I’ve decided its high time for me to pick up a belt after lifting without one for so long. I plan on mostly using it for when I am at my upper range numbers for squats and deadlifts.
I’ve taken a bit of time in eyeballing the assortment of belts over at Elite, but I wasn’t sure which is really the most appropriate for my purposes. So a few questions:
What is the appropriate thickness level for someone who is not a competitive powerlifter, but who is focused on getting better at the big 3 lifts? 10mm? 12mm? 13mm?
Any particular differences between single and double prong belts?
When I first get this kind of belt, are there any guidelines to follow when first using it or breaking it in?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Kuz
P.S. I got a kick out of the detailed care instructions. I’m sure they’re legit, but it made me chuckle since I don’t even care for my apartment to that level of detail.
[quote]Kuz wrote:
I’ve decided its high time for me to pick up a belt after lifting without one for so long. I plan on mostly using it for when I am at my upper range numbers for squats and deadlifts.
I’ve taken a bit of time in eyeballing the assortment of belts over at Elite, but I wasn’t sure which is really the most appropriate for my purposes. So a few questions:
What is the appropriate thickness level for someone who is not a competitive powerlifter, but who is focused on getting better at the big 3 lifts? 10mm? 12mm? 13mm?
Any particular differences between single and double prong belts?
When I first get this kind of belt, are there any guidelines to follow when first using it or breaking it in?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Kuz
P.S. I got a kick out of the detailed care instructions. I’m sure they’re legit, but it made me chuckle since I don’t even care for my apartment to that level of detail.[/quote]
Kuz,
Back in January I bought a belt for the same reasons you stated. After much research and debate, I went with this one wich is comparible to the ones that elite carries:
After having and using the 10mm for 6 months now, I can’t imagine ever needing anything thicker even if I were in competition.
The belt was very stiff at first and the edges would dig in to my sides to the point of leaving marks but since I’m such a tough MoFo, I just worked through it, Ha.
It has slowly formed to my body and doesn’t leave marks anymore even when pulled really tight.
I’m not sure if there’s any big difference between single and double prong. I got the single for simplicity sake and it’s been fine.
For me, having the thick, wide belt to push against has made a big difference in the upper range. Especially while doing heavy good mornings.
I’ve never “cared” for the belt yet and except for chalk being all over it, the belt doesn’t seem to care.
Back in January I bought a belt for the same reasons you stated. After much research and debate, I went with this one wich is comparible to the ones that elite carries:
After having and using the 10mm for 6 months now, I can’t imagine ever needing anything thicker even if I were in competition.
The belt was very stiff at first and the edges would dig in to my sides to the point of leaving marks but since I’m such a tough MoFo, I just worked through it, Ha.
It has slowly formed to my body and doesn’t leave marks anymore even when pulled really tight.
I’m not sure if there’s any big difference between single and double prong. I got the single for simplicity sake and it’s been fine.
For me, having the thick, wide belt to push against has made a big difference in the upper range. Especially while doing heavy good mornings.
I’ve never “cared” for the belt yet and except for chalk being all over it, the belt doesn’t seem to care.
holmdog
[/quote]
Perfect! That’s pretty much spot on what I was looking for. Now to pick out a pretty color…
[quote]Kuz wrote:
Well, I have used chalk. I am a cheater! A cheater I say![/quote]
Just 11 steps to go now.
You know those guys that do lat. pulldowns with the belt on and then go on the treadmill? Those guys would wear it playing football, by which (my American cousin) I mean the sport where you take your foot and use it to kick a ball into a goal :-p So hey, I thought I did get it right!
[quote]Miserere wrote:
Kuz wrote:
Now to pick out a pretty color…
You’re such a girl.
Go for pink.[/quote]
I’m secure in my manhood. Hey, you live in Massachusetts. I will be sure to get it in a nice salmon and then come to your gym to show it off while curling the squat rack.
EDIT While some may wonder if I meant to say “while curing IN the squat rack”, that’s not the case at all. I curl the whole squat rack. Why? I’m just a champ.
Call up customer support over at Elite. Ask to talk to Jim Wendler and ask him those questions. He is probably just sitting there jerking off anyway. Don’t forget to tell him that I said he is gay. He has a great line about how he knows he is not gay.
Seriously call them up, they will be able to give you the info you want.
Belts- as long as they are the real deal- i.e. full PL size- are pretty hard to go wrong on. Get a one-prong. (I bought a two-prong a couple years ago and would prefer a one-prog. However, since a belt lasts just about forever, I am kind of stuck with it.) If you’re buying it for benching- i.e. holding your shirt down, the lever belts are kind of nice.
Other than that, I haven’t seen any real difference in the quality of belts between Inzer, Titan, and Cardillo. Even the cheapo Inzer belt they sell for 45 or 50 is still just fine. CArdillo’s are a little more expensive, but they have pretty stitching- I can’t say that that necessarily makes them better belts. I haven’t seen any of the Elite belts, so I can’t speak for them.
The belts from elite are good. I have a double pronged belt, and I’m happy with it. Just make sure you buy a belt 1 or 2 sizes bigger than your waist size. I’m a 34, and I bought the medium size. After gaining some weight and getting a little squatters gut, I have a hard time getting that thing on. So order bigger than you actually are, to compensate for later gains.
[quote]Kuz wrote:
I’m secure in my manhood. Hey, you live in Massachusetts. I will be sure to get it in a nice salmon and then come to your gym to show it off while curling the squat rack.[/quote]
Sure, whenever you want! Just don’t take your belt off, cos some of the local gym fauna might snatch it away.
BTW, you’ll recognise me right away; I’m the dude squatting the power rack. With the PT and his client on a bosu ball inside. Please be patient if you catch me mid-set, I know 66 reps is a lot, but anything less and I don’t feel the burn.
[quote]Miserere wrote:
Kuz wrote:
I’m secure in my manhood. Hey, you live in Massachusetts. I will be sure to get it in a nice salmon and then come to your gym to show it off while curling the squat rack.
Sure, whenever you want! Just don’t take your belt off, cos some of the local gym fauna might snatch it away.
BTW, you’ll recognise me right away; I’m the dude squatting the power rack. With the PT and his client on a bosu ball inside. Please be patient if you catch me mid-set, I know 66 reps is a lot, but anything less and I don’t feel the burn.[/quote]
It’s totally about the burn, dude. Take it from a fellow hard pumping gym rat like myself - my day isn’t complete without curling until I achieve a synthol like pump. Then I hit a few poses just to let all the haters know what’s up.
For $60 you can’t beat Inzer’s Lever Belt. They last forever and have that guaranteed in writing, too. I got a 10mm about 8 years ago and it still looks new.
