gets loose over the duration of usage.
Our Opinion:
That BOA dial is a smart design that allows you to instantly change the adjustment if you’re planning to switch from heavy-lifting to body weight movement exercises. What I'm worried about is that, the dial tends to loosen up while using it during the period of time.
CHOSEN BELT and WHY
Via amazon.com
The belt is professionally manufactured and ensures you to achieve optimal performance. At an affordable rate, this is recommended to advanced lifters and to those who are trying to break their lifting records.
CONCLUSION
It is important to all the lifters to think about their safety first. We have to be cautious about the lifts we do, so that we don’t injure ourselves in the future. No matter how strong you are, you still have to protect yourself. It’s not about how fast your progression is, it’s about being consistent on your workouts. Always remember to write down what you did for the day, and try to do better week after week of your training. Are there belts that we miss, or you don’t disagree with?
Put it in the comments below! Share this article to you friends!
References
- https://generalleathercraft.com/measure-waist-size-pioneer-weightlifting-belts/
- https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/weightlifting-belts-should-you-use-one-pro-and-con
- https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/3-key-benefits-of-wearing-a-weightlfting-belt.html
- https://vitals.lifehacker.com/when-weightlifting-belts-are-necessary-and-when-theyre-1766557417
Hi there,
I’m Gregory Brown, chief editor at ConstructMuscles.com
I spend half of my time in this blog while the other half on being physical fitness trainer. Believing in the great benefits of bodybuilding and fitness to the body, I’ve been motivated to become a fitness enthusiast. It also was what gave me the self-confidence and assurance within myself both physically and psychologically.
