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LAVERA STEWART
Editor-in-Chief of the Approved By Coach
ProFitness Genuine Leather
Dominion Strength Training
Element 26 Self-Locking Weight Lifting
ProFitness Genuine Leather
Dominion Strength Training
Element 26 Self-Locking Weight Lifting
Harbinger Weightlifting Belt with Flexible Ultra-light Foam Core
Harbinger Padded Leather Contoured Weightlifting Belt with Suede Lining and Steel Roller Buckle
RitFit Weight Lifting Belt
Harbinger Weightlifting Belt with Flexible Ultra-light Foam Core
Harbinger Padded Leather Contoured Weightlifting Belt with Suede Lining and Steel Roller Buckle
RitFit Weight Lifting Belt
Best Overall: ProFitness Genuine Leather Workout Belt Review
ProFitness Genuine
Our hearts went to the ProFitness Genuine Leather Workout Belt as the first best of the best powerlifting belts. This is an excellent product that comes at an extremely good price for the quality you get. It is designed in a way to provide proper support for lumbar part of your spine which makes it excellent for lifting super heavyweights. It is also proved to be quite effective for CrossFit as well as daily fitness exercises. It guarantees that you will manage to sustain good balance and stability regardless of the weight you are lifting. Cool things about this model are that it comes with heavy-duty metal buckle and that it is unisex. It also comes in three sizes: small, medium and large. This product is made of very solid leather which ensures longevity. The only flaw that we found out when it comes to this item is that in some cases you might need more adjustment holes. But other than that this is really best powerlifting belt that everybody can use.
Why We Like It?
- Cheap
- Heavy duty
- Excellent for different exercises
- Unisex
For Beginners: Dark Iron Fitness Review
Dark Iron
Dark Iron Fitness weightlifting model is lightweight but at the same time heavy duty piece of exercise equipment. The material used to make this product is a high-quality leather item that can guarantee longevity and durability on one side. On another, thickness of this product is only around 5 mm. This means that this is one of the good powerlifting belts that it is more suitable for beginners. If you want to lift more then 400/500 pounds then you need to find a thicker item. A good feature of this model is that it is made of soft and flexible buffalo leather thus it provides excellent support and doesn't dig into your hips. So, you can be sure that you can to build your strength pain-free. An additional benefit is that it is one of the cheapest on the market. To conclude it is one of the best powerlifting belts for beginners who are listing up to around 300 pounds.
Why We Like It?
- Durable
- Excellent for beginners
- Cheap
Good Heavy Duty: Inzer Lever Belt Review
Inzer
Inzer, leading manufacturer of weight lifting models never stop amazing us. This amazing durable Inzer weight belt made of high-quality leather is proof of that. It is a 10 mm thick item that perfectly performs its function as a heavy-duty model. You will love this inzer powerlifting belt even more than titan powerlifting belt if you are on a road to becoming a professional powerlifter. In terms of size, this item can be even used for Olympic weightlifting which speaks a lot about the kind of support this item gives to your back. Besides those already mentioned, great feature of this olympic lifting belt is that it comes with a lever closure. This makes it really easy to secure and release the item. The downside of this fantastic product is that it is one of the most expensive on the market. However, if you are or want to become very serious about building up your muscles and you can afford it, then you should definitely choose this one. This is beyond the shadow of a doubt one of the best powerlifting belts money can buy.
Why We Like It?
- Good for Olympic weight lifting
- Excellent materials
- Thickness
- Easy to secure and release
Best for Women: Dominion Strength Training Review
Dominion Strength
So you might think that there is not much difference whether a man or a woman uses a powerlifting belt, and in general you are right. There are a lot of unisex good powerlifting models, and this is one of them as well. Then, why it is labeled the best powerlifting belt for women, you wonder. It's merely because of its 3-inch size. It's a bit smaller than the average item for this purpose and this 3 inch powerlifting belt is good for women because they are usually a bit shorter than men. Other than that, this model has all the features of the best powerlifting belt. After testing it showed to be extremely efficient for heavy lifting, squats, bench press, deadlift, and many other exercises.
Pros
- Good for all types of bodybuilding
- For women
- Durable
Cons
Best Powerlifting Belt for CrossFit: Element 26 Self-Locking Review
Element 26
This nylon model comes with great Self-Locking technology. What makes this weight belt for crossfit different than ordinary Velcro buckles is that you have guaranteed that it won't wear down and cause injury. This Crossfit weightlifting belt is simple and easy to use as it releases immediately after you pull opener. However, you don't need to worry that you will lose back support even if pops open during heavy lifts because it won't get immediately lose like it's the case with some nylon belts. We tested this best belt for powerlifting with a range of lifting exercises and it's free to say that it is a beautifully designed model adequate for cross fitters. The potential shortcoming of this model is that it’s not as rigid as some other models we have tried. There is additional padding, it's very flexible but if you are looking for a very stiff item to hold your back very tight you should look for another option.
Pros
- Self – Locking technology
- Flexible
- Simple and easy to use
- Safe
Cons
Good Lightweight Belt: Fire Team Fit Review
Fire Team
If you want this item that you get adjust as you, please then this one is for you. The adjustability comes from Velcro closure that allows you to set right amount of tightness around the middle part of your body. It is a soft and flexible model that is quite comfortable to wear. Additionally, it has a very low profile design so if you wear it under your T-shirt no one will notice it. We put it on the scale and were surprised to see that it's a super lightweight belt, with a bit more than half of the pound, which increases your mobility. Now we have noticed that due to the materials, a combination of polyurethane and nylon it has a smell like tires. It is relatively overpriced for a nylon model but other than that it is a good product.
Pros
- Adjustable
- Well designed
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Powerlifting Belt for Serious Weightlifters: Harbinger with Flexible Ultra-light Foam Core Review
Harbinger
If you are a well-experienced bodybuilder then you will surely be very satisfied with this product which we consider one of the top rated powerlifting belts. What makes it different compared to others is that it is a one-inch ticker and that makes it even better than your average item. It comes with Velcro and stainless-steel model. Furthermore, there is a foam core and nice padding thus is a lot more comfortable on the body. The potential downside that we noticed this model is that is moving a little bit up and down when sweating. However, if you are wearing it over a t-shirt and not in direct contact with skin this can easily become the best belt for powerlifting.
Pros
- Thickness
- Stainless steel buckle
- Foam core
Cons
Best Powerlifting Belt for Comfort: Harbinger Padded Leather Contoured with Suede Lining and Steel Roller Buckle Reivew
Harbinger Padded
This Harbinger item is one of the good powerlifting belts for those who value comfort during their exercises. It is a well-designed leather item with better and softer padding made for you to feel more comfortable when in direct contact with your body. It is a medium size model that provides core support and protects your lower back and abdominals during heavy lifting. We noticed that there is a space to improve quality of leather and metal buckle as well. But in general, this product deserves to stay among top rated powerlifting belts.
Pros
- Enhanced padding
- Comfortable
- Good for heavy lifting
Cons
- Materials need improvement
Good Versatile Belt: RitFit Lifting – Great for Squats, Clean Review
RitFit Lifting
It comes with an ergonomically designed structure that will certainly guarantee you firm support of your lumbar part during any kind of strength training. With 6 inches thickness, it is thicker than your standard weightlifting belt so you can be sure that it can give good support for all kinds of heavy lifting. Velcro makes it highly adjustable. The foam core is waterproof so you can be sure that it won't slip when sweating. One complaint that we have about this model is that it runs a bit smaller so you need to go a size or more up if you opt for it. It is a good lightweight belt adequate if you want to engage in CrossFit but also other activities.
Pros
- Versatile
- Thick
- Good for CrossFit
Cons
Good Unisex Belt: Flexz Fitness Lifting Belt Review
Flexz Fitness
This is a high-quality item made for both men and women weightlifters, powerlifters and bodybuilders. It comes with a stainless-steel lever mechanism with excellent build quality. It has a perfectly clean design without any logos. Another important feature of the best belt for powerlifting is that it is compliant with USAPL and IPF rules, therefore, it's a competition safe belt. The good thing about this model also is that it comes with a lifetime warranty because buckle tends to break or fail.
Pros
- Unisex
- Steel lever mechanism
- Competition safe
Cons
Best Women Powerlifting Belt on the Market: Harbinger Women's Nylon Weightlifting Belt Review
Sale
Women's Nylon Weightlifting Belt
- Ultralight, flexible nylon weightlifting belt with 5-inch wide support panel, designed specifically for women
- Foam core with soft, breathable, plush tricot lining comfortably supports the back and abdominals during heavy lifts
- Provides the ideal degree of support while allowing full range of motion for use during weightlifting and functional strength training workouts
- Heavy-gauge steel tensioning buckle allows for quick and easy customized fit
- Available in three waist sizes: XS (24-28 inches), S (28-32 inches), M (32-36 inches)
All You Need to Know About Belt for Power Lifting
So now that we looked at some of the best powerlifting belts 2021 the question is – how to choose the best option for YOU. Truth is, the process of choosing from this point on is not that difficult, as long as you know what to pay attention to.
What Makes the Best Powerlifting Belts?
In order for the powerlifting belt to be the best, it must meet certain criteria. Some of the most important being:
Material
In order to be the best, a powerlifting belt must have top quality materials, and those are
Polyurethane, leather, and Nylon
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is fake leather and it is a good option for vegan bodybuilders or just those that don’t support the leather industry. Great thing is that Polyurethane is also one of the best water-resistant materials for items and that’s why some people opt for it as well.
Leather
Leather is the most favorite material among experienced powerlifters. It is the most durable option and also very rigid which guarantees that you will have perfect support for your lumbar part.
Nylon
Nylon models are a good option mainly because of their versatility and adjustability. They are among good powerlifting belts for beginners and also for those engaged in CrossFit and recreational lifting.
Closure
When you’re looking for the best powerlifting belt, another important aspect to consider is how easy it is to close it, and whether it will stay secure. According to a lot of powerlifting belt reviews, 3 of the most popular closing mechanisms are:
Buckle
The biggest advantage of this type of closure is that it provides perfect security. Additionally, you can adjust it how it suits you most. However, the problem with it is that it can cause some allergies in direct contact with skin.
Velcro
Velcro’s best powerlifting belt is easiest to use and that’s why some powerlifters prefer this option. However, Velcro is also not as durable as the other options, so you may have to replace it more often.
Lever
This new type of closure has the features of both Velcro and buckle closure. In terms of fixing and releasing it has the advantages of Velcro and is as durable as a buckle closure. The main issue with this type of closure is adjustability.
Thickness
This is an important feature because amount of support your back will receive greatly depends on it. Most of the best powerlifting belts are between 10mm and 13mm thick if they are compliant with competition standards. H
owever, chances are you can find the best powerlifting belts that are even thinner.
Width
Width plays an important role in determining the area of your back that will have support. However, this relatively depends on your preferences because different people need different kinds of support. It is crucial to point out that the widest model doesn’t mean you will have the best support. In fact, the amount of support your back will receive won’t significantly change but you will have limited mobility if your belt is too wide.
Stitching
The stitching doesn’t really impact functionality. It, however, plays a role in determining how durable and long lasting is your belt. For the best powerlifting belt, stitching should be double-sided.
Shape
All the best powerlifting belts are more or less shaped in the same way. There are 2 variations: straight and tapered. These differences are related to width. The width of straight best powerlifting belt is the same everywhere, while width of the tapered one differs in the midsection and back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Purpose of Weightlifting Belt?
As discussed at the beginning purpose of having one of the good powerlifting belts is to provide support for your lumbar part during heavy lifting. This is important because you can prevent any potential injuries that can occur if you lift without support.
How Tight Should Powerlifting Belt?
Best powerlifting belt is designed to increase your intraabdominal pressure thus providing good support for your middle section. So, even though tightness can depend on you the best way to have it tight enough is to achieve this. If it’s too tight your abdominals won’t be able to properly contract and if it’s too lost there is nothing to push against. The general unwritten rule is that you have to place your hand between stomach and belt.
What Belts Do Powerlifters Use?
It depends on a person who is doing lifting. If we are talking in general then we can say that powerlifters prefer solid stiff leather belts. The reason for this is that this kind of best powerlifting belt is enabling them to squat or deadlift more weight. These models should also be straight shaped belts.
How to Measure For Powerlifting Belt?
It is quite simple to measure for a powerlifting belt. The only thing you need is a measuring tape. The important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t suck in nor blow up. Just wrap measuring tape around your midsection where your belt will be.
How Properly Use a Powerlifting Belt?
Wear your best powerlifting belt around the waist in the way that goes over your belly button because like this it is on top of abdominal wall muscles. You might think it’s more comfortable to put it below but it will not benefit your strength exercises. It is important to point out that you will maybe want to adjust it in accordance with type of exercises you are doing.
How to Take Off a Powerlifting Belt?
When you are done with your exercises you are free to take it off. It is usually quite simple. You just need to open a buckle, Velcro or lever and this will automatically release belt.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, choosing the best powerlifting belt can be pretty easy, if you know how to look. We at ApprovedByCoach, done some extensive research and found some of the top options in the market. And while all of them offer excellent quality for an affordable price, we’ve decided to take one step further, and highlight the one, that we believe deserves the honor to be the best powerlifting belt 2021. And that is ProFitness Genuine Leather Workout Belt.
It is a sturdy, reliable, premium quality belt, that 100% worth it.
So whether you choose it, or any other model, we hope that you will find our buying tips helpful, and that they can help you find that powerlifting belt, that you may consider the best for you. Happy shopping, and feel free to share with us what belt you chose and if it helped you in your fitness journey!
On our website you can also check out other sporting equipment such are best workout shirts, best rowing machines under $500 as well as best treadmill under 1000.