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Indeed, the Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt is not nearly as popular as other belts on the market, and at the same time, it is probably one of the most underrated products out there.
In the following minutes, we will try to figure out what separates the Echo belt from the top-selling products, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of picking this mid range belt instead of a top-notch one that costs nearly twice as much.
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About Rogue Fitness
The American manufacturer and distributor of strength and conditioning equipment started its journey in Ohio. Bill Henninger started the company in 2007, mainly because he was having a hard time finding fitness equipment for his new gym.
Rogue started by selling products of other manufacturers, but in time, the company began to warehouse the equipment, and later to even build it. To this day, Rogue managed to remain on the top of the fitness industry, providing top-notch equipment for Powerlifting, Weightlifting, and CrossFit and sponsoring numerous popular athletes.
How The Belt Was Designed
The concept of the belt is very straight forward. It has a thickness of 10mm, 4 inches in width, a single-prong buckle, and 10 precision-spaced holes. Nothing spectacular, but this classic design makes the belt really versatile, which is impressive for its thickness.
Throughout the whole belt, on both sides, we can see the double-stitching that does not disappoint in terms of quality.
What distinguishes this belt from cheaper ones is probably the quality of the leather. There are plenty of products on the market made of poor-quality synthetic leather, and although visually they may look decent, the durability is not the same. Besides that, the strength of the Rogue Echo’s genuine leather is superior.
As mentioned earlier, Rogue is an American company, thus most of its products are built in the US, but sadly, we can not say this about the Echo belt. That is probably one of the reasons why it is cheaper compared to the Ohio model, but despite being produced outside the US, the belt’s quality was not affected.
Appearance
The simple concept of the belt was also applied to its appearance. The Echo belt has a classic design, with a matte black color of the leather and a large-sized text in the back area.
With this simple combination of colors and the way the leather looks, the belt manages to have a premium aspect.
How Stiff Is The Rogue Echo Belt?
If we pay attention to the description of the belt, we can see a friendly reminder that the belt can be pretty stiff and may require some break-in time. This is mostly caused by the 10mm thickness, and it’s widespread for this type of belt.
As time goes by, the leather will loosen a little bit, just enough to make the belt more comfortable. It’s hard to say how long it will take for the belt to be more comfortable, but if you are impatient and want to speed up the break-in process, there are quite a few tricks that may help you.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- well-priced
- versatile
- provided by a top brand in the industry
- top-notch support
- durable
- premium look
- cheaper compared to other models from the brand
Cons
- not made in the USA
- no the best choice for beginners
Versatility
Due to its features, the Echo belt does not disappoint at all when it comes to versatility. This basically means that it can be used for almost any type of activity, from heavy training in the gym to functional training, or accessory exercises like bent-over rows.
The Price
For such a well-made product, having a price of $53 is not exaggerated at all. In fact, the Echo belt is actually considered a more affordable option when it comes to Rogue belts. This is because the Echo belt is half the price of other products, and almost $100 cheaper than the most expensive belt from this brand.
It is probably the best option you have if you don’t want to spend more than $100 on a belt, but you still want something from a popular brand. Also, the versatility of the belt makes it suitable for most athletes, excluding beginners because the belt is pretty stiff and it might feel too heavy.
Choosing The Right Size
Deciding what size to pick for a lifting belt can be really frustrating, especially when you are between sizes. Let’s say your waist measures around 28”. How do you choose, if the S size is between 23’’-28’’, and the M size is between 28’’-33’’? You will more likely have to ask the seller or choose randomly.
A really nice thing about the Echo belt is how much freedom you have when choosing the size. To give you a better idea, let’s take the sizes M and L as an example. The M size is between 27’’-33’’, while the L size is between 30’’-36’’. This overlap ensures that there are no “between sizes” problems, and makes the whole process of choosing the size way easier.
As a general note for all lifting belts, you should measure with your clothing on, around the area where the belt will be worn. The pants size has nothing to do with this.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Echo belt seems like a perfect fit for those who do not want to spend up to $100 for a belt but still want something special. Even though the belt is quite stiff when it arrives, it will get more comfortable over time, but the support will remain top-notch.
Considering its versatility, quality, construction, and price, the Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt is worth buying, if you are ready to invest in a belt from a top brand in the industry, which will probably be your training partner for a good period of time.
