Skip to content

Equipment vs Raw Comparison

Compare raw and equipped powerlifting standards. Enter your raw lifts to see estimated equipped equivalents by federation and equipment type.

Your Raw Lifts

Raw total:  (+ from equipment)

Equipment Multipliers by Type

How much equipment typically adds to each lift across different equipment categories. Ranges reflect variation between lifters and gear quality.

Lift Wraps Only Single-Ply Multi-Ply
Squat +5 to 10% +10 to 20% +20 to 35%
Bench Press None +15 to 30% +30 to 50%
Deadlift None +5 to 10% +8 to 15%

Raw vs Equipped Standards Comparison

Approximate total standards for a 93 kg male lifter at different competitive levels, raw versus single-ply equipped.

Level Raw Total (kg) Single-Ply Total (kg) Multi-Ply Total (kg)
Beginner (1 year) 480 560 640
Intermediate 560 650 740
Advanced 660 760 870
National level 760 875 1000
Elite / World 870 1000 1150

Standards are approximate for 93 kg male lifters under IPF/IPF affiliate rules. Individual results vary significantly with technique, body proportions, and equipment fit.

Related Calculators

Strength Benchmarks See your exact percentile vs 2.5M+ competition results Scoring Calculator Compare totals across Wilks, DOTS, and IPF GL scoring Allometric Scaling See how your lifts scale with bodyweight using power-law curves

How Much Does Equipment Add?

Equipped powerlifting uses specialized gear - squat suits, bench shirts, and deadlift suits - that store and return elastic energy during the lift. The amount added varies significantly by equipment type, individual body proportions, technique, and how well the gear fits and is broken in.

Wraps only (knee wraps) add 5-10% to the squat by storing energy in the wrap at the bottom of the lift. Wraps have no effect on bench or deadlift.

Single-ply equipment uses one layer of polyester or canvas. Squat suits add 10-20%, bench shirts add 15-30%, and deadlift suits add 5-10%. Single-ply is the most popular equipped division due to the balance of carryover and technical demand.

Multi-ply equipment uses multiple layers and provides the highest carryover. Squat suits can add 20-35%, bench shirts 30-50%, and deadlift suits 8-15%. Multi-ply records often exceed raw records by 40-60% for the total.

Note: equipped technique differs substantially from raw technique. These estimates apply to experienced equipped lifters who have trained in their gear. A raw lifter putting on a suit for the first time will not see these carryovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

The estimates are population averages for experienced equipped lifters. Individual carryover varies widely - some lifters respond well to equipment and see 30%+ increases on bench, while others see minimal carryover. Factors include body proportions (longer arms help with equipped bench), flexibility, technique, gear fit, and how long you have trained in the equipment.
Bench shirts work by storing elastic energy in the shirt fabric during the descent and returning it on the ascent. A properly fitted single-ply bench shirt can provide significant assistance off the chest, which is the weakest point of the lift. Multi-ply shirts add even more because additional layers compound the elastic return. The shirt also supports the shoulder joint under heavy loads.
Yes. Deadlift suits add less carryover than squat suits or bench shirts because there is no eccentric (lowering) phase to store elastic energy. The suit primarily works by compressing the hips and providing proprioceptive feedback. Some lifters find deadlift suits actually hinder them if the fit is not perfect.
Most new competitors start raw or in the wraps division. Raw powerlifting requires less gear investment and technical learning. Equipped powerlifting requires learning to use the gear effectively, which can take months or years. If you want to explore equipped lifting, start with wraps and a single-ply suit before moving to multi-ply.
Only roughly. This calculator gives a starting estimate based on typical population averages. Your actual equipped total depends on body type, gear fit, and how much time you invest in learning equipped technique. Many lifters train raw and then peak for equipped meets, adjusting their technique and gear over several training cycles.