Rogue Lifting belt vs 13mm Powerlifting belt
This is a comparison of the Rogue Echo belt and the 13mm Powerlifting 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 Echo 10mm Lifting belt
The Rogue Echo 10mm belt can be had for $52.50. It is one of the cheapest leather belts you can get from Rogue. If you want to know more about the entire Rogue belt portfolio you can read my article "Which belt to buy from Rogue" in which this overview was originally published.
Overview of the Echo belt
The
Rogue Echo belt is 4'' in width and 10mm thick. Production for this belt takes place outside of the United States. It comes with a single prong and in black color. The Rogue logo is stitched on in white. It provides 10 precision-spaced holes. The
Rogue Echo belt might not a lot of breaking in based on the quality of the leather and the production process.
Pros of the Echo belt
A big pro is the price tag. You get a 10mm leather belt for 52.50$. This is nothing to be scoffed at when you are only a weekend warrior or want to get belts for the entire family for Christmas for the home gym. Same goes for equipping a commercial gym. If I was to open a gym I would get one per rack and invest the money saved compared to the Ohio belt in putting my own gym branding on them.
Cons of the Echo belt
For a leather belt, the finish is poor.
This belt is mass produced in a machine in China with lower quality leather. This saves money and comes at the cost of longevity. This belt is more likely to fall apart and let moisture seep in where the finish is imperfect. If you are only using it occasionally or keep it for group use that is fine. If you want to go pro in lifting maybe wait and invest $100 to $150 bucks into something you can be proud of.
Alternatives to the Echo belt
This is the belt at the chasm between hobby and passion. If you only want to protect your back a little for occasional workouts you can also look into
Nylon belts which save you even more money. These also can be worn with greater ease.