We may earn a commission from links on this page.If you’re serious about lifting barbells, sooner or later you’re probably going to want a belt. Belts don’t prevent injury as people sometimes assume, but they do help you to lift more weight. This helps you to squat and deadlift heavier—thus get stronger—so they’re standard equipment for a lot of strong people. We have a guide here to understanding what belts are for, how they work, and who needs them. But once you get the basic idea, you’ll need to pick out the belt that's right for you. I have opinions, so let me show you my favorite types and give some recommendations for specific brands and models. By the way, if you want the short answer as to which belt I, your resident expert, wear: my trusty leather belt is a Pioneer cut with offset holes, 3 inches wide, 10 millimeters thick, in maroon suede. I've had it for six years now and it's still going strong. I also own a velcro belt from 2Pood, 4 inches wide, plain black. I don't wear it much anymore because the velcro is starting to wear out, but I got it signed by Kate Vibert just after she won silver in the 2020 Olympics, so I'm never throwing it out. Who should buy a weightlifting beltBelts are useful for heavy lifts where you have to brace your core strongly to handle big weights. You don't need a belt to do bicep curls or aerobics. You probably do want a belt if your routine includes barbell squats, deadlifts, Romanian deadlifts ("RDLs"), snatches, cleans, jerks, and presses. Bench press doesn't usually call for a belt, but that's a matter of preference. Every coach has their own opinion on when is the right time for a new trainee to buy a belt. Some might want to see you lift a certain weight first, or demonstrate a certain amount of skill at the big lifts. But the truth is, there’s no agreed-upon dividing line between people who need a belt and people who don’t. A belt is a tool that anybody can use, at any point in their lifting career. It doesn’t make up for not knowing how to brace, so it makes sense to learn how to brace first. But a belt can help you learn how to brace, since you can feel your belly pushing against the belt when you’re doing it right.In my opinion, if you’re wondering whether you should get a belt, it’s probably time to get a belt. A lot of the good leather ones need to be ordered online, and some have a lead time of several weeks, so you might not actually get the belt until a month or two after you decide you’re ready—in other words, you may want to order your belt sooner rather than later.The best first belt for most people: a 4-inch velcro belt a 4" 2Pood velcro belt Credit: Beth Skwarecki First, there’s the 4-inch velcro belt. I’m starting here because it’s a good all-purpose belt, cheaper than the leather ones we’re about to talk about, and it’s arguably easier to adjust and wear, too. Mine is from 2Pood, which is a popular brand among Olympic weightlifters and Crossfitters. These belts are 4 inches wide, they close with a velcro strap, and they have a locking mechanism around the strap so that it won’t pop open even if the velcro fails mid-lift. You don't need to be a weightlifter or Crossfitter to use these, though. They're great for regular squats and deadlifts. This is the locking mechanism. Credit: Beth Skwarecki The locking mechanism is essential, in my opinion, since the velcro will wear out over time. (Mine lasted about three years.) It's really just a little vertical bar in the middle of the buckle. You put the strap in on one side of the bar and bring it back out the other. If the velcro fails, the strap will be able to slowly work loose, but it won't suddenly fall off. Most good belt brands will include a buckle of this type. Velcro belts will generally run you between $30 and $70, depending on the brand and any special features, like custom colors. Weightlifters' favorite, and it comes in sequin options 2POOD 4-inch Weightlifting Belt $64.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $64.99 at Amazon Budget option ProFitness 4-inch Weightlifting Belt $26.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $26.95 at Amazon A solid, basic belt Gymreapers 4-inch Weightlifting Belt $34.97 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $34.97 at Amazon SEE 0 MORE My personal favorite belt: a leather single-prong belt Credit: Beth Skwarecki These look like a comically large version of a regular belt you'd wear to hold up your pants. They're typically four inches wide (sometimes just three), and made of a thick leather that is usually either 10 or 13 millimeters. The buckle is enormous to match. (When I got my first belt in the mail, I laughed. I couldn’t imagine wearing it out in public. But now I just see it as a normal piece of gym equipment.) These belts are the same width all the way around. I wouldn't bother with tapered belts (thinner in the front), but I have more thoughts on those below. Between the 10 and 13 millimeter thicknesses, most people will be happier with 10 millimeter. It's a bit more comfortable, and provides plenty of support. I'd say 13 is overkill for most people, certainly most beginners. But feel free to try both. I love this little sliding prong that lets me use either row of holes. Credit: Beth Skwarecki My leather buckle belt is a Pioneer cut with offset holes. This way, instead of choosing between two holes that are an inch apart, I can adjust the belt in 1/2-inch increments. Mine is three inches wide, which I find a little more comfortable for deadlifts, but honestly I probably would have been fine with a 4" belt too. Adjustable with half-inch hole spacing LiftingLarge Leather Powerlifting Belt $149.80 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $149.80 at Amazon The classic Inzer Leather Buckle Belt $139.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $139.95 at Amazon A solid budget buy Steel Sweat Leather Weightlifting Belt $59.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $59.95 at Amazon SEE 0 MORE Popular among powerlifters: a leather lever belt This is an adjustable lever belt, but the non-adjustables look very similar. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Instead of a buckle, you may prefer a lever belt. Instead of placing a buckle prong through the hole of your choice when you put it on, you use a screwdriver to install the lever into the appropriate hole in the belt. Then you simply close the lever to lock it closed, and pop it open when you’re ready to take the belt off. The “pop” can be satisfying after a big lift—see this clip of Jessica Buettner for an example. (I do not have a lever belt. I am slightly jealous of people who do.) You use these screw holes to change the position of the lever. Both adjustable and non-adjustable lever belts have this feature. Credit: Beth Skwarecki These belts are available in the same common sizes as the good single-prong belts: 3 or 4 inches wide, 10 mm or 13 mm thick. Pioneer, the same company that makes my adjustable prong belt, also sells an adjustable lever that gives you a little bit of room to fasten the belt tighter or looser without having to take the lever off with a screwdriver. (Pioneer isn’t paying me to shill for them, I just happen to like their adjustable designs.) For an example of a non-adjustable, Inzer’s Forever lever is a popular and durable design. Good quality leather belts, both prong and lever, cost more than velcro. $100 to $150 would be a typical price range, with the thicker belts usually being more expensive. (Again, custom colors and designs will run you a bit more.) Inzer Lever Weightlifting Belt $139.94 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $139.94 at Amazon Easy adjusting Pioneer Lever Weightlifting Belt $199.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $199.00 at Amazon The adjustable lever by itself (attach to your old lever belt) Pioneer Adjustable Lever (PAL) (Silver) $90.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $90.00 at Amazon SEE 0 MORE How to buy the right sizeYour waist measurement will tell you the length of belt you should order; refer to the sizing chart on the belt company’s website to find the right size. If you’re between sizes, consider whether you’re likely to get bigger or smaller over time. For example, if you know you’ll be losing weight, you may want a belt that will still fit if you get a bit slimmer. On the other hand, it’s normal to gain muscle mass as you get stronger, and you may want to have the room to get bigger without having to buy a whole new belt. When it comes to the width, four inches is standard. (The maximum width allowable in competition is usually 4 inches for powerlifting and 12 centimeters, or 4.7 inches, in Olympic weightlifting.) The advice I got when I was a beginner is that almost everybody likes a 4-inch belt for squatting, but that some people prefer a 3-inch belt for deadlifts. I ended up getting my leather belt in a 3-inch size, and it fits well for both lifts. Some people prefer a 4-inch belt for both lifts, but wear it higher on their waist for deadlifts. If you’re not sure, see if you can borrow someone's 4-inch belt to try on. The next thing to decide, if you’re buying a leather belt, is whether to get your belt in a thickness of 10 millimeters or 13 millimeters. If in doubt, get the 10 mm. Thirteen is very thick, and many people find it makes the belt uncomfortably stiff, especially at the edges. If you are a large person and already very strong, you might need the 13 mm. But in that case, you will probably come to that conclusion through experience over time. If you’re reading this, that’s probably not you, and you want the 10 millimeter.My top picks for each type of belt: Velcro locking belt: 2Pood straight weightlifting beltLeather single-prong: Pioneer Cut 10 mmLeather lever: Inzer Forever lever 10 mmWhich kind of weightlifting belts to avoidSo are there belts you shouldn’t buy? Arguably, yes: Double prong belts are fussier to open and close, and they aren't any stronger than single prong. If you want a buckle, most people will be happier with the single prong kind.Velcro belts without a lock can pop open mid-lift. Look for one that has a locking mechanism that holds the strap in place, like those from 2Pood or Gymreapers.Tapered belts, with a wide back and a narrow front, used to be popular among Olympic weightlifters. They aren’t used as much anymore, though; velcro belts have largely replaced them. Most tapered belts you’ll see online are lower quality ones aimed at people just trying to look cool in the gym. Fine as a fashion choice, but they wouldn’t be my first pick. That said, if you already have one, might as well use it. It will be fine. Really cheap weightlifting belts (like the $20 ones you might find on Amazon) won’t last as long and might not perform as well, but they honestly aren’t terrible. If you aren’t sure whether you need a belt at all, I wouldn’t blame you for buying the cheap thing first and upgrading later.With that information, you should be well equipped to buy a belt that meets your needs. A locking velcro belt or a 10 millimeter straight leather belt, depending on your preference, will be best for most people. Now, whether you want a plain black belt or a custom sequin design, that’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself.

In a decision almost certainly informed by the recent tariff chaos, NVIDIA is going to start making some of its AI chips and supercomputers in the US. The company announced that it's building and testing its Blackwell chips in Arizona and it plans to manufacture its AI supercomputers — presumably the recently announced DGX Spark and DGX Station — in Texas. NVIDIA says TSMC is already making Blackwell chips in Phoenix, Arizona and the company is partnering with Amkor and SPIL for testing and packaging. In Texas, the company's supercomputers will be made by Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas. "Mass production at both plants is expected to ramp up in the next 12-15 months," NVIDIA says. It's not entirely clear which version of NVIDIA's Blackwell chips TSMC will actually be building, but the chip maker plans to be equipped to handle a wide variety of manufacturing for US tech companies, including Apple and Qualcomm. TSMC received $6.6 billion in funding from the CHIPS Act under the Biden administration and committed to spending an additional $100 billion to expand its US operations in March. NVIDIA has benefitted most directly from the current AI boom, and stood to be harshly impacted by the latest round of tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. As of April 11, some of those tariffs have been "paused" for computers and chips, saving companies like NVIDIA from some financial strife, but moving some manufacturing to the US is a much more permanent way to avoid the ongoing trade war.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/nvidia-is-going-to-make-ai-chips-and-supercomputers-in-the-us-213534618.html?src=rss

AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics card specs and pricing have leaked - but is it good news for PC gamers on a budget?

President Donald Trump said on Monday that "he helped Tim Cook," after his administration late Friday exempted tariffs on phones.

President Donald Trump on Monday suggested that he might temporarily exempt the auto industry from tariffs he previously imposed on the sector, to give carmakers time to adjust their supply chains. “I’m looking at something to help some of the car companies with it,” Trump told reporters gathered in the Oval Office. The Republican president said automakers needed time to relocate production from Canada, Mexico and other places. “And they need a little bit of time because they’re going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time. So I’m talking about things like that.” The statement hinted at yet another round of reversals on tariffs as Trump’s onslaught of import taxes has panicked financial markets and raised deep concerns from Wall Street economists about a possible recession. When Trump announced the 25% auto tariffs on March 27, he described them as “permanent.” His hard lines on trade have become increasingly blurred as he has sought to limit the possible economic and political blowback from his policies. Last week, after a bond market sell-off pushed up interest rates on U.S. debt, Trump announced that for 90 days his broader tariffs against dozens of countries would instead be set at a baseline 10% to give time for negotiations. At the same time, Trump increased the import taxes on China to 145%, only to temporarily exempt electronics from some of those tariffs by having those goods charged at a 20% rate. “I don’t change my mind, but I’m flexible,” Trump said Monday. Trump’s flexibility has also fueled a sense of uncertainty and confusion about his intentions and end goals. The S&P 500 stock index was up slightly in Monday afternoon trading, but it’s still down nearly 9% this year. Interest rates on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes were also elevated at roughly 4.4%. Carl Tannenbaum, chief economist for the Northern Trust global financial firm, said the whiplash had been so great that he might have to “get fitted for a neck brace.” Tannenbaum warned in an analysis: “Damage to consumer, business, and market confidence may already be irreversible.” Maroš Šefčovič, the European commissioner for trade and economic security, posted on X on Monday that on behalf of the European Union he engaged in trade negotiations with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. “The EU remains constructive and ready for a fair deal — including reciprocity through our 0-for-0 tariff offer on industrial goods and the work on non-tariff barriers,” Šefčovič said. The U.S. president also said that he spoke with Apple CEO Tim Cook and “helped” him recently. Many Apple products, including its popular iPhone, are assembled in China. Apple didn’t respond to a Monday request for comment about the latest swings in the Trump administration’s tariff pendulum. Even if the exemptions granted on electronics last week turn out to be short-lived, the temporary reprieve gives Apple some breathing room to figure out ways to minimize the trade war’s impact on its iPhone sales in the U.S. That prospect helped lift Apple’s stock price by about 3% during Monday’s afternoon trading. Still, the stock gave up some of its earlier 7% increase as investors processed the possibility that the iPhone could still be jolted by more tariffs on Chinese-made products in the weeks ahead. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said Apple is clearly in a far better position than it was a week ago, but he warned there’s still “mass uncertainty, chaos, and confusion about the next steps ahead.” One possible workaround Apple may be examining during the current tariff reprieve is how to shift even more of its iPhone production from its longtime hubs in China to India, where it began expanding its manufacturing while Trump waged a trade war during his first term as president. The Trump administration has suggested that its tariffs had isolated China as the U.S. engaged in talks with other countries. But China is also seeking to build tighter relationships in Asia with nations stung by Trump’s tariffs. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, on Monday met in Hanoi with Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary To Lam with the message that no one wins in trade wars. Asked about the meeting, Trump suggested the two nations were conspiring to do economic harm to the U.S. by “trying to figure out how do we screw the United States of America.” —Josh Boak and Michael Liedtke, Associated Press

Do you leave a trail of orange fingerprints on your phone screen when scrolling mid-snack, or have to deliberately turn book pages with the Pinky, avoiding Cheetos-dusted fingers from leaving that orange patch on paper? Cheetos Pants could be the answer to the problem you never thought existed, because washing your hands is so last season. Just wipe your hands on the trousers and get going. The idea is a massive hit, proven by the fact that the pants sold out faster than you can finish a packet of Cheetos. Designed to enhance your snackability, the orange Cheetos pants are made with a special towel-like patch over the pockets on either side, where you can wipe your fingertips without leaving a trace. The pant is so truly matched with the color of these corn-cheese puffs that you can easily dunk your fingers in the bag of Cheetos, eat, wipe the dust on your thighs, and continue binge-watching the reels – all without leaving an orange trail on the phone. If you have some left over in the bag, you can fold and deposit it into a special side pocket made especially for it. Designer: Cheetos Launched on April 7, a week after the Fool’s Day, to avoid being mistaken for a prank, the Cheetos Pants sold out within days. But there’s still an option for you and me, if we want to take it (more on that later). Designed for Cheetos fans without easy access to tissues or a faucet (or simply lacking the urge to get up and clean their hands), the pants offer a solution: wipe those fingertips with cheesy crumbs directly on them so that you can save your couch cushions and game controllers from orange stains. As mentioned, the peculiarity is that the pant is so perfectly matched to the exact shade of iconic orange Cheetos dust that no matter how much you wipe, no one will ever know. This is possible with the towel-like material patch on a pair of cotton pants: A perfect rubaway for your Cheetle-covered fingertips. Released with the motto “Pants stand out, Cheetos blends in,” it is made by Frito-Lay in collaboration with Impact BBDO in the Middle East and New York, with pockets to accommodate small and larger bags of Cheetos so you know where to eat from when you feel the need. Cheetospants.com – from where the pants (in sizes XXS-3XL) were available – show the pants designed to wipe Cheetle-covered fingers are currently out of stock – no wonder. Fans having lost the first opportunity to scoop a pair can access a global collection of all near-exact orange pants from shoppable internet that the brand has selected and made available. Look up, find your favorite orange pants from an array of silhouettes and you have your pair – will that have the cleaning patch, we are guessing no! The post Wipe your messy Cheetos-dusted fingers on these orange pants without any guilt first appeared on Yanko Design.

An iFold could be coming in 2026.

Microsoft held off on releasing the privacy-unfriendly feature after a swell of pushback last year. Now it’s trying again, with a few improvements that skeptics say still aren't enough.

Macworld If there’s one criticism we have of the Apple Pencil–other than the confusing nature of the lineup–it’s that it only comes in one color, white. Now modification company ColorWare has a solution to that problem, but it’s going to cost you. Thanks to ColorWare’s clever customization, you can get an Apple Pencil Pro in one of seven Crayola crayon-inspired colors: black, mint (green), pink, purple, red, yellow, and white. In addition to the colors, the Pencils look exactly like Crayola crayons with a matte-painted wrapper adorned with the trademark black oval. In a nod to its inspiration, ColorWare cheekily warns, “Do not sharpen.”  However, the unique paint job will cost you. Specifically, it’ll cost you $86 more than the Apple Pencil Pro MSRP. ColorWare charges $215 for one of the new Crayon Pencils, which is something of a bargain over the non-Pro Number 2 Pencil, which also sells for $215 but is a mod of the cheaper 2nd-gen Pencil. The $215 MSRP doesn’t include shipping, which varies by location. ColorWare also sells a variety of modified Apple products, including a Mac mini Retro in Light and Dark, starting at $899, a premium of $300 over the standard Mac mini. It’s worth noting that the customization voids the standard Apple warranty, though ColorWare offers its own 1-year parts and labor warranty. If you’re interested, the Apple Crayon Pros are expected to ship at the end of April.

On Monday, Apple shared its plans to allow users to opt into on-device Apple Intelligence training using Differential Privacy techniques that are incredibly similar to its failed CSAM detection system.Apple Intelligence to be trained on anonymized user data on an opt-in basisDifferential Privacy is a concept Apple embraced openly in 2016 with iOS 10. It is a privacy-preserving method of data collection that introduces noise to sample data to prevent the data collectors from figuring out where the data came from.According to a post on Apple's machine learning blog, Apple is working to implement Differential Privacy as a method to gather user data to train Apple Intelligence. The data is provided on an opt-in basis, anonymously, and in a way that can't be traced back to an individual user. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums