We're an affiliate
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it!
CrossFit is a fitness regimen founded by Gregg Glassman and Lauren Jenai in 2000. The sport incorporates elements from different types of training, including HIIT (high-intensity interval training), Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, strongman, calisthenics, and others.
If that is not enough to convince you of the sport’s complexity, then the CrossFit Games will make you change your mind. Started in 2007, this event involves surprise elements like rough-water swimming.
On top of that, the athletes do not have any clue about the workouts until a few hours before the competition. This procedure is necessary because the CrossFit Games are styled to determine the Fittest Person, who is supposed to handle any type of rough physical activity.
Regardless of your goal, which can be losing weight, building muscle, increasing strength, or improving your overall health, CrossFit is a great and unique way to push your limits that will keep you hooked. The level of experience is not important, because the sport is appreciated by all kinds of athletes, from beginners to people with serious years of training.
- Best under $50 - Steel Sweat 10mm Powerlifting Belt
- Best under $100 - Inzer Forever Belt
Should You Wear a Lifting Belt For Crossfit?
The short answer is yes. Why? After understanding what CrossFit is all about, nobody can deny this sport is rough. Some of the components that involve weightlifting can get pretty challenging, especially because the athletes are competing against the time as well.
For example, the WOD (Workout of the Day), proposes different types of exercises that promote the idea of competing against others in terms of who gets the best time or does the most reps.
The WOD can also be seen as a way to compete with yourself by trying to improve your time or do more reps when repeating a routine.
The main idea is that the combination of rough exercises, weightlifting, and competing against the clock is not an easy task. In order to make sure that you maintain a good form, an accessory like a lifting belt is really useful for extra support and safety.
What Makes A Belt Suitable For CrossFit?
Due to the complexity of CrossFit, a belt should be chosen considering several factors like versatility, support, comfort, and the time required to put on and take off. Obviously, with such a wide range of possible exercises, the first thing to look for is versatility.
The belt should be able to handle almost any type of training, while the support and comfort will differ depending on the material. Because you are often required to switch exercises really fast, the time required to put on and take off the belt is really important, because once again, most of the time you race against the time.
The only type of buckle you should stay away from is the double-prong model because it is the most annoying to adjust.
Wodactive Sports 4-inch Wide Lifting Belt
Although it has a nylon exterior shell, this 4-inch belt does not disappoint when it comes to supporting. With a Velcro closure, which has a secure grip but is not exactly top-quality, the belt is really easy to adjust, put on and take off, saving precious time when needed.
Another great aspect of this belt is the ease to be transported, which can be really helpful if you want to have a belt to train with when you travel. Main Characteristics
- 4-inch wide
- made of nylon
- hook and loop fastening strap
- flexible foam core
- steel buckle
- contoured design
Pros
- versatile
- can be used as a travel belt
- easy to put on and take off
- secure Velcro grip
- well-priced
Cons
- only one color available
- the Velcro quality is not the best
Bear KompleX 6-inch Wide Nylon Lifting Belt
Former official sponsor of the CrossFit Games, the Bear KompleX brand knows how to satisfy the needs of an athlete by providing really versatile products. This 6-inch wide nylon model is no different, being perfect for WODs, Metcon training, and classic weightlifting.
Overall, the support provided by the belt is really good, and the quality of the materials does not disappoint. When it comes to sizing, if you can not decide, they recommend going with the smaller one. Main Characteristics
- 6-inch wide
- made of nylon
- provided by an official sponsor of the CrossFit Games
- 60-days warranty
- 3 models available
- contoured design
Pros
- good-quality Velcro
- versatile
- really good support
- easy to put on & take off
- allows good mobility
- well-priced
Cons
- sizing is slightly off
Element 26 Self-Locking Lifting Belt
Another product worth adding to the gym bag arsenal, the Element 26 Self-Locking Belt steps up the game with a self-locking system in addition to the Velcro Strap.
Designed for functional training, the belt can handle almost any type of training while providing good support due to the uniform width.
In short, the belt can be used without a problem for CrossFit training, and the quality of the materials ensures a good experience. On top of that, the belt has a lifetime warranty. Main Characteristics
- 4-inch wide
- made of premium nylon
- designed for functional training
- metal buckle
- self-locking system
- 4 available colors
- uniform width
Pros
- versatile
- good fabric quality
- lifetime warranty
- easy to carry in the gym bag
- competition approved
- well-priced
Cons
- the auto-locking system could be tricky
Our Choice
Without a doubt, all three brands managed to provide good-quality products that can be your worth-trusty training partners. Considering the support, comfort, price, and reviews, our vote goes to the Bear KompleX 6-inch Belt.
The brand affiliation with the CrossFit Games represents a good indicator that they understand the needs of an athlete and they try to adapt their products to be as useful as possible in the rough conditions of this beautiful sport.
Wodactive Sports vs Bear KompleX vs Element 26
Best Lifting Belts For CrossFit - Final Words
In summary, regardless of your experience in CrossFit, a lifting belt provides a hard surface around the body, prevents hyperextension of the lower back, and allows you to create more intra-abdominal pressure, which creates better stability and reduces the chance to break down your form while performing high-intensity training.
In order to make sure that you are making the right decision, you should look for a belt that manages to combine decent support with comfort, while being versatile and easy to adjust for different situations.
