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A weightlifting belt may not have an extended list of features, but it surely’s a invaluable tool that might help keep you secure, stable, and supported during your training sessions. As a longtime rugby player and strength athlete, I’ve been using a powerlifting model from EliteFTS that’s withstood loads of punishment during the last eight years without sustaining any tears. But despite the fact that investing in a totally leather belt might be expensive, you don’t should spend $150 (or more) to enjoy a safer lifting experience. Enter the Element 26 Hybrid Weightlifting Belt — an inexpensive option that mixes the steadiness of a leather belt with the pliability of a nylon one.

On this Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt review, you’ll learn the way an organization began by a physician of physical therapy and a US Army veteran developed a cheap solution to resolve the issue of getting to pick between two different varieties of belts.

Key Takeaways

• The Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt pairs premium leather with high-quality nylon to offer you one of the best of each belt material worlds, as the previous offers superior stability and the latter adds extra comfort.
• The velcro strap and self-locking buckle system keep you well-secured so you’ll be able to safely perform deadlifts, squats, and other heavy lifts with more confidence.
• This self-locking weightlifting belt is flexible enough to be utilized by powerlifters training to hit PRs to CrossFit enthusiasts crushing dynamic Olympic lifts like power cleans and snatches.

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Pros

• Element 26 offers this hybrid weightlifting belt in five different sizes, which suggests most lifters shouldn’t have any trouble finding one that matches comfortably around their belly buttons. From extra small (23 to 27 inches) to extra large (40 to 45 inches), there’s a big selection of options for lifters of all sizes.
• The self-locking mechanism allows for smooth transitions between sets. You may easily unlock the buckle and adjust the strap to take the belt off whilst you rest, and it stays securely in place whenever you’re able to lift.
• At around $60, this versatile weightlifting belt represents excellent value. Even though it’s significantly cheaper than a totally leather belt, it’s product of high-quality materials that protect your lower back and core during heavy lifts and other athletic movements.

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Cons

• A totally leather belt will provide superior stability to this hybrid version from Element 26. When you want essentially the most support, the SBD 13MM Lever Belt is top-of-the-line weightlifting belt options for powerlifters and athletes who train with heavy loads. Just be prepared to pay north of $300 when you include shipping and taxes.
• While our testing team felt comfortable using the self-locking buckle, a belt with a lever buckle system may provide an additional layer of assurance and security. Nonetheless, this comes all the way down to a matter of private preference.
• The uniform four-inch width of the Element 26 Hybrid Belt could cause discomfort for some athletes. Since it’s not tapered within the front, the belt may cause some respiration restrictions, depending in your body position.

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Specs

Price	$59.97
Belt type	Hybrid
Materials	Premium leather belt wrapped in nylon
Thickness	Six millimeters
Available sizes	XS, S, M, L, and XL
Warranty	Lifetime warranty

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Rating

The load belt world features a wide range of construct materials, designs, and uses. Our Breaking Muscle team of certified personal trainers, CrossFit loyalists, and strength and conditioning coaches have collectively performed 1000’s of reps of squats, deadlifts, and other exercises over time wearing dozens of various weight belts. After training with them extensively, we used a proprietary scoring system to rank them based on aspects equivalent to design, durability, and flexibility.

Here’s how the Element 26 Hybrid Weightlifting Belt scored.

Factor	Rating (out of 5)
Price	4.5
Design and colours	4
Construction and materials	4.5
Adjustability	5
Durability	4.5
Versatility	5

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt In-Depth Review

A Breaking Muscle team member prepares to unrack the barbell from the squat rack while wearing the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt

Before you make room for the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt in your gym bag, you’ll wish to be sure it’s one of the best fit on your sort of training. In any case, despite the fact that it might be used for various kinds of workouts, chances are you’ll prefer the fit and feel of a tapered belt or the steadiness and security of a thicker one. We’ll take a better have a look at key components like value, versatility, and sturdiness so you’ll be able to complete the checkout process with zero worries and one hundred pc confidence. 

Price and Value

Available on element26.co and Amazon for $59.97, this hybrid weightlifting belt won’t make an enormous dent in your gym equipment budget. In reality, you possibly can easily spend double that quantity to get a totally leather belt specifically fitted to powerlifting — equivalent to the 13mm Eternally Lever Belt by Izner — which costs about $140. 

While investing that kind of money may get you maximum durability and stability, it will not be obligatory. For the reason that Element 26 Hybrid Weightlifting Belt brings one of the best of each worlds by utilizing leather and nylon, you’ll be able to perform nearly any kind of workout without having to fret about an absence of support. At about $60 and able to handling nearly anything you throw its way, this belt earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for price and value.

Design and Colours

It’s easy to see why so many users benefit from the design of the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt. At six millimeters thick, it has sufficient girth to support your core and lower back. Plus, a four-inch-wide profile makes it well-suited for performing squats, deadlifts, and bench presses.

How do those measurements stack up against other weightlifting belts? Rogue’s USA Nylon Lifting Belt is only a hair thicker (6.35 millimeters), with the identical four-inch-wide profile on the front and sides and a rather wider (five-inch) back. Meanwhile, despite the fact that the fully leather SBD 13mm Lever Belt incorporates a uniform four-inch-wide design just like the Element 26 belt, it’s substantially thicker, measuring 13 millimeters. 

Most significantly, Element 26 paired a self-locking buckle with a velcro strap to offer security and peace of mind. While there’s nothing necessarily fallacious with nylon belts, relying solely on velcro to maintain you locked in whilst you lift might be dangerous. Somewhat than taking any possibilities of the belt coming undone during a deadlift or a squat, Element 26 doubled down by designing an easy-to-use system that our testing team highlighted as one in every of the belt’s standout features. 

Unfortunately, Element 26 didn’t get creative when it got here to paint decisions. Available only in black, their hybrid belt won’t capture much attention from a visible standpoint. Ultimately, though, the user-friendly design helps it earn 4 out of 5 stars on this category.

Construction and Materials

Don’t let the relatively low cost price tag idiot you. Element 26 built this hybrid weightlifting belt to last by utilizing high-quality materials, including one hundred pc premium leather and premium nylon. Heavy-duty stitching near the highest and bottom edges provides added reinforcement — together with a pleasant visual touch.

Meanwhile, the self-locking buckle and heavy-duty Velcro strap give two layers of protection during your workouts. Overall, our testing team found the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt to be well-constructed and greater than able to serving as your only belt for years to come back. All in all, it earned 4.5 out of 5 stars on this area.

Adjustability

Having the flexibility to quickly tighten or loosen your weightlifting belt could make a significant difference in how easily and efficiently your workout goes. Thankfully, our testing team enjoyed a stress-free experience adjusting the Element 26 belt during their training session.

The velcro strap inserts into the self-locking buckle to make sure the belt doesn’t come loose. Yet despite the fact that the system is ultra-secure, the strap is simple to regulate so you’ll be able to take the belt off and catch your breath between sets. This also turns out to be useful during CrossFit-style workouts, as you’ll be able to quickly remove the belt while making a seamless transition from one movement to the following. As well as, the flexibility to make the belt as tight as you wish allows for even pressure distribution and higher breathability.

With no issues tightening, loosening, or removing the belt entirely, it earns 5 out of 5 stars for adjustability.

Versatility

Breaking Muscle team member performs a front squat while wearing the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt.

Because of its hybrid leather-nylon design, that is where this belt truly shines. Each beginners and professionals will appreciate the flexibility to make use of this belt for all the things from powerlifting to CrossFit-style training that requires more movement and agility. Our testing team found that the belt provided adequate lower back support for heavier lifts while still retaining enough flexibility to guard your abdominal muscles and core during WODs and other sorts of generalized strength and conditioning work.

Does that necessarily mean this belt is one of the best for powerlifting? A totally leather version that’s at the very least just a few millimeters thicker, equivalent to the Rogue 10mm Lever Weightlifting Belt, will outshine this Element 26 belt in that area. Plus, because most powerlifting federations stipulate that a belt will need to have a prong or lever-style adjusting mechanism, you can not use the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt in sanctioned competitions. Nonetheless, a thick, heavy-duty powerlifting belt will likely be too rigid and uncomfortable to perform CrossFit workouts, Olympic weightlifting, and functional fitness activities.

Then again, a nylon weightlifting belt won’t give the identical stability and support as a leather one. So, Element 26 did well to design a hybrid version that may serve multiple purposes at a rock-solid level. Checking the box for versatility, this belt easily earns 5 out of 5 stars.

Durability

Element 26 had maximum durability in mind by crafting the belt from one hundred pc premium leather. A resilient material that may withstand the toll of getting used time after time, I can attest to the toughness and sturdiness of leather, as my powerlifting belt has held up well for nearly a decade. That ought to offer you loads of confidence about investing in a belt that’s not only sturdy but additionally versatile.

And if you will have any worries concerning the belt’s ability to carry up over the long haul, Element 26 features a lifetime warranty. Although the policy doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, it does cover any manufacturing defects. Overall, this belt earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for durability.

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt vs. 2POOD

At just north of $50, you won’t find many belts that may compete with the flexibility and value of the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt. Still, it’s inconceivable to disregard one other strong contender within the sub-$100 category: 2POOD.

Their four-inch-wide weightlifting belt is available in at an analogous price point ($65 on Amazon; $50 on their website as a part of a Black Friday sale) and is compliant with USA Weightlifting standards. Available in six sizes (XXS to XL), the 2POOD belt features their WODClamp™ locking system, which reinforces the velcro and adds security and support.

Nonetheless, unlike Element 26, 2POOD didn’t incorporate leather into the design. As an alternative, they used a mix of velcro and Cordura nylon to offer you the pliability to lift heavily and still have the ability to maneuver around without restrictions. That tradeoff may not suit you in the event you primarily concentrate on powerlifting-style workouts, as leather provides superior stability. Yet with a median rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon, it’s clear 2POOD’s cross-training belt has left a robust impression on tons of of satisfied customers.

Ultimately, in the event you’re searching for maximum support for heavy lifting, your best bet is to go the Element 26 route. When you’re more concerned about general protection for more dynamic workouts, the 2POOD nylon lifting belt will get the job done for concerning the same cost.

2POOD Weightlifting Belts

4.0

• Material: Nylon
• Width: Three, 4, or six inches
• Thickness: 20 centimeters
• Locking type: Velcro, hook-and-loop WODClamp
• Size range: XXXS to XXL

Check Price

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Customer Reviews

Element 26 hit a house run by releasing a belt that accommodates such a big selection of users. Receiving widespread praise for its user-friendly design, the Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt has earned a rating of 4.6 stars based on 113 Amazon reviews as of the time of this publication.

One customer appreciated the flexibility to make small adjustments and that the belt worked great for heavier lifts. One other satisfied user identified that the belt provided “loads of support for an amateur lifter.” Overall, many liked the mix of rigid leather with comfortable nylon (plus the velcro strap).

Nonetheless, just a few reviews mentioned the belt’s thickness (or lack thereof) as a possible drawback, noting that this model from Element 26 will not be as thick as a standard powerlifting belt. That is a crucial factor to be mindful in the event you primarily concentrate on the massive three lifts.

Final Verdict: Is the Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Price It?

Based on its high-quality construction, and excellent versatility, the Element 26 Hybrid Weightlifting Belt deserves a spot in your gym bag. Able to getting used for WODs or heavy lifting sessions, it provides loads of lower back and core support without being overly restrictive. When you’re looking to speculate in a single belt that suits multiple varieties of training, this well-priced model from Element 26 will definitely get the job done. 

FAQs

How do you employ an Element 26 belt?

To guard your lower back and supply higher stability during your lifts, it’s best to position the Element 26 Hybrid Weightlifting Belt around your belly button. Pull the strap through the self-locking mechanism, loop it back through, and tighten the belt until it creates intra-abdominal pressure. Then, use the velcro strap to secure all the things together.

What’s a hybrid lifting belt?

A hybrid lifting belt might be used for traditional strength exercises just like the squat, deadlift, and bench press, in addition to Olympic lifts and CrossFit-style workouts which can be more dynamic. While there are belts specifically designed for powerlifting which can be thicker and fully product of leather, they’re also costlier. Then again, fully nylon belts don’t provide sufficient support for heavy lifts, making a hybrid one an awesome alternative for a lot of athletes and residential gym owners.

What size belt do you would like?

The first aspects it’s best to be mindful when selecting a belt size are your weight, waist width, and the kind of exercises you wish to perform with the belt. You need to have the ability to squeeze your index finger between you and the belt, which suggests you will have sufficient space to breathe out and still have the ability to brace your core.
Also, keep in mind that powerlifting belts are inclined to be thicker and more rigid than their hybrid or Olympic-style counterparts. For an in depth sizing chart, visit the element26.co website.