Valeo VRL 6-Inch Padded Leather Lifting Belt for Men and Women with Back Support for Weightlifting and Suede Lined Foam Lumbar Pad

Now... if you're like me, you've probably been wanting a belt for a while, hopped onto Amazon, and purchased this because it was cheap and came up as a top reviewed belt. Depending on your gym, chances are the belts available look just like this one as well, so how could it not be what you want?Many reviews here talk about how great they find the belt during squats, for example. Any amount of research will tell you NOT to use this type of belt for squatting, and to invest in a powerbelt instead. A proper belt is the same width all the way around the full circumference. This width varies from 3-4 inches, typically. The type of tapered belt on this page allows for more comfort and flexibility which may be desired for certain types of olympic lifts.Why 4 stars? Because the belt appears well made, does offer SOME support, and is priced reasonably. This may be the exact belt some want - but if you are uneducated about belts as I was and are primarily looking for something for squats and deadlifts - this is NOT the belt you should be investing in. Look for a "powerlifting belt" instead for the support you need.

This belt is actually decent for beginners and for the price. it's not a half-bad value. I've used it for the past 2 years and although it's wear and tear is starting to be significant, the fact that it has lasted me this long for a measly 30 dollar is nothing to short of great. Though now that my deadlift is starting to hit the 500s, the belt is feeling lacking underwhelming compared to the weight I'm trying to lift. With a 1/4th of an inch thickness (6mm), there are much better belts up to 13mm in thickness that can do the job and of course will last significantly longer.If you are just starting out though and are unsure whether you have the commitment to treat powerlifting as a long term thing then this belt is pretty ideal. It will circumvent lumbar injuries to a great extent, give your abs a decent workout and be a great tool to your lifting routine. But after a certain point, there will surely be a need for you to graduate from this belt. Considering it's low low price, this isn't that great of an issue and you are not losing much by purchasing one of these.

The leather of this belt is not that high quality, which should be expected considering the price. I actually now prefer to use a cloth belt that doesn't protrude as much at the buckle, but that is because I crossfit and am using it in a variety of ways, not just max effort lifts.And frankly, the design of the belt is flawed anyway. This is not such a problem by the manufacturer, but rather of uneducated consumers (I guess myself included). A belt should really be wide all the way around as the primary function is to give your abdominal muscles something to push against to keep them tight, thus stabilizing your mid-line. A lot of novices think they have back issues and want to "brace" their backside somehow. If that's you, work on strengthening your core and understand what a belt is really used for, it will do wonders for your back.

Rugged. Firm. I got the M (I'm 32/33 waist) and it's perfect, leaves plenty of room either way if I bulk up or slim down.In addition to providing back support, this also works as a fashion accessory at New Wave dance parties and as a championship belt when imitating your favorite pro wrestler.Right.YOU know what to use this for: LIFTING WEIGHTS.YOU know that New Wave is for wimps and wrestling is fake and that neither of those pastimes is for real men.YOU know these things and more because you, my friend, are a REAL MAN.The belt is 20 bucks. Buy it, use it sparingly - only as needed - and pack on some muscle. Tone up, lose the fat, show some discipline with your diet, then show the hot chicks - hell, even the ugly ones - what a REAL MAN looks like.GOLIFTWEIGHTS!

I haven't used too many lifting belts but this one fits very well. Make sure you pay attention to the sizing chart someone posted. I think if I didn't see that chart, I'd have gotten one that was too big. That's why I took off a star cause something that works so well should have a chart. That one reviewer saved me a lot of time.The belt is made of leather. Not sure what kind but it's very sturdy and pliable. I expected some issues since the front is smaller than the back side but when I used it, my abs were definitely snug and I can feel my back supported. Great belt.

The belt works great. I was beginning to experience mild lower back pains with heavier deadlifts and squats, and the belt really helped stabilize the back muscles. This allowed me to continue increasing the weight I was lifting without sacrificing form. I wouldn't recommend a belt with a back pad smaller than 6", because the 6" is the perfect size to capture the main part of the lower back to help as you lift. I don't use it ALL the time, because it is important to do some lifts without a belt...but I use it on my heavier lifts. I'd definitely buy this product again and I recommend it to anyone that's interested in increasing weight on deadlifts, squats, RDLs, etc. The belt has a good quality, but not great. It's a bit hard and takes some time to work it in, like any other new belt....but the product is a great value based on the price. I really like the soft cushion.