What Equipment Do I Need For Powerlifting?

*I am in no way affiliated with each of these brands. This is solely based off of my experience and the experience of my lifters.

What equipment do I need for powerlifting? This is one of the most common questions I get asked as a coach. In this article we will be looking at this question through the context of raw powerlifting in the USAPL federation. I will not be discussing what kind of gym equipment is needed (barbell, plates, platform, bench, and rack or stands) but rather what gear is needed for optimizing your lifts. The short answer to this question is you don't absolutely NEED anything if your just looking to train as a hobby and not compete. If that is the case, stop reading this article and get your butt in the gym. However, this article is being written in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and you cannot go to the gym, so you might as well continue to read.

What is raw powerlifting? There are many misconceptions here for noob lifters. There are two main categories when signing up for a competition. Equipped and raw. Equipped lifting is a whole different beast that we will not be diving into today, so don't worry about that.

According to the USAPL Lifters Hand Book, raw lifting can be defined as using only the following gear:

• non-supportive singlet and shirt (required)
• briefs (required)
• socks (required)
• belt (not required)
• shoes (required)
• commercial wrist wraps (not required)
• knee sleeves (not required)

Many new lifters believe that raw means they cannot wear any gear, but this is not the case. Although all of the previous gear we've mentioned is allowed,  the use of a belt, wrist wraps and knee sleeves is optional. I am going to go through each category of gear and give some basic guidelines needed for competition and some links to different options. If you would like a more detailed guide, here is the link to the USAPL lifters handbook. The handbook is a great resource that every lifter/coach should read through. It not only outlines the gear requirements but goes through rules and regulations for competition, banned substances, etc. 

*Keep in mind, some local meets are a little looser on equipment regulations. At nationals, equipment from an IPF approved manufacturer is required. I will include one non IPF approved recommendation with a few categories for those not looking to compete or compete only at the local level.

**If you are only powerlifting for recreational purposes, you will not need a singlet nor do you need to worry about your briefs. With that being said, you should invest in some decent underwear. I had a lifter recently rip his boxers going into the hole during a squat. 

Non Supportive Singlet
Why? Singlets are tight fitting and allow the judges to better see your movements. It is also hard to hide anything against the rules under a singlet. If you do not plan on competing, you will not need one.
Guidelines:

•  The singlet must be made of one-ply stretch material without any patches or padding.
• Zero alterations can be made to the singlet. 

IPF Approved Singlet Recommendations:
SBD , Titan , and Inzer.

T-Shirt:
Guidelines:

• T-shirts must be made of cotton or polyester, and can be a cotton / polyester mix. 
• It must be short sleeved but needs to go past the deltoid.
• Must be blank, or can include a symbol of the lifter's nation, federation, or sponsor. If it has a team logo, it must be an approved club. 
• Cannot be a crop top.
• T-shirt must be worn during all three lifts. 

Briefs:
Guidelines:

• Athletic supporter or commercial briefs with any mixture of cotton, nylon, or polyester.
• Women can wear a commercial or sports bra.
• No spandex or rubberized material.

Socks:
Why? We don't want you to bleed all over the bar.
Guidelines:

• Shin length socks must be worn during the deadlift.
• You can express yourself here. They just can't be offensive.

Belt
Why? Belts can increase performance through bracing. May also decrease injury risk.
Guidelines:

• Can be made of leather or vinyl.
• Can be one prong, two prong, or lever. No velcro.
• Max width of 10 cm, and max thickness of 13 mm.

IPF Approved Belt Recommendations:
Inzer 10 mm or 13 mm not tapered, Strength Shop, SBD, and Lifting Large.
Non IPF Approved Belt Recommendation:
​HHR

Shoes
Why? Squat shoes can help with poor ankle mobility and may help with depth when squatting. They also may help you get into a better position during the bench press. Flats or slippers may give you a more balanced squat. Slippers are as flat as you can get and stick to the platform when deadlifting. It all comes down to personal preference and what works best for the individual. 
Guidelines:

• ​Squat/Weightlifting shoes, chucks, vans, deadlift slippers, or wrestling shoes.
• Heel cannot be higher than 5 cm.

You may have up to three different shoes in your arsenal. Depending on your style, you need to choose which kind of shoe feels the best for each lift. 
IPF Approved Shoe Recommendations:

• Squat 
  • Heels - Adipower / Powerlift or Nike Romaleos.
  • Flats - Chucks, Vans, Adidas Wrestling Shoes (Shoutout to Joey Flexx).
  • Slippers - Notorious Lift, A7, or Lifting Large.
• Bench Press
  • Heels - Adipower / Powerlift or Nike Romaleos.
  • Flats - Chucks, Vans, or Adidas Wrestling Shoes.
  • Slippers - Notorious Lift, A7, or Lifting Large.
• Deadlift
  • Flats -  Adidas Wrestling Shoes.
  • Slippers - Notorious Lift, A7, or Lifting Large.

Wrist Wraps
Why? Provide more support to the wrist and can help with grip.
Guidelines:

• No longer than 1 meter / no wider than 8 cm.
• Cannot put the thumb through the loop.
• Single ply.

IPF Approved Wrist Wrap Recommendations:
Inzer, Titan, and SBD.

Knee Sleeves
Why? Compression from the sleeves will increase blood flow, you'll stay warm longer, may help with recovery, and you'll get a little stronger stretch reflex out of the hole when squatting.
Guidelines:

• Less than 30 cm in length and 7mm or less in thickness
• Cannot touch the singlet

IPF Approved Knee Sleeve Recommendations:
SBD and Stoic.

I hope this was helpful to you as it will serve as a reference for my new lifters. All of this information is from the USAPL Lifters Handbook. Remember, you don't need all of these recommendations to lift, but you will need them to compete. Please leave any additional questions in the comment box and feel free to reach out for any other powerlifting advice.