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Best Dip Belts

Updated May 2022
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Pros
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Best of the Best
HYPELETICS Weighted Dip Belt with Adjustable Waist Strap and Padded Neoprene
HYPELETICS
Weighted Dip Belt with Adjustable Waist Strap and Padded Neoprene
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Nonslip Choice
Bottom Line

Adjustable choice that is "by far the best" and has been time-tested in the gym, according to our fitness expert.

Pros

Soft inner padding to support your back and eliminate training distress. Adjustable waist straps and buckles will give you a snug fit and keep you comfortable. Sturdy with reinforced stitching for long-lasting use. Holds up to 6 Olympic-sized plates with room to spare.

Cons

Because of its carabiners, users tend to find it difficult to hook straps during the first few uses.

Best Bang for the Buck
Iron Bull Strength Advanced Dip Belt
Iron Bull Strength
Advanced Dip Belt
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Impressive Strength
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An extremely versatile design that can also be used as a sled harness or for weightlifting.

Pros

This is 100% nylon, making it durable, lightweight, and breathable. Features reinforced stitching and black steel hooks and carabiners for quick connection and impressive holding strength.

Cons

Although durable, the friction caused by the sliding weights on the nylon strap can make it fail prematurely.

Harbinger Polypropylene Dip Belt
Harbinger
Polypropylene Dip Belt
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Best for Larger Persons
Bottom Line

Our expert recommends this for bigger or more muscular users and also notes the 30-inch chain.

Pros

Inexpensive option that works well for simple workout needs. Uses a 30-inch steel chain so you can add weights to it. Has a slightly wider area in the back to provide support. Uses steel grommets and rings to support any added weight adequately.

Cons

Won't last as long as leather. Steel D-rings could bend under stress.

Dark Iron Fitness Leather Dip Belt
Dark Iron Fitness
Leather Dip Belt
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Real Leather
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Real leather design that is both rugged and comfortable, according to our expert.

Pros

A comfortable level of padding in the areas of the hips to ensure it doesn't dig into your body. Weight strap can hold up to 270 pounds. Uses a metal buckle to ensure it stays in place, even during long workout sessions. Nicer-looking design than many others.

Cons

Metal D-ring parts occasionally give out or bend under stress.

Hawk Fitness Dip Belt with Chain
Hawk Fitness
Dip Belt with Chain
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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

The inner padding and adjustable steel chain allow this pick to offer more options than previous models, according to our fitness expert.

Pros

Supports a hefty amount of weight for a variety of workout routines. Adjust the steel chain to add more resistance for muscle building. Inner padding and mesh-lined design makes this comfortable as well as practical.

Cons

Chain is not fully polished and may cut you.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
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Buying guide for Best dip belts

To have a successful workout regimen, you need to shake things up occasionally so you do not plateau. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to make your muscles work harder, not longer. A dip belt helps you to do exactly that by letting you add weights to exercises such as dips and squats that may no longer be challenging you.

The best dip belts are wide, so they spread the weight out evenly across your hips. They are easy to slip on and take off but also durable enough to safely hold the amount of weight you need for your workout. Additionally, the strap must be long enough to accommodate the weight you are adding.

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A dip belt can help you develop real-world, functional strength that can help you live a better life.

Key considerations

Dip belts are relatively simple in concept and construction. In fact, to be of use to you, they only need to do two things extremely well: fit, and hold sufficient weight.

Size

Dip belts wrap around your waist, so the weight you’re adding can be supported by your hips. In order to stay on, the suspended weight pulls the dip belt tight so it has little chance of slipping off. Because of this, one-size-fits-all dip belts can be fairly effective. However, as you move up in quality, you can find dip belts that are manufactured in different sizes. Additionally, you may even be able to find a dip belt with a buckle so it can be firmly attached to your waist. Although this isn't strictly necessary, it does allow the belt to be used in a wider variety of situations.

Maximum weight

To be effective, you do not need to add a great deal of weight to your dip belt. Most belts will probably support more than enough for the average individual's needs. Before choosing any dip belt, be sure that the dip belt you are considering can support the amount of weight you would like to use.

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Expert Tip
Using a weighted belt for exercises is usually only recommended for advanced or experienced weight lifting enthusiasts since significant strength and stability are needed to perform exercises with this type of load.
BestReviews Fitness Expert

Features

Material

For the most part, dip belts are manufactured using three different materials: neoprene, nylon, or leather. Neoprene is comfortable and inexpensive. Nylon is somewhat durable and lightweight. Leather is heavy duty, but it can take a while to break in. You can also choose a dip belt that uses heavy duty fabric instead of a chain for the strap that holds the weights, but fabric will eventually wear and fray from the constant friction created by the suspended weights.

Belt

A wider belt provides greater comfort because it spreads the weight out over a greater surface area. Although most belts do not fully wrap around your waist, some that do so are available and may provide a better fit. It’s simply a matter of personal preference.

Chain

A chain is the most durable option for your strap. You want one that is made of steel and is attached to the belt with reinforced stitching. Be sure to get a chain that is long enough to snake through all the weight plates that you plan on lifting. Note that a chain that is too long is okay because there are ways to take up the slack. However, a chain that is too short may limit the amount of weight you can add.

Connectors

The best connectors are heavy-duty carabiners because they are durable and easy to use. If you'd like the greatest flexibility, look for a dip belt that has additional steel hooks for a variety of placements. This, however, is a matter of convenience, not a necessity.

expert Tip
I recommend using dip belts for other exercises besides just dips. They include pull-ups, chin-ups, weighted dip belt walks, and squats.
BestReviews Fitness Expert

Multipurpose

Although all dip belts can be used for a variety of exercises, some are specifically designed to also function as weight belts or even work a sled harness. If this sounds desirable, look for a multipurpose dip belt.

Dip belt prices

Inexpensive

Dip belt prices start at about $12 to $15. At this entry-level price, you'll get a one-size-fits-all neoprene belt with a lighter-duty chain.

Mid-range

From $15 to $25, the dip belts look nice, with many featuring colors, and they are more durable than belts in the lower tier. You can also find some quality belts with reinforced stitching at the higher end of the mid-range price bracket.

Expensive

As you move into the $25 to $50 range, you will find convenient features, such as extra-wide belts for comfort and belts with multiple connectors for versatility in hanging weights. Additionally, many of these high-end belts are manufactured using leather and come in different fitted sizes.

Expert TIp
Dips can be strenuous on shoulder joints, so they should not be performed daily. At the most, I recommend performing them no more than twice a week with days off in between.
BestReviews Fitness Expert

Tips

A dip belt may have a very specific sounding name, but you can use it for more than just increasing the difficulty level of dips. Here are a few workout tips that can help you get the most out of your dip belt.

  • Start small. You're going to be working out for many years, so increase your weight load gradually, maybe by only 2.5 pounds per week. This kind of micro-progression is safer and more effective in the long run.

  • Use good form. Keep your back straight, your head up, and your core tight.

  • Take it slow and steady. Do not use jerky, erratic motions. Use slow, steady, and controlled motions. If you need explosive force, you are using a weight that is too heavy for you at this time, and you could wind up doing more harm than good.

  • Breathe properly. Exhale on exertion. Holding your breath while straining can cause problems such as blood vessel strain and increased blood pressure.

  • Feel free to improvise. If you do not have weight plates to suspend, try gallon jugs filled with water or buckets filled with sand. Whatever you use for weight, however, just be sure there is no chance it can come loose and fall while working out.

  • Don't limit yourself. Dips aren’t the only exercise that can benefit from a dip belt. You can safely incorporate a dip belt with other exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, and squats.

  • Walk it off. Doing something as simple as walking in place while wearing a weighted dip belt can produce tremendous results.

  • Hang it up. You do not need to be moving up and down to reap the benefits of a dip belt, just hanging on a bar with your core tight can help build muscle.
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A dip belt allows you to take exercises that have become comfortable and somewhat easy for you and make them hard again.

FAQ

Q. How do I keep my dip belt from slipping off?

A. A dip belt uses a fairly clever design. In short, as long as you have hips and you are wearing it correctly, the belt should stay on. In most models, the padded part wraps around your back, while a chain threads through a loop in the belt and through a weight plate before clipping back onto the belt. The hanging weight actually pulls the belt tight and keeps it snug around your waist.

Q. The chain on my dip belt is too long. How do I adjust it?

A. If your dip belt doesn't have multiple clip points, there are two other ways to raise the weight. The easiest way is to simply wrap the chain around the weights more than once to take up the slack. The second is even easier, but it's a little difficult to explain. First, fold the chain over and clip it to itself several links down. Then, clip the now shorter chain to the belt.

Q. How much weight can I add to my dip belt?

A. This will vary from belt to belt, so you always need to check the specific weight limits for any dip belt you are considering. Some dip belts have an upper limit of 200 or 250 pounds, which will probably be far more than you ever need. Remember, you're adding this to your body weight, so if you weigh 200 pounds, adding 100 pounds to your dip belt means you're working with 300 pounds, which may be too heavy for the average person.

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