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Lifting Large has been producing high-quality gear since 2004. Between their products, the Economy Belt is definitely one of my favorites.
If you compare it to the Inzer Forever belt, you’ll be amazed by how well it matches its exceptional performance. Since it’s IPF-approved, athletes can use it at every level of competition.
In this Lifting Large Economy Belt review, we’ll dive into each part of this belt to decide whether you should buy it.
In a hurry? Here’s a quick list of pros and cons.
Pros
● 100% leather construction
● Chrome-plated lever
● Affordable
● IPF-approved
Cons
● Not as durable as more expensive belts
● Comes in black suede only
Things to Consider Before Buying a Powerlifting Belt
Powerlifting belts are nothing but tools. They aren’t 100% essential to your workout, but they can greatly enhance it.
If you don’t know how to correctly breathe and brace yourself, you should reconsider your breathing and bracing technique before buying a belt.
If you know what you’re doing, wearing a belt can make you do it even better. Feeling its pressure over your torso is a sure way to encourage lifting heavier weights.
Before buying any belt, here are the top things you need to consider:
● Thickness: 10mm or 13mm
● Buckle: lever or prong
● Material
● Size
● Price
Features & Benefits
Ok, now that you’re familiar with the concept, we can see what this belt has to offer.
Material: 100% Leather
This belt features a 100% leather construction. There’s no fillers, vinyl, or any other material incorporated within.
Since leather provides unmatched rigidity, it’s the gold standard for powerlifting. This will allow you to safely press against it without losing support.
Buckle: A Sturdy Lever
Lifting Large produces a lever, single prong, and double prong versions of this belt.
Technically speaking, we can’t say that a specific type is better than the others. Each of them would perform equally well. However, from a personal point of view, I prefer lifting in a lever belt.
I cover the reasons for this in my article on lever vs prong belts.
Here are a few of the main differences between these types of belts:
- In a powerlifting competition, a lever belt saves you time . All you have to do is hook the teeth into the holes and push the lever to the predetermined tightness. This doesn’t take more than a few seconds at most.
- Prong belts, on the other hand, usually need a rack to fully tighten. In powerlifting competitions, you can’t always get access to a back-stage rack.
- If you prefer a tighter belt around your waist (which most powerlifters do), the lever belt will allow you to get a tighter setting compared with a prong belt.
Thickness: 10mm and 13mm
Again, Lifting Large preferred to serve all tastes by making both thicknesses: 10mm and 13mm.
To facilitate the marketing, Lifting Large calls the 13mm belt by “Competition Pro” and the 10mm belt by “Economy”. Nothing else is different. They both have the same material, appearance, and width.
If this is your first powerlifting belt, I’d definitely recommend going with the 10mm version. It’ll feel a lot more comfortable, allowing you to fully focus on your workout. Even if it feels stiff in the beginning, it’ll break-in faster than the alternative.
I like the name Lifting Large gave to the 13mm version. It’s actually intended for pros who are looking to step up their game. The added thickness will permit you to push harder and yield bigger gains. In turn, it’ll feel a bit harsher and it’ll break-in slower.
If you’re looking for a deep dive into the differences between belt thicknesses, check out my article on 10mm vs 13mm powerlifting belts.
Competition-wise, both belts are IPF-approved, luckily.
Performance
Simply put, this belt won’t fail you on the platform. The thick material would be tight enough to support heavy loads.
As I said earlier, I love how the lever is easy to tighten and release. Yes, it might be a bit challenging to assemble the belt the first time. But it should be a breeze later on once you have the initial belt setting.
If you’re looking for more serious performance, the 13mm version would definitely be up for the challenge.
Sizing
As you might already know, a powerlifting belt has to closely fit your waist size in order to yield the best results.
For better accuracy, don’t count on your pant size. Instead, measure your waist 4 inches above your pant line. It’s incredibly crucial to do this in a relaxed state. If you suck in your belly, the belt would feel super tight.
Afterward, pick out the size according to the following charts.
The Economy Belt (10mm)
● XS (21-28 inches)
● Small (25-32 inches)
● Med (30-38 inches)
● Large (33-41 inches)
● XL (37-45 inches)
● XXL (41-48 inches)
● 3XL (43-50 inches)
● 4XL (45-51 inches)
● 5XL (49-56 inches)
The Competition Pro Belt (13mm)
Aside from the following sizes, this belt’s sizing matches the previous one.
● Med (29-36 inches)
● Large (33-40 inches)
● XL (37-44 inches)
Button
Appearance
If you’re looking for a color variety, you probably won’t like this belt. Both thicknesses come in one color, a black suede.
There’s no external logo. Just the 4 rows of white stitching that contrasts considerably well with the black body.
The chrome-plated buckle is another gorgeous asset that I absolutely love. It’ll retain its luster for years of intensive use.
The 10mm and 13mm belts both come with a width of 4 inches. As you might already know, this is the maximum allowed width in IPF competitions. I like how Lifting Large utilizes the full width by keeping the edges flat rather than rounded.
Pricing
As of now, the 10mm version costs around $60 while the 13mm costs $75. As the name suggests, these prices are considerably cheaper than a lot of competitors.
For instance, the Inzer Forever belt costs $90 for the 10mm and $97 for the 13mm.
In my opinion, there are very little differences between these two belts other than the brand name. Inzer has been the go-to belt for decades, but Lifting Large now has a comparable product at a huge cost saving.
This is a plus especially for people who’re still exploring the powerlifting world. It’ll perform exceptionally well until you’re ready for the upgrade.
What Do the Lifters Say?
Without a doubt, the best way to know whether a product performs well is through user reviews. As I was doing my research, I stumbled upon a bunch of positive reviews that I think would be valuable to check.
On LiftingLarge.com, Benji Phelps tells us about his experience with this belt in comparison with Inzer’s.
In the following reviews, two customers praise the helpful customer support.
What Are the Alternatives?
When it comes to alternatives, the first belts that come to my mind are the Inzer Forever Belt, the RDX Powerlifting Belt, and the Element 26 Lifting Belt.
Related: Best Powerlifting Belt: In-Depth Guide & Review
Inzer Forever Belt
The Inzer Forever resembles the LiftingLarge to a great extent. It’s covered by a plain suede with 4 rows of high-quality nylon stitching. Take a look at my Inzer Forever Belt Review.
However, with Inzer, you can get a huge color variety. But it’s important to know that they’ll craft your belt after placing your order. So it’ll probably take some time.
When compared with the LiftingLarge, these are the most prominent differences:
● More expensive
● More reinforced leather construction
● The lever isn’t plated with chrome
This is actually the belt that I use on an everyday basis. I’ve had it for 12 years and I can speak to its amazing durability. So while it does cost more than the Lifting Large Economy Belt, I know it’ll last a lifetime.
RDX Powerlifting Belt
First and foremost, the RDX belt isn’t approved by IPF. It’s only allowed in IPL and USPA powerlifting competitions. So depending on the federation you compete in, this may or may not be an option. Take a look at my RDX Belt Review.
Here are the other features that differentiate it from the Lifting Large Economy Belt:
● Cheaper
● They don’t produce a 13mm version
● The lever is colored in matte black
● Less sizing options
Element 26 Lifting Belt
The main feature that sets it apart from the Lifting Large is the self-locking security.
There are other differences like:
● More rounded corners
● Higher cost
● Lifetime warranty
To Sum Up
A powerlifting belt isn’t essential, but it can most certainly increase your strength beyond what you’d normally be able to lift without one.
If you want an affordable belt to start with, I definitely recommend the Lifting Large Economy. Its durable, 100% leather construction would press tightly on your belly under the heaviest workouts.
To check the LiftingLarge economy belt, click here for the 10mm version and here for the 13mm.
Related: Top 10 Best Women Powerlifting Belts
Additional Belt Reviews
- Valeo 4-Inch Lifting Belt Review: Is It Worth The Money?
- Harbinger Lifting Belt Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
- Schiek Lifting Belt Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
- Nike Lifting Belt Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
- Grizzly Lifting Belt Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
- Dark Iron Lifting Belt Review: Pros, Cons, Is It Worth It?
- Gymreapers Belt: Honest Review After 20+ Workouts
