5 Best Weight Lifting Belts For Big Guys in 2023

This is a great cheap lever belt for big guys, but the size limit on the XXL may just be too small for some users. It doesn’t have the suede inner, and it lacks some of the better features, but is perfect for powerlifters who want an affordable, supportive, lever-fitted belt. 

You should wear a weight lifting belt for your heaviest sets for 4 reasons: to lift more weight, build core strength, build confidence, and keep your spine safe.

Your core will perform better when you’re using a weight lifting belt for heavy compound exercises.

The belt lets you contract your core more during exercise to build more trunk stiffness. This is important in the deadlift and squat, in particular, for transferring lower body force into the bar. A stronger core and trunk means bigger lifts.

The belt is great for performance improvements. This is why finding the right size matters: you need it to be tight enough to press your core into.

When you use more core in your heavy lifts, you build more core muscles in the long-term. This is important for keeping your core development up with other muscle groups like the legs and hips.

The belt helps you build a stronger core by letting you signal for more growth. It’s not just good for lifting weights – it helps you get the most from those weights!

Studies show us that lifters who use belts have more confidence in their lifts – and this lets them move faster. 

The feeling of putting on your belt is perfect for feeling “safe”. Your core is supported and you can feel the amount of core activation you’re using. This is perfect for the ritual of lifting heavy weights.

Using more core muscle activation helps you keep your spine safe. It provides support from the core muscles on the spine and the discs that are compressed under heavy weights.

This helps to keep your vertebrae and discs safe. These areas are common sites for problems like pars fractures, bulging discs, and more. This is how weight lifting belts improve safety and spine health – but only under very heavy weight.

Bigger guys need to look for size, better adjustability, stronger materials, and better overall design construction. When you’re a bigger guy, you inevitably put up bigger numbers and put more stress on your belt.

A good weightlifting belt needs to be able to keep up – and this is what you should look for first and foremost. All the other normal factors are still important: design, quality, features you want, the type of buckle fastening, adjustability, flexibility, and how it helps you in training!

There are different types of buckle and fastening for weight lifting belts: lever belts for powerlifting and strongman, Velcro belts for weightlifting and CrossFit, and all-purpose prong buckles.

The right type of belt for your training is important. The lever of a belt can easily disrupt the snatch or other super-mobile movements in weightlifting. The Velcro belt lets CrossFit trainees move well, but may not be enough support for super-heavy deadlifts in powerlifting.

The key is matching the buckle to your training and goals! If you’re not sure what belt you need, then get started with a prong buckle – ideally a 2-prong for normal gym training and weight lifting.

You want a belt that is perfectly sized for your bigger body. The point is to get access to XL, XXL, and 3XL weightlifting belts. These are much bigger, and they ensure that you can lift massive weights.

Here’s a basic waist size range for each of these sizes:

If you’re a big guy, you should be big and strong. A good weightlifting belt that is the right size and uses true-fit sizing is key.

The width refers to the “height” of a weightlifting belt. This is key because it offers an idea of how much support it offers and where. 

What’s even more important is that you’re going to need to have a belt that is wide enough for comprehensive core support, but not so wide that it contacts your ribs. The average weight lifting belt is around 3-5 inches wide. The wider a belt, the more restrictive it is likely to be in your deep squat positions or others. 

The thickness of a weight lifting belt for big guys is important – it gives you an idea of the support and stiffness you can expect. The usual thickness is around 5mm, which provides good support but is versatile enough to be used for all kinds of purposes.

The thick support can be regulated in competitions – both weightlifting and powerlifting have limitations on how thick a belt can be. 

Thickness of 5-8mm is best for weightlifting and general purpose strength training. Powerlifting belts are used up to 13mm, which is very thick and may cause some restrictions to how your spine, hips, and ribcage can move.

The materials are a huge part of the quality and durability of a belt – as well as how supportive it is. 

Belts should be made of material that can move, but is strong and stable. Fabric belts are more flexible but less resilient and supportive. Unsoftened and laminated leather is very stiff – the type used for powerlifting belts. 

Normal, softened leather belts are somewhere in the middle – and best for most people. The best weight lifting belts for big guys – like the Warm Body Cold Mind belt – are made of leather and provide great support while still being comfortable and pliable to the way the body moves.

If your belt is designed for use with rules by the IPF, USAPL, IWF, or others, then you’ll be sure you can use it in competition. 

This is perfect if you think you might take up competition, or if you’re already training with a competition in mind. Most belts will specify what rules they’re compliant with.

It’s not just the materials that matter. The best weight lifting belt also has to have strong stitching. These ensure that the moving parts and the construction of the belt are both dependable and offer you the best value for money.

These are the areas that usually break first. Good quality stitching can add years to the lifespan of your weight lifting belt.

The adjustment between different settings need to be specially built for big guys. Weight lifting belts for big guys need to have more options, since there are more sizes to cover and the variety of user sizes is much higher in these big belts.

Bigger belts require the holes and buckle systems to be matched to the extra size. The best weight lifting belt for big guys is the one that takes this seriously.

Using a weight lifting belt is very simple – once you have the right product: you need to fit it close to the skin for comfort, and focus on using it properly, and taking care of it. These let you get the most out of your belt for performance, longevity, and value.

Step 1: Get the right material and design for your sport. Our reviews make this easier.

Step 2: Get the right size – ideally somewhere in the middle of the size range – and measure twice.

Step 3: Get the right buckle, focusing on the security you need and the build quality – and make sure the belt suits your most important lifts.

Step 4: Put it in the right place, typically the area between the top of the hips and the bottom of the rib cage. Adjust up or down as is comfortable for you.

Step 5: Tighten the belt until there’s mild pressure around the core at rest – and lots of pressure when you tense your core and expand into the belt. This is key for performance.

Step 6: Use it for heavy lifts – typically over 85% - and not just for lighter exercises. Belts are for improving performance, and should be used in these higher ranges only.

Step 7: Take good care of your belt with polish for leather, and take care of moving metal parts. You can lightly lubricate prongs, for example, to keep them clean and functional.