The Best Value Powerlifting Belt That Money Can Buy in 2024.
DISCLAIMER
What follows is an honest, unbiased review.
Feel free to skip to the sections below if you’re on a time limit.
Scorpion – Powerlifting Belt
1. Background
2. Delivery/Condition on Arrival
6. Adaptability
7. WOW Factor
8. Longevity
9. Price
10. Final Verdict
Background
It was 2014, I was skint from living the university lifestyle. I was struggling to brace during squats, and I’d heard some S&C guys in the gym saying they’d added 20kg to their squat by simply using a belt to brace against.
Obviously, I didn’t spare a thought to the fact that I actually needed to address some deep routed biomechanical movement imbalances. I just went ahead and grabbed the cheapest powerlifting belt I could find, because no way did I have the funds to drop the dollar on a Eleiko, Strength Shop, or SBD powerlifting belt (in fact, I’m not entirely convinced that SBD were even a company back in 2014).
You can perhaps therefore understand that when I saw an actual powerlifting belt pop up on Amazon for under £60, I said ‘take my money now!’. So yep, I’ve been using this belt for the past ten years!
Scorpion Powerlifting Belt
It’s outstanding that this exact belt is still available on Amazon. And for a lot less than the £60 I paid for it, it’s currently sitting at £14.00! I think that’s a true testament to how flipping awesome this has been for me, and still is today.
I remember looking at the exact IPF specifications for belts at the time, and I was amazed that this met all of their standards. It was just as thick as the top tier double pronged belts, with the same length and width as them too. It’s safe to say that I was skeptical about this being some cheap Chinese knock off that would snap the first time I really put it to the test. My fears however proved to be unfounded.
I’m no longer powerlifting in competitions, so to be honest I can’t remember the exact specifications of what the IPF allow. And I have absolutely no interest in looking these up again (sorry IPF!). But you can head over and check them out for yourself here if you so desire. This belt did, at the time, meet their standards.
As a side note, I may have some bias towards this belt because:
- It’s lasted ten years and it’s still going strong (if not better, now that it’s properly worn in).
- It was cheap as chips compared to other belts at the time.
- I got it signed by The World’s Strongest Brothers, Tom and Luke Stoltman whilst I was helping run a Strongman competition that they competed in.
Delivery/Condition on Arrival
Classic Amazon delivery. Fast, efficient, easy to track. Arrived in perfect condition. The leather was obviously quite rigid initially, but this soon wore in nicely.
5/5
Technical Specifications
| Color | ‎Brown |
|---|---|
| Size | ‎M |
| Material type | ‎Leather |
| Seasons | ‎Evergreen |
| Usage | ‎Fitness |
| Sport | ‎Strength training |
| Batteries included? | ‎No |
| Brand | ‎Scorpion Power Lifting |
| Department | ‎Men’s |
| Manufacturer | ‎Scorpion Power Lifting |
| Item model number | 5060243331823 |
| Package Dimensions | ‎31.7 x 23.3 x 17.5 cm; 1.26 kg |
Build Quality
The buckle, rivets and stitching are all still intact to this day. There’s no fraying anywhere, and even the badge/logo is still as good as it was on day one. And trust me, this belt has had a lot of use and abuse over the years.
It’s condition today is a testiment to the high quality craftmanship put into building this, and ok – I realise it’s probably made in China, but this bucks the trend. No need to throw hundreds at an Eleiko belt when you can pick this bad boy up for just £14.00!
5/5
Ergonomic Rating
The 10mm thick, 100mm/4inch width sits perfectly on my waist. No nipping of skin or digging into ribs, and certainly no faffing about trying to get it on. I have, on occasion, had a bit of trouble undoing the buckle because I’ve put it on too tight!
An old friend however once taught me a trick to tackle this… you wrap the excess of the belt around the power rack so that it has an achor point, then you lean into it, effectively tightening it even more. This loosens the tension on the buckle, which then allows you to pull the pins out of the hole!
5/5
Adaptability
Hmm, there’s not too many alternatives that I can think of for this belt. None that I’m willing to post here anyway!
I guess you could jerryrig it into a dipping belt. It gets a couple of points for that.
2/5
WOW Factor
The price alone demands top marks here!
5/5
Longevity
This is over ten years old and still going strong. And you can still buy the same model off Amazon to this day. Top marks.
5/5
Price
I mean, £14.00. That’s cheaper than a bacon bun in some cities! And this won’t give you heart disease.
I guess it could cause a heart attack if you use it to add 100kg onto your squat, but I’d say that’s a trade off many would be willing to make!
5/5
Summary
Total rating: 4.57/5
Should you:
- Avoid
- Consider
- Shortlist
- Buy it NOW!
Grab one below today.
Or find similar options at Amazon and check them out for yourself.
Whilst not writing for FGUK, Tim works as a Physiotherapist, Personal Trainer and is a Retired Ammunition Technician with the British Army. In his spare time Tim enjoys engaging in a whole variety of sports, spending considerable time with his little rascal of a dog, relaxing with his friends and family, but most of all.. geeking out on all things fitness!
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