Element 26 Self-Locking Weight Lifting Belt - Premium Weightlifting Belt for Serious Functional Fitness and Olympic Lifting Athletes

I love this belt, it’s the closet thing I could find to the Larry Wheels ratchet belt, but at a fraction of the price! Very strong, very comfortable, and compact enough to pack into a gym bag or backpack! Excellent back support and core support! Very strong Velcro! Well designed! Read more

BACKGROUND INFO (feel free to skip if you’d like) I think it is important that I begin this review by stating that when it comes to weightlifting belts, I’m in the mindset that they are not necessary. In fact, I did not think I’d ever use one until a fitness company (NOT Element 26) offered to send me free weightlifting belt, no strings attached. I was hesitant to accept their offer because I wasn’t sure I’d even use the belt, but I decided that since the belt was free, I’d try incorporating it into my heavy deadlift and squat days. I had recently noticed that my stability and form during these heavy days needed some improvement; maybe a belt could help. The day I received the free (not Element 26) belt, I immediately tried it on … and I immediately knew that I would never be wearing the belt during my workouts. The belt, although well made, was not comfortable. My biggest issue with the belt was that the back was wider than the front; this creates not only issues with comfort, but also functionality. I returned the belt and, oddly, I found myself a bit disappointed. By this time, I had talked myself into giving a weightlifting belt a try and I was actually looking forward to it. That being said, I did some research and decided I would purchase a belt that I felt would best suite my needs. THE REVIEW I chose the Element 26 Self-Locking Weight Lifting Belt because it seemed to offer the most bang for the buck while meeting my specific needs (although a 10mm thick, leather belt with a single prong buckle may provide a lifetime of unsurpassed support; I didn’t want the expense, nor the break in period typically required of these belts). From the moment I put the Element 26 belt on, it felt right. The width of the belt and the ability to tighten it exactly how I want it made the belt very comfortable. The self-locking mechanism made the belt feel very secure. The lifetime warranty and 100% satisfaction guarantee made me feel like the financial investment (although minimal compared to some other belt costs) was well worth it. I was ready, and a bit excited, to put the belt to the test. So far, I’ve used the belt for two heavy deadlift days and one heavy squat day. Please keep in mind that I am not a power lifter or anything. I’m lifting about 150% - 200% of my body weight during these exercises. My needs may be different than yours. Not being a belt user in the past, I cannot provide insight as to how the belt compares to the performance of other belts, but what I can say is that the belt has performed to my expectations … expectations set by the claims and descriptions found on the Element 26 website. The belt is well made and appears to be very durable. I am not concerned about the build quality of the belt; I’m confident it will last a very long time. If something does go wrong, E26 offers a lifetime warranty. I can adjust the belt to the perfect amount of compression; I’m not limited to a specific set of holes found on prong buckle belts. It’s super easy to adjust the belt too. I’ve seen guys at the gym wearing different style belts doing some pretty strange things trying to get their belt to fit just right. It looks awkward, to say the least. The belt feels very secure when the self-locking mechanism is engaged; there is no slip or movement in the belt. It does not loosen up during lifts. This is extremely important to me; I want to know that the compression I feel during the first rep is the same compression I’ll feel on the last rep. The belt is a great width, it does not interfere with my hips or ribs during any exercise. It allows for comfortable full range of motion from the start. I’m very surprised at how comfortable this belt is. The belt is lightweight and doesn’t take up much room in a gym bag. Being uniform in width all the way around allows the user to move the buckle to their side or their back or wherever is most comfortable for them. Regardless of where the buckle is, the belt is providing the same amount of compression all the way around. Note: I, personally, do not find the buckle to be uncomfortable anywhere along my waist; it never gets in my way. I like how easy it is to “unlock” the belt after I complete a set without the need to completely remove it. I can quickly adjust the belt to fit loose around my waist while waiting to begin my next set. Although I’m not concerned with my appearance and I’m the furthest thing from a fashionable gym goer, this belt does look great. Just because appearance isn’t important to me, doesn’t mean it’s not something others look for. If you want your equipment to be equally fashionable as it is functional, this belt should check both boxes for you. When all is said and done, I am very happy that I made the decision to purchase the Element 26 Self-Locking Weight Lifting Belt. I’m so happy with the belt and the Element 26 brand that I recently placed an order for the Element 26 Padded Figure 8 Lifting Straps. I’ve also got my eye on the Element 26 Isoprene Polymer Hand Grips, but those will have to wait until I’ve got some extra cash to spend. Read more

Looks and feels great. My naval measures at 35" inches which on the size chart I would be a medium but a medium is just small enough for me so if I lost any weight it wouldn't fit so I decided to return it and order a small and now it fits great with room to grow. Great quality, stitching, Velcro an lock mechanism so should be a great belt for lifting and at a pretty good price. Read more

I measured 37” around the stomach and decided to order a large as indicated on the sizing chart. The belt was delivered on time, 2 days to Hawaii. The belt itself is rather light and appears to be made rather well. I wasn’t able to get it as tight as I like. I was going to return it for a medium but noticed a note in the packaging that said to contact the seller with any sizing issues. I emailed and got an immediate response from Rachael. She immediately sent out a medium no questions asked. Told me to give the large away to a friend who could use it in exchange of spreading the word about their company. You don’t find companies like this today, they totally stand behind their products and their customer’s satisfaction. The belt itself is made well and provides good support. Don’t expect the support of a leather belt, but definitely more comfortable and sufficient for the average weight lifter. Don’t hesitate to buy from this company. I’m a customer for life, thanks to Rachael and Element 26!!! Read more

Great belt for CrossFit workouts. The self-locking buckle is very easy to tighten and release, and it feels secure during heavy lifts. It provides solid support without being bulky, which makes it comfortable for different movements during a workout. Very happy with it. Read more

This belt is extremely well made, durable, and easy to use. It took me a minute to figure it out, but I learned that's because I had ordered the wrong size. While I did consider the sizing instructions when ordering, and the several reviews stating theirs was too big when ordered, I did not - however - measure my mid section as seller so clearly instructs us to do. :) So I ordered a medium, which was way too small. I contacted the seller and she didn't just simply send me a replacement, she actually asked questions, sent a helpful video with instructions to ensure I was putting it on correctly, and guided me to finding the right size. After receiving the measuring tape yesterday with the rest of my amazon order, I found I was definitely needing the large size (for now). :) She quickly packaged and sent a new one in the mail today, and said to keep (or gift) the other one. Great customer service, great quality belt, and love that they're local to where I live. Super quick delivery, professional and customer-centric mind-set, and just good human beings. Hard to find these days. Thanks, Rachael. You are THE BOMB.com. :) For those curious regarding my physique to compare to yours and what you should get - I am a size 33 in jeans but have a belly. I've lost a lot of weight, but that midsection is a BEAST to lose. lol... So the inches from my naval back around is 40.5 inches. I went with the large vs the extra large, as I'm still losing weight and will be down another 30 lbs in the next 3-6 months. I workout 6 days a week (now...but that's only been for the past 5 weeks), so building muscle while eating a calorie deficit diet to lose the fat. I'm 5'9" and 200lbs as of today. The fat is all in the belly/midsection. My legs and arms are thinner and fit. Hope that helps. Read more

Works great, secure grip, you can workout comfy between transitions just adjust and release it easily Read more

Size runs small. Though great product. Read more