Deadlift Belt
taunto
Posts: 6,420 Member
Yay or nay? I'm doing SL 5x5 and will soon be DLing 100 kgs (220 lbs) which is a bit more than my LBM. Is the belt needed/beneficial to a newbie like me? Is it something I can use for more than DL? I honestly don't know any about this belt and won't be buying for a month at least but wanted to get some homework done before I start looking (its a pain in the *kitten* to find this stuff here in Saudia)
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If you get a belt, get one that is 4" all the way around and 10mm thick, leather. Do not get the kind that is wider in the rear. You can use it for every lift - just the heaviest set or two. It will give your belly something to press out against, giving you a very stiff core, and the result is that you will be able to lift a little more. It's not a requirement. You don't have to ever use one. I have one and I like it a lot.
Do not add a belt until you feel your form is decent. They are not a cure for bad form.
Rippetoe has a little blurb on them in the Squats chapter of Starting Strength.
In the scheme of things, shoes are more important than belt. Make sure you have appropriate shoes, even if that means just Chuck Taylors or barefoot.
Here's Wendler's blurb http://www.jimwendler.com/2011/09/training-and-fashion/
Edit: found the Rippetoe excerpt as well. Thank you, Internets! http://www.intensemuscle.com/showthread.php?t=347950 -
Awesome. Since like you said, nowadays with SL I'm making PR's each time I hit the gym I don't think I need the belt. Wouldn't belt help with OHP though? Remember that stomach breathing thing you told me to be able to lift more. Wouldn't a belt basically be doing the same thing?
Thanks also for mentioning the shoes. I will see if I can find them here
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Belt will also help with ohp and bench .
I'd go with an Inzer forever belt if I were you.
I got one and love it. And they'll literally last you the rest of your life.0 -
Do not add a belt until you feel your form is decent. They are not a cure for bad form.
This needs to be emphasized. They can make your form worse if you're not careful.0 -
I agree with the other guys. Make sure your form is down and only use the belt on your heaviest sets.
With regards to footwear, I've had a lot of success deadlifting shoeless. Too many shoes are elevated in the heel. Shoeless allows more drive through your heels.0 -
Belt will also help with ohp and bench .
I'd go with an Inzer forever belt if I were you.
I got one and love it. And they'll literally last you the rest of your life.
unless you get too fat or too skinny :bigsmile:
i have about 1 notch to go before i outgrow mine. i guess this will signal the end of my "bulk" :laugh:0 -
I don't think I need a belt yet but would like to squat 500 lbs in a few years. Does this look like a good one?
http://www.amazon.com/Valeo-4-Inch-Performance-Profile-Large/dp/B001QKCHW2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364256015&sr=8-2&keywords=weightlifting+belt0 -
I don't think I need a belt yet but would like to squat 500 lbs in a few years. Does this look like a good one?
http://www.amazon.com/Valeo-4-Inch-Performance-Profile-Large/dp/B001QKCHW2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364256015&sr=8-2&keywords=weightlifting+belt
Looks good as a "starter belt". You almost can't go wrong given the price. It will certainly add some rigidity to your core as you lift.
Eventually you may want to upgrade to a leather belt, 10mm thick and 4" wide, which will give you profound rigidity.0 -
I personally hate the entire premise behind them. Chances are good that if you can lift something with a belt that you can't lift without one, you really need to work on your stabilizer muscles, and pay more attention to what you are doing with them when lifting.0
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I practice a routine at my desk that has, so far, kept me from needing a belt. (novice lifter so take it for what its worth). I call it a routine because it includes 4 different techniques, but I do them all at the same time.
Abdominal brace, shoulder packing, flexing pelvic floor and the Valsalva maneuver. I try to do all of these things at the same time and hold it for around 10 seconds for a few reps.
I often hear that a belt gives you something to push against but I have always felt that is just the wrong way to describe it. If you do the abdominal brace your core will compress and will get larger. If you were wearing a belt when you do this it will provide resistance and make the core even more rigid. Telling someone to push against the belt may cause them to actually distend their belly out. That might work while you are wearing the belt but if you tried that same thing without the belt you may have a blow out.0 -
I don't think I need a belt yet but would like to squat 500 lbs in a few years. Does this look like a good one?
http://www.amazon.com/Valeo-4-Inch-Performance-Profile-Large/dp/B001QKCHW2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364256015&sr=8-2&keywords=weightlifting+belt
Looks good as a "starter belt". You almost can't go wrong given the price. It will certainly add some rigidity to your core as you lift.
Eventually you may want to upgrade to a leather belt, 10mm thick and 4" wide, which will give you profound rigidity.
Why not just buy a good belt to start with? From what I've read, they last a lifetime so might as well just make a one time investment eh?0 -
I don't think I need a belt yet but would like to squat 500 lbs in a few years. Does this look like a good one?
http://www.amazon.com/Valeo-4-Inch-Performance-Profile-Large/dp/B001QKCHW2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364256015&sr=8-2&keywords=weightlifting+belt
Looks good as a "starter belt". You almost can't go wrong given the price. It will certainly add some rigidity to your core as you lift.
Eventually you may want to upgrade to a leather belt, 10mm thick and 4" wide, which will give you profound rigidity.
Why not just buy a good belt to start with? From what I've read, they last a lifetime so might as well just make a one time investment eh?
I agree butbeing half the cost and micro adjustable are nice reasons. Probably last a long time for the average lifter.0 -
I don't think I need a belt yet but would like to squat 500 lbs in a few years. Does this look like a good one?
http://www.amazon.com/Valeo-4-Inch-Performance-Profile-Large/dp/B001QKCHW2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364256015&sr=8-2&keywords=weightlifting+belt
no not really. doesn't look rigid at all, but that's just based on the picture and the description.
As above just buy a decent belt from day 1. A 500lb squat is a serious lift, not the time to be saving money IMO.0 -
I personally hate the entire premise behind them. Chances are good that if you can lift something with a belt that you can't lift without one, you really need to work on your stabilizer muscles, and pay more attention to what you are doing with them when lifting.
tell that to every powerlifter/strongman ever.
I can pull around 385x5 beltless. 430x5 with a belt.
I can squat 315x3 beltless. But can hit 365x2 with a belt.
My OHP and Bench are also slightly higher with a belt on.
It makes a difference. Yes I agree people can bring up their core strength and continue lifting without one but if you want every possible pound, throw a belt on.
My lower back seems to get more of a pump when I train beltless, and then it's hard to get assistance work done for me.0 -
no not really. doesn't look rigid at all, but that's just based on the picture and the description.
As above just buy a decent belt from day 1. A 500lb squat is a serious lift, not the time to be saving money IMO.
this.
A 30 dollar belt isn't going to last you forever.
And you're eventually going to have to drop 60-70 on a good belt.
I prefer to just save up the 70 bucks and get a good one from the beginning. Worst case you stop lifting down the road, and can sell the belt, because Inzer's last a long time.0 -
I personally hate the entire premise behind them. Chances are good that if you can lift something with a belt that you can't lift without one, you really need to work on your stabilizer muscles, and pay more attention to what you are doing with them when lifting.
I disagree. It's not all about the stabilizer muscles. Also, for example, quad muscles are a lot bigger than ab muscles - at some point they just cannot keep up. Why limit yourself?0 -
no not really. doesn't look rigid at all, but that's just based on the picture and the description.
As above just buy a decent belt from day 1. A 500lb squat is a serious lift, not the time to be saving money IMO.
this.
A 30 dollar belt isn't going to last you forever.
And you're eventually going to have to drop 60-70 on a good belt.
I prefer to just save up the 70 bucks and get a good one from the beginning. Worst case you stop lifting down the road, and can sell the belt, because Inzer's last a long time.
^^yep.
I have an Inzer belt. It was about $70 and well worth the money. The belt itself does not look too bad however - it's just not that rigid.0 -
tell that to every powerlifter/strongman ever.
I can pull around 385x5 beltless. 430x5 with a belt.
I can squat 315x3 beltless. But can hit 365x2 with a belt.
My OHP and Bench are also slightly higher with a belt on.
It makes a difference. Yes I agree people can bring up their core strength and continue lifting without one but if you want every possible pound, throw a belt on.
My lower back seems to get more of a pump when I train beltless, and then it's hard to get assistance work done for me.
At BW I don't think it matters that much. As you start to get heavier it matters more. definitely only use it on your heaviest sets though.0 -
I don't like to wear my belt for anything except OHP. It's just feels weird to me on the other lifts.0
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This is the video I watched when I was wondering if I needed a belt and why I decided to not start using one yet.
Do any of you see anything wrong with any of this advice?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrwUdaHjE7o 0 -
Going for 90%+ on my squat/ deads, I'd rather have a belt and reduce my injury factor. That's just me0
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Going for 90%+ on my squat/ deads, I'd rather have a belt and reduce my injury factor. That's just me
Form should be the priority, not gear. A belt or a infinity-ply suit won't make up for sh*tty form. You don't need one to lift safely, though it will enable you to lift slightly more weight than you could without it.0 -
Going for 90%+ on my squat/ deads, I'd rather have a belt and reduce my injury factor. That's just me
Form should be the priority, not gear. A belt or a infinity-ply suit won't make up for sh*tty form. You don't need one to lift safely, though it will enable you to lift slightly more weight than you could without it.
At 90%+ you risk form not being 100% correct. Never said I was using a belt to make up for form. I said I used it to help prevent me from being injured.
What you are saying is this. If you can lift 450lbs w/o a belt and 500lbs with a belt, then you're implying that one should lift 500lbs w/o a belt because you shouldn't need a belt to make up for bad form.0 -
Going for 90%+ on my squat/ deads, I'd rather have a belt and reduce my injury factor. That's just me
Form should be the priority, not gear. A belt or a infinity-ply suit won't make up for sh*tty form. You don't need one to lift safely, though it will enable you to lift slightly more weight than you could without it.
At 90%+ you risk form not being 100% correct. Never said I was using a belt to make up for form. I said I used it to help prevent me from being injured.
What you are saying is this. If you can lift 450lbs w/o a belt and 500lbs with a belt, then you're implying that one should lift 500lbs w/o a belt because you shouldn't need a belt to make up for bad form.
Not what I said. My point is that if you can lift 450 lbs safely without a belt, and 500 lbs safely with a belt. You could lift at 450 and build your lift from there. Once you got up to a 500lb lift beltless, you should be able to lift 550 with a belt with minimal training to maximize usage of your equipment. The reverse, training with a belt to up your beltless total, isn't quite as cut and dry. Equipment like belts or suits and such are mostly useful for meets, if you're not training for a competition it's not needed to get stronger.0 -
Going for 90%+ on my squat/ deads, I'd rather have a belt and reduce my injury factor. That's just me
Form should be the priority, not gear. A belt or a infinity-ply suit won't make up for sh*tty form. You don't need one to lift safely, though it will enable you to lift slightly more weight than you could without it.
At 90%+ you risk form not being 100% correct. Never said I was using a belt to make up for form. I said I used it to help prevent me from being injured.
What you are saying is this. If you can lift 450lbs w/o a belt and 500lbs with a belt, then you're implying that one should lift 500lbs w/o a belt because you shouldn't need a belt to make up for bad form.
Not what I said. My point is that if you can lift 450 lbs safely without a belt, and 500 lbs safely with a belt. You could lift at 450 and build your lift from there. Once you got up to a 500lb lift beltless, you should be able to lift 550 with a belt with minimal training to maximize usage of your equipment. The reverse, training with a belt to up your beltless total, isn't quite as cut and dry. Equipment like belts or suits and such are mostly useful for meets, if you're not training for a competition it's not needed to get stronger.
But I never mentioned being able to lift more or less w/ or w/o a belt.
I just said when I get to 90% + of my max, I use a belt for safety. You could lift 450lbs safely 9 times out of 10. But I'd rather not risk that 10th time and be on rehab for the next 6 months. Too many extraneous factors like not having form that day, being tired from something else, or 5 other things that might up your risk factor a bit when lifting that close to your maxiums0 -
But I never mentioned being able to lift more or less w/ or w/o a belt.
I just said when I get to 90% + of my max, I use a belt for safety. You could lift 450lbs safely 9 times out of 10. But I'd rather not risk that 10th time and be on rehab for the next 6 months. Too many extraneous factors like not having form that day, being tired from something else, or 5 other things that might up your risk factor a bit when lifting that close to your maxiums
I doubt we'll agree on this. 90% with a belt is different than 90% without a belt. If you're lifting at 90% of your beltless capability with a belt, you're making the lift easier and not a true 90% effort. Tired, distracted, whatever, a belt isn't necessarily going to protect you. If you want to lift with a belt, more power to you, but you don't need it to lift safely.0 -
But I never mentioned being able to lift more or less w/ or w/o a belt.
I just said when I get to 90% + of my max, I use a belt for safety. You could lift 450lbs safely 9 times out of 10. But I'd rather not risk that 10th time and be on rehab for the next 6 months. Too many extraneous factors like not having form that day, being tired from something else, or 5 other things that might up your risk factor a bit when lifting that close to your maxiums
I doubt we'll agree on this. 90% with a belt is different than 90% without a belt. If you're lifting at 90% of your beltless capability with a belt, you're making the lift easier and not a true 90% effort. Tired, distracted, whatever, a belt isn't necessarily going to protect you. If you want to lift with a belt, more power to you, but you don't need it to lift safely.
I'm lifting 90% of my no belt maxiums. But honestly, they aren't that much different than each other. I also haven't explored my "true" bellted maximum as I don't have a good spotter that I trust. Nor do I want to really just dump the weight if I get into trouble.
A belt will help protect some but not all things. But it will protect you more than w/o. I think one should use a belt when lifting near your maximum lifts.
But I'm not clear. You lift w/o a belt. But you say one should be lifting more than your beltless max if you want to use a belt? That doesn't make sense to me. If your max beltless lift is 450lbs, than that's your max. Belted max isn't relavent right?
If my max is 450lbs and I choose to use a belt at that 450lbs, I'm not making my life easier, I'm making it safer. After doing this 450lb max more times and for more reps, then one can start not using a belt at 450lbs as my new max beltlless would be let's say 475lbs.0 -
I disagree with that. Strapping on a belt enables you to generate greater core tightness and move more weight. I know my squat goes up when I throw on a belt. Not by much since I don't really like using belts, but a good 30 or 40 pounds. In PC's interview of Captain Kirk, he claimed an 80 lb increase just from throwing on a belt. Anecdotal evidence because I don't know of any studies specifically on it, but others on this thraid have claimed as much.I'm lifting 90% of my no belt maxiums. But honestly, they aren't that much different than each other. I also haven't explored my "true" bellted maximum as I don't have a good spotter that I trust. Nor do I want to really just dump the weight if I get into trouble.
I have a bias against this, and am unaware of any studies that prove or disprove my claim, but I tend to think that the added safety of a belt comes more from lowering the relative intensity of the lift than from ergonomical safety. If your beltless max is 400 and your belted max is 450, lifting 405 belted is about as dangerous as lifting 360 beltless. And if you want to lift the 4 wheels in that example, go for it, but you could train at 360 and increase your strength just as well, too.A belt will help protect some but not all things. But it will protect you more than w/o. I think one should use a belt when lifting near your maximum lifts.
Belted max is definitely relavent. If I'm training for a competition that allows belts (i.e. most of them) then that extra 40 or 50 lbs is added onto the total. I am in training for a meet in August. I'll be lifting beltless until June or July when I'll start adding in the belt to get used to using it. Once I'm done with my meet, I'll go back to lifting beltless. My belted training will be at higher weights than my beltless training.But I'm not clear. You lift w/o a belt. But you say one should be lifting more than your beltless max if you want to use a belt? That doesn't make sense to me. If your max beltless lift is 450lbs, than that's your max. Belted max isn't relavent right?
This is the crux of our disagreement. I believe putting on a belt makes that 450lb lift easier (still hard, mind you, but easier than it would be beltless).If my max is 450lbs and I choose to use a belt at that 450lbs, I'm not making my life easier, I'm making it safer. After doing this 450lb max more times and for more reps, then one can start not using a belt at 450lbs as my new max beltlless would be let's say 475lbs.0 -
Easier? Perhaps. Safer? Yes.
And if I can improve with the belted 450lbs to a point where I can lift it for reps beltless, theen what's the problem?
You in general admitted that belts are safter. If belts can increase core stiffness, then it's decreasing the chance at a core related injury. Core stability is what is preventing a core stabilty related injury.0
This discussion has been closed.