Which Type Of Weightlifting Belt Is Best?

Did you know that not all weightlifting belts are made for weightlifting?

There are four main types of weightlifting belts, however, each has its pros and cons and SOME may not be suitable for the Olympic lifts.

The four types of belts are heavy lever belts, heavy buckle belts, slim buckle belts, and slim velcro belts.

Heavy Lever Belt

The heavy lever belt is an incredibly sturdy belt with a lever mechanism to help loosen and tighten between sets. This belt is GREAT for powerlifting as it is incredibly strong and has zero risk of coming open during a lift. However, for Olympic lifting, it is fairly large and gets in the way of the bar during cleans and snatches. This is an expensive belt, so if you’ve got the cash and train for powerlifting, I’d recommend it. If you train for olympic lifting, it could be useful for squats and overhead work, but not much else. So unless you really like this belt for strength work and want to have a different belt for your olympic lifts, I would avoid grabbing one of these.

Heavy Buckle Belt

The heavy buckle belt is very similar in its use to the heavy lever belt. This one however uses a 1-2 prong buckle to tighten and loosen it, making it slightly more inconvenient for powerlifting compared to the lever belt, however, it is just as sturdy! When it comes to Olympic lifting, it has the same drawbacks as the lever belt. It’s large and obtrusive, and will definitely get in the way of your bar path in the snatch and clean. If you’re looking for an all-purpose belt for Olympic lifting and strength work, this is not it, however, if you’ve got the cash and prefer this over a lever belt for strength work, be my guest! Otherwise, I’d recommend one of the two options below.

Slim Buckle Belt

The slim buckle belt is similar to the heavy buckle belt, but with a slimmer, more flexible build and the same buckle mechanism for tightening and loosening between sets. This belt is perfect for Olympic weightlifting as it will not get in the way of your snatches or cleans, and with a buckle, this is a sturdy belt! This belt would work perfectly for powerlifting, however, it may not feel sturdy enough for those looking for a little more support. I would recommend one of the two options above if that is what you are looking for.

Slim Velcro Belt

The slim velcro belt is another great option for Olympic lifting, with the lightest materials, this is extremely lightweight. This belt also uses a velcro locking mechanism, making it easy to loosen and tighten between sets. However, it can be less sturdy in its locking than a buckle belt, and I have had mine pop off during lifts, so for that reason, I prefer a slim buckle belt. But if you’d rather take the ease of access, then this is a great all-purpose belt!

Hopefully, this helped you choose the best belt for your training! If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section!

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