Rogue Pioneer belt vs 13mm belt

This is a comparison of the Rogue Pioneer belt and the 13mm belt including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Rogue 13 mm Powerlifting belt

The Rogue 13 mm powerlifting belt is an IPF approved version of the Ohio belt from Rogue. It provides extra thickness and stability and comes in at $123.55. If you want to learn more about other options from Rogue you can read my Article "Which rogue belt to buy".

Overview of the powerlifting belt

The Rogue 13mm Powerlifting belt was the first Rogue belt especially aimed at powerlifters. The belt is IPF approved and can be used in competition. The leather has been vegetable tanned and the belt is handcrafted in the USA. It is finished with double stitching and the color is black. Suede on the inside of this belt prevents it from slipping during heavy attempts. The belt closes with a normal buckle with a single prong. The belt is 13mm thick and 4'' in width. It weighs 3.35lb.

Pros of the powerlifting belt

This is the belt for serious lifters who do not want to use a screwdriver to tighten their belt. Everything about this belt is one step up from the Rogue Ohio belt to tailor to the needs of powerlifters. The design is simple and robust. Everyone in your gym or family can use it without having to adjust it. This is a great piece of leather for anyone who is serious about powerlifting.

Cons of the powerlifting belt

13mm thickness is not always ideal for dynamic lifts like the snatch and clean and jerk. This belt provides stiffness which is good for powerlifting but might be a hindrance for Olympic lifting. In addition, it might also not be the best option for very small or compact lifters. Broad and thick belts have a tendency to dig into the rips of the lifter and leave marks and cause discomfort during the lift.

Alternatives to the powerlifting belt

A good alternative to the 13mm powerlifting from Rogue can be the lever belt. It comes in at $20 more but provides a speedier option to get it on and off in a tight way. If you are more of an all-around lifter or crossfitter you probably want to look at the Rogue Ohio or Rogue Ohio Premium belt instead.

Rogue Faded 4 Pioneer Lifting belt

The Rogue faded 4'' Pioneer lifting belt delivers a unique cut which enables lifters to adjust in smaller increments. You can get this belt from Rogue at 135$. This review was originally published in my article "Which belt to buy from Rogue" which runs through all options.

Overview of the faded belt

This Rogue branded belt from Pioneer is made in the US and comes in brown. At the edges, the brown fades to a black. The leather belt is 8.5mm thick and made of vegetable tanned leather. It closes with a buckle. The loop is Rogue branded. What is special about this belt is the Pioneer Cut. The holes on this belt run in two parallel lines which enables the lifter to adjust the belt in 0.5'' increments instead of 1.0''. This makes getting it on and off a lot easier. The buckle itself is a single prong.

Pros of the faded belt

This belt is a great option for smaller lifters who have struggled with adjusting belts to their ideal size. It can also be a great option for bigger lifters who change their weight a lot and go on cuts. Bodybuilders might also like the challenge of trying to get to the next whole down in their squat sessions when preparing for a meet. With 8.5mm thickness this belt is less aggressive than the 13mm alternatives and can there also be used for Olympic weightlifting.

Cons of the faded belt

The price is still on the higher end for a belt. Special ideas like the double holes usually come at a special price. This belt is also somewhere in the middle between an Olympic weightlifting belt and a powerlifting belt. You will pay a high price and be left with an all-purpose belt which you could also have gotten for $20 less. If you see no value in the double holes for you, you might want to pick up something else. The inside of this belt is also a bit more slippy than other options.

Alternatives to the faded belt

A very good alternative to the faded belt is the Rogue Ohio lifting belt. This is the middle of the range and middle priced option that fits all purposes. If you are a Crossfitter you might also want to consider the Ohio Oly belt. This belt has a bit of leather cut out in the front to make the snatch and clean and jerk easier to perform.