Finding the right weightlifting belt for your heavy lifting sessions can be a bit of a chore since there are seemingly endless options for you to choose from. However, if you’re looking for a solid leather belt for your powerlifts, we think the Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt is a great place to start your search (and maybe even end it). Leather belts are thicker, heavier, and more rigid by design compared to nylon belts. This is what makes them ideal for powerlifting since you don’t need to be as mobile, and the extra thickness provides optimal support.
This belt is made from premium leather and features a moisture-wicking, suede lining that provides solid comfort, as well. The dual-prong buckle will keep this belt tight around your core, and since it’s tapered in the front, you won’t have to worry about the belt limiting your mobility too much. Due to the affordable price, durability, and great support it provides, we think the Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt could be the ideal choice for your next heavy squat day.
Main Takeaways
- This belt is tapered in the front and won’t restrict your breathing. Plus, this design allows you to stay pretty mobile during your workouts.
- The dual-prong buckle keeps the belt secure throughout the duration of your lifts.
- The 7mm thickness provides a high level of support for both heavy squats and deadlifts.
This belt is slightly tapered — it has a four-inch width around the back tapering to three inches in the front with a 7mm leather thickness. The dual prong buckle keeps it secure, and the premium leather and double stitching ensure this belt will last.
Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt Video Review
Our reviews writer, Jake, puts this weightlifting belt to the ultimate test during his detailed video review. Follow along as he breaks down everything you need to know about this belt, and decide for yourself if you should add it to your gym bag.
Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt Highlights
During our time with the Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt, the first thing that we noticed was the tapered design — the profile decreases from four inches in the back to three inches in the front. This allowed us to breathe properly throughout the entirety of our workout without pinching our skin under our ribs or hindering our mobility too much. Some athletes prefer a belt that isn’t tapered since you have a larger surface area for your core to brace against, but we didn’t have any issues with this design. Since this belt is seven millimeters thick and is made from leather, you’ll find that you’ll likely have more support than you would with a thinner nylon belt.
There are thicker leather belts you can purchase if you want an even higher level of support, but those are nearly double the price, and we felt that this belt gave us the ideal support we were looking for while squatting and deadlifting. Since nylon belts are thinner than leather belts, they’re going to allow you to be more mobile, but they aren’t typically the best option for powerlifts.
Conversely, if you’re someone who puts a heavy emphasis on Olympic and CrossFit-style workouts, this may not be the best belt for you as it’s going to keep you more rigid, overall. Making sure your belt remains secure during your workouts is also key, and we felt that the dual-prong buckle here did a great job of that. It’s easy to adjust for a tight fit, and it didn’t come loose on us while lifting.
Who Should Buy The Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt
- Powerlifters who are looking for a leather belt that is going to provide them with a high level of support for their heavy squats and deadlifts will enjoy the 7mm thickness of this belt.
- Anyone who is looking for a belt that won’t restrict their breathing or their mobility will likely enjoy the tapered design here.
- Athletes who are concerned about their lifting belt coming undone when lifting will be happy with the dual-prong buckle, ensuring the belt stays tight against your core.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt
- Athletes who tend to perform Olympic lifts (like power cleans) more than powerlifts may want to consider purchasing a nylon belt since it’ll allow you to be more mobile.
- Anyone who wants their belt to have a uniform profile will want to check out some other options.
- If you’re looking for a thicker belt, you’ll also need to keep your search alive, but a thicker belt is going to cost you nearly twice as much.
Price
This 7mm Weightlifting Belt from Gymreapers is available for about $60 on the Gymreapers website and on Amazon. We think this is a solid deal considering the belt is made from 100 percent leather, provides a high level of support, doesn’t hinder your ability to breathe, and still allows you to stay pretty mobile. Plus, there are plenty of leather belts that are more expensive than this one. So in reality, this is money well spent in our eyes.
Overall Build and Quality
This 7mm Weightlifting Belt from Gymreapers is made from 100 percent premium leather with a suede liner on the inside of the belt for added comfort and for moisture control. While there are thicker belts you could purchase, those are going to run you at least around $120, and we felt plenty supported by this belt. The dual-prong buckle is made from steel and comes in a matte black color. We’ve used this belt a lot, and have never felt as if it was going to come loose during the middle of a lifting session.
The tapered design allows us to breathe properly during our lifts without negatively impacting our mobility, and still provides a solid surface area for our core to brace against. Gymreapers is so confident in the durability of this belt that they also toss in a one-year replacement guarantee. So if you notice any manufacturing defects, just reach out to their team, and you’ll receive a new one free of charge.
Features
Weightlifting belts typically don’t have a ton of features, but there are still a couple that we love with this belt. The tapered design is great for anyone who doesn’t enjoy feeling like they can’t take deep breaths with a uniform belt. The back of the belt is four inches wide, while the front is three inches wide. The dual-prong buckle is made from steel and eliminates the possibility of this belt coming undone right when you’re ready to hit your max squat. Another thing worth noting is that this belt is only available in black, but black never goes out of style, right?
Dual Prong Buckle
The dual-prong buckle featured on this belt is a great safety feature. It resembles a belt that you would wear for your pants and will keep the belt tight against your core. There are also eight different adjustments that you can use, allowing you to find the tightest fit possible for your body.
Once the prongs are inserted into the holes, just guide the belt through the leather loop, and you’re ready to lift. Even though it might take a little bit longer to put on or take off compared to a nylon belt with a velcro strap, it still only takes a few seconds.
Taper
The back of the Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt features a four-inch wide profile and tapers down to three inches in the front. While a belt with a uniform profile may offer more support for your core since it has a larger surface area, it may also hinder your ability to take a deep breath before descending during your squats. During our many lifting sessions with this belt, we’ve never felt compromised in terms of breathing and still felt as if we received all of the extra support we could ask for.
So if you’re looking for a belt that doesn’t pinch your skin under your ribs, and allows you to be decently mobile, you may have found your match. However, if you are looking for a belt that has a uniform profile and want a larger surface area to brace against, you might want to check out the 10mm and 13mm options that Gymreapers has available.
Color
Gymreapers only offers this belt in black. If you’re looking for color options, Gymreapers offers their 10mm Lever Belt in eight different colors and their Quicklocking Weightlifting Belt in nine different colors.
Product Specs
This weightlifting belt from Gymreapers is 7mm thick and is tapered in the front to enable you to breathe properly while lifting. It’s made from premium leather and features a suede lining inside the belt for added moisture control. The steel dual-prong buckle will keep the belt tight against your core muscles as you lift, and is easy to put on or take off immediately after your set. Gymreapers includes a one-year replacement guarantee on this belt and will send you a new one if you notice any manufacturing defects. It’s only available in black, but since there are six different sizing options ranging from XS to XXL, there’s an option for athletes of all shapes and sizes.
Materials
Gymreapers crafted this belt out of premium leather for optimal support, and the suede lining provides some comfort while also offering moisture control. Due to the leather build, this belt may not be best suited for Olympic lifts that require you to be highly mobile — nylon is your best bet in these cases. The dual-prong steel buckle does a great job of keeping the belt tight on your body, and we found it to be quite durable.
Weightlifting Belt Type
This is a leather belt and is best suited for powerlifts (like squats), even though some people may be able to use it for Olympic lifts (like the clean & jerk), as well. That said, if you’re someone who puts a heavy emphasis on Olympic and CrossFit workouts, you might want to consider a nylon belt from Gymreapers since they allow you to be more mobile.
Sizing and Dimensions
This belt is 7mm thick and is tapered from a four-inch profile in the back to three inches in the front. This will provide you with a lot of support without hindering your ability to breathe or bend at the hips, making it a great option for your squats and deadlifts. Since this belt is available in six different sizes that range from XS to XXL, there’s a great chance that you’ll find a size for your body type.
In order to achieve a tight fit, Gymreapers suggest going down one size when measuring around your belly button. The XS is best suited for those who measure between 20 and 26 inches, the small is best for those who range from 22 to 30 inches, and the medium is best for anyone who measures between 26 to 34 inches. The large is best suited for those who measure between 30 and 38 inches, the XL ranges between 34 and 42 inches, while the XXL is meant for those who range between 36 and 44 inches.
Warranties
While Gymrepaers does not offer a lifetime warranty on this belt as they do with some of their other models, they do in fact toss in a one-year replacement guarantee. So if you notice any manufacturing defects just let them know, and they’ll send you a new one.
Places to Buy
You can buy this weightlifting belt directly through the Gymreapers website or through Amazon.
Company Information
Gymreapers has been looking to assist athletes by providing the proper support needed for lifting since 2014. If you’re interested in finding out more about their operations, you can reach out to their US support team at 1-208-203-7498, or their international team at 1-866-220-2684. You can also head over to their Contact Us page and fill out a request for a team member to email you.
Final Word
Supporting your core for a heavy squat or deadlift can be huge for your power output and form, and it can also reduce your chances of injury. If you are someone who does a lot of powerlifting, we think the 7mm Weightlifting Belt from Gymreapers is a great option worth considering. It provides a lot of support for your heavy lifts, while the tapered design allows you to be pretty mobile when squatting, and won’t restrict your airways.
While it might not be as versatile as a nylon belt, this belt is still going to be more versatile than a thicker leather belt that features a uniform profile — so you may still be able to perform some Olympic lifts. The dual-prong buckle will help keep the belt secure and tight against your core during your workouts, and the premium leather build should keep this belt hugging your body for a few years. Overall, thanks to the leather build, this belt’s high level of support, and the mobility it offers, we think the Gymreapers 7mm Lever Weightlifting Belt is a great option to consider tossing in your gym bag.
FAQs
How much does the Gymreapers 7mm Weightlifting Belt cost?
This belt is priced at right around $60, which is a great deal in our eyes. Not only is it made from premium leather, but it also provides optimal support for your core to brace against during a heavy powerlifting session. Since this belt doesn’t hinder your ability to breathe or limit mobility too much, we think it’s worth the cost.
What workouts can I use the Gymreapers 7mm Lever Weightlifting Belt for?
Leather belts like this one tend to reduce your mobility a little more than a nylon belt, which means it will be better suited for powerlifts, like deadlifts, that don’t require as much mobility as, say, a clean & press does. However, since it’s tapered in the front, you might still be able to do some Olympic lifts.
Why would I want to use the Gymreapers 7mm Lever Weightlifting Belt?
People mainly use a leather lifting belt for added safety measures. Weightlifting belts provide your core with extra support to keep you in proper form, and may even help you lift heavier.
