When it comes to serious weightlifting, a good weightlifting belt is a must-have, especially as you get stronger over time and you’ve got heavy lifts in your program. Anytime you’re training compound movements with heavy weights like the squat or deadlift, you rely on your core to maintain good posture and form, and a lifting belt can help you create intra-abdominal pressure and properly brace your core muscles.
Whether you’re an Olympic lifter, powerlifter, bodybuilder, or recreational lifter who regularly lifts with a barbell, a lifting belt may be the most important accessory in your gym bag, right up there with the best weightlifting shoes and best wrist wraps. In this Gymreapers Lever Belt Review, I’ll explain all of the details you need to know to decide whether or not this lifting belt that’s protected by a lifetime warranty is the right fit for you.
Gym-Tested by a USA Weightlifting Coach
Our team of testers is made up of certified personal trainers, Olympic weightlifters, weightlifting coaches, and more. We’ve spent years getting our hands on gym equipment and pushing it to the limits, always searching for the best of the best.
Jacob Penner, USAW-L2 and owner of Endless Strength Weightlifting, took the Gymreapers belt through 20 challenging squat and deadlift workouts. He has years of experience coaching athletes, working out, and of course, using lifting belts. There’s no better person to share his honest feedback about the Gymreapers Lever Belt.
To make sure we bring you an unbiased and useful weightlifting belt review, Jacob scored this belt based on the most important traits of any good lifting belt, including the following:
- Durability and construction
- Versatility
- Comfort
- Adjustability
- Sizing and customization
Gymreapers Lever Belt
Gymreapers Lever Belt
Product Highlights
- USPA-approved
- Two width options
- Rounded edges
- Double stitching
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High-quality leather with suede interior
- Rigorous testing prior to release
- USPA- and IPF-approved
- Rounded edges for comfort
Cons
- Cleaning the belt can be a process
- Requires a break-in period
- Comes unassembled
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a durable yet functional belt to assist you in heavier lifts such as deadlifts, squats and bench, the Gymreapers Lever Belt is a great option, although the lever belt will be less versatile than a lighter nylon belt.
A Quick Look at the Gymreapers Lever Belt
Gymreapers makes apparel and lifting accessories for gym enthusiasts of all ages. In addition to a variety of lifting belts, including the lever belt in this review, Gymreaper also sells knee sleeves, lifting straps, wrist wraps, nylon belts, and clothing for men and women.
The company was founded in 2014 by Roc Pilon out of the back of his family’s mobile home when he was only 19 years old. The company has exploded in popularity, even landing Roc a spot on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for retail and e-commerce in 2023.
While there are a variety of belts available on the Gymreapers website, the Gymreapers lever belt is a high-quality leather belt designed for powerlifting—you could technically use it for Olympic lifting or CrossFit, but it’s a bit too stiff to do so comfortably. The 10mm belt, which Jacob tested, is IPF, IPL, USPA, and USAPL approved, so you’ll be able to use this belt in most competitions. It’s currently available in six sizes and comes in eight colorways, and all are made of durable leather with a suede lining.
Before You Buy
- The Gymreapers lever belt is a stiff, durable belt designed for powerlifting and approved by most of the big powerlifting federations.
- A 13mm belt is also available in one color, but with how stiff lever belts are, most would likely enjoy the 10mm a bit more.
- At $120, this isn’t the most affordable lever belt on the market, but it’s backed by a lifetime warranty and fantastic customer support.
Is the Gymreapers Lever Belt Worth It?
At $120, the Gymreapers lever belt isn’t the most affordable option on the market, but it’s durable and backed by a lifetime warranty from Gymreapers. Does that mean this is the last lifting belt you’ll ever need to purchase?
Maybe, but it depends on your goals, training style, and personal preferences.
Great for:
- Beginner and intermediate lifters who primarily use a belt for squat and deadlift variations
- Those looking for a sturdy belt that comes with a lifetime warranty
- Weightlifters who prefer lever weightlifting belts over belts that close with a prong
Not recommended for:
- Athletes who perform explosive Olympic lifts
- Advanced powerlifters who prefer the thickest possible belt
- Those who prefer comfort over function, as this belt digs into your body quite a bit
RELATED: The 11 Best Weightlifting Belts for Powerlifting, Olympic Lifting, CrossFit, and More
Gymreapers Lever Belt Specs
| Price | $120 |
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL |
| Material | Leather with interior suede liner |
| Fastening | Adjustable matte black lever buckle |
| Width | 4” |
| Thickness | 10mm or 13mm |
| Federation Approved? | Yes, IPF, IPL, USPA, and USAPL approved |
Using the Gymreapers Lever Belt
The Gymreapers lever belt was tested by Jacob Penner, USAW-L2, who owned it for about two years and wore it for 20 squat and deadlift workouts. As an Olympic weightlifter, Jacob regularly uses lifting belts and is the perfect person to give an honest rating.
Overall, Jacob said this is a great belt for powerlifters. It was very stiff, provided great support, and felt like it was built to last. He did note that lever belts tend to be very rigid, which I’ve also noticed in the past, and it didn’t feel like it was getting any more broken in even after 20 workouts.
RELATED: When to Use a Lifting Belt
He says: “This belt probably never got more comfortable—but lever belts are supposed to be really stiff. So be prepared for that—know that it’s going to be a stiff belt. You’ll definitely feel it. If you have a short torso, you’ll definitely feel it digging into your hip bones or torso. So on comfort, I’d give it a 3/5—but I’d probably rate any lever belt that way. Most just aren’t comfortable.”
If you have experience training with lever belts and are used to the stiffness, you should have no problems with this belt. However, if you’re shopping for your first lifting belt, understand that the initial break-in period can be uncomfortable, and may not happen at all with lever belts.
Durability and Construction
For durability, Jacob gave the Gymreapers lever belt 4-out-of-5-stars. He says that his gym has owned the belt for two years, and it’s been kept in a facility that’s not climate-controlled. His belt has gone through freezing winters, hot summers, and challenging workouts, and still looks as good as new.
Adjustability
For those who have never used a lever belt, adjusting the buckle if you gain or lose weight can be annoying, and the Gymreapers lever belt is no different, earning a rating of 2 out of 5.
To adjust the position of the lever, you need a Philips head screwdriver to remove the buckle, change the positioning, and re-attach it. If you’re someone who needs to adjust the positioning frequently, whether from losing or gaining weight or sharing the belt with someone else, this is an inconvenient way to adjust your belt size.
RELATED: Powerlifting Workout
Customization and Sizing
The belt comes in six sizes, and each belt has seven different positions for the buckle, which Jacob says is a good number of positions for most people. At the time of writing, Gymreapers does not offer any belt customizations.
However, the 10mm belt is available in eight colorways, which are:
- Black
- Gray
- Military Green
- Red
- Navy
- White Camo
- Midnight Camo
- Woodland Camo
The belt is also available in a 13mm version for advanced lifters looking for even more support, but the thicker belt is only available in black.
Gymreapers Lever Belt vs SBD Lever Belt
SBD Lever Belt″ Premium Leather Belt
SBD Belt
Product Highlights
- Meets numerous powerlifting regulations
- Patented gliding lever closure system is secure and easy to use
- Sizes up to 5XL
- Durable
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Competition-compliant in numerous powerlifting federations
- Patented gliding lever closure system
- Easy to adjust
- Sizes up to 5XL
Cons
- Expensive
- Red suede could rub onto lighter clothing
- No color options
- Limited versatility
Bottom Line
The SBD Belt is the gold standard for serious powerlifting. Although it’s an expensive belt, it offers solid support and a patented gliding lever closure that allows for easy adjustments that doesn’t sacrifice rigidity or support.
When it comes to powerlifting belts, there are many options to choose from. Let’s compare the Gymreapers belt to another popular 4-inch leather powerlifting belt, the SBD Lever Belt.
At $280, the SBD belt is significantly more expensive, though it’s often considered one of the best belts for competitive powerlifts. It’s only available in 13mm, which is thicker than the popular 10mm Gymreapers belt, though Gymreapers does carry a 13mm option as well, which costs $130.
However, is it worth paying more than twice as much as the Gymreapers belt?
The SBD lever belt uses a patented gliding lever, which offers the security of a lever belt, with the easy adjustability of a prong belt. Coop tested the SBD lever belt in a video review, and said it was the best system he’s ever used on a belt.
For those looking for the best of the best, and a great gliding lever system, the SBD is a better belt. But if you’re on a tighter budget, or simply don’t want to spend over $200 on a lifting belt, the Gymreapers lever belt is a very strong alternative.
For more, see our full SBD Belt In-Depth Review.
| Gymreapers Lever Belt | SBD Lever Belt | |
| Price | $120 | $280 |
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL, XXXXL, XXXXXL |
| Material | Leather with interior suede liner | 4 layers of British leather with red suede interior |
| Fastening | Adjustable matte black lever buckle | Patented gliding lever |
| Width | 4” | 3.94” |
| Thickness | 10mm or 13mm | 13mm |
| Federation Approved? | Yes, IPF, IPL, USPA, and USAPL approved | Yes, IPF-approved and USAPL/USPA compliant |
Customer Experience
When it comes to customer service, Gymreapers earns a strong rating of 4.5 out of 5. You have 30 days from the date of purchase to return your product or exchange it, as long as it’s unworn and you pay for your return shipping—a pretty standard return policy.
Where Gymreapers truly shines is the lifetime warranty on their lever belts and strong customer support. You can even register your belt on the website to save your order information, and if the belt is ever damaged or breaks, you’ll get a replacement.
To reach customer support, you can send an email, use the live chat option, call either the domestic or international number, or even text them to receive support on your phone.
Finally, you can even start a live video chat on the website to get help with proper sizing before you order your belt, which is something I haven’t seen with any other lifting belt companies. The only thing keeping this from a full 5-star rating is the lack of free return shipping, but this isn’t a huge deal.
Ordering the Gymreapers Lever Belt
You can purchase the Gymreapers lever belt directly from the company website, though you’ll need to pay for shipping on any orders less than $150. You can also split your order into four payments with Klarna to make the purchase a little easier.
There’s a Gymreapers store on Amazon, but at the time of writing, the lever belt is not sold on Amazon.
Customer Reviews
The Gymreapers lever belt has very positive customer reviews, with an average rating of 4.9 with over 1,300 reviews on the website. It’s worth calling out that companies generally have the best reviews on their own website, and this belt is not currently listed on Amazon.
That said, reviews are quite positive, with users saying they love the support, feel, and quick shipping from Gymreapers.
Final Verdict of Our Gymreapers Lever Belt Review
With a $120 price tag for a durable lever belt made of quality materials, a company that offers outstanding customer service, and a lifetime warranty, it’s hard to find many downsides to the Gymreapers lever belt. The belt is very durable, and more affordable than similar belts from companies like Rogue or SBD.
Our tester said the belt wasn’t very comfortable, but acknowledged that this is the case with most lever belts. Many of the customer reviews also say the belt is quite comfortable, so this may be a matter of sizing and preference.
It’s not the absolute best belt on the market, but for the price and lifetime guarantee, this is a very strong option for any powerlifters out there.
Full Rating
Gymreapers Lever Belt
If you are looking for a durable yet functional belt to assist you in heavier lifts such as deadlifts, squats and bench, the Gymreapers Lever Belt is a great option.
Product Brand: Gymreapers
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 120
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.71
Gymreapers Lever Belt: FAQs
Are Gymreapers belts approved?
Yes, the Gymreapers lever belt is IPF, IPL, USPA, and USAPL approved.
Is Gymreapers a good brand?
Yes, Gymreapers carries a wide range of high-quality lifting apparel and workout accessories, with fantastic customer service and lifetime warranties on many of their products, like the Gymreapers lever belt.
Are lever belts good for lifting?
Lever belts offer a very secure closing system, resulting in a belt that’s easy to take on and off. The sturdy design and strong lever make them a great choice for powerlifting, though many lever belts may be too stiff for Olympic lifting and CrossFit.
