Do you need a belt and lifting shoes?

Useful for heavy squats and deadlifts once you can brace without one. Not a fashion piece for warm-up sets.

Pick a stiff lever or single-prong belt that fits at the right hole — soft neoprene fashion belts are mostly placebo.

Flat sole (Converse-style or dedicated lifters) for deadlifts; slight heel for squats if ankles are limited.

Running shoes with thick foam are unstable under a barbell — save them for road work.