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Weightlifting belts are one of the top pieces of support gear for lifters and fitness enthusiasts alike. Over the last two decades as a competitive weightlifter and coach, I’ve seen elite athletes—future Olympians—begin to use a belt for the first time and increase their totals by 15 or 20 kilograms (yes, Olympic weightlifters compete in kilograms, not pounds).
The best weightlifting belts add intra-abdominal pressure and support to your back and core, helping you feel more stable during heavy lifts.
RELATED: How To Deadlift Heavier
With the two most popular types of lifting belts being nylon or leather, this review will take a look at one of the best value nylon weightlifting belts on the market. In our Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt review, we’ll go over this budget-friendly lifting belt’s strengths and weaknesses, and why the team here at Garage Gym Reviews makes it our top pick as the best budget belt on the market.
We Have a Lock On Testing Fitness Equipment
When it comes to support gear like wrist wraps and knee sleeves, there are a lot of brands out there. Therefore, our team of testers has tried and tested dozens of top brands in each of these categories—including weightlifting belts. Plus, our team of expert product testers includes certified personal trainers, CrossFit Level 1 trainers, lifting coaches, and athletes, who all have vast experience with top support gear and equipment in a gym.
A member of our expert panel, Jacob Penner—owner of Endless Strength Weightlifting and a USA Weightlifting coach—has used the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt on and off over the past two years. In our review, he gives us his expert opinion on aspects of the weightlifting belt, including:
- Durability and construction
- Versatility
- Comfort
- Adjustability
- Sizing and customization
Gymreapers Weightlifting Belt
Gymreapers Quick-Locking Belt
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to get on and off between exercises
- The rolling buckle and velcro let you really dial in the pressure you need
- Material is comfortable and does not cut into your skin
- Uniform width across for evenly distributed intra-abdominal pressure
Cons
- Some users find the belts run small
Bottom Line
If you are on the hunt for a great weightlifting belt, this Quick-Locking Belt easily adjusts to provide maximum support while hitting your heavy lifts.
A Quick Look at the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt
Founded in 2014, Gymreapers has mostly focused on providing high-quality support gear at competitive pricing. Whether it’s their wrist wraps providing wrist support, premium padded weightlifting straps for heavy clean pulls, or one of their many lifting belt designs (lever belts, single- and double-prong leather belts, or quick-locking belts) to provide premium back support, they have you covered.
RELATED: The 11 Best Lifting Straps
The Quick-Lock Weightlifting Belt is made with versatility in mind. Made of a flexible nylon, the belt is supportive enough for heavy barbell squats, but also flexible enough to move comfortably during dynamic movements in CrossFit workouts—going from snatches to toes-to-bar easily. The quick-locking buckle helps secure the tight belt, which otherwise would only be secured by a velcro strap.
Gymreapers says the nylon lifting belt is great for a multitude of modalities: powerlifting, Olympic lifting, CrossFit, or bodybuilding. We’ll go into more detail on the types of training we find it best suited for in a bit.
Before You Buy
- If you shop for some unique colors and designs with your lifting gear, you’re in luck. Gymreapers provides 13 different colorways for their weightlifting belt, with an option to buy patches for the belt as well.
- While this is our top pick for a budget lifting belt, there are belts available cheaper than the $35 price tag of the Gymreapers belt. However, we feel that Gymreapers is the best belt at the lower end of prices that’ll have the most value and provide the best performance.
- If you’re unsure about the durability of this belt, don’t worry; Gymreapers offers a lifetime replacement guarantee on its belt. They’ll send you a new belt for no extra cost.
Is the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt Worth It?
GGR founder Coop Mitchell has said before that the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt “is a perfect example of a product that outperforms its price tag.” In this case, the belt costs $35 and performs extremely well. It’s versatile, supportive for most activities, and stays secured with the quick-lock handle.
You can get a more supportive belt, or one that’ll be more durable, but the prices start to jump up from there. The Eleiko Weightlifting Belt, for example, is a sturdy leather belt, but costs $140. The Gymreapers Lever Belt is a much firmer belt as well, but comes in at $120. Even other nylon belts can be a bit more pricey, with the 2POOD Straight Belt costing around $65 (depending on the design).
There are some belts at similar prices—or even lower—from brands like Element 26 or Harbinger, but this is the belt that we feel performs best at this price range.
Great for:
- Versatile types of training
- Anyone needing a budget-friendly lifting belt
- Smaller or larger athletes needing a belt
Not recommended for:
- Powerlifters looking for a sturdy belt with tons of support
- Lifters who prefer leather belts
- Gym-goers wanting a more durable weightlifting belt
Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt Specs
| Price | $34.97 |
| Sizes | XS to 3XL |
| Material | Nylon |
| Fastening | Velcro fastening with quick-locking mechanism |
| Width | 4” |
| Thickness | Approximately 1” |
| Color options | Black, Black/Black, Green, Tan, Red, Pink, Purple, Black/White, Midnight Camo, Woodland Camo, White Camo, Navy, Gray |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Using the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt
Jacob Penner, USAW-L2, has had the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt at his gym, Endless Strength Weightlifting, for the past two years. He’s worn the belt from time to time over the years, but one lifter on his team uses it routinely for his training—meaning the belt has been used multiple times a week for the past few years.
“We are Olympic weightlifters, so we have used it for snatches and clean and jerks, as well as squats, deadlifts, and accessories,” Jacob adds.
After using the belt for years, Jacob thinks the belt is best suited for CrossFit exercises. He says, “It’s definitely not sturdy enough for power lifts. We can use it in weightlifting, but I think CrossFitters who need fast adjustments and a comfortable belt they can wear during metcons would most benefit from the Gymreapers belt.”
The level of support is a bit lacking for heavy lifting in powerlifting, according to Jacob. “I’d compare the support to if you tightly wrapped an Ace bandage around your midsection,” he explains. While the support may be lacking, it does help the belt be fairly versatile for metcons and dynamic movements, earning it a 4 out of 5 for versatility.
Durability and Construction
If there’s a worry about an inexpensive piece of equipment, it’s typically in the construction and durability. The durability of the belt has lasted, since the belt has been used for two years at this point, and is still usable.
However, the velcro on the strap frayed relatively quickly. “It frayed very fast—within six months or so,” Jacob recalls. He does add that the belt hangs in their gym and is used by multiple people, who aren’t always storing the belt as they should. “So it’s possible that more dust or lint got into the velcro…still, it’s frayed,” Jacob says, so he gives the durability and construction a 3 out of 5.
RELATED: When To Use a Lifting Belt
One reason they’re able to still use the belt is due to the quick-lock handle. “The quick-lock works great and totally stays in place,” Jacob says. “Since the velcro frayed so quickly, it’s a good thing this belt has its locking mechanism or else we wouldn’t be able to use it after all this time. I tried to squat heavy with it and the velcro snapped open, but fortunately I had it locked in place so there were no issues.”
Adjustability
Vinyl belts like the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt use a velcro strap that’s secured with their locking mechanism. The velcro system allows for the slightest of adjustments, allowing for the optimal support for any athlete of any size. Jacobs adds that the ease and speed to make adjustments is what makes it a great choice for a CrossFit athlete. He gives the adjustment capabilities a 5 out of 5.
Comfort
If this belt is anything, it’s comfy. The flex that the belt allows for means there’s very little time to break in the belt. “This is a much more flexible belt than, say, a leather belt,” Jacob says, adding, “It doesn’t cut into your skin at all; the only ‘break-in period’ is figuring out where you want the belt to sit at your waist, which is true of any belt.” He gives the comfort of the belt a 5 out of 5.
RELATED: How To Lift Heavier
Customization and Sizing
Full disclosure: I’m kind of a big guy. So I’m always excited to see when support gear comes in larger sizes. The Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt goes all the way up to 3XL, and begins with extra-small, covering a nice range of body types and sizes. Jacob also mentions that the belt runs pretty true to size, so the size chart that Gymreapers has on the product page seems accurate.
If you’re looking for a bit of personalization, Gymreapers has 13 different colorways and options for their belt, as well as an option to add patches to your belt (for an extra charge). For customization and sizing, we give this belt a 5 out of 5.
Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt vs 2POOD Straight Belt
In weightlifting and CrossFit, one of the most popular nylon belt brands is 2POOD. Their straight belt is 4 inches wide, like the Gymreapers belt, and compliant with IWF standards. 2POOD is also a bit pricier than the Gymreapers belt, mostly due to the belt being a bit more rigid, providing more support than the quick-locking belt.
If you’re wanting a flexible belt for heavy lifting, the 2POOD Straight Belt might be worth the extra cost. However, for a bit more versatile use and comfort, the inexpensive Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt might be the better choice.
For more on the Straight Belt and other belts from the brand, you can read our 2POOD belt review.
| Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt | 2POOD Straight Belt | |
| Price | $34.97 | $64.99 |
| Sizes | XS to 3XL | 3XS to 3XL |
| Material | Nylon | Nylon |
| Fastening | Velcro fastening with quick-locking mechanism | Steel roller buckle and velcro |
| Width | 4” | 4” |
| Thickness | Approximately 1” | Not disclosed |
| Color options | Black, Black/Black, Green, Tan, Red, Pink, Purple, Black/White, Midnight Camo, Woodland Camo, White Camo, Navy, Gray | Over 60 unique colorways and patterns |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 1 year |
Customer Experience
Gymreapers often provides great policies for returns and warranties, and this belt is no different. First, Gymreapers allows for 30-day returns on items, although the products can’t be used or washed, and should be in their original packaging. Gymreapers also has a lifetime replacement guarantee on the weightlifting belt, meaning they’ll send a new one out to you free of charge if your belt ever becomes faulty. A lifetime warranty on a belt is big.
The website also has multiple ways to contact them for customer service questions: email, phone, live chat—plus a page for frequently asked questions. Because of all this, we rate the customer service and experience a 4.5 out of 5.
Ordering the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt
The Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt can be purchased directly from the Gymreapers website. You can choose to pay the full price at the time of purchase or in 30 days through Klarna. Gymreapers also offers free shipping on orders over $150, which won’t be covered by the belt by itself…but with a couple of resistance bands and a gym bag added to your order, you may get that free shipping.
Customer Reviews
As of this writing, the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt has a very high average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, from 276 total reviews on the Gymreapers website.
Positive reviews love the ease of use of the belt, and that the size chart was accurate in determining the proper size to order. The top criticisms were about struggling with the quick-lock handle and getting enough tightness from the belt to provide support. As we’ve said, the belt lacks a bit in support, so these complaints do make sense.
Final Verdict of Our Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt Review
If you’re looking for a weightlifting belt to add to your home gym, but don’t want to break the bank, the Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt is a great choice. It’s a flexible, comfortable belt good for a lot of versatile movements and ways to train, all for around $35.
It may not have the support of other, more sturdy weightlifting belts, so it may not be the ideal pick for competitive athletes in strength sports. Still, for those needing versatility in their support gear, this belt from Gymreapers is an excellent option.
Full Rating
Gymreapers Quick-Lock Belt
If you are on the hunt for a great weightlifting belt, this Quick-Locking Belt easily adjusts to provide maximum support while hitting your heavy lifts.
Product Brand: Gymreapers
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 34.97
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.6
Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt: FAQs
Is Gymreapers made in the United States?
While Gymreapers is headquartered in Idaho, whether or not a product is made domestically will depend on the product. Some products are produced here in the USA, while other products are made internationally with close communication from Gymreapers. You can contact Gymreapers’ customer service team for specific information on the origin of a product.
What is a good weightlifting belt brand?
There are lots of things to consider with a good weightlifting belt and brand: the durability, versatility, support, and comfort of the belt are all large factors. Here are our top picks for the best weightlifting belts:
-Best Budget Lifting Belt: Gymreapers Quick-Locking Weightlifting Belt
-Best Budget Weightlifting Belt for Powerlifting: REP Fitness 4” Premium Lifting Belt
-Best Weightlifting Belt for CrossFit: 2POOD Straight Weightlifting Belt
-Best Leather Weightlifting Belt: Rogue Faded 4” Lifting Belt by Pioneer
-Best Olympic Weightlifting Belt: Eleiko Olympic Weightlifting Belt
-Best Hybrid Weightlifting Belt: Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt
-Best Deadlift Belt: Dominion 3” Leather Belt
-Best Weightlifting Belt for Beginners: Element 26 Self-Locking Weightlifting Belt
-Best Lever Belt: Gymreapers Lever Belt
-Best Powerlifting Belt: SBD Lever Belt
-Best Nylon Weightlifting Belt: Rogue USA Nylon Lifting Belt
Should I choose a leather belt?
A leather belt may be a good option for you depending on your fitness goals. Generally, a leather belt will be a more rigid and sturdy belt, allowing for more support during heavier lifts. However, it won’t be as flexible as a nylon belt. A leather belt is typically a good idea for a strength athlete wanting maximal support, but if you’re wanting to train a variety of movements, especially dynamic ones, a nylon lifting belt may be the better option.
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