Lever Belt vs Prong Belt: Which One Is Better for You

When deciding between a lever belt vs prong belt, you should take into consideration how tight you like to wear the belt, what your budget is, and how adjustable you would like the belt to be. Depending on how you answer these, you’ll have a better idea between the two belts.

What’s the Difference Between Lever vs Prong Belt

1. Lever Belt Is More Expensive

Often, when deciding between two similar products, you’re going to end up siding with the one that is less expensive. In this case, that would be a prong belt, as typically, a lever belt is about $20-30 more.

Although price is an important after to consider, we recommend that you think twice before simply choosing the cheaper option. With exercise accessories like gloves, wrist wraps, or knee sleeves, you’ll end up purchasing over one pair, and maybe even in a single calendar year.

But with your lifting belt, it’s likely the belt will last you years. So, the purchase should be made with that in mind as you’ll be using the belt for a much longer time. Spending extra on it will be worth it in the long run, if the deciding factor between the two types of belt is price – meaning if spending extra money will be justified by what the belt offers.

However, one thing to consider is that despite the price difference, the quality of both the belts are largely the same and both are likely to last an equal amount of time.

2. Prong Belt Gives You More Options

When it comes to using a lifting belt, how to wear it is important. Many lifters prefer to keep the belt a little loose so they can properly activate their core prior to a big lift. In that case, a prong belt is better suited as you can adjust the tightness more easily than a lever belt as it comes with a single or double pin.

Another important factor is that lever belts usually come in one shape – meaning they have the same width across the whole length of the belt. Prong belts can be like that as well but also come with a tapered option – they can be wider in the back and narrower in the front which makes them much more comfortable for Olympic Weightlifting.

While with the lever belt, it’s more like one size fits all where you adjust the belt to one level of tightness and it will stay that tight from that point on.

So, if you’re looking to change the tightness between sets or between exercises, you’ll have a harder time and it will be more time-consuming. Not to mention that if you have a different gym attire, that belt size may not fit as smoothly as it did prior. So, you’ll have to change the size.

The reason for this is that once the lever belt tightness is set, in order to reset it you’ll have to unscrew the lever from the back and then move it to the right fit. This requires a screwdriver to do so. This can take away valuable gym time, as most lifters are on a strict schedule. Compared to a prong belt, all you have to do is pull the strap of the belt and either tighten your belt or loosen it. Saving you precious time.

3. Lever Belt Is Easier to Use

Despite the complications with tightening or loosening the belt, overall, the lever belt is easier to use once you get the right fit. For one, the lever belt is easier to remove, as it only requires one motion to get the belt off. This can be helpful after a big lift when you need to get the belt off quickly so you can reset your breathing pattern.

Lever belt can be tightened more than a prong belt, too. Some lifters prefer ‌a much tighter level to their belt, which the prong belt may not satisfy.

4. Lever Belt Is Easier to Secure

If you are stuck between a lever belt vs single prong belt, then remember that a lever belt can be secured quickly by simply closing the buckle. While a single prong belt still provides great support and is easy to put on, it’s not as easy as in case of lever belt.

That can be something you may consider if you’re a big athlete who could possibly struggle with tightening your own belt by yourself for heavy lifts.

Also, you may see lifters who are using a prong belt needing to use the squat rack or some other post to secure their tightness, as it’s difficult to do so with just your hands.

So, a lever belt is less work, but only if you get the tightness correct and aren’t planning on changing it for the foreseeable future.

3 Differences Between Double and Single Prong Lifting Belt

1. Typically, a single prong belt is more common in the gym because you can put it on quickly. A double prong belt can require a little more time to put on because there are two prongs you have to adjust.

2. A single prong is cheaper than a double even though it may lack a little support and extra level of safety, which the double provides. The reason being is simple, it requires fewer materials to make.

3. Even though the single prong belt can be easier to put on, you are taking a bit of a risk as all the stress is going straight to that one prong. While a double prong lifting belt can distribute the stress between the two prongs. This is also a reason why a double prong belt is likely to last longer than a single one, which is important to keep in mind if you’re purchasing a belt for long-term use.

Lever Belt Pros & Cons

For a lever weightlifting belt, we recommend the Gymreapers 10MM Lever Belt.

• It’s 10″ thickness provides incredible lower back support, and helps you stabilize your spine, for when you’re deadlifting or squatting.
• It’s made from high-quality leather with reinforced stitching, so it’s both durable and comfortable, resisting tears and abrasions
• The adjustable matte black lever buckle allows for quick, customized adjustments, which makes it easy to secure and release.
• It comes with a lifetime warranty for both the belt and the lever, so you can be sure of its long-term reliability.

For prong belts, we recommend the use of the WARM BODY COLD MIND Leather Weight Lifting Belt.

• It is a versatile double prong lifting belt that can perform powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and strength training workouts.
• It comes in a variety of sizes from S to XXXL, so you’re bound to find a size that fits your dimensions and needs perfectly. But if you happen to pick the wrong size, you can get it replaced for free.
• Extra Padding will make whole experience much more comfortable, and is approved by both IPF and USAPL.

FAQ

How tight should the lever belt be?

There is no one size fits all for belt tightness. Usually, you want to give yourself a little bit of breathing room after you put the belt on so you can expand your core and engage it all around your torso. So, with that being said, having enough space to squeeze your index finger between your core and the belt is a good indicator of how tight the belt should be.

What belts do Olympic lifters use?

An Olympic lifter usually favors prong belts as they not only provide enough support for all lifts but also have a specific shape. They can be wider in the back and narrower in the front which makes them much more suitable for lifts like snatch and clean & jerk.

What size weightlifting belt should I get?

The size of your weightlifting belt depends on many factors. You need to find out your waist size, and torso and trunk dimensions. After which, know the specific reason you need the belt because different lifts require you to place the belt in different positions, which might change what size belt you end up getting.

Conclusion

To summarize everything, if you’re a powerlifter who doesn’t need extra adjustability from the belt and need a secure one that is easy to put on and off – you should give a try to lever belt.

If you are an olympic weightlifter, bodybuilder or fitness enthusiast you probably will be better with a prong belt as they still can provide more support than most of us need, can be adjusted to the desired level of tightness in seconds and are simply cheaper options.

Also read:

• Best Weightlifting Belt
• Nylon vs Leather Lifting Belt
• Belt for Bench Press
• Powerlifting Belt vs Weightlifting Belt
• Best Women’s Weight Lifting Belt
• How to Wear a Deadlift Belt
• Best Dip Belt
• Best Weight Lifting Belt for Big Guys
• Should I Wear a Belt When Squatting

References:

1. The Ultimate Weightlifting Belt Guide:
   https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/the-ultimate-weightlifting-belt-guide.html
2. How to Wear and Adjust a Weightlifting Lever Belt:
   https://www.gymreapers.com/blogs/news/how-to-wear-and-adjust-a-weightlifting-lever-belt
3. Weightlifting Belts – Which One Is Right for Me? // Mobility Tools https://mobilitytools.co.uk/blogs/news/weightlifting-belts-which-one-is-right-for-me
4. All photos are made by our Torokhtiy Media Team