"Instructor Belts" Which width?

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minutemen1776

minutemen1776

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Here's a possibly dumb question, but I'll go ahead and ask it so that maybe I'll learn the answer and not feel so dumb in the future. :eek:

I'll looking at getting an "instructor belt" to use with a handgun holster, which I'm also shopping right now. Anyway, the holster I'm most interested in has belt slots that are 1 3/4 inches. Do I need to get a belt that is also 1 3/4 inches, or something slightly less wide (maybe 1 1/2 inches) to easily pass through the slots? Or does it really matter? Thanks!
 
I'd get the 1.5" also.

Don't get the belt with the nylon rings, they slip, get the metal buckle.

Don't scrimp on the cost of a holster, it is silly to spend several hundred dollars on a handgun and try to got cheap on a holster
 
I got the 1.5" and it snugly fits through belt loops on normal jeans. So, the other thing to measure is, your pants' belt loops.

I had the same question and I'm glad I went with a 1.5" awhile back.

-S
 
i got the 1.5" after having a 1.75" 5.11 belt for a few years. i like the 1.5" much better.
 
Personally I really like my 1.75" Instructor belt, and it fits through all my pants belt loops just fine. It is a bit snug fitting through the loops of some plastic/kydex holsters and mag pouches, but they're rock-solid when in place.
 
Like Sam1911, I like a 1.75" belt even for concealment. All my holsters are made/purchased for that width and all my pants have belt loops to accomadate.

I find that this width carries easier and is more comfortable for me.

As always, YMMV.
 
Thanks for everyone's input. It appears that the 1.5" has a good following here, though 1.75" seems to be making a late surge. I checked my belt loops last night, and most are closer to 1.5", so that's a big consideration for me at this point. As for the holster, I'm looking at some things from El Paso Saddlery, particular their Street Combat holster. However, I'm also liking the thumbsnap feature on their Tortilla model. Either way, the standard slots for these are 1.75".
 
Remember, El Paso Saddlery says this for just about all of their holsters...
1 3/4" belt slots (smaller on request)
Click to expand...
http://www.epsaddlery.com/c-11-concealment.aspx

If you are buying direct from El Paso Saddlery, they are going to make it the way you want it. You can order 1 1/2" loops.

I have an EPS "High Slide", I bought from Cheaper Than Dirt. It has 1 3/4" loops and I wear it with a Wilderness 1 1/2" Instructor belt. It works fine. There is a little more movement during the draw than holsters I have with 1 1/2" loops, but not much.
 
Over lunch, I went to the local police supply shop and picked up a 1.5" 5.11 Instructor Belt. I was looking for a black one, but none were on the racks. After rummaging through a closeout bin, I found a green one at half price!
 
I don't mean to hijack, but since we're on instructor belts, Which brands should we be talking about?
 
Whenever I hear, Instructor's belt, I usually think Wilderness Tactical also. I own their 5 stitch 1.5" as well as Frequent Flyers in 1.5" and 1"
 
+1 on measuring your pants. Everything should match. You can't use a 1.75 belt with anything with 1.5 loops, and you shouldn't use a 1.5 belt with 1.75 loops.
 
I have two Wilderness belts in the 1-3/4 inch width. Never had a problem fitting through the loops of any pants I've worn. One belt has the metal rappelling buckle, and one is the Frequent Flyer belt with the plastic loops. Love 'em both, but the plastic loops are much more stylish and look really sharp with jeans and a jacket. They slipped a little bit at first, but worked fine after a few wearings.

My wife says I'm a "real fashion statement," whatever that means. I spoze it's good. :confused:
 
I like the 1 3/4" Wilderness Instructors Belt with polymer liner. :cool:

I suppose there are some pants somewhere that they might not fit, but all the jeans, cargo pants and dockers in my closet accommodate the 1 3/4" belt just fine, and I feel the wider belt gives a more stable platform for the holster.
 
It depends, for me at least, on how big of a gun you are carrying it. If it is something smaller and more importantly lighter like an M&P Shield with extended base plate of a glock 26, then I would go with the 1.5. If you are looking at a larger of heavier gun, like a steel 1911 or Sig226, then the 1.75 will do you better. You can still probably get it done with the 1.5, the the wider belt will carry better and more comfortably.
 
My choice has always been the Wilderness Tactical.

There are others...but, you know, WHY?
Click to expand...

Some one beat me to this answer but I'll post it anyways. Although not an "instructors belt" per se, if we are talking gun belts generally, because the Ares Ranger exists. Unless you actually need to rappel from your belt the Ares is IMHO a better gun belt.

I am one of a number of people that have gone away from the wilderness belts in favor of the Ares Gear belt and never looked back.
 
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