The Ultimate Guide to Powerlifting
July 7, 2020
Lifters will not be allowed to use a piece of equipment that’s not approved by the respective federation.
IPF/USAPL constitution and By-laws state that “Failure to use an IPF/USAPL approved equipment...Any World record broken by the lifters at the competition will not be accepted.”
regardless whether the actual piece of the equipment actually meets the standards of the IPF/USAPL federation, equipment needs to be on the approved list for your lifts to be valid and recognized by the organization.
This list will cover IPF/USAPL approved equipment you can use in both raw (classic) and equipped divisions and in any weight class.
This list is valid from Jan. 2019 until 31st Dec. 2022.
The list has been updated on 8th Jul. 2020.
IPF/USAPL Approved Belts
(Classic and Equipped)
Nine times out of ten people will purchase a lifting belt as their first piece of equipment. In powerlifting, a good, solid belt is fundamental to your success in breaking those PR’s.
I’ve been using Inzer Forever 10MM lever belt myself, its reputation is undeniable, and with overwhelmingly positive reviews, it's definitely a safe bet to get one for yourself.
Check it out here.
If you're not a huge fan of level belts, Inzer also offers an alternative single-prong variation.
All other IPF/USAPL approved are listed in a table below
IPF/USAPL Approved Wrist Wraps List
(Classic and Equipped)
Wrist wraps can not exceed the width of 8cm and the length of 1m (100cm) Depending on the manufacturer you can specify the length and flexibility of the wrist wraps. Wrist wraps can usually go anywhere from 40cm in length up to 1m (100cm) and the flexibility can range from stiff to more flexible, while the width has to stay at 8cm.
I've been using Titan's Red Devil wrist wraps, even though they are on the cheaper end of the spectrum, they provide excellent support whether you use them on a squat or bench press and they also last a long time. For such a low price, you can't get a better deal.
Check them out here.
For any other needs you might have, check out the full table below.
IPF/USAPL Approved Knee Sleeves List
(Classic & Equipped)
With so many different kinds and brands of knee sleeves on the market, how do you choose the right ones for you? Usually, the way to go is by your budget and looking up different reviews.
However if you don’t mind spending a high dollar for a safe bet then, SBD or Mark Bell’s super training sleeves are the way to go, as a cheaper alternative you can take a look at Strength Shop knee sleeves.
Check them out here.
| Brand | $ | $$ | $$$ | US | EU | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBD | SBD Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Titan | Neoprene Knee Sleeves | Yellow Jacket Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | ||
| Eleiko | Eleiko Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Rogue | Rogue 7mm Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Stoic | Stoic Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Rehband | RX Original Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | Shop | ||
| A7 | Black Cone Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Unbroken Designs | Mens Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Womens Knee Sleeves | ||||||
| Inzer | Knee Sleeves XT | Shop | Shop | Shop | ||
| Iron Tanks | Iron Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Oni | Bukiya Oni Knee Sleeves | Oni Knee Sleeves XX | Shop | Shop | ||
| Strength Shop | Strength Shop Inferno Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | |||
| Super Training | Mark Bell's Knee Sleeves 2.0 | Strong Knee Sleeves | Shop | Shop | Shop | |
| Sling Shot Sport Knee Sleeves | Grippy X Sleeves |
IPF/USAPL Approved Knee Wraps
(Equipped)
IPF/USAPL rules state that knee wraps can not exceed 2 meters in length.
Knee wraps can not be used in a Classic and are only allowed in an equipped division of the competition.
As with the knee sleeves, there are also many knee wraps available to you for the use in a competition. Depending on your wants and needs, you might want to go with either more flexible or very stiff ones.
In general, TItan is definitely a safe bet if you’re having trouble deciding and it's very budget friendly.
Check it out here
| Brand | $ | $$ | $$$ | US | EU | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBD | SBD Knee Wraps | Shop | Shop | |||
| Eleiko | Eleiko Knee Wraps | Shop | Shop | |||
| Titan | Red Devil Knee Wraps | Signature Gold Knee Wraps | Shop | Shop | Shop | |
| THP Knee Wraps | ||||||
| Titanium Knee Wraps | ||||||
| Inzer | Iron Wraps Z | True Black Wraps | Gripper Knee Wraps | Shop | Shop | Shop |
| Black Beauty Knee Wraps | ||||||
| Atomic Knee Wraps | ||||||
| Super Training | Sling Shot Knee Wraps | Shop | Shop | Shop | ||
| STrong Knee Wraps | ||||||
| Gangsta Knee Wraps |
IPF/USAPL Approved Squat Suits
(Equipped)
If you’re looking to move some really heavy weight, below you’ll find squat suits that are IPF/USAPL approved.
| Brand | $ | $$ | $$$ | US | EU | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titan | Superior Squat Suit | Spartan Squat Suit | Centurion Squat Suit | Shop | Shop | Shop |
| Super Centurion Suit | ||||||
| Inzer | Z-Suit | Hard Core Suit | TRX | Shop | Shop |
IPF/USAPL Approved Bench Shirts
(Equipped)
Below are bench shirts that are on the IPF/USAPL approved list. IPF/USAPL only allows single ply bench shirts in an equipped competition.
IPF/USAPL Approved Deadlift Suits
(Equipped)
Below are listed deadlift suits you can use in a IPF/USAPL competition.
| Brand | $ | $$ | $$$ | US | EU | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inzer | Max DL Suit | Shop | Shop | |||
| Fusion DL Suit | ||||||
| Titan | Velocity Deadlift Suit | Shop | Shop | Shop |
IPF/USAPL Approved Singlets
(Classic and Equipped)
Whether you compete in a raw or equipped division, you’ll need a singlet. I like to keep things fairly simple, and my recommendation is Strength Shop Powerlifting SInglet.
Check it out here.
| Brand | $ | $$ | $$$ | US | EU | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBD | SBD Singlet | Shop | Shop | |||
| Inzer | Lifting Singlet | Power Singlet | Shop | Shop | Shop | |
| Titan | Classic Color Singlet | Shop | Shop | Shop | ||
| Eleiko | Raise Lifting Suit | Shop | ||||
| Strength Shop | Strength Shop Powerlifting Singlet | Shop | Shop | |||
| Unbroken Designs | Stars and Stripes Singlet | Shop | Shop | Shop | ||
| Stoic | Stoic Singlet | Shop | Shop | |||
| Super Training | Classic STrong Singlet | Shop | Shop | |||
| Beast Genetics | Beast Genetics Singlet | Shop | Shop | |||
| ONI | Bukiya Oni Singlet | Shop | Shop |
