The Ultimate Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt Review for 2020

Rogue Fitness is one of the most reputable brands in today’s fitness industry. That makes the release of lifting belts like the Rogue Echo a possible game-changer across the weightlifting and powerlifting worlds.
So, let’s find out if this belt really lives up to the Rogue reputation.
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About the Manufacturer – Rogue Fitness
Today, Rogue Fitness is one of the largest manufacturers of weightlifting and CrossFit gear.
But that wasn’t always the case.
In fact, Rogue Fitness actually saw its beginnings in an American garage back in 2006. Since then, Rogue Fitness has set itself apart as an American-based athletic company – focusing now on fitness apparel, athletic shoes, gym equipment, and CrossFit gear.
Honestly, you can fill an entire gym and stock up your whole closet if you spend just a little too long on the Rogue Fitness website.
And pro athletes love the gear from Rogue Fitness.
Here’s a look at some of the athletes that have been sponsored by Rogue Fitness.
- Four-time CrossFit Games champion – Matt Fraser
- Rising CrossFit star – Sara Sigmundsdóttir
- 2019 World’s Strongest Man – Martins Licis
- Future Olympic weightlifter – Mattie Rogers
There are dozens more where that came from.
Recently, Rogue Fitness’ presence in the CrossFit world has become even more monumental than ever.
That’s all thanks to the creation of the Rogue Invitational, a CrossFit event hosting some of the best CrossFit athletes.
You can expect to see Rogue Fitness stick around for a while.
What is the Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt?
The Rogue Echo 10mm lifting belt takes the cliche powerlifting belt and bumps it up a notch.
Rogue Fitness describes this belt as being comfortable and supportive.
The comfort factor comes from both the 10-hole design and the single-prong buckle. This combo makes the belt easy to adjust on the fly while also getting you as snug a fit as possible.
The support supplied by this belt is all thanks to the incredibly stiff leather. This design is meant to keep your core and back muscles absolutely secure and stable from beginning to end.
A belt like this is meant to handle all sorts of weightlifting and powerlifting exercises.
Let’s see if it really does.
Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt Details
While Rogue Fitness is definitely a brand you can count on when it comes to lifting gear, there’s no way to guarantee that the Rogue Echo will be a good fit for you.
So, it’s important to do your research before buying a belt.
Here’s what you need to know about the Rogue Echo.
Just like most weightlifting belts, the Echo is made of genuine leather. What sets this belt apart from other similar belts on the market is the strength and durability of this leather.
In fact, it’s so durable and stiff that Rogue makes it a point to mention that this belt will take a good amount of time to fully break-in. That means you might have to put up with a little discomfort during your first few lifts with this belt.
Yet, this stiffness will pay off when it comes to your PRs.
A stiff belt is known to provide max pressure against the muscles in your core and back. This can give you an insane amount of power during a squat or deadlift – so, be prepared for gains.
But don’t overlook the dimensions of this belt.
The Echo measures in at 4 inches wide and 10mm thick. And if that doesn’t mean much to you, here’s what these numbers really mean.
- Greater range of motion – meaning deeper squats and deadlifts without your belt getting in the way
- Adequate support – not enough support to add 100 pounds to your squat on day one, but enough support to work up to new PRs quite soon
- Decent comfort – thinner belts are known for being less stiff and dig into your hips and sides much less
Just how a weightlifting belt is secured can make a huge difference. After all, belt failure during a lift can guarantee you a visit to the ER or weeks off from the gym.
So, this belt has a single-prong closure system.
This feature is meant to make the belt easy to adjust for those of all skill levels. All you have to do is pull the end of the belt, latch the prong into a hole, and secure the belt.
And the 10 strategically-placed holes will guarantee you the most secure and snug fit possible. So, no longer do you have to worry about bringing a screwdriver to the gym – like with a lever belt – or realigning two prongs between sets.
Here’s an easy look at the details.
- 4 inches wide
- 10mm thick
- Five lengths (between 23 and 45 inches – sizes S to XXL)
- Single-prong closure
- 10 holes
- Genuine leather material
4 Amazing Benefits of the Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt
Brand Reputation
Is it hard to make a weightlifting belt?
Not really.
Do a lot of companies struggle to make a good weightlifting belt?
Absolutely.
A lot of fitness companies out there know that they want to cater to the growing worlds of weightlifting and powerlifting. But they seem to cut corners when it comes to making a product worth writing home about.
The fact that this belt comes from Rogue should be enough to help you breathe a sigh of relief.
Rogue Fitness is known for being quite reputable and creating products that last a good amount of time. That means you don’t have to worry about choosing a random brand on the internet and hoping it ends up being worth the money.
Easy to Adjust
If only all weightlifting belts were as easy to adjust as this one.
Lever belts are a pain.
Yes – they give you as much stability as possible so you don’t have to worry about your belt ripping or tearing when you add more plates to the bar. But they also require you to have a screwdriver on hand to adjust the fit.
No good.
Velcro belts can be worse.
You can only open and close a velcro belt so many times before the velcro gets weak and stops giving you support. And since they’re usually made of nylon or other soft materials, don’t be surprised if it breaks mid-lift.
Pass.
Single-prong belts like the Echo are superior for beginner lifters.
They’re super easy to adjust in literally seconds. All you have to do is pull the end of the belt and lock it in place.
Plus, the Echo offers a 10-hole closure system. That means you can guarantee yourself the perfect fit every time and easy adjustments between sets and exercises.
Versatility
There are weightlifting belts and there are powerlifting belts. But very few belts out there can double as both.
Here’s how the Echo breaks the mold.
For weightlifters, the greatest feature of the Echo is the 10mm thickness.
It provides more than enough resistance against your core and back muscles to help put up your heaviest lifts. But it’s also not too thick where it digs into your hips and makes your workout dreadful.
For powerlifters, the greatest feature of the Echo is the 4-inch width.
As compared to a 6-inch weightlifting belt, this definitely limits how much support you can get during a lift. But it does help to keep your movements as smooth as possible and guarantees a full range of motion.
This combination makes the Echo the perfect belt for beginners.
Available Sizes
Any business that wants to make sales on weightlifting belts knows that size variety is key.
The Echo definitely lives up to these standards.
What’s neat about the sizing of the Echo is how much overlap there is between the sizes. For example, a medium supports waists of 27 to 33 inches while the large targets 30 to 36 inches.
For most belts out there, the lack of overlap makes picking a size impossible. You buy the medium and it’s far too tight, and then a large turns out to be far too loose.
So, if you’re on the upper-end for a belt, then go up a size – and vice versa. You’ll be able to put on some mass or even lose a little weight without having to buy a completely new belt.
But before you buy….
Make sure you’re getting your exact size in inches by measuring around your waist (belly button area). This is not equivalent to your pants size.
3 Negatives of the Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt
Break-In Time
The worst part about buying a new weightlifting belt is the process of breaking it in.
Honestly, what’s the point of spending a ton of money on a belt when it won’t even be useful to you for at least a few weeks?
You have to tone it down at the gym and push your gains off. Your workouts end up being about the belt and not your performance.
The downside of the Echo is that it comes insanely stiff thanks to the genuine leather.
So, you might be spending a good few weeks or months trying to soften and loosen up the leather on the Echo. Be aware that your first few workouts wearing this belt will be uncomfortable – especially for beginners.
The good news is that you can speed up the breaking-in process without having to slow down at the gym. It helps to roll the belt up to help with flexibility.
As much as you might see a stiff belt as a downside, it also has its positive aspects.
A stiff belt is hard to beat when it comes to maximal stability and reliability during a lift. The less you can bend a belt when lifting, the more power you can create.
Long-Term Durability
You want a durable belt – we get it.
It makes no sense to keep buying leather weightlifting belts if you have to replace them every few months.
A good belt might be able to last you a year or more.
Sadly, the Echo might be lacking in this area.
A lot of users have noted that the belt seems to fall apart much more rapidly than other belts they’ve had. Some have even noted that the leather starts to break apart or start peeling in just a few short months.
This slow destruction of the leather is much more than cosmetic damage. Obviously, weak and torn leather is much more likely to cause your belt to fail during a lift.
So, if you notice that your Rogue Echo is falling apart, it’s best that you invest in a new belt instead of pushing its limits. The last thing you want to do is have the belt burst in half during a squat and injure yourself.
Not Made in the USA
The thing about Rogue Fitness is that the company prides itself on being American-based. They even go as far as to say that most of their equipment is made in America.
The keyword here is “most.”
Unfortunately, the Echo is not one of Rogue’s products that are made in the United States.
While that doesn’t mean that your belt is any less durable or reliable, we do know that a lot of people like to buy strictly American-made products to support local businesses.
It’s a letdown, but probably not a deal-breaker.
Rogue Echo 10mm Lifting Belt Final Recommendation
The Rogue Echo is likely one of the best weightlifting/powerlifting belts for beginners.
It’s durable, guarantees a snug fit every time, and can help you to put up weights that you’ve only dreamed about.
But yes – there are some downsides with the Echo.
It takes a while to break-in and it might start to come apart after only a few months of use.
Otherwise, the Rogue Echo is a solid choice for beginners, especially if your progress has slowed and you’re in the midst of a plateau.
Click here to check the current price at Rogue Fitness.
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