The Importance of Using the Correct Equipment When Competing in Strongman or Powerlifting

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The Importance of Using the Correct Equipment When Competing in Strongman or Powerlifting

When stepping onto the platform in powerlifting or entering the arena in strongman, athletes are tested not only on their raw strength but also on their preparation, technique, and choice of equipment. Whilst natural ability and countless hours of training form the foundation of success in these demanding sports, the equipment an athlete uses can be the decisive factor between a personal record and a failed lift, or even worse, a serious injury. Understanding and utilising the correct equipment is not merely about adhering to competition rules—it is about optimising performance, ensuring safety, and respecting the integrity of these strength sports.

1. Safety: The Primary Consideration

According to Team Industry, appropriate equipment is an important safety consideration in strongman and powerlifting. These sports can involve extremely heavy loads that place substantial demands on the body, making proper equipment, technique, and training important for reducing the risk of injury.

In powerlifting, approved lifting belts provide crucial support to the lower back and core during maximum effort squats and deadlifts. These belts, typically 10-13mm thick and made from leather or approved synthetic materials, increase intra-abdominal pressure, effectively creating a natural weightlifting belt from the athlete’s own musculature. This biomechanical advantage stabilises the spine under extreme loads. Similarly, knee sleeves or wraps offer joint support, preventing hyperextension and providing proprioceptive feedback that helps athletes maintain proper form.

Strongman presents additional safety considerations due to the diverse nature of its implements. Atlas stones require tacky—a sticky substance applied to the forearms and hands—to maintain grip on the smooth, heavy spheres. Without tacky, stones can slip catastrophically, potentially crushing feet or causing the athlete to tear muscles whilst attempting to maintain control. Loading equipment like stone platforms and yoke frames must meet specific structural standards to withstand the tremendous forces applied during events. When competitors carry 400kg on a yoke or flip a 500kg tyre, substandard equipment can fail with devastating consequences.

2. Performance Optimisation

Beyond safety, the correct equipment directly enhances athletic performance. In sports where a single kilogramme or one second can separate first place from fourth, these marginal gains become absolutely critical.

Powerlifting suits and shirts, legal in equipped divisions, can add significant weight to an athlete’s total. A well-fitted squat suit, made from rigid denim or polyester, provides elastic energy during the eccentric (downward) phase of the squat, assisting the lifter in the challenging bottom position. Similarly, bench press shirts can add anywhere from 20 to 100kg to a lifter’s press, depending on skill level and equipment quality. However, these advantages only materialise when using approved equipment that fits correctly. An ill-fitting suit not only fails to provide optimal support but can also throw off an athlete’s groove, potentially leading to missed lifts.

In raw powerlifting divisions, where supportive suits are prohibited, the choice of singlet, belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps still matters considerably. Competition-approved knee sleeves must meet specific thickness requirements whilst providing sufficient support and proprioception. Premium sleeves maintain compression throughout the lift without sliding down, ensuring consistent performance across all three attempts.

For strongman athletes, equipment choice is even more varied and event-specific. Tacky formulations differ in stickiness and temperature sensitivity—what works brilliantly in cool conditions may become too viscous in heat. Loading straps for deadlift events must be the correct length and material to suit an athlete’s grip width and technique. Even the choice of strongman belt—often wider at the back than powerlifting belts—can affect performance on events requiring more dynamic movement patterns.

3. Competition Compliance and Fairness

Every sanctioned powerlifting federation and strongman organisation maintains strict equipment regulations. These rules exist to standardise competition, ensuring athletes compete on a level playing field. Using non-approved equipment can result in disqualification, turning months of preparation into wasted effort.

In powerlifting, organisations such as the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), British Powerlifting, and various other federations maintain approved equipment lists. Everything from the manufacturer of your wrist wraps to the specific model of your lifting belt must appear on these lists. The regulations specify maximum dimensions, materials, and construction methods. For instance, wrist wraps cannot exceed 1 metre in length, and knee sleeves must not be thicker than 7mm in IPF competition. Athletes who arrive at competitions with non-compliant equipment face the stressful situation of either borrowing approved alternatives or competing without equipment they’ve trained with for months.

Strongman competitions, whilst perhaps slightly less rigid in equipment specifications for personal gear, maintain strict standards for the implements themselves. Atlas stones must weigh precisely as advertised, yokes must be measured accurately, and loading platforms must be regulation height. When competitions feature equipment that doesn’t meet standards, the integrity of the sport suffers, and records become meaningless.

4. The Training Transfer Principle

A frequently overlooked aspect of equipment use concerns the principle of specificity in training and personal training. Athletes must train with the equipment they intend to use in competition, as performance adaptations are highly specific to the conditions under which they’re developed.

A powerlifter who trains with a soft, flexible belt all year cannot expect to perform optimally when switching to a rigid 13mm lever belt for competition. The pressure distribution differs, the bracing technique changes, and the feedback from the equipment varies considerably. Similarly, a strongman athlete who practises stone loading without tacky will struggle to replicate their training performance when tacky is finally applied in competition—the grip feels different, the stone moves differently, and technique adjustments become necessary under competition pressure.

This principle extends to smaller items as well. The type of chalk used, the brand of knee sleeves, even the style of singlet can all affect performance if they differ significantly from training conditions. Elite athletes understand this and ensure their training environment replicates competition conditions as closely as possible, including equipment choices.

5. Economic Considerations and Investment

Quality competition equipment represents a significant financial investment, but this cost must be weighed against the alternatives. Substandard equipment may be cheaper initially, but it often proves a false economy.

Approved competition equipment undergoes rigorous testing and quality control, ensuring durability and consistent performance. A premium leather powerlifting belt, whilst expensive, can last an athlete’s entire career. Conversely, cheap alternatives frequently fail prematurely, requiring replacement and potentially causing injury through structural failure. For serious competitors, equipment should be viewed as essential tools of the trade—investments in their athletic success rather than mere accessories.

Furthermore, becoming familiar with competition-standard equipment early in one’s athletic journey prevents the costly mistake of building technique around non-compliant gear. Relearning movement patterns to accommodate different equipment wastes valuable training time and can temporarily decrease performance whilst adaptation occurs.

6. Conclusion

The importance of using correct equipment in strongman and powerlifting cannot be overstated. From the fundamental imperative of safety to the pursuit of marginal performance gains, from competition compliance to training specificity, equipment choices profoundly impact every aspect of these sports. Whilst raw strength and dedicated training remain the cornerstones of success, they must be supported by intelligent equipment selection.

Athletes who invest time researching federation requirements, budget appropriately for quality approved equipment, and train consistently with their competition gear position themselves for success. In sports where years of effort culminate in brief moments of maximum exertion, ensuring that every variable—including equipment—works in your favour is not perfectionism; it is simply the mark of a serious competitor. The platform respects preparation, and proper equipment is an integral component of that preparation.