A common piece of equipment you’ll see gym goers wear is a weightlifting belt. They come in a variety of materials and styles—ranging from nylon straps with hook-and-loop closures to leather straps with locking teeth—in order to apply pressure to your core and help keep your body stable, so so you’re less likely to wobble and suffer an injury during heavy lifting.
So should you invest in one?
For most people, strength training does not require the support of a weightlifting belt. After all, your body is equipped with its own internal weightlifting belt – the transverse abdominis.
“Strengthening this muscle along with the rest of your core can help stabilize not only your spine, but your entire body,” says Trevor Thieme, CSCS. “And, to be honest, if a load is so heavy that you can’t manage it safely and with good form without the support of a weightlifting belt, then you probably shouldn’t be lifting it.”
Wearing a weightlifting belt also doesn’t teach your body how to handle heavy loads on its own in real-life situations. In other words, it doesn’t increase your “functional fitness,” so unless you’re a powerlifter, we recommend ditching the belt.
But if you’re a powerlifter, or feel a strong need to put on a weightlifting belt, you can’t go wrong with these options.
1. Rogue Fitness Nylon Lifting Belt
WIDTH: 5 inches
Fits waist sizes: 26 to 46 inches
PRICE: 37 dollars
This contoured, flexible nylon and foam strap uses a hook and loop closure system and has a three-inch support strap. It’s a favorite among CrossFitters, but if you plan on doing Olympic-style weightlifting, you may want a more supportive option.
Get it on Amazon.
2. Profitability Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 2 to 4 inches (tapered)
Fits waist sizes: 24 to 49 inches
PRICE: 35 dollars
If comfort is high on your priority list, this 7mm thick weightlifting belt is made with supple, “pre-broken” leather and suede. The tapered design helps keep it from digging into your ribs or hips, and the double-arm gusset and tapers range from four inches wide in the back to two inches wide in the front.
Get it on Amazon.
3. Dark Iron Fitness Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 4 inches
Fits waist sizes: 23 to 49 inches
PRICE: 35-50 dollars
This sleek black and red leather weightlifting belt uses a double-arm buckle and is said to be able to support heavy lifts of up to 600 pounds. The 4mm thick buffalo leather is soft and relatively easy to break, but still provides comfortable support.
Get it on Amazon.
4. Rogue Fitness Ohio Lifting Belt
WIDTH: 4 inches
Fits waist sizes: 21 to 45 inches
PRICE: 143 dollars
This handcrafted strap features 10mm thick vegetable tanned leather for heavy-duty support, plus a single-leg buckle design for easy adjustment. As with most leather belts, expect a short “break-in” period as the leather softens and contours to your body.
Get it at Rogue Fitness.
5. Iron Bull Strength Lifting Belt
WIDTH: 4 inches
FITS waist sizes: 25 to 50 inches
PRICE: 90 dollars
This powerlifting belt is available in black, blue, gray, red, green, purple and pink to coordinate with your workout gear (or your mood). 10mm thick suede leather offers maximum support and a double-arm buckle ensures the perfect fit.
Get it on Amazon.
6. Schiek Model 2004 Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 4.75 inches
FITS waist sizes: 23 to 50 inches
PRICE: 60 dollars
This nylon weightlifting belt is all about versatility – it’s available in multiple colors, fits a wide range of waist sizes, and has a Velcro closure for quick adjustments. The patented shape is designed to contour around your ribs and hips for better comfort and flexibility, which is ideal if you’re moving between heavy lifts and other strength exercises.
Get it on Amazon.
7. RitFit Weightlifting Belt
WIDTH: 6 inches
FITS waist sizes: 22 to 59 inches
PRICE: $20-$26
This budget pick is made from nylon, a waterproof foam core, and a hook-and-loop closure. It’s the widest weightlifting belt on this list, but the contoured design helps keep it comfortable.
Get it on Amazon.
What to consider when choosing a weightlifting belt
If you want extra support for your heavy lifts, here’s what to look for in a belt.
1. Closing mechanism
Weightlifting belts have three types of locking mechanisms: lever tightening, velcro, or serrated tightening.
If you think you’ll want to adjust your belt mid-set, a belt with toothed buckles is your best bet since you won’t have to remove it to do so. If you want a strap that you can remove quickly, a lever clasp or Velcro closure is best.
2. Width
Weightlifting belts vary in width from four to six inches. Some have a contoured or tapered design, while cylindrical ones are the same width all around.
The best width is a matter of personal comfort. It should be supportive without slipping or restricting your range of motion.
3. Material
Most straps are leather or nylon. Leather tends to last longer if you keep it conditioned, but is usually heavier and stiffer than nylon. Because of their stiffness, leather straps are best for powerlifters.
Nylon straps tend to offer more flexibility, which can be helpful if you wear it while moving between strength training exercises.
