Clearance Items – 25% Off!
Introducing the “Pioneer Cut”. It is a patented design* that Steve Strohm designed and partnered exclusively with Pioneer to bring to market. We have taken the existing traditional prong buckle and made it better and more customizable in terms of sizing. Offsetting two lines of holes, this design allows for you to tighten the belt in 1/2″ increments instead of the normal 1” that most companies currently offer. Due to the smaller increments, the belt can be worn at the correct tightness keeping the lifter more safe, and allowing the belt to be unbuckled much easier.
Pioneer Double Thick 4″ Power Lifting Belt Features:
*U.S. Patent number 11,224,531
$130.95 – $140.95
Have you ever had the problem where you can’t get your prong belt the right tightness? How about the problem of getting the belt off after a big lift?
Introducing the “Pioneer Cut”. It is a patented design* that Steve Strohm designed and partnered exclusively with Pioneer to bring to market. We have taken the existing traditional prong buckle and made it better and more customizable in terms of sizing. Offsetting two lines of holes, this design allows for you to tighten the belt in 1/2″ increments instead of the normal 1” that most companies currently offer. Due to the smaller increments, the belt can be worn at the correct tightness keeping the lifter more safe, and allowing the belt to be unbuckled much easier.
Pioneer’s Treated Double Thick (13mm) 10cm Power Lifting Belt is the “best of the best”! It is 10cm all the way around. This truly is the best powerlifting belt made. They are made by combining TWO of our normal Power Lifting Belts for the strongest and most durable power lifting belt on the market today. This belt is designed to give you extra intra-abdominal support from everyday strength training to competition lifts. This belt features Vegetable tanned, full grain sole leather, nickel plated rivets and a seamless roller buckle, and can be treated with our patented mineral/fish oil blend for a darker more supple appearance. The treatment process helps eliminate the break in time and helps the belt form to your body. If you are looking for a belt to use for the rest of your life, your search is over! This belt is made for the strongest power lifters in the world! Comes with our Lifetime Warranty and is Made in the U.S.A. (Try that with your made in Pakistan belt)
*U.S. Patent number 11,224,531
| Weight | 4 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6 × 8 × 12 in |
Due to the different styles and belt options General Leathercraft reserves the right to alter any customizations to make sure the belt is functional. This includes our custom flag belts and all of our other belts. Additionally, thread used for stitching and custom embroidery are different and the colors may not match exactly. If you have questions about this policy please contact us before you purchase your belt.
All embroidered/laser burned weight lifting belts ship within 6-8 weeks and non-embroidered weight belts ship within 3-5 weeks. No returns will be accepted without prior written authorization from General Leathercraft. Please read our Returns, Terms and Conditions for more information.
Order questions please contact us.
HOW TO MEASURE FOR YOUR WEIGHT BELTS: It’s very important to order the correct size for your weight belt. We cannot accept returns due to incorrect sizing. Additionally, we are unable to accept returns on custom belts. Please read for more information on our return policies.
All belts are made for right handed use, unless stated otherwise in belt notes.
13mm Thick - Stock Pioneer Cut Belt-Black
by Dan G
Custom Pioneer Sparkle Lever Belts
by Michelle Ballesteros
Pioneer Cut - 10mm Thick - Power Lifting Belt
by Corbin
4" 13mm Black No Suede V2 PAL Stock Lever Belt
by brycefelts2001
Vince G. (verified owner) –
After owning the Pioneer Cut™ – 10mm Thick – 4″ Power Lifting Belt (see review) – and being absolutely thrilled with it, I decided to order the heavier duty 13mm sole leather belt in the Pioneer Cut single prong configuration.
To be perfectly honest, I probably do not “need” this heavier duty belt but the 10mm version is so comfortable out of the box that I was willing to give up a bit of comfort for the added support of a 13mm belt, specifically for heavy squat sessions.
Please be advised this is not simply a 13mm version of the 10mm suede belt. This is one serious piece of kit, composed of two layers of sole leather – with no suede added.
I expected this belt to be quite a bit stiffer and not as comfortable as my 10mm suede belt but I was somewhat surprised to find it isn’t nearly as unwieldy as I was expecting. (I did opt for the treated leather however). I bought the same (medium) size as my 10mm belt and while noticeably stiffer, it does not rub or cause any discomfort – even when cinched up fairly tight. Unlike my 10mm suede belt that I sometimes forget I am wearing, I definitely know I have this on! The biggest difference involves a bit of extra effort buckling and unbuckling and especially slipping the tongue through the leather retainer loop. I expect this to only improve with continued use and break-in.
As I did with my other Pioneer belt, I took the micrometer to this one and measured 12.8 – 13.0mm thickness over the length of the belt. Again, very consistent construction! Overall quality and finishing is very good.
I really notice the benefit of the heavier/stiffer leather when I squat 455# or more. The extra support provided is confidence inspiring.
While I do think the 10mm belt is probably more than adequate for the majority of users, those powerlifters trying to push maximum weight will appreciate the extra support his belt offers.
I am sold on Pioneer belts and especially their Pioneer cut design!
Mark Kehrberg-Ostrasz (verified owner) –
I ordered the 13 mm Pioneer cut to replace my Brahma lever and 10 mm Forever double prong because neither fit too well any more. I wanted a fair bit of adjustability so I could use it for squats and deadlifts, without having to fiddle around with a screwdriver.
It arrived quickly (and I’m in Australia) and took very little time to break in enough to use. Quality is excellent: it looks and feeling amazing. Very supportive, and the Pioneer cut means I can get a close to perfect fit every day for whatever I need it for.
BH (verified owner) –
This 13mm Pioneer Cut PL belt is serious kit. Definitely not a plastic Velcro belt. Very high quality and it shows in how HEAVY DUTY it is. I did get the treated leather and I cannot imagine what the untreated leather in this thickness of belt would be like; the stiffness of the brand new belt is substantial, right out of the box. I spent about an hour working the leather in my hands and it began to soften. My hands actually got sore trying to flex and roll this thing so I started using my feet to press the bends into the floor. Twisting the belt is nearly futile. I love it. I used a little neatsfoot oil on the outside and it soaked in immediately. It gave the belt a richer, slightly darker finish, and it helped soften it even more. The website picture is spot on for what came out of the box.
The level of support is AMAZING, but it will be quite a while before it has the level of broken-in comfort that I just can’t wait to have. After the first couple of wearings, I was actually sore (bruised?) in places where the belt made contact. It’s that stiff. I think given a choice I would have gone with a 13mm suede version or even a 10mm belt because this belt is THAT hardcore. However, I do not regret my purchase and I would only recommend it for serious, heavy lifters. This belt is not ideal for casual lifters or high-rep bodybuilders. Go with a 10mm or even 6.5mm. Trust me. I have since gotten used to the stiffness and I am sure the belt is also slowly breaking in.
The Pioneer Cut design is wonderful. I have two holes that I prefer, one for deadlifts and one for squats. This had never been the case with traditional belts. It was either too tight or too loose given the exercise. Now I have correct tightness every time! I have to say that it does take a bit of effort to don and doff. Even tucking in the tail is rather difficult.
Isaac (verified owner) –
Excellent belt and it arrived just 8 days after I placed my order. Mine is the treated leather in a custom size between a small and medium, and it was made exactly to the measurements I gave in the order comment. Belt is exactly 13mm throughout and 9.8 – 9.9 cm wide. It’s stout, but it’s breaking in nicely. Pioneer cut is easy to use and allows for exact sizing. Highly recommend.
Pablo Garciasalas –
I own a few Pioneer belts, from single prong to lever 10mm and 13mm up until I used this Pioneer Cut I swore by the 13mm treated lever belt, but this Pioneer Cut is so much more versatile and comfortable, was fortunate to receive it 2 weeks before my latest competition. Absolutely no issues as far as “breaking in” I am going to be exclusively using this belt for the foreseeable future, will not let the others collect dust but this will be my go to for sure. Excellent option.
enarayan (verified owner) –
I just recently purchased the 13 mm 4 inch Pioneer Cut locally from Loaded Lifting and I’ve just received my 13 mm 3 inch Deadlift/Bench belt, which I ordered from this site. Both are incredibly solid and of the highest quality. I’m very impressed with the short turnaround time it took to process my order from this site and get it shipped to Oz. Highly recommended!
Paul Merfeld (verified owner) –
Well made!
Rahul (verified owner) –
Excellent belt. The construction is solid with both the leather and buckle. Pioneer cut allows for easy adjustment between lifts (I wear it higher on squats and lower on deadlifts). The pioneer cut also allows me to shimmy the prong in without having to use a rack for leverage.
The leather is stiff and provides excellent support. I opted for the treated version so no problem to wear right out of the box. However, I have been treating my belt with leather honey conditioner since it seemed dry. So far I have been treating 3x per week for a month and it has drank up a lot but become much more flexible.
Overall, I would highly recommend this for lifters looking for abdominal support on the squat, deadlift, and overhead press.
Joe G (verified owner) –
I’ve owned a lot of belts in the past. I am making a come back to powerlifting, this is by far the best belt I’ve ever owned. After using it for only one squat and dead lift workout, it feels like it’s already broken in. Absolutely no discomfort with this belt.
Tim F –
By far the best belt I’ve owned. The quality of materials and fabrication is excellent and I really like the adjustability of the Pioneer Cut single prong system with offset holes. The folks at Pioneer were excellent to deal with, very helpful! The belt shipped extremely fast as well, which is appreciated.
Connor M (verified owner) –
Amazing lifting belt. I have now been actively using the Pioneer Cut 13mm 4 in belt for about 4 months and I broke it in to how I like it about 2 months ago. I mainly use it for squats, deadlifts, and trap bar deadlifts due to the construction of the belt. This thing is built to last. You can feel it the second you take it out of the box and a couple months later it almost feels to have only become sturdier! The Pioneer Cut is honestly the way to go for those small adjustments you can make week to week as you bulk/cut or as you go heavier in weight and need that core reinforcement. The quality is impeccable and the customer service worked with me every step of the way. Dollar for dollar incredible value and the best weight belt I have ever owned hands down.
Sasha (verified owner) –
I had this belt customized, shaved down to 10mm, thanks to fast and helpful customer service. They have also customized my size as i was between sizes. The quality of the belt is great, you can just tell its very well made! It is also very good looking, even though the shipping to Australia was expensive, still worth paying extra because i have not seen anything compared to this belt here! Thank you very much for the work you do!!!
Daniel (verified owner) –
Unbelieveable belt. It is rock solid and the untreated leather aging beateutifuly. Pioneer cut is great for getting the perfect fit. I still love buckling up everytime. Customer service is top notch. Great value!
D (verified owner) –
Superlative belt for all three powerlifts. The Pioneer Cut, 13 mm, 4 in., treated, all-leather belt does as much as any belt could possibly do. Feels great. Strong core contractions. Provides an extra notch of confidence. Although I don’t often use the finer adjustability of the Pioneer Cut, it has been helpful from time to time and works quite well. Craftsmanship is flawless. It may not be obvious, but the customer can specify a custom length in the Belt Notes section of the order form. My belt was cut exactly as specified.
Before purchasing, Pioneer’s excellent customer service helped me with a few things I was wondering about, which I have subsequently verified for myself.
Does it slip? No. There is a belief out there that suede is necessary to prevent a belt from slipping on the torso. While the exterior of the belt is fairly smooth and beautifully finished, the interior has a roughness or coarseness to it. When wearing a t-shirt and a properly tightened belt, the belt doesn’t move.
Does the belt feel different when a top row or bottom row hole is used? No, it just feels like a good, thick belt.
Does the prong move around when the belt is fastened? No. There’s a wider cutout for the prong base to accommodate the two rows of holes. However, once the belt is tightened, the prong is secure.
Break-in. This belt is much tougher than my old suede 10 mm, but not too bad. I’ve had a bit of a learning process in the way of situating the belt appropriately for a given lift and efficiently tightening it. Early on, I had to fight the thing to get it tight. After three months of regular use, the belt feels great and is easy to fasten and unfasten.