Probably nothing yet. Build the positions and the bracing first. Most athletes add gear in this order: thumb tape when hook grip starts tearing skin, knee sleeves when squat volume climbs, a belt when the loads are genuinely heavy for your bodyweight.

X-Prime is the lighter, more flexible one. 5 inches at the back tapering to 4 at the sides, EVA foam core, built for mixed training and higher-rep work. Venta is the more supportive hybrid: a 4 inch profile, EVA core, nylon-reinforced shell, self-locking buckle. One belt for heavy lifting and functional fitness both.

Hook grip. Wrapping the thumb before cleans, snatches and heavy pulls cuts the friction and skin wear that repeated hook grip work causes, so you hold the position for more reps. If your thumbs are not tearing, you do not need it yet.

Yes, and most athletes doing heavy lower-body work do. They solve different problems. The belt gives your core something to brace against. The sleeves add warmth and compression at the knee. Neither substitutes for the other.

Belt width is the usual question. Venta's 4 inch width meets IWF and IPF standards. Federation rules vary and change, so check the current rulebook for your event rather than taking a product page's word for it.