Rogue lever belt vs Oly belt

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

Rogue Oly Ohio Lifting belt

The Rogue Oly Ohio lifting belt can be had for $115. With this you will get a solid belt based on the original best selling Ohio belt that has been adapted for Olympic weightlifting. If you want to know more about Rogue belt read my article "Which belt to buy from Rogue" in which this review was originally posted.

What else to consider from Rogue

Overview of the Oly Ohio lifting belt

The Rogue Ohio Oly lifting belt is a special adaptation of the Rogue Ohio lifting belt. The front has been cut out. This helps for the snatch and clean and jerk to not get in the way. The belt is made in the USA from vegetable tanned leather. At is 4'' wide at the back and tapers down to 2'' in the front. The Rogue Ohio Oly lifting belt is 10mm thick and comes in brown as a result of the tanning process.

Pros of the Oly Ohio lifting belt

The Rogue Oly lifting belt has a big advantage, that it is less bulky than the Ohio lifting belt. This gives you more freedom for explosive movements like the snatch and clean and jerk. The single prong design also helps to get the belt on and off easily.

Cons of the Oly Ohio lifting belt

The belt is not approved for weightlifting competitions like the Rogue 13mm belts. This means that this is a gym only belt. Its specialization also means that it is less versatile than the Ohio lifting belt which costs $5 less. Make sure that your main interest is Olympic weightlifting before buying this belt and that you know what you are doing on the platform already.

Alternatives to the Oly Ohio lifting belt

The all-around standard option is the Rogue Ohio belt. This is the midrange product from rogue I would recommend to everyone. If you want to spend a bit more money go for the Premium Ohio belt. If you are a small lifter you might want to get the Rogue Ohio 3 belt.

Rogue Black Leather 13mm 4'' Lever Belt

The Rogue black leather lever belt comes in at $145 and is the premium model of Rogue to date. You can learn more about the Rogue belt products in my article "Which belt to buy from Rogue" in which this piece has been originally published.

The Rogue Black Leather 13 mm Lever belt is manufactured by Pioneer in the United States. It weighs around 3lb and has 4'' in width. The leather has been vegetable tanned and has a thickness of 13mm. The belt is IPF approved which means that you can wear it wear your lifts when you are competing in the IPF. The Rogue logo is embossed and it is available in black. The edges are beveled for more comfort. The inner side of the belt prevents slipping as it is roughened up leather.

The buckle also comes in black. The leather pieces are sewn together with a single stitch. The lever itself can be screwed in place to have the best fit for the lifter. To adjust the belt in size you will need to use a screwdriver. In total there are six screws that need to be fixed to make the belt work.

Pros of the lever belt

This belt is big and sturdy. If you want to lift heavy often and know your way around correct breathing and bracing this is the right belt for you. The lever makes it very easy to get in and out of the belt while having it very tight. Once adjusted for you, you will have a great piece of equipment. The 13mm vegetable tanned leather support this way of lifting in addition. If you are planning to compete in powerlifting and know how to move a serious weight, this is the belt for you for individual use.

Cons of the lever belt

The most obvious reason is the price. With $145 it is the highest price for a belt in the Rogue portfolio. For this budget, you can also almost get 3x Rogue Echo belts. If you intend to use this belt for multiple people it is also not optimal. While the lever system is great for an individual lifter it is a complete mess when a belt is shared between multiple people. Every single lifter has to bring a screwdriver, to adjust for their personal needs. Some people might also not like the black color of the belt, as there are no other options from Rogue yet.

Alternatives to the lever belt

If you are willing to spend around $100 for the family you might want to get the Rogue Ohio belt instead. the leather is not as thick and it comes with a buckle which will make it easier for everyone in the house to use the belt in your garage gym. If you are considering a purchase for a commercial gym you might want to buy three Echo belts instead of one lever belt. There is usually only one heavy lifter per gym and they usually bring their own belt. Therefore cover for the weekend warriors and fit moms by providing a few more belts for classes