Performing belt squats rather than traditional back squats / front squats / Zercher squats can be beneficial for a wide range of reasons. Athletes dealing with regular back pain or struggling with spinal compression from axial loading can circumvent those issues by putting the lion’s share of the load on the hips and legs. Similarly, anyone rehabbing from an upper body injury (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, etc.) can still get in their lower body work without having to worry about supporting a barbell.

Belt Squats provide traction to the spine, help add substantial volume to the legs, and offer versatility for other types of training, from calf raises to rows, shrugs, and deadlifts.