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By wearing a belt you basically help the abdominal muscles and lower back to do their job better. A lifting belt will also prevent the hyperextension of the lower back during a lift and allows you to create more intra-abdominal pressure. We’ve put together a guide on how to wear a belt.
It’s very difficult to set general standards for when to start using a belt because everyone has different starting points. In your first months of training, you should focus on learning the proper execution of the exercises. After that, you can start implementing a belt in your training. It’s also very important to learn how to brace correctly before you start using a belt so that you can take full advantage of it. We’ve covered more about this topic here.
By wearing a lifting belt when bench pressing, you will be able to maintain the arch better throughout the movement, but there are certainly other small advantages when it comes to this. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, we’ve put together a guide.
Material, thickness, and closure system are really important when choosing a belt. There are also other important things, this is why we’ve put together a guide on this.
There are quick or temporary solutions, such as wearing a thick sweatshirt while working out, experimenting with the belt placement, or changing the tightness, but for most belts, it’s only a matter of time before they become more comfortable. In some cases, the only solution may be to buy a belt that allows you to lift without any discomfort. For more information on this topic, be sure to check out our guide.
If you choose a belt suitable for front squats, then putting one on can prevent you from leaning forward, especially at the bottom of the movement. On top of that, wearing a belt will prevent hyperextension of the lower back and allow you to create more intra-abdominal pressure. We’ve put together a complete article on this.
Rolling the belt with your hands, wearing it as often as possible, applying olive oil, or using duct tape to keep the belt rolled for a while are some quick tricks you can apply to reduce the stiffness of the belt. If you want to read more about this topic, be sure to check out our guide.
The level of comfort, price, versatility, and time required to break-in the belt are the main differences when it comes to 10mm and 13mm belts. While the 10mm version is the most popular and the best option for most people, a 13mm belt also has its advantages. If you are still not sure, we’ve put together a guide on this to help you decide.
4-inch belts are by far the most popular and also the standard for manufacturers. They are suitable for most people, so it is easy to find and resell them. 3-inch leather belts are great for people with a short torso, as they won’t dig into the ribs or hips. Also, a belt with a smaller frame works well for bench pressing. The width of a 6-inch belt refers to the back area because such a width in the abdominal area would make the belt impossible to wear. Here is our guide on this.
Barbell row, bench press, squat, deadlift, and Olympic weightlifting exercises. These are the exercises that we considered to work best with a belt in our guide on this. There are also a lot of variations of the above exercise and other different movements for which you can use a belt.
The price of a belt can vary quite a lot, depending on several factors. From cheap ones worth a few dollars to high-end products from popular brands that can cost more than $150. A price between $15 and $50 is a good starting point because it allows you not to spend too much on the belt, but you will still be able to get your hands on a quality product. We’ve talked more about the price of a belt in our guide.
To answer this question, we need to know what makes a good brand. Quality and price are the first things that cross our minds when we think about this, but there are also other things that matter, such as customer service or feedback over the years. We’ve put together a list of our favorite brands.
Once you adjust it properly, a lever belt will take literally a few seconds to put on and take off, as it only requires latching the lever to secure it and unlatching the lever to release it. We’ve put together a guide on this.
As a reference, you can tighten your belt to a point where you are able to take a big belly breath. If the belt doesn’t allow you to do that, chances are it’s too tight. If you feel that there is still some space left after you take a deep breath, you can try the same with the next notch. We’ve talked about this topic here.
No, it doesn’t. However, a belt is not necessary all the time. We’ve addressed this question in this guide.
Both have pros and cons. In general, leather belts, especially fairly thick ones, focus more on support, while nylon belts are more comfortable. We’ve put together a number of reviews to help you decide what type of belt would be best for you.
Cleaning a belt is not complicated. First of all, check if the belt has any chalk or dust on it. If so, remove it using a brush. Once you’re done, you can simply start washing the belt using a cloth, warm water, and soap. If you own a leather belt, in addition to regularly cleaning the belt and preventing it from catching a bad smell, you can also use a leather conditioner on it. Finally, don’t forget to show some love for your gym bag from time to time, as this is where your gym accessories are carried or even stored. We’ve put together a guide on this.
