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RDX has been one of the most famous sportswear brands since 1999. Their products are generally known for having excellent quality at considerably affordable prices.
Their powerlifting belt is the perfect example. With sturdy leather construction and a steel lever, this belt would encourage you to lift more than you normally do. However, if you plan to compete in powerlifting, this belt is only approved in IPL and USPA competitions.
In this RDX lifting belt review, we’ll dive deeper into its features to see whether it actually deserves your money.
In a hurry, here’s a quick list of pros and cons to get you started.
Pros
● Approved in IPL and USPA powerlifting competitions
● Attractive design
● Notably affordable
● Flat edges
Cons
● Quite flimsy construction and stitching
● Not IPF-approved
Things to Consider Before Buying a Powerlifting Belt
I thought I should start with a brief introduction about powerlifting belts in general so that beginners could quickly catch up.
Belts don’t magically improve your workout. They provide support, which will most definitely allow you to lift more weight. But, if you can’t manage your breathing and bracing, they won’t do anything!
Moreover, powerlifting belts keep your spine straighter, which decreases the likelihood of injuries.
To get the best belt, you have to consider the following points:
● Thickness: 10mm or 13mm
● Buckle: lever or prong
● Material
● Size
● Price
Features & Benefits
In this section, we’ll analyze the features that can make or break your workout.
Material: Great but Not Durable
RDX made this belt with Nubuck leather and plated the lever in chrome. In terms of performance, the leather feels sufficiently rigid. It doesn’t stretch or tear under heavier loads.
On the downside, RDX doesn’t reveal the purity percentage. We can’t know for sure whether it’ll be durable enough for years of use.
In fact, a lot of customers have complained about the flimsy quality. Some of them uploaded pictures of torn stitching in the first weeks after purchase.
Therefore, I’d only recommend it for first-timers who want to investigate the concept of wearing belts and is not a competitive powerlifter. Experienced lifters would simply find long-lasting performance in other options, such as the Inzer Forever Lever Belt (click for details and today’s price on Amazon).
Buckle: Lever and Double Prongs
As I said earlier, this belt features a chrome-plated lever that doesn’t need any effort to tighten. It typically takes less than 5 seconds to hook the teeth and flip the lever.
If you’re interested, RDX releases a similar belt with double prongs. I wouldn’t recommend it, though. Prongs take a lot of time and effort to tighten. In your regular workout, that shouldn’t be a major problem. In competitions, however, you can’t waste a single second.
Plus, you typically need a rack to tighten a prong belt. Again, you can easily do this in your gym. But you may not easily find a rack during competitions.
The only bad thing about a lever belt is the quite complicated tightening. You can’t do this by hand unless you have steel nails! You’ll need to use a screwdriver to place the lever up or down the holes. This might take around 5 minutes.
However, once you have the setting for your waist established the first time, you don’t need to adjust it again.
Thickness: 10mm
As of now, RDX doesn’t produce a 13mm-thick belt.
For beginners, 10mm builts should be perfect. They’ll provide the required support without feeling too tight.
Nearly every powerlifting belt should feel rigid at first. 10mm belts, in particular, would take less time to conform to your body. And since it’s built from less material, it’ll typically cost less.
I usually recommend a 10mm belt for most people anyways.
With that said, if you’re at the elite level of powerlifting and you’re looking for even more support, I don’t think the RDX belt would add much to your workout. You definitely need a 13mm-thick belt to accommodate your stronger torso and heavier loads.
Performance
In the short run, the RDX powerlifting belt doesn’t differ much than other pricey options. It tightens well around your body, allowing you to push against and lift more.
The suede finish adds an additional non-slip experience to decrease the likelihood of accidental slippages. This is important because you don’t want the belt moving around when you lift.
However, give it some time and it’ll probably start to show signs of wear and tear. The 4 stitching rows might start to fray, which can compromise the overall integrity of the belt.
The lever is great and ultimately easy to use, as established earlier. But the RDX lever may not be strong enough under heavy loads. Some users said that their levers started failing while lifting. You definitely don’t want to have your belt come off mid-lift.
Sizing
Most powerlifting brands tend to keep their sizing versatile with up to 9 sizes to fit all needs. This isn’t the case here, though.
RDX has 4 sizes only: small, medium, large, and x-large. To pick the correct size, get a measuring tape, and measure your waist 4 inches above your pants. Then, compare your measurements to the following chart:
● Small (26-30 inches)
● Medium (30-34 inches)
● Large (34-38 inches)
● X-large (38-42 inches)
Appearance
Simply put, this is one of the most fashionable belts currently on the market. First and foremost, I like how the shiny lever fits with the brown body. It’s definitely better than the classic chrome/black design.
Moreover, a large RDX logo is sewed on the back with white double stitching. It’s a matter of personal preference, but I prefer this design over the solid color.
Lastly, the edges on this belt aren’t rounded at all. They’re kept as perfect squares. This is beneficial in utilizing every bit of the belt’s width. However, these borders might feel slightly uncomfortable when they’re pressed against your skin.
Pricing
The RDX 10mm 4-Inch powerlifting belt costs $53 on the official website.
The pronged version with the same thickness and width is a bit cheaper. It costs about $47.
At these prices, the RDX belts are placed well into the affordable category. The Inzer’s Forever 10mm belt, for example, costs around $90.
Since RDX is mainly intended for beginners, I think that this price difference is a huge plus even if it affects durability to some extent.
What Do the Lifters Say?
To investigate the quality, I like to search the internet to collect customer reviews. For this belt, I can say that people were overall satisfied with the performance.
This customer was amazed by its quality considering its low price.
Many folks were recommending the Inzer belt that were over $100…I got this belt and I wanted to cry because it was just as sturdy as my Inzer belt.
These two reviews praise the experience but with some negative comments on the shipping and sizing.
Could do with better sizing instructions.
I ordered this in brown but it arrived in black.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Sure! If you want to step up your game, you can spend a little more to get better belts in terms of durability.
Related: Best Powerlifting Belt: In-Depth Guide & Review
Inzer Forever Belt
Without a doubt, Inzer produces the best, most durable belts (I wrote a full review of the Inzer Forever Lever Belt). The most important difference between these belts is the certification. The Inzer Forever is IPF-approved, which makes it usable at ever level of powerlifting competition.
Even if you don’t compete in powerlifting, this is just an extremely well-made belt. I’ve had my Inzer Forever Lever Belt for 12 years and it’s still in near perfect condition. I wouldn’t trade this belt for anything else.
Some of the differences between the Inzer Forever Belt and the RDX belt are:
● A higher price point
● More colors
● They produce 10mm and 13mm-thick belts
● The edges are more rounded
Iron Bull Strength Lever Belt
Besides being IPF-approved, this belt has a solid design without any logos. Since it’s made from more durable materials, it costs more than the RDX Lifting Belt.
The rest of the differences are:
● Rounded edges
● Lifetime lever warranty (a huge plus!)
● They produce both 10mm and 13mm versions
LiftingLarge Economy Belt
As the name implies, this belt sits in the affordable category just like the RDX, but it’s actually just a bit more expensive. Like the previous belts, it’s IPF-approved. Take a look at my Lifting Large Economy Belt Review.
The other differences are:
● They have 10mm and 13mm belts
● It has a solid construction and design
You can check this belt on the LiftingLarge official website.
To Sum Up
Wearing a powerlifting belt isn’t essential, but it’ll definitely enhance your lifts. If you’re still exploring the lifting world, the RDX lifting belt would be the right choice.
Despite its notably affordable price, it delivers adequate performance so long as you’re not an elite powerlifter.
If you want to invest in more durable items, consider the Inzer Forever (click for today’s price on Amazon), which is my #1 belt recommendation
If you’re interested, click here to check the current price of the RDX lifting belt.
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
