I'm flattered Rigs but there are ppl much wiser than me. MastersPower has been at this much longer than I have and Insertnamehere is good at strength training also for example but thank you nonetheless.
Solid choice with the Inzer belt! Everyone who I've talked to and used one loves it. To answer your questions:
1) anyone who knows how a belt works and what it does knows the taper is useless. I don't even know why they still make them anymore maybe bc there's always ppl to buy them.
Anyway, if you're serious about your lifting you do NOT want the taper. You want the regular belt that's 4in all the way across. The taper does nothing and the cons are it doesn't support you like a true 4in belt would. It tapers in the front which is where the belt is supposed to be working....on your abs lol. So skip the bodybuilding one and get the regular.
2) personal preference. The thicker the belt the more support you get but also the tougher it is to flex to get Into position. I have the 13mm and it's awesome and it does not give whatsoever. Getting into position for deadlifts is tricky though bc it's so thick. The 10mm is slightly less support but also slightly more play in terms of maneuverability once the belt is on.
Which one is best for you depends on how much you plan on lifting, if you wan to squat 500+ probably the 13mm is better suited. What I do for deads is where the belt backwards. That is the buckle is on my back and that gives me more room to get in the proper starting position on deadlifts. Really just depends on your preference here. You can't go wrong with either.
3) I buy all my Inzer stuff from their site. Don't know of any other sites that sell Inzer or deals. They do come with a lifetime warranty on the hardware should something happen though. Other companies make some good lever lock belts too if you want a cheaper option than Inzer brand name. Not familiar with many companies but I heard some good feedback about Scheik belts
