Belt Time
jlclabo
Posts: 588 Member
looks like i am going to finally break down and order my PL belt. gonna get it from BestBelts.net
anyone have any experience with them? im looking at the "Athlete" 4" belt. Made in the USA!! any recommendations on single or double prong? need some input quick. gonna order today. thanks.
anyone have any experience with them? im looking at the "Athlete" 4" belt. Made in the USA!! any recommendations on single or double prong? need some input quick. gonna order today. thanks.
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Replies
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Single prong for sure - double prong is just an extra hole to mess with (that's what she said!). In all seriousness, I'm a convert from the double - MUCH easier and less fanangling. :-)0
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Single prong for sure - double prong is just an extra hole to mess with (that's what she said!). In all seriousness, I'm a convert from the double - MUCH easier and less fanangling. :-)
thanks for the quick reply. thats what i was thinking. some times that extra hole is worth the hassle though..... lmao!!!!0 -
Single prong for sure - double prong is just an extra hole to mess with (that's what she said!). In all seriousness, I'm a convert from the double - MUCH easier and less fanangling. :-)
thanks for the quick reply. thats what i was thinking. some times that extra hole is worth the hassle though..... lmao!!!!
BAAHAHAHA.
When you get your belt, make sure you work it in really good (that's what she said)- it took me a couple hours of bending and breaking and wearing around the house to get it pliable enough to actually use.
I'm curious about the lever belts, I've never tried them. Have you heard anything?0 -
Single prong for sure - double prong is just an extra hole to mess with (that's what she said!). In all seriousness, I'm a convert from the double - MUCH easier and less fanangling. :-)
thanks for the quick reply. thats what i was thinking. some times that extra hole is worth the hassle though..... lmao!!!!
BAAHAHAHA.
When you get your belt, make sure you work it in really good (that's what she said)- it took me a couple hours of bending and breaking and wearing around the house to get it pliable enough to actually use.
I'm curious about the lever belts, I've never tried them. Have you heard anything?
i know several with lever belts and they like them, but i like the simplistic prong belt. Chelsea of Chelsealifts on youtube has had several lever belts break with her so she switched to a single prong. the bestbelts.net are supposed to be good to go and ready for use right out of the box, or so they say on their website. but you know how that goes. claims of being very tight fitting, but only if you are rockin a mack truck, lol....0 -
I have the BestBelts Athlete single prong in black. Great belt. Built really well, made in USA, already broken in and ready to use. I have it on now (resting between sets).
Tom0 -
I have the BestBelts Athlete single prong in black. Great belt. Built really well, made in USA, already broken in and ready to use. I have it on now (resting between sets).
Tom
thats the belt im about to order. just making sure of my sizing.... now where is that dang tape measure, lol0 -
well belt is ordered!!! best belts Athlete 4", single prong, black.... now i wait...... is it here yet, lol0
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well belt is ordered!!! best belts Athlete 4", single prong, black.... now i wait...... is it here yet, lol
I have exactly this belt. Very happy with it. Enjoy!0 -
well belt is ordered!!! best belts Athlete 4", single prong, black.... now i wait...... is it here yet, lol
I have exactly this belt. Very happy with it. Enjoy!
Nice!!! you guys are making this decision that much better. ive never used a belt and figured with the weights im getting up to, its probably a good thing to assure i keep good abdominal pressure.0 -
Sheik lever belt for me. Farkin' love it.
Had a cheap double prong before and eventually the holes blew out. Doubt that would happen with a good brand one though.0 -
A bit late but some probably useless info - the peeps that run USAPL California highly recommend Best Belts. I have an Inzer lever myself (which I love) but may try them when I am looking for a belt next time.0
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A bit late but some probably useless info - the peeps that run USAPL California highly recommend Best Belts. I have an Inzer lever myself (which I love) but may try them when I am looking for a belt next time.
mine should be here by the 23rd so that will give me a little over a week to get the feel for it. ive heard nothing but great reviews on the Best Belts, and for 85.00 shipped to my door.... ill take it!!!0 -
I have an Inzer lever, an inzer double prong and a custom single prong from Bob's belts. My favourite is the single prong. The lever is nice but I use different tightness for squat and deadlift and have to adjust it so the prong belt is more flexible for my use.
Like another poster mentioned, your belt will likely be stiff as hell when you get it and will need work to soften it up.
Let us know when you get it and what you think. Play around with how tight or loose you want it. Some people like to have it super tight, others not so much. There's no right or wrong way.0 -
I have an Inzer lever, an inzer double prong and a custom single prong from Bob's belts. My favourite is the single prong. The lever is nice but I use different tightness for squat and deadlift and have to adjust it so the prong belt is more flexible for my use.
Like another poster mentioned, your belt will likely be stiff as hell when you get it and will need work to soften it up.
Let us know when you get it and what you think. Play around with how tight or loose you want it. Some people like to have it super tight, others not so much. There's no right or wrong way.
from what i have read and heard the best belts are already very flexible and broke in feeling out of the box. i am gonna play with belt tightness and placement for squat and deadlift both to see what feel best and works best. i know a couple people that run their belt up high on deads and like it better. we will see. thanks to everyone for all the input.0 -
I have an EliteFTS econo belt and love it, but my next belt will probably be from best belts just b/c I like the color options!
I wear my belt tight and low for squats and loosen it a notch and wear it a little higher for DL, but I want to play around a little more with that.0 -
well my belt came in today and i will be trying it out with some squat work, just not heavy since im only 8 days out from my meet and dont want to throw off my program... im adding a pic if the dang photobucket cooperates with me....
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oooh it's so pretty! I almost got my belt from there, but decided to go with a white inzer lever. I still go to bestbelts.com on occasion just to gaze at them. I might get my next belt from there.0
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oooh it's so pretty! I almost got my belt from there, but decided to go with a white inzer lever. I still go to bestbelts.com on occasion just to gaze at them. I might get my next belt from there.
i was pleasantly surprised when i got it. i read they were nice for the money, but you know how that can be at times. well this is well worth the money and then some.... the 85.00 shipped to my door was worth 150.00 or more in quality. i know ill shop there for my next one also....0 -
Let us know how you like it. Is it a 10 or a 13?0
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Let us know how you like it. Is it a 10 or a 13?
when i ordered it it said it would range from 10-13mm, just depends on the stock they have. so im good with that. i have checked it with somethings i have that are 10mm thick and its just a bit thicker so id say 11mm or so. as for liking it, i love it. did some light, or what started out as light, squats last night with it and wow... i have never used a belt and didnt realize they made that much of a difference. much more stable feeling in my core, and ive never had core stability issues as far up as 475 on squats, but this felt different. i was able to get deeper in my squat and come out of the hole stronger. i worked up to 405 for a single and it was so easy. honestly felt like 225-315. im going to be doing my final "heavy" workout tomorrow for my meet in a week. ill be working up to my openers and if they feel as good as it did last night, i may be changing my openers and go a little heavier....0 -
Let us know how you like it. Is it a 10 or a 13?
when i ordered it it said it would range from 10-13mm, just depends on the stock they have. so im good with that. i have checked it with somethings i have that are 10mm thick and its just a bit thicker so id say 11mm or so. as for liking it, i love it. did some light, or what started out as light, squats last night with it and wow... i have never used a belt and didnt realize they made that much of a difference. much more stable feeling in my core, and ive never had core stability issues as far up as 475 on squats, but this felt different. i was able to get deeper in my squat and come out of the hole stronger. i worked up to 405 for a single and it was so easy. honestly felt like 225-315. im going to be doing my final "heavy" workout tomorrow for my meet in a week. ill be working up to my openers and if they feel as good as it did last night, i may be changing my openers and go a little heavier....
My advice is to leave your openers where they are and make bigger more aggressive jumps on seconds and thirds.
I'm glad to hear you like it so much. I probably get about 20lbs out of mine.0 -
Let us know how you like it. Is it a 10 or a 13?
when i ordered it it said it would range from 10-13mm, just depends on the stock they have. so im good with that. i have checked it with somethings i have that are 10mm thick and its just a bit thicker so id say 11mm or so. as for liking it, i love it. did some light, or what started out as light, squats last night with it and wow... i have never used a belt and didnt realize they made that much of a difference. much more stable feeling in my core, and ive never had core stability issues as far up as 475 on squats, but this felt different. i was able to get deeper in my squat and come out of the hole stronger. i worked up to 405 for a single and it was so easy. honestly felt like 225-315. im going to be doing my final "heavy" workout tomorrow for my meet in a week. ill be working up to my openers and if they feel as good as it did last night, i may be changing my openers and go a little heavier....
My advice is to leave your openers where they are and make bigger more aggressive jumps on seconds and thirds.
I'm glad to hear you like it so much. I probably get about 20lbs out of mine.
I always get nervous making too large of a jump between lifts. Out of interest, and I realize that this is very variable, but how large of a jump do you usually make between lifts?
I suppose I should try a few options doing 'mock meets' every now and again and see what works best as I like to open conservatively but worry about large jumps - and then end up wishing I had increased more when I end up 'running out of room'.
OP: sorry to side track the conversation.0 -
Let us know how you like it. Is it a 10 or a 13?
when i ordered it it said it would range from 10-13mm, just depends on the stock they have. so im good with that. i have checked it with somethings i have that are 10mm thick and its just a bit thicker so id say 11mm or so. as for liking it, i love it. did some light, or what started out as light, squats last night with it and wow... i have never used a belt and didnt realize they made that much of a difference. much more stable feeling in my core, and ive never had core stability issues as far up as 475 on squats, but this felt different. i was able to get deeper in my squat and come out of the hole stronger. i worked up to 405 for a single and it was so easy. honestly felt like 225-315. im going to be doing my final "heavy" workout tomorrow for my meet in a week. ill be working up to my openers and if they feel as good as it did last night, i may be changing my openers and go a little heavier....
My advice is to leave your openers where they are and make bigger more aggressive jumps on seconds and thirds.
I'm glad to hear you like it so much. I probably get about 20lbs out of mine.
I always get nervous making too large of a jump between lifts. Out of interest, and I realize that this is very variable, but how large of a jump do you usually make between lifts?
I suppose I should try a few options doing 'mock meets' every now and again and see what works best as I like to open conservatively but worry about large jumps - and then end up wishing I had increased more when I end up 'running out of room'.
OP: sorry to side track the conversation.
Lately I've been making smaller jumps and opening heavier because I've done so many meets and have a good feel for where I'm at.
The last meet I did big jumps was last September, my first unequipped meet in years and I'd just cut a lot of weight. I opened squat at 95 kg and my second was 105. I tend to do this when I'm unsure about about my performance. For example, meets where I weigh in lighter than expected, I'll drop my openers just to make sure I get one in.
Another example is an equipped meet a couple of years ago I opened squat at 130 kg and my second was 140kg.(22lb jump) Deadlift was 152.5 for first and 165 for second (28lbs). They might not seem like big jumps but they are about 16% of my bw for a jump.
I try to train for larger jumps because I stress so much about my first squat I go light to get it in. I also try to train with very few warm ups to save stress and aggravation in the warm up room. For instance, a typical meet warm up for squat is: bar-10, 135-5, 185-2, 205-1.
ETA: The biggest jump I've made in squats was from 107.5 to 120kg in a championship. I opened deliberately low because I'd bombed out the meet previous. I ended up with best lifter at this meet. It's easier to make bigger jumps than struggle on an opener that kills your confidence.0 -
^^thank you.
I tend to go light on the warm ups myself - yours look very similar to mine re ramp up/volume.
I have only done 3 meets so far, and all under different circumstances, so am still getting a feel for how I might perform. The last meet I did, I kind of got surprised as to my strength. The one before I had to cut quite heavily to get into the lower weight class - so was off my full strength. The next meet, I did not cut going into it - and so was a lot stronger but my mind was not quite caught up/convinced even though my training leading up was really good. I ended up with conservative openers. With squats, I only went up 10lbs at a time so my 3rd was still pretty easy. Luckily it was an APA meet that allows a 4th attempt for records, and as mine were State records, I had a 4th lift - but kind of bottled it and only went up 5lb....the lift was still relatively easy so I now wish I had gone up more. Then again, weight selection is easy in hindsight!0 -
Let us know how you like it. Is it a 10 or a 13?
when i ordered it it said it would range from 10-13mm, just depends on the stock they have. so im good with that. i have checked it with somethings i have that are 10mm thick and its just a bit thicker so id say 11mm or so. as for liking it, i love it. did some light, or what started out as light, squats last night with it and wow... i have never used a belt and didnt realize they made that much of a difference. much more stable feeling in my core, and ive never had core stability issues as far up as 475 on squats, but this felt different. i was able to get deeper in my squat and come out of the hole stronger. i worked up to 405 for a single and it was so easy. honestly felt like 225-315. im going to be doing my final "heavy" workout tomorrow for my meet in a week. ill be working up to my openers and if they feel as good as it did last night, i may be changing my openers and go a little heavier....
My advice is to leave your openers where they are and make bigger more aggressive jumps on seconds and thirds.
I'm glad to hear you like it so much. I probably get about 20lbs out of mine.
i have actually been thinking about that. i think, as of right now, that i will open squat at 455, bench 295, and deadlift 435. that puts me opening heavier on everything except deadlift than my previous meet PRs. seconds are projected to be 485 squat, 305 bench, and 475 deadlift. trying to set myself up for 515 squat, 315, bench, 500 deadlift for a 1330lb total and a 205lb meet pr. that will be nice to hit, but my main goal for this meet is to just total over 1300.0
