10mm v 13mm belts

[cole]

What are yoiur preferences and what do you view as pros/cons to each? I am working on breaking in my 4in 13mm Pioneer belt, and its gnarley. Im so used to the 10mm.....

[AdamSkillin]

Pioneer is one of the 3 belt companies I know of that makes the belts out of the right materials (veg tanned, sole bend leather with no Robus leather layer between the real leathers) so at least it will actually break in eventually. Obviously the pro is more support. The con is that the break-in is both unpleasant and protracted and it will never be as comfortable as a really well broken-in 10mm (if we're talking a double suede, so 6.5mm-ish of actual leather) belt.

I mostly lift in a 4" Dominion "double ply" which is still well shy of 13mm (probably 10 of actual leather, suede inside only) most of the time. But I keep my very old, extremely broken-in 4" 10mm double suede (again, that's about 6.5 mm of leather) Best Belt around for days when I feel like being a little bitch about it. Also I conventional deadlift in a 2.5" belt (short man, short torso) so I'm a man of many belts, I guess.

Also, here's the video where I learned most or all the belt construction facts I know, in case you're interested in geeking out kinda hard:

[Skid]

In powerlifting circles, from what I have observed, most elite lifters are using the SBD belt. I have one - It broke in quickly, is more easily adjustable than a prong belt (something the Pioneer video glossed over quickly), and can easily be tightened enough to squeeze a crap out of you if you desire using the lever. No wrapping the prong belt around your cage column to pull it tight or struggling to undo it.

I find my belt very comfortable, but agree with the video that the edges of the belt could be chamfered for more initial comfort. I don't notice that anymore though. Expensive but worth it. Also, if you go on Temu you can buy a Chinese version of it for 1/4 the price - OK if you are not a competitive powerlifter that requires your gear to be approved by the federation.

[cole]

@AdamSkillin @Skid thanks gents for the replies. helpful. adam i currently am deciding between 3in and 4in 13mm pioneer for my deadlifts, as the 3in feels pretty good, much better for the setup, but less support overall than the 4in. for squats, def 4in work better, but my broken in 10mm is sooo much more comfortable than my new 4in 13mm double suede. my thinking is that once i get the new one broken in, the extra thickness will be a benefit. but right now, its either too loose or too tight, and i hate too tight as it makes it hard to keep the obliques intentionally contracted through the whole ROM. and skid, i prefer the prongs bc they are adjustable, so if im wearing more layers, or if i lose/gain a few, i can easily change holes.

anyways, powerlifting problems....

[Skid]

i prefer the prongs bc they are adjustable, so if im wearing more layers, or if i lose/gain a few, i can easily change holes.

You must have never seen an SBD belt. They can change holes quicker than a prong with their lever. Their lever has two hooks that hook into holes in the belt similar to a prong but much quicker. Plus with the lever you can use mechanical advantage to tighten the belt as loose or tight as you need.

At the start of this video look how he just hooks the lever into any hole he wants on the belt and quickly does it up -

Basically choose which hole you want to make it as loose or tight as he wants. I do agree for squatting I offset the lever a bit so it doesn't hit my leg.

Another video where it shows this in much more detail - check the 3:37 mark

[SaviorSelf]

I've got a 4 inch 13mm inzer belt, two prong. I bought it when I was in either middle school or high school (was into lifting when I was a kid). Used money from mowing lawns to buy it. At the time, inzer was known for making the best belts money can buy. Not so sure that's the case anymore

The belt is so old and broken in and molded to my body, its perfect and I'll always use it. But I remember it being really stiff for a while when I bought it. It'll leave bruises until its broken in

I also bought up a size, then leather punched more holes in it, to help make it future proof

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All that said, I think these 4 inch 13mm leather belts are intended for the wave of powerlifting when you had 450lb dudes half squatting 1400lbs with a multiply denim suit/briefs/knee wraps/monolift with so much internal pressure nuclear fusion is about to happen. Not for a 200lb hobbyist lifting 500lbs at most. So its probably a waste for me when a much cheaper belt would be just as good