6 Greatest Weightlifting Belts of 2025, In keeping with Trainers
In case you spot a fitness center goer with a large belt over their shirt, they’re not essentially giving a nod to early 2000s Disney stars. Extra possible, they’re sporting a weightlifting belt to assist them keep secure whereas pushing their limits.
The very best weightlifting belts assist maintain your torso in place throughout workout routines to create spinal stability, Domenic Angelino, CSCS, ACE-CPT, a licensed private coach and train scientist, tells SELF. “Usually, the muscular tissues of your core are solely liable for doing this, however these muscular tissues typically fail to do their job if you’re utilizing very heavy weights,” he says. “A great belt drastically reduces the work your core muscular tissues have to do to maintain your backbone secure.”
Choices embrace easy nylon types and premium leather-based belts—so, how do you select? We requested the professionals and examined some prime belts ourselves to make your determination as simple as attainable.
Our prime picks
- Greatest IPF-Accredited Belt: Iron Bull Power Premium 10mm 4” Lever Belt, $105
- Greatest Fundamental Belt: REP USA Premium Leather-based Lifting Belt, $95
- Greatest for Superior Lifters: Dominion Power Suede 3-Inch Weightlifting Belt, $165
On this article
Store the most effective weightlifting belts
These choices could have your again throughout heavy lifts.
Greatest IPF-Accredited Belt: Iron Bull Power Premium 10mm 4” Lever Belt
Iron Bull Power
Premium 10mm 4” Lever Belt
To placed on a lever weightlifting belt, you first must align the buckle with holes within the belt, then press down on a lever to tighten and lock the belt into place. Whereas some folks love this design, not everybody’s a fan. “Lever belts can typically really feel a bit uncomfortable, particularly in the event you decide the unsuitable measurement,” Angelino says.
For these within the former camp, Angelino recommends Iron Bull Power’s Premium Lever Belt. “It has met the Worldwide Powerlifting Federation’s (IPF) requirements, and as such, it is one of many most secure and handiest choices you might go together with,” he says.
The belt comes unassembled, and you’ll want to use a screwdriver to connect the buckle onto the belt. That is essential because of the nature of lever belts; you’ll want to place the buckle primarily based in your sizing. I discovered it simple to place along with the assistance of a Youtube video (and I’m not even that nice at assembling Ikea furnishings). Throughout testing, I rapidly realized that I’m a lever belt lady as a result of I like how simple it’s to realize a decent match with them.
Sizes: S to 3XL | Materials: Leather-based
Greatest Fundamental Belt: REP USA Premium Leather-based Lifting Belt
Rep Health
Premium Leather-based Lifting Belt
A easy design may be loads efficient. Living proof: this leather-based belt, with a single row of notches. “It is a actually strong leather-based weightlifting belt,” says Angelino. “It’s simple to get caught up in on the lookout for gear with a fancier design, however on the finish of the day, what’s most necessary is that the belt will increase spinal stability in a approach that means that you can raise extra weight than you in any other case would safely. This belt does simply that.”
I like that it has 10 holes (greater than the opposite belts I attempted), which supplies you numerous leeway with the sizing in the event you achieve or reduce weight—or order incorrectly. The belt has a “roughed inside” to forestall slippage, and I did discover that it stayed in place (like the entire different leather-based belts I attempted). My one grievance is that the leather-based is fairly stiff, so it’s tough to get a decent match and power the top of the belt by way of the loop within the buckle.
Sizes: S to 3XL | Materials: Leather-based
Greatest for Superior Lifters: Dominion Power Suede 3-Inch Weightlifting Belt
Dominion Power Coaching
Suede 3-Inch Weightlifting Belt
This “extremely efficient” belt is well worth the funding in the event you’re a complicated lifter, says Angelino. The corporate hand crafts them in small batches in a store in Edgewater, Florida.
Of all of the belts I examined for this story, this one was my favourite. Because it measures 3 inches huge—making it thinner than another belts on this record—it match my brief torso nicely and didn’t creep up into my decrease ribs. (For reference, I’m 5 toes two inches tall.) The suede has a high-end really feel, and the buckle was simple for me to regulate. Simply as Angelino promised, it felt supportive throughout my exercises.
Sizes: XS to XL | Materials: Leather-based
Extra nice choices
You love to do your analysis—we’re into that. Discover much more belts we examined under.
Aspect 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt
Aspect 26
Self Locking Weightlifting Belt
Power and powerlifting coach Laura Su, CSCS, recommends this belt for weightlifting rookies. “It is a mushy belt, which is usually a little much less intimidating and will help people get used to extra strain round their center (which may be uncomfortable for some folks),” she says. Bonus: It’s additionally quite a bit inexpensive than your typical leather-based belt.
You wrap the top of the belt by way of a steel buckle to lock it in place, so yow will discover the correct match with out having to decide on between units of holes. The surplus material is held in place by Velcro. Word: Velcro is not the most safe, particularly in the event you’re lifting actually heavy masses (extra on this later)—one more reason why this belt is healthier for rookies who’re lifting lighter.
And I can attest to Su’s declare that the nylon affords much less strain (however feels extra comfy) than the leather-based belts I attempted.
Sizes: XS to 2XL | Materials: Nylon
SBD 10mm Lever Belt
This belt is offered in a large measurement vary from XS to 5XL, accommodating waist measurements from 22.5 to 59 inches. What’s actually distinctive is the belt’s lever closure, which has the adjustability of a prong belt. This lets you alter the belt with out having to hold round a screwdriver, not like with different lever belts. Icing on the cake: It’s IPF-approved and has a suede lining.
Sizes: XS to 5XL | Materials: Leather-based
Fitness center Reapers 13mm Lever Belt
Gymreapers
13mm Lever Belt
Measuring 13 millimeters huge, this belt is additional thick. “The ‘most intense’ belt yow will discover (which is authorized in main powerlifting federations) is a 13-millimeter belt, like this one,” Su says. Extra particularly, it’s accepted for IPF, Worldwide Powerlifting League (IPL), United States Powerlifting Affiliation (USPA), and USA Powerlifting (USAPL) competitions, based on the model. “Some folks choose the 10-millimeter over the 13-millimeter, as a consequence of consolation and torso size,” Su notes. Like a few of our different picks, the belt’s internal lining is suede, and it encompasses a lever closure.
Sizes: S to 3XL | Materials: Leather-based
What to think about when selecting a weightlifting belt
Consultants suggest preserving the following tips in thoughts.
In case you persist with mild weights, you might wish to save your self the cash altogether. Belts are usually helpful for individuals who go heavy for workout routines that require spinal stabilizations, corresponding to deadlifts, says Angelino.
“Belts are most helpful for somebody who lifts a considerable amount of weight, which is not essentially the identical as lifting essentially the most weight that you would be able to,” he says. “Somebody who is simply robust sufficient to squat 100 kilos will profit much less from a belt than somebody who is robust sufficient to squat 500 kilos.” He provides, “as such, it is normally advisable to only use belts if you’re doing a near-maximal set or if you’re involved a couple of threat of harm.”
Comfortable, nylon belts can work nicely for many who are new to weightlifting belts, since they really feel extra comfy than leather-based, Su says. I appreciated that the nylon belt that I attempted was quite a bit lighter to hold round in my fitness center bag too. “[A leather] 10-millimeter belt is a step up from the mushy Velcro belt. It offers extra rigidity and extra to push in opposition to if you brace,” Su says.
You don’t desire a weightlifting belt to pop off mid train, so the belt’s closure is a significant factor. Your choices are normally Velcro, a standard buckle, or a lever.
Velcro is mostly the least safe, Angelino says. “You may put your self at extreme threat of harm in the event you’re sporting a belt and it malfunctions mid-set,” he says. “The one professional of a Velcro belt is that it is tremendous simple to placed on, however that is not that necessary in the long term.”
Private desire can information your alternative between a buckle or lever, believes Angelino. “Lever belts are fairly simple and fast to placed on, and are extremely steady, however they have an inclination to have a shorter lifespan than buckle belts,” he says. “That being stated, prime quality lever belts are generally utilized by powerlifters and are sometimes efficient.” Extra conventional buckle closures “provide a extra pure feeling match to many,” Angelino says.
How we picked these belts
I needed to compile the most effective of the most effective, so I crowdsourced weightlifting professionals’ favorites, understanding they’d have loads of firsthand data. Then, I examined most of their picks to create this remaining record. I wore the belts throughout barbell deadlifts and again squats, noting how simple they have been to placed on and take off, how a lot strain I felt from every, and the way comfy they felt.
Often requested questions
What measurement weightlifting belt is greatest for me?
Belts are sometimes obtainable in a spread of sizes (e.g., XS to XXL)—you will normally discover that manufacturers have measurement charts with particular waist measurements, so you recognize which to decide on. “In case you’re on the border between two waist measurement ranges, at all times go for the tighter belt. If a belt is just too free, it will not be as secure,” Angelino says.
You’ll additionally wish to take note of the thickness of the belt, which is normally listed in millimeters. “If you wish to do explosive train, like energy cleans, a belt thickness under 10 millimeters is good,” says Angelino. “If you wish to do slower and heavier workout routines, you will discover extra assist utilizing a belt thickness above 10 millimeters.”
Then, there’s width (that is typically measured in inches or centimeters). “Belts which can be about 4 inches in width are extra frequent for these doing explosive actions, and 6 inches are extra frequent for these doing heavier and slower actions,” Angelino says.
Are costly lifting belts value it?
It relies upon. “In case you’re somebody who’s on the stronger facet, it is perhaps value it to spend money on a costlier lifting belt,” Angelino says. “Though cheaper choices are completely high-quality for many gym-goers, a well-designed lifting belt is far safer when lifting very massive masses.”
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