CCW belt width???

1-1/4" is standard for mens belts and works better with belt loops on most pants. I tried using a normal thin store bought belt and found that it had to be cinched up way too tight or else it would sag or twist. So I made myself a belt using a double layer of 7 ounce leather. Its 1-1/4" wide and about 1/4"-5/16" thick. Doesn't draw any attention and holds a gun up great. As long as you have a belt thats well made and good and stiff it works just fine in the narrower width.

I wear a 1 1/2" leather belt with everything, even my suits.


Who goes around looking at the size of someone's belt? Seriously. I've openly carried a 1911 grocery shopping, and when I went to vote in a general election. Stood in a long line for 45 minutes with lots of other people. No one notices.

I always wear a 1 1/2" belt too and no one has ever commented on the thickness. It is a brown leather Belt Man.

If you plan on wearing your Wilderness belt I would be more concerned with people noticing the material it is made from rather than the thickness.

My wife dresses me, I wear whatever she says......LOL.

I saw a guy at a grocery store whose clothes rose enough for me to see a Wilderness belt. It occurred to me he may be carrying. Don't know if the average person would consider that possibility.

I wanted a belt that would fit in several situations and went with a nice black leather belt from 'The Belt Man'. The 1.5" belt I bought fits all my pants. A 1.75" is too wide for many casual or dress pants.

I have been using a Ken Null horsehide 1 1/4 inch belt for about 25 years now, still in gret shape and holds any gun I carry.

Thanks I have been looking at those belts!

An inch-and-a-quarter belt, provided it is designed as a gun belt (i.e., to bear weight), is more than adequate for all but the heaviest guns.

Since I frequently carry wearing a suit I usually use a 1.25" gunbelt. With a 3" 1911 in a Milt Sparks VM II is very comfortable.

A nice thing about the VM II is that you can easily change out the belt loops via Allen screws. So, when they wear out, or if you just want to have loop sets for different width, color or type of leather (shark) belts.

When I bought a new dress belt, holster and mag pouch as a matched set in stingray I changed the loops on my VM II from 1.25 to 1.75. Now I wear the VM II with my wilderness instructor belt with cargo pants and jeans.

I use a 1.5" double thickness leather belt. I don't carry really heavy guns but I can't imagine using anything smaller. It fits all my pants fine and fills the belt loops nicely. I'll admit I have never tried a 1.25" so I can't really discount it. I am just happy with what I have.

Well now I checked my belt blanks and I'm using 1-1/2". I don't know what I was thinking saying that 1-1/4" is standard. Sorry for any confusion, should have looked first.

I still think that as long as you get a sturdy belt meant as a gun belt you will be just fine.

i wear 1.5" 5.11 leather belt. I recently ordered an ares Ranger belt, I am very much looking forward to it.

I genarally wear a 1.5" belt, but I have gotten away with a 1.25" belt when using a paddle holster.

i doubt the belt matters much
the only thing that makes me think someone is carrying is a fanny pack

I purchased a BLACKHAWK! CQB (I think is what they call it) dress belt and I love it, no problem with 1911 pistols, or Sig Sauer P226's. Just another brand suggestion to put out there.

All I can tell you is my 1.5" Mitch Rosen belts must have shrunk, because they're too small. They're still as good as new after more than ten years, but inexplicably, they no longer fit. I just don't understand.

My Beltman belt is 1.5, but tapers down to 1.25 in the front, which makes it look more like a regular dress belt. A few bucks more for the option, but looks nice. http://www.thebeltman.net/

1.75 inch wide nylon rigger belt for me. Works with everything up to a 92D. 8)

1 1/2" is by far the most popular size. They outsell the 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" by 10 to 1 or better. Also If your holsters are designed for the 1 1/2" belt you already have I would definitely stick with a 1 1/2" belt unless your planning on getting new holsters as well.

I wear a 1 1/4" Wilderness frequent flyer all the time, with pistols up to a Browning Hipower. No problems.

swcr wrote,
1 1/2" is by far the most popular size. They outsell the 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" by 10 to 1 or better. Also If your holsters are designed for the 1 1/2" belt you already have I would definitely stick with a 1 1/2" belt unless your planning on getting new holsters as well.

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There is your answer.

My Ken Null belt is 1.5", almost 30 yrs old, and still looks great and holds anything that I carry. I have an Alessi 1.25" black dress belt that is perfect for suits and a Strong 1.25 ox blood belt that is perfect for those sport slacks with small loops. As a change, I've been looking at the Blade Tech Looper belt and the Beltman horsehide belt. No urgency to buy as all of my belts (all 8 of them) are gun belts or "money belts".