I touched on this in the Deadlift YouTube video I published earlier today and don’t usually repeat anything from those videos, but it’s so important that it bears emphasizing! If you are performing any exercise that places load on the spine (esp. the deadlift, squat, power clean, snatch), particularly if you’re using anything heavier than 50% of your 1 rep max, you NEED to be using a lifting belt!!
Countless studies have proven that not only does it support and protect your spine, drastically reducing the risk of injury… but it also allows you to lift more weight with less perceived exertion and improves every aspect of deadlift kinematics.
You have a lot to GAIN by using one, and a lot to LOSE by not using one!!
Relevant Research Articles:
1) The influence of weightlifting belts and wrist straps on deadlift kinematics, time to complete a deadlift and rating of perceived exertion in male recreational weightlifters: An observational study
2) The effectiveness of weight-belts during multiple repetitions of the squat exercise
Dr. Gains 
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