Deadlift belt

[JETSR71]

A while back, you mentioned that you were getting a narrow (2"?) belt for deadlifting to see if you liked it. I was wondering if you received it and what feedback you can give.

My current wide belt digs in during deadlifting and was curious about other options.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I have a 2.5-inch belt from Best, and it has solved all my belt problems with pulling off the floor. It's a bit stiff, but it will break in eventually. I'd rather have a 3", but he doesn't make one now, and they've had some health problems, so I don't expect one anytime soon.

[AdamW]

Don't mean to hijack but I'm noticing lately that my deadlifts look better with no belt than with my regular 4" belt. For example:

No belt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-rHn24pCdI

Belt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DSE...tailpage#t=14s

Is this sort of disparity something a narrower belt might help?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Maybe. I find that my wide belt keeps me from being able to set my low back, the same thing you're showing here. It's probably interfering with your ability to feel the arch because the bottom edge of the belt is jamming into your upper thigh and telling you to stop extending the spine.

[Basis Change]

Coach,

I've experienced a similar problem when deadlifting with my belt.

Is this a case in which it might be worth trying one of those silly belts available at my gym, where the front is 2" and the back is 4"? Or does something about the design render them completely useless, even in this situation? I reread that section of SSBBT3, and am inclined to believe the latter.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Have you actually not tried it yet?

[Basis Change]

Have you actually not tried it yet?

Guilty as charged. I see a moment of enlightenment in my near future...