Best Weightlifting Belts for Squats, Deadlifts, and More

Anyone who’s been to a gym has undoubtedly seen someone wearing a weightlifting belt. Some athletes scoff at the idea of wearing one and opt to lift totally raw, but there are times when wearing a belt can be beneficial. Belts give you something to brace against, and are an easy way to help increase intra-abdominal pressure when lifting a heavy weight to ensure your core muscles (such as your abdominals and spinal erectors) stay tight and brace against the belt throughout the lift. There’s a good reason why people can deadlift more with a belt than without it — it helps. 

There are many different types of belts and their availability, like most lifting accessories, has grown with the popularity of strength training. Consumers are often bombarded with different types of materials, latching mechanisms, and disciplines, which can leave them wondering — which is the best belt for me? Luckily, we have made a list of our top picks for best weightlifting belts in different categories such as sport, lift specific, and budget. 

Best Weightlifting Belts

• Best Weightlifting Belt: Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt
• Best Lever Lifting Belt: Gymreapers 10MM Lever Weightlifting Belt
• Best Lifting Belt for CrossFit: Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt
• Best Lifting Belt for Olympic Weightlifting: Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt
• Best Lifting Belt for Deadlifts: Gymreapers 10MM Lever Weightlifting Belt
• Best Color Options for Lifting Belt: Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt
• Best Lifting Belt for Squats: Gymreapers 7MM Leather Belt
• Best Lifting Belt for Beginners: Rogue Harbinger 5’ Foam Core Belt

Best Weightlifting Belt

The main purpose of a weightlifting belt is to offer core support and stability while you are lifting. The primary function of a belt is to assist you in bracing and move with you without getting in the way. As something that assists you, it should be easy to put on and take off — no one wants to struggle to get their belt off after crushing a hard set or a new personal record, which is why we like the Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt so much. 

Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt

This belt from Gymreapers does everything a lifting belt should without any of the fuss that you might get from some other belts. The belt is made of high quality material with 100 percent nylon, and a steel roller that is built to last. The design allows you to adjust the support to exactly how much you want or need for any particular set. When you are finished with your set simply pull the velcro strap loose and move on to your next exercise with ease.

The consistent four-inch size all around the belt provides even pressure to increase confidence in your core tightness, and the material isn’t prone to pinching the skin when doing squats or deadlifts. The color options and logo are great too with an array of colors and sizes XS to XXL to choose from. 

Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt

Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt

The belt is made of 100 percent nylon, and a steel roller that is built to last. The consistent four-inch size all around the belt provides even pressure to increase confidence in your core tightness, and the material isn’t prone to pinching the skin during squats or deadlifts. 

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Who Should Buy the Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt 

• Lifters who want to choose the exact amount of pressure and support their belt provides will appreciate the adjustability here. 
• Functional and cross training athletes who want a belt that is easy to strap on and take off hassle-free multiple times during a workout.
• Competitive weightlifters who are looking for a belt to wear during competition due to its support and ease of use.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt

• Lifters who are looking for a class leather option with a buckle or lever will want to look elsewhere. 
• Weightlifters who are looking for a tapered design as opposed to the uniform four-inch design of this belt.
• People who want some padding on the inside of the belt for added comfort.

The Gymreapers Quick Lock Weightlifting Belt is a solid all-around choice for any weightlifter, weekend warrior, or functional fitness athlete. It has a great build, high quality material, adjustable function, and a lifetime replacement guarantee against defects.

Best Lever Lifting Belt

Lever belts — the belt of choice for Strongman competitors and a large percentage of powerlifters — offer a convenient combination of the secure locking of a buckle belt with the convenience and quickness of a lever system for fastening. The Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt is our favorite for this category. 

Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt

Normally, leather belts are not as comfortable as other options until broken in, which can take some time — and sometimes be painful. That is not the case with this belt — the smoothed and stitched edges make the belt comfortable and ready to use out of the packaging. Measuring in at four inches wide with a thickness of 10mm, you can expect maximum stability and support from this belt. 

It is made from high-quality leather with an interior suede liner for moisture control, comes with Gymreapers lifetime replacement guarantee, and is USPA approved — so if you plan on competing in Powerlifting, you won’t have to change equipment. Gymreapers even has a helpful video on how to size and assemble the lever when you receive it, as well as cleaning and care instructions on their website.

Gymreapers 10MM Lever Belt

Gymreapers 10MM Lever Belt

This lever lifting belt has been rigorously tested for form, fit, and function and is manufactured with premium leather. The design incorporates smooth edges, reinforced stitching, and an adjustable lever buckle attachment.

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Who Should Buy the Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt

• Lifters who want maximum support and stability that comes from having a thicker belt with a secure closing mechanism like a lever.
• Athletes who want to compete in Powerlifting and need a belt that is USPA approved.
• Anyone who likes using a thicker belt and the ability to brace as hard as you can against it

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt

• Lifters who prefer buckle or velcro belts and the easier adjustments for waist size that they provide.
• Consumers who prefer not to purchase goods made from animal products since this belt is made from real leather.
• Lifters who prefer a thinner belt that offers better mobility and is not as restricting.

This belt is the real deal — it checks all the right boxes and is made from high-quality materials with a one-year replacement guarantee on both the lever and the belt.

Best Lifting Belt for CrossFit

If you are participating in CrossFit, you know versatility is key, whether that means your ability to do well in a variety of aspects of fitness, or in this case — your lifting gear. The lifting belt that we think is best for CrossFit is the Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt. The Element 26 is the right blend of ease of use and functionality that CrossFitters demand from their equipment.

Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

We love the versatility of this belt that can be used to provide support for anything from Olympic Lifting to CrossFit competitions. The nylon and velcro construction allow you to put on and remove the belt quickly and easily when transitioning from one exercise to another (such as hang cleans to handstand push-ups, where you want the support of the belt for hang cleans, but need it off for movement during the handstand pushups). The high quality 100 percent nylon and full metal easy on/off self-locking buckle make this belt a simple choice for any CrossFit athlete. It comes with a lifetime warranty, and is available in eight different colors to match your aesthetic.

Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

The Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt is made with 100% nylon and offers a lifetime warranty. The locking system allows users to find the perfect amount of pressure and easily lock the belt into place.

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Who Should Buy the Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

• CrossFit athletes who want a belt they can use in any type of workout will appreciate that this belt is easy to put on and remove quickly.
• Lifters who are looking for a high quality choice without breaking the bank, as this belt is priced lower than many comparable ones.
• Athletes who want to choose exactly how tight or loose the belt is for each set.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

• Trainers looking for a tapered belt that doesn’t get in the way in the front, but has the ability to provide nice support on the sides and in the back.
• Athletes who prefer a leather option with a buckle or a lever rather than velcro.
• Lifters who are looking for a thicker belt to brace hard against, or one with padding inside for comfort.

If you’re looking for an easy to use belt that can be worn no matter the WOD, look no further than the Element 26.

Best Lifting Belt for Olympic Weightlifting

The topic of belts may start a fight in some Olympic Weightlifting circles. Some athletes prefer to wear them for both the snatch and clean-and-jerk (like Lasha Talakhadze), whereas other athletes prefer not to wear them at all, as they say a belt can interfere with the bar movement. That is why we recommend the Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt if Olympic Weightlifting is your thing. The tapered nature of the belt from four inches in the back to two inches in the front helps to minimize the possible interference it might cause in your lifts.

Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt

With a 10mm thickness, this variation of the classic Rogue Ohio Lifting Belt provides great support and stability for the core, and the vegetable tanning process means the belt comes comfortably broken-in and ready to use. Reinforced stitching and high-quality USA leather mean you won’t have to worry about durability with this belt. The tapered nature of this belt means that it won’t get in the way in the front when you are trying to keep the bar as close to your body as you can, but it still provides the support you are seeking due to the wider leather around the sides and back of the belt. Though relatively expensive compared to other options on this list, this belt is high-quality, made in the USA, and worth the money if Olympic Lifting is your goal. 

Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt

Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt

The Rogue Oly Ohio lifting belt is made of leather and designed to be less intrusive while performing olympic weightlifting movements like the clean and jerk and the snatch. It$0027s tapered in the front while still offering solid core support. 

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Who Should Buy the Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt

• Olympic lifters looking for a supportive but smaller profile belt that allows free movement due to the tapered design. 
• Athletes who want a belt that allows for slightly more movement of the torso rather than being uniform all around — less width in the front allows greater torso flexibility. 
• Consumers who want a durable belt with great longevity from one of the most widely recognizable names in the fitness industry.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting Belt

• Lifters who prefer a belt with uniform width rather than one that is tapered to be thinner in the front. 
• Trainees who want a less rigid belt or something with more flexibility. 
• Buyers who want a belt that is more adjustable, such as a nylon and velcro one that can be set to any tightness. 

Designed specifically for the needs of Olympic lifters, this belt is supportive and sleek, but it shouldn’t cause you to miss lifts unnecessarily.

Best Lifting Belt for Deadlifts

Of all the lifts that can be associated with belts, the deadlift is probably the most common. There’s a reason it has been called the ‘King of all Exercises’ and whether you pull sumo or conventional, there will come a time when you’ll want to load up the plates and smash a new personal best. When that urge comes, look no further than the Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt. 

Gymreapers 10MM Lever Belt

This belt is made from high-quality leather with a four inch width all around and a 10mm thickness to provide the right amount of support without sacrificing mobility. The comfortable smooth edges and reinforced stitching are why we recommend this belt as the go-to for your next deadlift session. The smooth edges work to prevent pinching of the skin as you move through the range of motion of the lift you are performing. The reinforced stitching is designed to make this belt last a long time and allow you to brace as hard as you like against it without fear of damaging the belt.

Gymreapers 10MM Lever Belt

Gymreapers 10MM Lever Belt

This lever lifting belt has been rigorously tested for form, fit, and function and is manufactured with premium leather. The design incorporates smooth edges, reinforced stitching, and an adjustable lever buckle attachment.

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Who Should Buy the Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt

• Athletes who deadlift often and want the most comfort and stability from a belt that is thicker and has a uniform width all the way around it.
• Trainees who like a belt that is easy to use with the lever, making the belt quick to put on and take off.
• Lifters who want a thicker belt. At 10mm thick, this belt is designed to provide maximum support. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Gymreapers 10mm Lever Belt

• Lifters who prefer the flexibility of velcro when tightening their belt to modulate the tightness from set to set. 
• Buyers with a smaller budget as this belt is priced higher than some of the other belts on this list. 
• Trainees who prefer nylon or other man-made material belts, or those who do not want to use animal products. 

A high quality piece of equipment that is designed to help improve your deadlift, this belt is ideal if you’re serious about your deadlifts, and want a belt that’s easy to secure and provides maximum support.

Best Lifting Belt for Color Options

Going to the gym doesn’t have to mean that you leave your fashion sense at home — there are so many options to choose from; it doesn’t have to be just the same old tanned leather look or plain black nylon (no offense if that’s your thing). When it comes to color options, our favorite is the Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt.

Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

This belt comes in a variety of vibrant colors, so if aesthetic is your thing, you should have no problem matching your belt to the rest of your gear. There are eight different colors to choose from, currently ranging from classic black to Miami Pink, Ranger Tan, and Midnight Blue, among others. The purple is particularly regal looking. If you like to stand out and be seen, they have a color for you. This belt is also approved for use by USA Weightlifting, and is designed to offer great support at four inches all around. The self locking nature of the belt also allows you to choose exactly how much support you want for each set and exercise.

Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt

The Element 26 Self Locking Weightlifting Belt is made with 100% nylon and offers a lifetime warranty. The locking system allows users to find the perfect amount of pressure and easily lock the belt into place.

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Who Should Buy the Element 26 Self Locking Belt

• Anyone looking for a high quality belt that won’t break the bank, as this belt is priced lower than many comparable options
• CrossFitters looking to match their gear or gym colors — this is available in eight different colors currently.
• Weightlifters who need a belt that’s been approved by USA Weightlifting.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Element 26 Self Locking Belt

• Athletes who prefer a buckle or lever arm for the extra security that those locking mechanisms tend to provide. 
• Anyone who wants a thicker belt for more rigidity, maximum support, and the ability to brace as hard as you can during heavy lifts. 

Though this belt may be a bit thin for someone who is looking for a thicker (or leather) belt, it comes in a w