Can your CCW Belt be too strong?

[Handyguy]

Have any of you tried a belt from Looper Leather om Okla. City? They make a great belt in many widths for "pack'n. It is USA made of real leather with a backing to keep it from sagging. Check em' out!

 

[marklbucla]

Will Sciatica cause muscle strain types of pain or more of a stinging, sharper pains like if it was nervous?

ETA: I'm just going to do it OWB. I tried it for an even longer period of time and felt fine afterwards. My back was a little tired, but it's nowhere near the strain that an IWB put on me.

 

[phantomak47]

Question for beltman users, do I need the internal stiffner on the 1 3/4 belt , I will be carrying a Sig 226 and that is a somewhat heavy gun .

 

[James T Thomas]

pain the the maximus

I have an excellent, but quite stiff, leather belt of 2 5/8 inch width that I often wear. I attach a large frame revolver to it; "pancake" style on the belt holster.

I do get back pain after hours of wearing. The cause is the bottom edge of the belt impinges or "bites into" my upper buttok muscle. That is, the weight of the rig rests upon my lower backside where the muscle -tendon attachment flares outward. I begin to feel a nerve pinch sensation that seems; but is not so, to come from the lower seven vertebrae. When what it is -is referred pain. If I do not grasp the belt and raise the whole rig, I even begin to get muscle cramping. The belt is so stiff at the edges that it is bearing upon the skin like an edge. A smooth or round one, but it concentrates the weight to a small narrow area.

I'm hoping that the leather will relax. Break in, and until then I keep pulling my belt up routinely. -While watching that I do not give myself away to onlookers.

 

[Rodentman]

I just rec'd my natural color horsehide belt from The Beltman. It is 1.5" and is quite stiff. I didn't order an internal stiffener and think I made the right choice.

I really like this belt and I plan on wearing it every day.

 

[sophijo]

back

........some "core" exercises are a good thing. It's possible that's where you problem is. Anyway its a "win/win"!

 

[Commander Crusty]

I've given up on IWB because it makes my hip ache deep down inside. The same gun, same holster, but in an OWB holster does not cause pain.

Carrying OWB spreads the weight out. Carrying IWB puts the weight of the gun, belt, holster and pants on one little spot about the size of the pistol slide or revolver cylinder. Ouch!

 

[mbr]

One advantage of a good, stiff, leather belt is that it doesn't have to be cinched super-tight to support the weight of an average sized handgun. The leather does a good job of spreading the weight out so the rig doesn't sag. +1 on the Beltman by the way. My bullhide will easily support anything I care to carry.

You may try some back-strengthening exercises, after getting cleared by a doc, of course.

 

[marklbucla]

You may try some back-strengthening exercises, after getting cleared by a doc, of course.

Yeah, I'm about certain that's a key issue too. 10 minutes on a Wii Fit and my back will be sore for the next 4 days.

 

[Bald Eagle]

The best IWB option for me has been an elastic belly band. Nothing hanging on my belt or pants. Nothing shows outside my clothing and the gun and spare mag are held against my body, not pushed out against my pants by my body. Has taken a little getting used to, having them pressed against me, but after a week it was no big deal. I did have my wife modify the one I got so that I carry both in the back, not on the side. Got it from The Sportsman's Guide.

 

[CajunBass]

Question for beltman users, do I need the internal stiffner on the 1 3/4 belt , I will be carrying a Sig 226 and that is a somewhat heavy gun .

Neither of my beltman, belts have the stiffner and they work fine. My day to day carry gun is an all steel Colt Commander, which is pretty heavy too.