Powerlifting Equipment Recommendations
Low Budget
In terms of buying really cheap gear, these are the only things I would even consider worth thinking about buying.
Knee Sleeves
Multiple options available from Temu/Amazon all priced from $12-25.
Should also be some cheap options available in person from Rebel and Chemist Warehouse.
Elbow Sleeves
Multiple options available from Temu/Amazon all priced from $5-15.
Should also be some cheap options available in person from Rebel and Chemist Warehouse.
Most competitions don’t let you wear elbow sleeves, so personally I only wear them when I may be a little bit sore to help get through the set (potentially slightly placebo). Thus… go cheap.
Wrist Wraps
Multiple options available from Temu/Amazon/Ebay from $5-15
This is definitely one option you shouldn’t spend heaps of money on. Cheap options work great.
Lifting Straps
Multiple options available from Temu/Amazon/Ebay from $5-15
This is another option you shouldn’t spend heaps of money on. Cheap options work great.
Weightlifting Belt
Many gyms will have spare belts around for use, so you may not need to buy one.
Rogue sells a nylon/velcro weightlifting belt for $50. It’s the most beginner friendly and cheap option I can find.
https://www.rogueaustralia.com.au/rogue-4-weightlifting-belt-1-au
Medium Budget
This is my recommendations for budget friendly gear that would definitely suffice in novice competitions or if necessary in sanctioned competitions. Each piece of equipment I highly recommend purchasing if you are going to compete.
Knee Sleeves
Rogue 5 or 7mm Thick Knee Sleeves ($80 or $100)
The thicker the sleeve, the tighter the compression (and thus harder to get on), but also the stronger the support. Prices go up as the thickness increases but Rogue’s gear is surprisingly well priced.
Your next best option which I would consider borderline Premium, are the SBD 7mm Knee Sleeves ($200)
Weightlifting Belt
Iron Tanks 10mm or 13mm Lever Belts ($159 - $229)
Good quality weight lifting belts don’t come too cheap, and these were some of the best value I could personally find.
Similar to the knee sleeves, the thicker the belt, the larger the support.
There are 8mm belt options, however I wouldn’t recommend this if you are going to spend the money on a belt, you’d be better off going for a 10mm belt.
Alternatively, Titan also make some great quality belts, however they may end up costing more due to shipping.
Iron Tanks: https://irontanksgymgear.com/collections/powerlifting-belts
Deadlift Slippers
Notorious Lifters (any Gen) ($70 - $100)
Deadlift slippers really help with gripping on the floor and allowing for maximising quad power and torque. Some people will also preferentially use them for squats as well.
Squat/Bench Shoes
PowerLift Prodigy’s ($199)
Squat shoes have a big heel lift in-built which mimics a slant board or weight plate on the ground and allows for deeper hip range of motion with less requirement for depth, thus helping you in competitions hit depth.
There is nuance as to whether you would benefit more from this shoe or the slippers, however for those who need the assistance in range of motion, this is probably the best value.
TYR also do some good shoes, along with Nike’s Romaleos.
Deadlifting Socks
Rogue Deadlifting Sock ($22)
Yes, this is a thing. Deadlift socks are often sold at some novice events, but are nice to practise with too.
A nice competition bar is extremely knurled… so brushing that up against your shins can equal some blood and grazing. If everyone was doing it… you can see the biohazard. These socks protect your skin while not affecting your lift.
Premium Budget
Definitely not recommended for newbies and amateurs as the price gets pretty outrageous… but the quality and performance of this gear is second to none.
Knee Sleeves
Inzer Ergo Pro 7mm Knee Sleeves ($365)
Inzer are extremely thick and heavy knee sleeves, weighing almost 3x as much as SBD sleeves in density despite being the same thickness.
These have a large amount of spring in them and will definitely help when pushing for 1RM’s, but take practice to use due to the stiffness as well.
Weightlifting Belt
SBD Powerlifting Lever Belt 13mm ($425)
A7 Pioneer Lever Belt 13mm ($679)
Both of these belts have the premium price tag, with both again providing elite levels of stability, comfort and support.
Again, I don’t believe this to be worthwhile for anyone not competing in sanctioned competitions, however the option is there.
Soft Suits
SBD Powerlifting Singlet Soft Suit ($140)
Soft suits help similarly to any other piece of gear mentioned before.. Increased stiffness = increased stability = increased ability to generate force and power.
Although the price is not Premium, I am putting this in the Premium column as I do not believe this to be a requirement for Novice lifting.
Conclusion
Many other options for powerlifting accessories exist and may assist in benefitting the athlete either in training or in competition. However, this list will likely cover the basics for anyone training in the Stampede system… for now.
If you have any other questions, please let me know and I will answer.
Kind regards,
Isaiah.
