The SBD belt exists to give your trunk something to brace against. Breathe into your belly, push out into the leather, and the pressure stiffens your spine under a heavy squat or deadlift. That is the whole job, and it is why a belt is on almost every lifter on an IPF platform.

13mm or 10mm

Both SBD belts are 10cm wide, the maximum the IPF allows, and both use the same English hide and the same patented lever. The difference is thickness. The 13mm Powerlifting Belt is the competition standard: the stiffest belt you can lift in, the one most heavier lifters and equipped lifters choose, and the one that takes longest to break in. The 10mm Lever Belt is more forgiving. It wraps the trunk more easily, sits better on shorter torsos and on lifters who pull sumo or squat with more forward lean, and it is comfortable from the first session. If you are unsure, take the 10mm; most lifters, including most competitors, are better served by it.

The SBD lever

An ordinary lever belt needs a screwdriver every time you want to change the size. The SBD gliding lever adjusts without tools, so you can run the belt one notch tighter on squat day than deadlift day, loosen it as you cut weight, or set it once for a meet and get in and out between attempts with a flick. It is the reason lifters who have used a prong belt rarely go back.

Sizing

Belt sizing is by waist measurement taken where the belt sits, which for most lifters is around the navel, over the shirt you train in. Do not use your jeans size; it is usually two sizes smaller. Measure relaxed, not sucked in, and check the belt size chart: each size covers a range and you want to sit near the middle so there is room to adjust either way. Between sizes, go up. If you are unsure, send us your measurement before you order and we will confirm the size.

Break-in

A new 13mm belt stands up on its own. Wear it for warm-up sets before relying on it for working sets and expect two to four weeks before it moulds to you. The 10mm is usable from day one. Do not soak, oil or bend the belt to speed this up; the stiffness is the point and the softening happens where your body needs it.

Competition and care

Both belts are IPF approved and legal in every IPF-affiliated federation and most others. Wipe the leather down after sweaty sessions, dry it away from heat, and check the lever screws are snug every few months. Looked after, an SBD belt outlasts a lifting career.

Common questions

When should I start using a belt? Once you can brace properly without one and your squat or deadlift is around bodyweight. Learn the brace first; the belt amplifies it.

How tight? Tight enough that you cannot slide a hand between belt and stomach when braced, loose enough to take a full breath into it.

Can I use it for bench? It is legal for all three lifts. Some lifters like it for the arch; most take it off.

Limited edition colourways such as the Resolve belt are the same specification as the Classic black and red and are single runs; if your size is listed, it is available now.

Every belt ships from Sydney with fast Australia-wide delivery and easy returns on unworn belts.