Powerlifting Belt vs Weightlifting Belt – What To Choose?

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Powerlifting Belt vs Weightlifting Belt What To
Choose?
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(No Transcript)
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• When you are looking for a new belt, you need to
  decide between a powerlifting and weightlifting
  one. There are quite a few differences between
  the two that will determine how useful the belt
  will be for you. Deciding between a powerlifting
  or weightlifting belt depends on the type of
  exercises you perform the most in the gym, but
  also on your training style. 

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•  In short, the main differences between the two
  types of belts in todays article are thickness,
  width, flexibility, closure system, and material.
  Its true that for the last two, there are a few
  exceptions (weightlifting belts can be made of
  both nylon and leather, and can have almost every
  type of closure), but well get into that later.
  We will also discuss things like price and
  utility. 

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• By the end of this article, you should have a
  good idea of the differences between powerlifting
  and weightlifting belts, which will make the job
  of choosing one a piece of cake. We also chose a
  belt for each category, Inzer Forever for
  powerlifting belts, and Schiek Sports Model
  2004 for weightlifting belts.

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Thickness Flexibility

• Thickness represents one of the main differences
  between the two types. Usually, powerlifting
  belts are 10mm or 13mm thick. Thats because a
  thick belt works really well with the bracing
  technique often used by powerlifters to lift
  heavy weights. Due to the thickness and material,
  powerlifting belts are stiffer and less
  comfortable than weightlifting models.

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• On the other hand, the thickness of a
  weightlifting belt is smaller. In fact, for most
  nylon belts, the manufacturers dont even specify
  it in the product description. One of the reasons
  why weightlifting belts are thinner and more
  flexible is because they are optimized for
  mobility.

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Shape - Uniform Width vs Tapered

• This is probably the easiest way to distinguish
  the two types of belts, as it is related to their
  design. A lifting belt has a uniform width,
  mainly because this allows you to create better
  intra-abdominal pressure. 
• The most common width for these is 4 inches, but
  there are smaller versions of 3 inches for people
  with a small torso. Also, 3-inch belts are often
  used for bench pressing.

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• Most weightlifting belts have a width of 4 to 6
  inches in the back, while the front area is
  reduced by a few inches. This tapered design
  allows a little more freedom for athletes so that
  they can have a full range of motion without
  discomfort for exercises such as clean and jerk.

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Material

• As for the material, without exception,
  powerlifting belts are made of leather. The
  leather type can vary depending on the price
  and brand, but if you choose to go with a more
  expensive one, it should be made of genuine
  leather. On the inside, most have fine suede to
  prevent them from slipping.

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• For weightlifting belts, we can not say that they
  are made of a specific material, because we can
  find both nylon and leather products. Its
  important to mention that the leather used for
  these is not as thick and rigid as that of
  powerlifting belts.

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Closure System

• For powerlifting belts, we can choose between a
  single prong, double prong, or lever system. The
  first two are quite similar, except that a
  double-prong could add a bit of safety, while a
  single-prong is easier to handle. Lever belts are
  really easy to put on and take off, but first,
  they must be adjusted with a screwdriver.

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• The most common closure system for weightlifting
  belts is Velcro, as most of them are made of
  nylon. However, there are a lot of leather
  weightlifting belts that use a buckle instead.

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Price

• Obviously, when we talk about price, we try to
  compare items in the same quality category. It
  wouldnt be fair to compare one of the best
  weightlifting belts with a cheap powerlifting
  model.  Comparing Schiek Sports Model 2004, one
  of the best choices when it comes to
  weightlifting belts, to one of the best
  powerlifting belts, the Inzer Forever model, it
  seems that for the last option you have to take
  more money out of your pocket.

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Which One To Choose?

• Now that we know what are the differences between
  powerlifting and weightlifting belts, its time
  to talk about which one is best, depending on
  your training style. 
• If youre a regular gym-goer who often
  incorporates compound movements such as bench
  press, squat, and deadlift into your training
  routine, and you like to build the rest of the
  workout around these exercises, you will most
  likely need a powerlifting belt. 

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• This way, you will make sure that you have the
  best advantage when it comes to lifting heavy. 
• Furthermore, if you intend to participate in
  future powerlifting meets, make sure that the
  belt you want to purchase meets the criteria of
  most federations, so you dont have to purchase
  another one for this purpose. Keep in mind that
  federations have slightly different requirements
  for equipment. 

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• On the other hand, if you are an Olympic
  weightlifter, CrossFitter, or just want to
  incorporate some of the exercises from these
  sports into your training routine, a
  weightlifting belt would be better. 
• If you cant decide, keep in mind that a
  weightlifting belt is more flexible and
  comfortable, so you will be able to wear it for
  more exercises in the gym, while a
  powerlifting-style model is built primarily for
  compound movements.