I just double checked to make sure, Metal single ply gear is not on the IPF approved list anyway. Their belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, and singlets are what is allowed in the IPF/affiliates.
Yeah, thatās a real surprise.
Same, but whoās gonna buy it now?
USAPL banned Metal, USPA prohibited Metal items.
The main reason I bought a metal belt was because it was an economic IPF-approved option that I could also use for USPA
True story. I think it escalated since that post as well a bit.
I havenāt seen any strongman fed take a stance against them yet.
Dang I might have some potential buyers then. Gonna put that money towards a custom pioneer belt.
Just an FYI, I got a pioneer belt from EliteFTS for a lot cheaper with free shipping. Not custom, but I really like the leather treatment.
IIRC, I paid $120 and got sent some free wraps at the time (cyber Monday). I think with shipping you are over $200 from pioneer for something similar. Pioneer makes all the EliteFTS branded belts IIRC. Maybe something to consider.
I donāt think it is IPF approved though. I think you can buy the same belt from A7 as well for more money and then it is approved. Stupid USAPL/IPF.
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Yeah I was thinking about the A7 too. Having USAPL/IPF approval is nice, but I mostly lift USPA anyway since Iām a USPA official.
Iāve also only used a prong belt, so not sure if I wanna try lever this time around, or if Iād go pioneer cut. If I got custom route, I wanna do the gold sparkle with burgundy in the inside.
I really like USPA. I think the judging is consistent from what I have seen and per the rule book. USAPL seems to have instances of judging harder than the rule book. UPA which I have competed in, seems to judge based on did that resemble a squat, which is disappointing when you trained and competed to the standard.
I love the pioneer cut. I was skeptical, but became a believer. I know two others with the pioneer cut, and both like it too. I would only do a lever if you like the same tightness for all of your lifts. I like tighter on squats than deadlifts, so a lever would be a pain.
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Yeah same here, and my belt position changes slightly per lift.
I am not a power lifter, but I like to let my weight fluctuate like Tom Hanks preparing for a role. Iāve been a huge (pun absolutely intended) fan of the pioneer cut - it definitely adds some ease.
I see the benefit of a lever belt for strongman or a competition where changing equipment quickly is a benefit. For convenience on static gym lifts, I think single prong has the advantage (but Iāve only tried anything else when someone has it and lets me, so not enough to really give an evaluation).
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Itās actually the worst choice for Strongman. If you use a belt, itās going to be different for virtually every event. I have a lever, and I doubt itās been on me 20 times since I bought it.
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Ha! And thatās where it shows up that I havenāt actually tried it and Iām just guessing!
You see them, but those guys often have more than one belt and use the lever for very specific things. Like Joukka Ahola had a belt specifically for pulling trucks and such. It had lead sewn into it, because body weight is very important in that event - and it doesnāt require a belt.
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if itās any consolation, I definitely prefer the lever for strongman. Way better for medleys where some parts are good for a belt and others not. But I also think having a different belt setting for different lifts is weird.
With a lever, you can have the ābuckleā to the side or behind you. That helps for some events. That doesnāt really work for prongs
Iām not sure I use different settings for different lifts either. Iāll think about paying attention to that. Itās mostly different levels of fatness
Yeah, Iāll have to adjust the belt every once in a while as my weight drops or increases.
Which I also find confusing. I think I must have the best luck in the world when it comes to levers/lever belts, as Iāve had to get 3 different types of levers due to various matters of stupidity, yet for all I hear about how much of a pain in the butt it is to change tightness on a lever, mine have never taken more than 5 minutes and a screwdriver to get changed out.
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Donāt think that this is being mentioned but SBD is offering free replacement equipment for those that have purchased Metal products in the past year and have proof of purchase.
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