When Should You Get A Lifting Belt? (Or Any Lifting Equipment?)

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[mattvena]

Follow me on instagram/tiktok @mattvena

#shorts

[MentallyillManlet]

I view lifting equipment as safety equipment. You use a lifting belt for the same reason boxers use gloves and football players wear pads. It maximizes potential and mitigates injury.

[heiyuiwong]

Belt won't weaken our core if we use it correctly.
A lot of people just misunderstood about it.
There's some difference using core between belt and beltless tho.

[nathanjena]

I have lower back problems and I find wearing a lifting belt actually eliminates the pain while deadlifting

[jsheav]

I started using a belt when I hit 405 on squat. Helps a ton now, wish I started earlier. Also, belts are super helpful for OHP, literally a game changer for that lift and squat

[lucfoxley]

Matt is the hero the lifting world needs

[confusedcaveman]

I feel that way about everything except straps. I just want to work my grip as much as possible as often as I can

[abhisheksathe]

You should also mention that lot of beginners have a misconception that a lifting belt will protect their lower back from injury where in reality lifting belt is for breathing and bracing. There are some belts that give support to your lower back but they are different than a standard lifting belt.

[jmca_power]

Ok, but what about actual supportive equipment, like knee wraps or a bench shirt or a squat suit (assuming you want to compete classic or equipped) ?

[markoehand]

Belts actually make your body use different recruitment pattern for your muscles. Its good if you're trying to lift more weight but it doesn't improve your every day strength as much as lifting without a belt. It actually prones injury because your body gets so used to lifting with a belt when trying lifting things outside of gym (you probably dont wear a belt outside of gym haha). Btw I still use weight belts, I think it still has a great place in a workouts, but what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't rely on it.

[dylanmorgan]

I had a coach tell me that you should master the basics of a movement and feel proper form without the belt or equipment before putting it on. BUT he also said this only takes up to a month. The idea was mastering the ability to do the movement before trying to improve strength or add muscle. The analogy was learning to run properly on your feet before buying cleats to push yourself faster like Ethiopian runners do. Again, max time period of a month, with the understanding that this learning period may not be needed for everyone.

Thoughts on this? None of this was my idea, it's something i heard from a strength coach. I personally tested the shoe theory but not the weight belt idea. Learning run raw fixed many issues i developed from learning to run in shoes but obviously this is putting muscle gains on the backburner.

[Lordecai]

What are some belts that you guys recommend?

[VENDETTA]

100 % agree. Take the plunge, you will appreciate it 🤟🏻

[justinm]

Agree with the exception of straps for deadlifts. If you build up your deadlift strength without them you'll also be building grip strength. I started using straps too early and as a result my grip sucked

[Drawil]

If you lift an external load easily with training gear it is indeed less demanding, so you need more external load to generate the same relative intensity as stimulus. The answer is: it depends of the outcome.

[bastelote]

Thanks for this. I saw a Squat U post a while ago where he said the exact opposite and it made me so annoyed.

[sebastianschnoor]

I see a lot of beginners using the lifting belts as form fixers though. I've seen them neglect form because they "have a belt on". I disagree with this video, and I think beginners should learn a proper, strong form beltless before going over to using a belt.

[scottpoll]

I have nothing against a belt but the reason I don’t use one is because I’m worried my blood pressure will go too high. Also I am worried that I won’t feel my lower back when pulling. I want to be able to feel when my lower back is about to round so I can just quit the set without doing any damage. I don’t know if these are valid concerns I really don’t. 🤷‍♂️

[ozyozk]

I started using a belt when I reach 120KG 5x5 on the deadlift. I use it on weeks where I add more weights to the bar, otherwise I don't use it.

[Dub_____]

What’s you opinion on wrist straps? I use them for deadlifting and some heavy dumbbell exercises like shrugs because my grip strength is terrible and is almost always the limiting factor where I need to use it. Basically is it possible to “abuse” wrist straps in a way that will lead to disproportionately weak grip strength long term?