Official Pioneer Fitness Thread

[Skid]

for a competitive IPF weight lifter they obviously won't be allowed, and I don't blame Pioneer for not paying the outrageous and greedy IPF fees. Makes you wonder how the other belt makers afford it.

You say that, but I know people who have gotten belts that haven't been completely customized, i.e., relatively plain and look like they could pass as an Inzer, Best, or Titan belt.... No one competing at the international level, but for national and regional meets in the USAPL, you technically need IPF-approved gear.

down here PA made us have only gear from the IPF list for local meets. A middle aged woman in her first comp, lifitng baby weights, and they wouldn't let her use her no name belt and wrist wraps.

They're very strict at all the IPF meets I've gone to. My wife had the same issue with her Schenk(sp?) wrist wraps. Not allowed. Everything is checked and recorded.

[slowmotion]

I'd get the blue suede shoes .... eh belt.

[SeanHerbison]

My wife had the same issue with her Schenk(sp?) wrist wraps.

Do you mean Schiek?

[Allentown]

Anyways, guys, I want to order a 4" 10mm single prong belt from Pioneer. I am having the hardest time deciding if I should get a brown leather belt with white stitching (I'd want it to look similar to this Titan belt: https://titansupport.com/product/longho ... rong-belt/), white leather, or blue suede with Exodus logo. I don't know what to get. HALP pls.

White leather looks awesome

[Wilhelm]

Imo, the blue suede is too trendy.
But it's not my belt.
As i said, i think that brown is very good looking.

[PapaSmurf]

Ordered a single prong treated leather belt split to 10mm last week and some 24" Phantom wraps. Can't wait to try the new gear out, though I expect it won't be until early March.

[Cody]

Ordered a single prong treated leather belt split to 10mm last week and some 24" Phantom wraps. Can't wait to try the new gear out, though I expect it won't be until early March.

I've always been curious about how a true 10mm treated feels. I've got a 13mm treated. I'm suspicious it will feel similar to my Buffalo belt.

[PapaSmurf]

I'll post a review when I get it. My current belt is a POS that I got about 10 years ago off the APT PRO site. It is still not broken in!

[Wilhelm]

Is treated the same as finished?

That's what i got, sadly from Titan, ordered before i was here. (though it's a good belt too) I figured it would perhaps be a litlle more durable and relatively stiffer than suede.
So far so good.

[Cody]

Is treated the same as finished?

That's what i got, sadly from Titan, ordered before i was here. (though it's a good belt too) I figured it would perhaps be a litlle more durable and relatively stiffer than suede.
So far so good.

"Treated" is when the tanned leather is soaked in a special blend of oils to make the leather more supple. It essentially feels broken in out of the box, but with the grain structure fully in tact. I can do conventional deadlifts in my 13mm treated belt or any of my 10mm belts, but not in my 13mm untreated belts.

[Wilhelm]

Definitely different then.
Thanks.

[damufunman]

@Cody, or anyone who knows, really. I seem to remember reading something somewhere (may have been on Pioneer's site, not sure and can't find it now), but have since forgot. What's the difference between the single/double thickness belts, and suede?

[Cody]

Cody, or anyone who knows, really. I seem to remember reading something somewhere (may have been on Pioneer's site, not sure and can't find it now), but have since forgot. What's the difference between the single/double thickness belts, and suede?

Not super sure what you're looking for.

A plain leather belt in single thick is 6.5mm of veg tanned sole leather. Single thick suede is 6.5mm veg tanned sole leather plus two layers of ~1.5mm suede (so 3mm of suede total). Suede offers exactly 0 extra support, so a plain leather vs suede single thick is identical support just different cosmetics.

Double thick plain leather is two layers of 6.5mm veg tanned sole leather, so 13mm of actual supportive leather. Double thick suede is those two layers of leather trimmed down to ~5mm each, so ~10mm of supportive leather with ~3mm of suede. The suede belts actually have less support than the plain leather at this thickness. You can also get single suede and end up with more leather and less suede.

Was that the question?

[damufunman]

Cody, or anyone who knows, really. I seem to remember reading something somewhere (may have been on Pioneer's site, not sure and can't find it now), but have since forgot. What's the difference between the single/double thickness belts, and suede?

Not super sure what you're looking for.

A plain leather belt in single thick is 6.5mm of veg tanned sole leather. Single thick suede is 6.5mm veg tanned sole leather plus two layers of ~1.5mm suede (so 3mm of suede total). Suede offers exactly 0 extra support, so a plain leather vs suede single thick is identical support just different cosmetics.

Double thick plain leather is two layers of 6.5mm veg tanned sole leather, so 13mm of actual supportive leather. Double thick suede is those two layers of leather trimmed down to ~5mm each, so ~10mm of supportive leather with ~3mm of suede. The suede belts actually have less support than the plain leather at this thickness. You can also get single suede and end up with more leather and less suede.

Was that the question?

Yes, perfect! Thanks. I was mostly confused about the double thick suede still being 13mm thick, didn't know they got trimmed. It seems that my 6.5mm 3" wide deadlift belt I can stretch slightly, whereas my 10mm suede I can't stretch. I assume its the 75% width that's doing that. Or just my imagination...

[RobUK]

@Cody - is there any reason why you wouldn't just use your 13mm treated belt for all lifts?

I know you have quite the collection! But presumably it offers the most support along with being more comfortable than the untreated version?

I see a dyed pure leather belt at some point in my future when my lifts deserve it, they are just beyond cool.

[Cody]

Cody - is there any reason why you wouldn't just use your 13mm treated belt for all lifts?

I know you have quite the collection! But presumably it offers the most support along with being more comfortable than the untreated version?

I see a dyed pure leather belt at some point in my future when my lifts deserve it, they are just beyond cool.

I do some days.

The 13mm single suede actually feels more rigid than the 13mm treated, so sometimes I prefer it for sumo deadlifts and squats. Sometimes I actually want a little less support, maybe I'm bloated on a bulk and just uncomfortable or something, so I'll use my 10mm elephant or buffalo for deadlifts or bench.

Also, all the belts have very slight differences in measurements. Since the holes are 1" oc apart, if one is 1/4" or 1/2" larger or smaller, a belt can feel snugger or loser than another belt on the same hole.

[damufunman]

Also, all the belts have very slight differences in measurements. Since the holes are 1" oc apart, if one is 1/4" or 1/2" larger or smaller, a belt can feel snugger or loser than another belt on the same hole.

Do you know which one to wear each day or do you have to try a couple first?

[RobUK]

Cody - is there any reason why you wouldn't just use your 13mm treated belt for all lifts?

I know you have quite the collection! But presumably it offers the most support along with being more comfortable than the untreated version?

I see a dyed pure leather belt at some point in my future when my lifts deserve it, they are just beyond cool.

I do some days.

The 13mm single suede actually feels more rigid than the 13mm treated, so sometimes I prefer it for sumo deadlifts and squats. Sometimes I actually want a little less support, maybe I'm bloated on a bulk and just uncomfortable or something, so I'll use my 10mm elephant or buffalo for deadlifts or bench.

Also, all the belts have very slight differences in measurements. Since the holes are 1" oc apart, if one is 1/4" or 1/2" larger or smaller, a belt can feel snugger or loser than another belt on the same hole.

Got it thanks.

If you were only going to buy one would you go 13mm treated or untreated and accept discomfort/the need to break in?

And do you ever wear one just because it hasn't had an outing for a while?!

[Cody]

Also, all the belts have very slight differences in measurements. Since the holes are 1" oc apart, if one is 1/4" or 1/2" larger or smaller, a belt can feel snugger or loser than another belt on the same hole.

Do you know which one to wear each day or do you have to try a couple first?

I usually have one I want to wear, then if it feels off I know which one to move to next.

[Cody]

Cody - is there any reason why you wouldn't just use your 13mm treated belt for all lifts?

I know you have quite the collection! But presumably it offers the most support along with being more comfortable than the untreated version?

I see a dyed pure leather belt at some point in my future when my lifts deserve it, they are just beyond cool.

I do some days.

The 13mm single suede actually feels more rigid than the 13mm treated, so sometimes I prefer it for sumo deadlifts and squats. Sometimes I actually want a little less support, maybe I'm bloated on a bulk and just uncomfortable or something, so I'll use my 10mm elephant or buffalo for deadlifts or bench.

Also, all the belts have very slight differences in measurements. Since the holes are 1" oc apart, if one is 1/4" or 1/2" larger or smaller, a belt can feel snugger or loser than another belt on the same hole.

Got it thanks.

If you were only going to buy one would you go 13mm treated or untreated and accept discomfort/the need to break in?

And do you ever wear one just because it hasn't had an outing for a while?!

So me personally? The 13mm treated lever belt is the belt I can use on all 3 lifts that also offers the most support, so yeah if I was artificially restricted to just one that would be it.

And yes, I'll wear one sometimes just because it needs some love! I have completely abandoned my prong belts though since I like the lever so much more. One day I'll get a Pioneer belt with the SBD buckle...