Should You Choose a Leather or Nylon Training Belt? An 8-Year Home Workout Veteran Compares Abdominal Pressure and Stability

Hello! I'm Torimune, and I've been doing home workouts for 8 years.

“I’m wondering if it’s time to switch to a leather training belt...”

You’ve been working out at home for a while, and your weights are gradually increasing.
That’s when questions like these start to come up, right?

• What’s the difference between leather and nylon?

• Isn’t nylon good enough?

• Is leather even necessary for home workout enthusiasts?

Actually, I thought the same thing for many years.

And after 8 years of home training, having used a nylon belt for over 5 years, I finally bought a leather belt this year.I finally bought a leather belt this year.

Here it is👇

It’s from the brand “ALLOUT,” which has seen a massive surge in popularity recently. From a trainee’s perspective, ALL OUT gives the impression of being a brand for people who are serious about pushing themselves.

It uses high-quality cowhide, and the black interior hides dirt well, giving me peace of mind that I can use it for a long time.

As for my impressions after actually using it, I’m extremely satisfied.

The solid, overwhelming sense of hold creates an environment where I can push myself with confidence.

On the other hand, as someone who clearly remembers being a beginner, I feel like I should have switched sooner, but I also feel that there are things I only understand because I had that time using nylon.

In this article, I will talk about the differences between leather and nylon based on my actual experience comparing them.

I didn’t write this to say one is better than the other, but rather to help you judge which one suits your current situation.

Please be sure to read until the end.

[Conclusion] The difference between leather and nylon training belts shows up in how they apply abdominal pressure

I’ll give you the conclusion first.

Beginners to pre-intermediates → Nylon is sufficient
Those whose weights are increasing or who do heavy squats and deadlifts → Leather is recommended

This is my honest opinion after using nylon for over 5 years and switching to genuine leather.

To be precise, the difference lies in the intensity of the sensation of pressure on the abdomen. Because genuine leather is harder and thicker than nylon, the wall-like feeling when you press your abdomen against the belt is on a different level.

So this is what intra-abdominal pressure is! It was a feeling that made me realize it all over again.

ALLOUT Genuine Leather Training Belt Review | What I learned after 8 years of home workouts

Size and Build

I chose size M (wide). My waist is about 73–74 cm.

On the Amazon product page, a 73–74 cm waist is categorized as size S, but I purchased size M (wide) based on various reviews.
As a result, the amount of excess belt when cinched is just right, creating a good balance that makes it easy to tighten.

ALLOUT sizes are designed for the Japanese physique, so for those with an average build, M or L should be almost certainly correct.

The quality of the build gives a clearly more "solid" impression compared to nylon.
It has a good thickness, and it feels "hefty" when you hold it, which alone gets me excited.

The inside of the belt is black, so sweat stains and other dirt are less noticeable, which is a subtly nice feature.

Stiffness and Getting Used to It

Nylon conforms to your body from the moment you put it on, but genuine leather feels quite stiff at first. When I put it on and got into position for dumbbell deadlifts, I felt it digging into my waist, and I was a bit confused until I got used to it.

But as I went through more sets, it gradually started to conform. There is a feeling of it fitting your body the more you use it that is unique to genuine leather, and I realized that this is what leads to an emotional attachment.

Fit and How Intra-Abdominal Pressure is Applied

This is the true essence of genuine leather.

Unlike nylon Velcro, you pass the pin through the hole to secure it firmly, so the belt does not move at all.

When you tense your abdomen and expand it, there is a solid wall there, and the intra-abdominal pressure doesn't escape. It was a feeling that made me realize, "There is an absolute sense of security here!"

Whether in the bottom position of a Bulgarian split squat or during a deadlift, the sense of security that 'my lower back is protected' is a level above nylon.

Since I started using a genuine leather type, my lifting weights have increased even further.I believe this is because the psychological brake of 'worrying about my lower back and being unable to push to the limit' has disappeared, along with being able to firmly stabilize my core.

Nylon vs. Genuine Leather: An Honest Comparison from a Home Training Perspective

From my perspective as someone who has actually used nylon belts for many years, I will compare the characteristics of nylon and genuine leather.

1. How abdominal pressure is applied

Nylon: Abdominal pressure is applied sufficiently. However, at high weights, there are times when you feel like you want a bit more stability.

Genuine Leather: There is a sensation that abdominal pressure is firmly 'supported.' Unwavering stability even at high weights.

2. Ease of set preparation

Nylon: The strength lies in being able to adjust it steplessly with Velcro. The ease of wrapping it on and using it immediately is overwhelming.

Genuine Leather: Since it uses a pin, you need to perform the task of 'threading it through the same hole every time.' Once you get used to it, it takes less than 10 seconds, but it feels like a hassle at first.

3. Stress of putting on and taking off between exercises

Nylon: Overwhelmingly easy. You can rip it loose with one hand and rest during intervals without being constricted.

Genuine Leather: It takes a little effort. It can sometimes be a nuisance to put it on and take it off every time you switch between exercises that use the belt and those that don't.

4. Ease of handling for home training

Nylon:Spread it out in the corner of the room, put it on quickly, and roll it up to store it after training. It doesn't get in the way.

Genuine Leather: Because of its thickness and weight, it requires storage space. But the presence of 'it's right here' also serves as motivation.

Which training belt should you choose? Recommendations based on home training style

People for whom a nylon belt is suitable

• Those who have just started home training (less than 1 year)

• Your main exercises are dumbbell presses, and you focus on bodyweight or light dumbbells

• You want to start by experiencing intra-abdominal pressure

• You want to keep costs down

For people like this, a nylon belt is perfectly fine to start with. I personally believe that it was because I had a nylon belt phase that I was able to learn how to create intra-abdominal pressure.

Nylon belts are also highly effective. The most important thing is to start using a belt.

ALLOUT also sells affordable nylon belts, which I recommend.

Who genuine leather belts are for

• You have been working out at home for over 1-2 years and your weights are increasing

• You are doing squat and deadlift-style exercises

• You have started using dumbbells over 25kg

• You want to apply more solid intra-abdominal pressure

• You want to invest in gear that will last a long time

For people like this, you should be able to clearly feel the difference with genuine leather.

I recommend this genuine leather model from ALLOUT, which I also purchased 👇

What actually changed after switching to genuine leather

The stability during heavy Bulgarian split squats changed significantly

This was the most noticeable change.

Since you can't carry a barbell for home workouts, Bulgarian split squats with dumbbells become the main leg exercise.

When I used nylon, I felt like my body was a bit unstable when using over 15kg per hand. It felt like I was barely holding on to prevent my lower back from rounding.

Since switching to genuine leather, that 'feeling of straining' has significantly diminished. My lower back feels solidly stable, allowing me to focus on my legs.

I feel like my form has improved, even with the same weight.

The sensation of 'this is where intra-abdominal pressure comes from' has become much clearer

I thought I was generating enough intra-abdominal pressure with nylon, too. But after trying genuine leather, I realized, 'There was room to generate even more pressure.'

By pushing my abdomen against the stiffness of the genuine leather, the sensation of firmly increasing pressure from inside the abdominal cavity became clearer than before. It feels like I can now clearly distinguish between the state of 'having intra-abdominal pressure' and 'not having it.'

Increased psychological sense of security when pushing to failure

This was also surprisingly important.

The sense of security that 'what is protecting my lower back is more solid than before' removes the mental brakes when pushing to failure.
Especially when aiming for new personal bests, this difference gradually becomes apparent.

Common Questions About Training Belts

I have summarized the necessity of belts for home workouts in a Q&A format.

Q. Are belts necessary for home workouts?

Yes, they are. In fact, I believe they are even more necessary precisely because you are managing your own home workouts.

At a gym, trainers or veteran trainees might check your form, but you don't have that at home. Because of that,the belt acts as a guide for your form.

Q. When should I start using a belt?

The general guideline is 'once you start handling weights that feel heavy,' but in my experience, the sooner, the better. Once you start using one, you can learn the sensation of intra-abdominal pressure faster, which helps you refine the ability to generate high output safely while keeping your core stable.

Q. Can beginners start with a genuine leather type right away?

Absolutely. However, for beginners, the top priority is learning the 'sensation of intra-abdominal pressure.' Since the convenience of nylon often makes it easier to stick with, it is practical to start with nylon if you are unsure.

Summary | Choose Between Nylon or Genuine Leather Based on Your Current Stage

People for whom nylon is sufficient: Home workout beginners, those focusing on light to medium weights, and those who first want to experience intra-abdominal pressure.

People for whom genuine leather is suitable: Those whose weights are increasing, those doing squats and deadlifts, and those who want to strengthen their sense of intra-abdominal pressure.

There is no single right answer, and you can just choose based on which one suits your current level.

I followed the path of using nylon for over 5 years before switching to genuine leather, and I think that was the right way to go (though the nylon phase was a bit too long). It was precisely because I learned the basics of abdominal pressure with nylon that I could appreciate the difference when I switched to genuine leather.

If you are unsure, start with nylon. Once your lifting weight increases, move on to genuine leather.

This is my answer after 8 years of home training.

If you are going to buy a belt now, I recommend the belts from my favorite brand, ALLOUT, as they offer a great balance of price and quality. The reviews are also excellent.

[Nylon Belt]

[Genuine Leather Belt] *The one I purchased this time

I hope this helps nudge those of you who are struggling with choosing a belt.

Thank you for reading until the end this time as well!

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