Best Weight Lifting Belts – Guide & Reviews
Do you like to hit the gym and lift? If you do any type of weight or powerlifting, you probably already know that it can stress your back.
You probably also know that the best way to take the strain off of your back so you can lift more weight safely is to wear a weightlifting belt.
Weightlifting belts take the pressure off your lower back and core while you lift, so you can concentrate on the muscle groups you’re working, and they also reduce the risk of injury to your back while you’re in the gym.
If a weight lifting belt is an item you think you could use, you’re in luck. In this article, I’ll briefly review five of the best weight lifting belts available for sale on the internet today. I put in hours of research to find the five best weight lifting belts, so you don’t have to. Let’s get started:
Recommended Best Weight Lifting Belts
Editor's Rating:
This weight lifting belt comes to us from SetWear Fitness. This isn’t your standard leather lifting belt.
As I mentioned before, this belt isn’t a flat piece of leather. It’s made from advanced materials including a breathable padded liner that really adds to your overall comfort.
The wedge lumbar support provides additional support for your lower back and increases abdominal pressure, relieving pressure on the spine. The hook and loop strap with heavy duty steel roller buckle are made to last you a lifetime, even with heavy use.
BOA Closure System
Traditional weight belts use a standard steel buckle, which can make it difficult to get the correct fit. This weight belt has the new BOA closure system, which is designed to replace old buckles and laces.
This system uses an adjustment knob that tightens the belt with clockwise rotation and releases quickly with the push of a button.
After you put the belt on with velcro, you can fine tune your fit with the BOA system, and use its quick-release function to take your belt off. This belt has infinite adjustment, so it will fit you perfectly every time, and for every exercise.
Awesome Warranty
Anytime you buy a product, you want to know that it’s built to last. You don’t have to wonder about this issue with the SetWear belt.
It comes with a full 30-day money back guarantee and a lifetime warranty on the belt, including the BOA closure system. If you think about it, this could be the last weight lifting belt you ever have to buy. That’s a great value.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Lets you lift more weight more safely
- Protects you from injuries in your spine
High quality materials used for construction - Lumbar support
- Great for crossfit and weight lifting
- BOA system is infinitely adjustable and has a quick release
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Lumbar support takes some getting used to
- Only use this belt when required, or your core muscles will suffer
Editor's Rating:
This weight lifting belt is made by Grip Power Pads. Each belt is custom-made for you, so the price point here is on the high side.
This weight lifting belt is no joke. It’s made from one solid piece of 100% genuine leather, not some synthetic material that looks like it.
The leather is four inches wide and 13 millimeters thick, so you know it’s solid. This belt weighs five pounds due to its heavy duty materials and construction.
Lever Buckle
To give you a positive, tight fit, this weight lifting belt has a unique lever buckle. Simply select one of the nine holes in your belt, insert the buckle, and latch the lever down until it locks.
Once it snaps closed, you’re ready to lift. This belt features plenty of adjustment, so as long as you order the correct size any size increases or decreases shouldn’t be an issue.
Handmade
Every one of these belts is handmade from premium natural leather just for you after you order it. Every body is different, and it’s important to have plenty of adjustments in a belt that will last you for your lifetime.
That’s why you supply your waist size and Grip Power Pads takes care of the rest. They keep everything simple with this belt. It’s heavy leather, rugged stitching, and an industrial grade buckle. There’s no fear of breaking anything here.
Pros
- Simple design has nothing to break
- Huge piece of real leather
- Sturdy lever buckle
- Nine adjustment holes give you a wide range of size adjustment
- Custom handmade belt made just for you
- Natural leather color
- Looks great
- Should last forever
Cons
- Weighs 5 pounds
- Price is a little high
- Needs some time to break in
Editor's Rating:
If you just want a simple and affordable weight lifting belt, this one from Ader could be just the one you need.
Ader builds this built with simplicity in mind. They use ⅜” thick leather that’s 4” wide to form the belt, and then they stack on an inside layer of suede so your belt is more comfortable.
Heavy duty double stitching holds everything together, and a single leather loop is added to hold your belt end. Everything here is simple with an eye on quality and durability.
The Buckle
Buckling your weight lifting belt shouldn’t require a degree in mechanical engineering, so Ader gives you a solid, easy option.
This belt comes with a double prong steel roller buckle that’s heavy duty and can stand up to your worst abuse. Once again, Ader uses a simple design with a simple fastening system that anyone can use.
It’s Red
One feature about this belt that will make it stand out in the gym is its awesome red color. The leather has been dyed to reach a beautiful red hue, so you’ll know which belt is yours when you take it off at the gym. You won’t lose this belt, because there just aren’t many like it around.
Pros
- Solid leather construction
- Soft suede liner for comfort
- Heavy duty double stitching
- Double steel roller buckle
- Cool red color
- Nothing to break, should last for a long time
- Very affordable price
Cons
- Red dye may stain your clothes when you sweat on this belt
- Arrives stiff, requires a break-in period
- Sizes run large
Editor's Rating:
If you want a weight lifting belt that has features from the old school and the new, check out this one from RDX.
The preferred size weight lifting belt for most athletes is four inches wide and ten millimeters thick.
RDX knows what you want, so that’s what they give you. Thicker belts don’t flex, wider belts limit movement, and narrower belts don’t achieve much support. That’s why you need this size belt, because it works best.
Great Materials
RDX uses oil tanned cowhide leather to construct this belt. This material is strong and durable, and it’s the same high quality leather that’s used to make baseball gloves, so you know it will last you forever if you take good care of it.
This supple leather molds to your body shape as you wear it, so it becomes an extension of your body. The high quality leather won’t fold over or lose its shape over time, it will only get more comfortable.
Solid Buckle
For this belt, RDX chose to use a very nice Leclo lever buckle for the closure system. You simply insert the prong on the latch into the correct hole for your waist size, and then pull down on the lever until it latches to tighten up your weight lifting belt.
There are several holes in the belt when you receive it for plenty of adjustment. Just make sure to order the correct size, and you won’t have any issues. The Leclo lever buckle tightens up your belt just the right amount to give you the support you need.
Pros
- Top quality leather
- Perfect width and thickness
- Awesome lever buckle
- Molds to your body for a comfortable fit
- Uses old and new technologies to create the perfect belt
- Affordable price
Cons
- Only available in brown
- The logo on the back looks cheesy
- Many customers had sizing issues and had to send back
Editor's Rating:
If you’re just beginning to lift weights and don’t want to spend a lot, or you want a belt you can wear during the day, check out the Harbinger Weightlifting Belt.
This belt is five inches wide along your back, and then it reduces down to three inch wide straps where you join it.
While most lifters prefer four inch belts, this wider one is great for wearing all day long if your job requires a bunch of lifting.
Material
There’s no leather here. This belt is made from a foam core, with a plush liner on the inside so it’s soft against your skin and an abrasion resistant fabric on the outside for durability. These aren’t the best or most expensive materials for a weight lifting belt, and the 90 day warranty reflects that.
Closure System
The Harbinger belt uses a closure system that’s fairly common in synthetic weight lifting belts. It utilizes a heavy gauge steel roller buckle that you pass the strap through, and then attach the strap back to the belt using velcro. It’s a simple way to tighten up your belt and keep it firmly attached.
Pros
- Super affordable
- Great for light duty and all day use
- Easy to use closure system
- Lightweight materials
- Soft liner is comfortable on your skin
- Four sizes available
Cons
- This belt won’t hold up over time
- Not for serious weight lifting
- 90 day warranty
Final Verdict
Anytime you lift 70% of your maximum, experts recommend that you wear a weight lifting belt for extra support on your spine and reduced risk of injury.
If you’ve been looking for a new weight lifting belt, all five of the products listed above are quality choices. However, I always like to name a winner when I research a product, so here goes.
For the Best Weight Lifting Belt, my champion is the Ader Leather Power Lifting Weight Belt. While this might not be the exciting choice, I always look for durability, which equates to value in the long run.
The Ader belt is simply leather at the perfect size with a double buckle. There’s nothing to break here, so this belt should last for a long, long time.
When you properly care for leather, it won’t ever let you down, so the Ader is the best value of this bunch. Thanks and good luck!
