In the past year, you’ve probably set up your own home gym in your front living room and amassed an impressive array of fitness-related gear, all while attempting to stay fit during the lockdown. Now, however, is the chance to branch out. We’re allowed back to the gym and that means familiarising ourselves with the weights section once more and protecting ourselves while we’re at it with a weightlifting belt.
For those keen to achieve more gains, improve muscle strength and stay strong, a weightlifting belt can be a clever addition to that fitness arsenal that can help your performance, while also preventing the likelihood of an injury if you’re out of practice.
Best weightlifting belts at a glance:
Best for all weight lifting activities: Element 26 Self-locking Weight Belt
Best for in the gym lifting weights: RDX Weight Lifting Belt for Fitness Gym
Best for standing out at the gym: Fireteam Fit Weightlifting Belt
Best for adding extra weight: RDX Dipping Belt for Weight Lifting
Best for value: Decathlon DOMYOS Weight Training Lumbar Belt
Best for vegans: Shreddy Onyx Lifting Belt
Best for enhanced protection: Harbinger Firm Fit Contour Weightlifting Belt
If you’re keen to lift heavy weights and you’ve already got your weightlifting shoes, your weightlifting gloves and your liquid chalk, a weightlifting belt is pretty much a no-brainer. Read below to see our best picks.
What are weightlifting belts for?
When you consider all the muscles used as you lift a barbell, the biggest and perhaps most important one that must be protected is the back.
A weightlifting belt or weightlifting belt with chain can enhance lifting capability in certain positions by providing extra support and protection for the lower back. The weight belt reduces the stress placed on your back if you’re picking up a heavy weight in an overhead position, as well as helping to alert you to your posture and form.
Should you use a weightlifting belt for lifting?
Weight belts are not necessary for everyone. If you’re really keen on powerlifting, exercises like the clean and jerk, a deadlift, or a squat will all benefit from the use of a weight belt.
Weightlifting belts are not helpful when you’re using lighter weights or doing exercises that do not use the spinal erector muscle - a group of muscles that run along either side of your spine and down near your hips.
It’s also important to consider that regular use of a weightlifting belt can impact your strength development and slow it down, as you tend to rely on it too much. Those with any underlying health conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease should always consult a professional when it comes to intense weight training or exercise.
The best weightlifting belts
Great for all weight lifting activities
Description
With over 5,000 Amazon reviews rated on average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, this self-locking weight belt is a great all-rounder for lifting activities for both men and women. Whether that's Crossfit, powerlifting, lifting weights in the gym or for serious athletes, this belt is built to better your performance.
Review: "I got this belt to use when I am training after work as my main lifting belt is too big to carry around. I'm sort of between sizes so got a medium however when I was using it I didn't really feel supported like I was in my leather belt. I spoke with Element 26 and they exchanged the belt for a larger size to allow me to try it out. The larger size is perfect for me and works a treat. This is a great fabric belt and even better customer service. Couldn't recommend highly enough."
Best for in the gym lifting weights
Description
The RDX Weight Lifting belt is made out of tough leather for an authentic look and feel, and of course to last a long time. A reasonable £19.99, this belt is thicker in depth where it sits on your back and then follows the natural curve of your torso, becoming slimmer where the buckle, which has an extra piece of leather for comfort, is placed on your front.
Review: "This is a real old fashioned belt - built for stability rather than comfort. I picked it up after a rather painful disc injury doing squats, and the belt makes my core really solid. Leather is really good quality with almost no give, so I'd limit wearing it for heavy sets where it shines.
"As I say it's a very stiff belt and definitely comes under 'functional tool' rather than 'fashion accessory' so don't expect to be entirely comfortable while wearing it. The stiffness of the leather comes in really handy once you get above 1.5x bodyweight or so on squatting - meaning you can get a lot closer to failure without worrying about injuries when your form gets a bit loose towards the end of sets. I'd recommend for anyone doing a routine that involves a lot of heavy low rep work."
Best for standing out at the gym
Description
What we love about this weightlifting belt is that it comes in a variety of colourways, in particular, this bold pink camouflage pattern that will really make you stand out at the gym. The lightweight contour design is 100 per cent Nylon and vegan-friendly. The material allows the wearer to tighten the strap for support unlike a stiff leather belt with pre-determined holes.
Review: "I LOVE this belt. I wanted something a bit different (camo) and this not only looks amazing but really supports me perfectly too. I am extremely happy with this purchase. Great value for money, really strong velcro and great quality."
Best for adding extra weight
Description
This is the next level when it comes to weight lifting belts. Not only do you get the lower back support, but there's an addition of a chain that you can attach extra weights to. This type of belt is ideal for exercises like a weighted chin-up, a weighted dip, squat, and weighted donkey calf raises.
Review: "So far, so good. Really practical and very durable. I read reviews before purchasing, that 40kg could end up ripping it apart but I've gone up to 50kg without any problems. It's pretty comfortable until you hit the 40kg mark. At that point, the belt really digs into your midsection but this is more a gravity issue than a product issue.
"I have owned a weights vest in the past which was probably better for a workout but hugely impractical plus more expensive. If you want to add weight for your dips and pull-ups and even squats (elevated on two boxes - one foot on each), this is the best value for money option."
Best for value
www.decathlon.co.uk
Description
Decathlon has a plethora of fitness and weight training gear for all levels and its lumbar belt is a perfect starting point for those looking for extra support as they start their weight lifting journey. The polyester material makes it a more flexible option than the leather DOMYOS weight lifting belt, as it's a lot more comfortable.
Review: "Light but good very supporting of my body posture and shape. Perfect for beginners who don’t want to look like they're putting more effort into dressing up for the gym than the workout."
Photo: What's The Bestwww.shreddy.com
Description
The Shreddy workout app is the brainchild of entrepreneur Grace Beverley, who also owns the Tala fashion brand. She has branched out into fitness gear to support those looking to get fully equipped for their weighted workouts. The Onyx Lifting Belt is on the pricier scale of weight belts on this list but is a really sleek design that comes with a double-buckle fastening for extra support. It's also made from vegan leather, if you're conscious about the products you use.
Tried and Tested by What's The Best deputy commercial content editor Natalie Corner: "I have to say when the Shreddy belt arrived I was seriously impressed with the quality. Finished to a really high standard, the cloudy grey colour is very stylish and doesn't overpower any of my gym outfits.
"When I tried the belt on I had to go a lot tighter than I first expected because it wasn't providing the support I needed. The double buckle of the belt made it feel really secure, and the extra padding at the back was very comfortable. It certainly made me correct my posture when completing deadlifts and squats, reminding me to keep my core engaged and back straight.
"At £30, I would say you're paying a little more for the brand itself, but overall it is definitely worth the quality that you get."
Best for enhanced protection
www.sportsdirect.com
Description
The Harbinger weightlifting belt is contoured to fit your back and waist and includes five segmented foam-padded panels to enhance protection and support for your lower back when lifting. The extra-wide strap provides more coverage and stability, and the adjustable belt allows for a custom fit.
Reviews say sizing needs to be considered when ordering as it runs small: "A quality belt for weight training. Lightweight but excellent support."
"Good quality, Would recommend. Take extreme care on size selection."
All of these weightlifting belts have been hand-selected by What's The Best shopping experts. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching, so you can choose the best one. Plus, we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in. Find out why you should trust us here.
What exercises should I do with a weightlifting belt?
There are some core exercises that you can perform to improve your strength and really push your muscles to feel that burn.
The Squat
This exercise is one for leg day. The squat really tests your lower body pushing your quads and glutes to their limits - that is depending on how heavy you’ve loaded your weights! Often featured in competitions weight belts will help with the back squat. It involves you standing with your barbell across the top of your shoulders and upper back. Your stance is slightly more than hip-width before you brace your grip, and back to take the load. Your aim is to push your bottom backwards and the weight into your heels, engaging your glutes as your knees bend to a 90-degree angle but not going over your toes before pushing yourself back up and squeezing your bottom at the top. A front squat with a barbell involves the weight held under your chin across your chest.
The Deadlift
It does what it says on the tin and a weightbelt is a tool that will certainly help protect your lower back. The deadlift involves you picking up your barbell (or dumbbells) directly from the ground, engaging your hamstrings and core to prevent your lower back from feeling the pull of the movement. This movement involves heavy concentration on your core muscles as well as making sure your glutes are engaged as you come to standing before dropping the weight.
The Clean and Jerk
This is one for the more confident lifters among us. The clean and jerk is a compound movement that involves the lifter jerking the barbell from a standing position to their chest before pushing it clean upwards. A weight belt helps with bracing your torso, as you lift the barbell and stop it from dropping towards you.
Do weightlifting belts prevent injury?
While the weightlifting belt will not fully prevent injuries it will help you brace your back and assist in mind-muscle connection.
It can also help someone lifting weights maintain a neutral position of your spinal erector muscle and engaging your abdominal muscles, to prevent overextending and damaging your lower back. The lower back (lumbar) tends to get injured quickly from incorrect form when lifting heavy weights and tends to be the most difficult to strengthen. Exercises like the Superman can help improve your posture and mind-muscle connection by isolating the lower back. Check out this demo of the exercise from CrossFitRack.
Natalie Corner is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Bauer Media, working across brands such as What’s The Best, Yours, Mother&Baby, Heat and Closer, specialising in lifestyle and fitness content.
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