The following companies are recognized as approved USPA gear companies for 2022. The gear listed under each company is the only equipment permitted for use in a sanctioned USPA competition. These items include wrist wraps, knee wraps, knee sleeves, elbow sleeves, squat suits, bench shirts, deadlift suits, and briefs.
Please note that belts, singlets, socks, shoes, headbands, underwear, and t-shirts do not follow the typical USPA Equipment Approval guidelines, but must meet specifications outlined in the USPA Rulebook.
The equipment inspection for the 2023 list will begin on August 1, 2022 and will go through November 15, 2022. No gear inspections will be conducted after the November 15, 2022 deadline.
Manufacturers must submit samples (all sizes are required) with a $100.00 non-refundable administrative fee to the USPA National Office during the review period to make sure their equipment complies with the required specifications. If the submitted samples do not comply, the manufacturer will be notified of the specific deficiency, so they can take corrective action if they choose. If the samples pass inspection, the items will be added to the Approved Equipment List. Any vendor that sends equipment to the USPA for inspection must pay all return shipping costs within 30 days if they want the item(s) returned; otherwise the items will be donated to the USPA Powerlifting Foundation to support lifters in need.
The approved gear will be subject to an annual fee of $500 for the 1st item category and $250 for each additional category, payable no later than December 1st of the year preceding publication.
Item Categories subject to a fee include:
Items below are not subject to a fee and do not need to be listed on the approval list, but they do need to meet specifications outlined in our rulebook:
All equipment, whether subject to a fee/prior approval or not, will still be subject to inspection during the weigh-ins. After payment of the inspection fee, you will be contacted with instructions on how to ship your sample(s) to the USPA Technical Chair.
The 2023 application period will open on August 1, 2022 and will go through November 15, 2022. Click this link to apply: https://uspa.net/gear-approval-application/
All manufacturers who would like to remain on the Approved Equipment List for future editions of the USPA Rule Book will be subject to an annual fee of $500 for the 1st item category and $250 for each additional category, payable no later than December 1st of the year preceding publication.
Existing manufacturers may submit new equipment for inspection during the current year between January 1 and June 15, thereafter any approved items will not be published until the following calendar year. Any items approved during this time will only be published in a revised Approved Equipment List that will be released on July 1.
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