Nishaana
What is Raw lifting?
Raw lifting means competing in the powerlifting equipment category that permits only modestly supportive gear — a belt, knee sleeves or wraps, wrist wraps and a singlet — with no squat suit, bench shirt, or deadlift suit. It's the dominant format in modern powerlifting: every IPF-affiliated national federation, along with most independent federations, now runs its main competitive divisions as raw (or 'Classic,' the IPF's official name for the category).
How it works
Raw lifting works by capping how much equipment can contribute to the lift, so the total on the scoreboard is close to a direct measure of the lifter's own strength, technique, and bar speed. A belt braces the core against intra-abdominal pressure, and knee sleeves or wraps add some joint support and warmth, but neither stores and returns elastic energy the way a squat suit or bench shirt does — the lifter has to move the full weight through the full range unassisted. Raw lifting became a formally distinct competitive category in 2012, when the IPF introduced the Classic (Unequipped) World Cup, and it has since grown into the sport's mainstream — most lifters starting powerlifting today will only ever compete raw.
Types
IPF Classic Raw
Belt, knee sleeves (no knee wraps), wrist wraps, IPF-approved singlet — the modern Olympic-style raw standard.
Classic Raw with wraps
Some non-IPF federations allow knee wraps (not just sleeves) in their raw division, which typically boosts squat totals over a sleeves-only raw category.
Worked example
Say the same 90 kg lifter from the geared-lifting example squats 200 kg with a belt and knee sleeves only. Here's roughly how allowed accessories still change that number within the raw category.
| Raw setup | Estimated squat max | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| No belt, no sleeves | 185 kg | Baseline bodyweight-only support |
| Belt only | 195 kg | A belt raises intra-abdominal pressure, adding a modest, well-documented boost |
| Belt + knee sleeves | 200 kg | Sleeves add minor joint support and warmth on top of the belt |
These are illustrative, not universal, figures — the real belt/sleeve benefit varies by lifter, but stays far below the carryover a squat suit provides in the geared category.
Raw lifting vs geared lifting
| Raw | Geared (equipped) | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment allowed | Belt, knee sleeves or wraps, wrist wraps, singlet only | All raw-approved gear plus squat suit, bench shirt, deadlift suit |
| Totals at the same bodyweight | Lower — no elastic carryover | Higher — suits add stored energy |
| Who competes this way today | The large majority of lifters worldwide, including all IPF-affiliated federations | A smaller, specialized group in a handful of federations |
| Judging focus | Depth, lockout, and bar path with minimal equipment variables | All of the above, plus suit/shirt legality and fit |
Raw and geared totals aren't apples-to-apples — always compare within the same category, and check which formula (Wilks, DOTS, IPF GL) your federation applies.
Common misconceptions
- "'Raw' means no equipment at all." Raw still allows a belt, knee sleeves or wraps, wrist wraps and a singlet — it's 'minimally equipped,' not 'no equipment.'
- "Raw lifters can't total as much as geared lifters." At the same bodyweight a geared total is typically higher because of the suit's elastic carryover, but that doesn't make a raw lifter 'weaker' — the two categories measure different things and use different coefficients.
- "IPF 'Classic' and 'raw' are different things." They're the same category — 'Classic' is simply the IPF's official name for what most lifters colloquially call 'raw.'
Related terms
Raw lifting FAQ
What equipment is allowed in raw powerlifting?
Raw powerlifting allows a lifting belt, knee sleeves or wraps (depending on the federation), wrist wraps, a singlet, and lifting shoes — squat suits, bench shirts, and deadlift suits are not permitted.
Is raw the same as 'Classic' powerlifting?
Yes — 'Classic' is the IPF's official term for what most lifters call 'raw.' The IPF Classic division specifically allows knee sleeves but not knee wraps.
Why is raw lifting more popular than geared lifting today?
Raw lifting requires less specialized (and expensive) equipment, has a shorter learning curve, and is seen as a more direct test of a lifter's own strength — all of which made it the dominant format as the sport grew.
Do raw lifters use a different scoring formula than geared lifters?
They can use the same formulas (Wilks, DOTS, IPF GL Points), but because equipment changes what's achievable at a given bodyweight, raw and geared totals aren't directly comparable even under the same formula.
Can knee wraps be used in raw powerlifting?
It depends on the federation — the IPF's Classic Raw division allows knee sleeves but not knee wraps, while some other federations' raw divisions permit wraps, which typically increase squat totals over sleeves alone.
When did raw lifting become its own official category?
The IPF formally split raw from equipped competition in 2012 with the Classic (Unequipped) World Cup; before that, most meets historically ran under equipped rules by default.
References
- Raw Lifting. USA Powerlifting
- 2026 IPF Technical Rulebook (effective 1 March 2026). International Powerlifting Federation (PDF)
- Powerlifting. Wikipedia
- Raw vs. Equipped Powerlifting: Key Differences. Lift Vault
Stop guessing. Start tracking.
Nishaana logs the numbers behind Raw lifting automatically — free in your browser.
Start free