Lifting belt
Rigid leather or lever belt worn on heavy squats and deadlifts to brace against
A stiff belt, typically 10 to 13 millimeters of leather with a prong or lever buckle. Lifters wear it snug around the midsection for heavy lower-body and pulling work. It does not support the spine passively. It gives the trunk something to push against: lifters breathe down into it and brace outward in every direction, which raises intra-abdominal pressure and makes the torso more rigid. Studies have not found that belts reduce core muscle activation. Experienced lifters commonly report a noticeable bump in their top squat once they learn to use one.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Jeff NippardRecommends
Natural bodybuilder · Science-based lifting
A belt, in his telling, is not there to let you go lazy on bracing but to brace harder against, and he guesses most people gain 5 to 10 percent on the squat once they learn to use one. The article carried affiliate links to a belt brand.
Source: jeffnippard.com blog: The Fastest Way to Blow Up Your Squat, Naturally
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Gear entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.