Gun belts

Status
Not open for further replies.

cwsample

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
21
Location
Texas
I have a pretty nice, thick, western style leather belt that I wear on a daily basis, and it works fairly well for carry. I started looking around at the reinforced belts that hold the weight of the gun better and wanted to get y'all's opinion. What have you found to work the best? Most cost effective? Thanks.
 
I personally use a custom belt made by another member here (who unfortunately doesn't look like he's been around for some time).

But from all the reading I've done the two kings of gun belts seem to be A&G leather (agcustomleather.com) and the Belt Man (thebeltman.net).
 
For daily use I use a plain leather belt from triple K leather. I found it in the holster isle in Cabelas. Its a wide belt and very thick. It took about a month of wear to break in, but after that it works great. No sag and it holds whichever pistol I choose to wear.
 
Get a belt made to your specs. I recommend a 7 hole with 3/4" between holes for plenty of adjustment room. Most run under $75 and are a bargain at that price. I use Rick at

http://www.rgleather.freehomepage.com/

The belts pictured have been worn on a daily basis for over two years and still look like new.


Basketofsnakes.jpg
 
Very most cost effective? Probably the Amish gun belt from Hank's. http://www.hanksclothing.com/hanks_amish_belts_ccw_the_gunner.html $30. That's what my daughter uses for IDPA, and I was fairly impressed. Not up to the standards of my custom leather belt (it is only a single thickness, but is very thick) or my Wilderness Instructor belt, of course, but really great for the price.

Otherwise, Beltman and lots of other smaller shops make good gun belts.
 
I'll check out those vendors. I just know that if I'm going to spend $50-75 on just a belt, I want it to be more than just a belt. Something tried and true. Hank's seems like a good place to start.

Someone showed me a video of a belt reinforced with kydex that held the entire weight of the gun straight out when holding just the belt. Doesn't seem like it'd be too comfortable...although I'm sure it's better than it sounds. Haha
 
I just got a Comp-Tac kydex reinforced belt and it does make a big difference. I carry IWB and a fire pager and it is a more comfortable belt than any belt I own, even when I'm not carrying a weapon. Comp-Tac is also a stand up company that was a pleasure to deal with. Just my .02 cents...
 
I use the Comp-Tac Kydex reinforced belt and it is a big step up from the best belts I could find in any belt store in central florida that I looked at, and I looked at quite a few stores. I have no idea how good your current belt is, but I assume if your belt is the same thickness as the Comp-Tac it would be similar in function. The kydex helps the belt maintain form everywhere except near the buckle. Kydex is kept away from the buckle because the adjustment holes would create stress concentrations and the kydex would snap after awhile.

With a heavy-enough gun (all steel 1911 w/rail, 47oz loaded) and enough sweat (central florida summer heat+humidity), the Comp-Tac still stretches more than I like. I plan on eventually replacing the comp-tac with a non-leather belt like the Wilderness Instructor belt. I personally plan on never using leather again, it just stretches too much if I'm outdoors at all in the middle of the summer. If your handgun is in the 30-35oz (loaded) weight range then you don't see much leather stretch.
 
My IWB holster is actually a Comp-Tac and I am really pleased with it, so I agree the company is great. I'll check out their belts as well. Thanks for all the input.
 
You always need to be careful when you read these belt recommendation threads. You need to know the perspective of the posters.

For instance when somebody says...
the Comp-Tac still stretches more than I like.
It's handy to know the poster also included this...
With a heavy-enough gun (all steel 1911 w/rail, 47oz loaded) and enough sweat (central florida summer heat+humidity), ... If your handgun is in the 30-35oz (loaded) weight range then you don't see much leather stretch.
On the other hand, when somebody says this...
For now I am using a belt from Hobby-Lobby for IWB carry. $8 + $4 for die. It is black, and is holding up good compared to any $12 belt I can find.
You may get the impression they are carrying the same gun. I suspect they are not.

If you are carrying an LCP or LCR or even up to a Glock 19, it probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference what belt you're using, but as Jackal1 points out, if you are carrying a heavy gun, the Hobby-Lobby belt, or even the sturdiest of single layer belts won't work as well, for as long, as a dual layer gun belt.
 
You are right. I do not carry a full size 9mm with 17 rounds in the gun. I am carrying a .24 oz .380 loaded, or a UL .32 H&R Magnum J-Frame. Neither of these guns pull or stretch the Hobby Lobby belt.

But you should also include the rest of my post were I mentioned buying an Ares Gear belt when the funds permit. Which would be able to handle a full service handgun loaded to the brim.
 
With respect to post #13 which raises a good point. My Ares gear performs well irrespective of whether I am carrying a 5" steel framed 1911, spare mags and a flashlight, or something G19 sized with spare mags. It even does well when using it to carry a 1911, spare mags, a light, and rifle mags. One can run a fullsize 1911, a sonny rig, a light, and a knife and it will be just fine.

This is a "sonny rig" by the way:

2Sonny1260-500x500-500x500.jpg
 
I'm with Girodin on the Ares belts. Don't have one, but tried my friend's. Fantastic belt. It's only my short list.
 
You are way ahead of the game when you realize a wider off-the-rack belt is not a gun belt. A strong, well-made gun belt is the base of any carry rig. Lots of good makers out there.

VMII-5301.jpg
 
Wearing my Hank's Amish belt now with my LC9 IWB. Just got a 10% off email special from them. They always have a deal going.
 
I've been wearing a belt from bullhidebelts.com and it is rock solid. Double layered and will *barely* fit through the loops on a pair of Dickies.

Then again, I would go even further and recommend pairing an appropriate gun belt with a good pair of Perry suspenders. This combo makes even the heaviest gun seem like it's not even there. Wear a shirt over it and no one knows that you are wearing suspenders, (except my wife who calls me an old man :) )
 
StrutStopper wrote,
Wearing my Hank's Amish belt now with my LC9 IWB. Just got a 10% off email special from them. They always have a deal going.
As I mentioned earlier, it's all about perspective. With a little gun like the LC9, you could probably use any belt. Heck, one could probably get away with a clip on IWB with that gun without even wearing a belt.

When the OP says he's looking for...
I started looking around at the reinforced belts that hold the weight of the gun better and wanted to get y'all's opinion.
I've got to assume he is carrying a gun of some substantial weight.

This thread makes me think of an old picture I recall from the days K&D Holsters was making holsters for full size guns.

http://olegvolk.livejournal.com/850292.html
 
I have an El Paso Saddlery "blackpowder belt" that I use and I really like it.

Here is a picture from their page-


 
Unless you are carrying heavy you likely don't need the reinforcement. I carry a SIG229 on my Beltman belt and it has been doing great for over five years of daily carry.

A purpose made gunbelt will generally be double layer, which prevents it stretching and drooping like your ten dollar belt from the department store will. It keeps your gun where you want it.

I'm about to order another from Beltman; not because I need it, but just to have one in a different design and color. Best way I can think of to reward a maker who makes a product so good you'll probably never need to replace it.
 
I have a Beltman belt that I received maybe 2 years ago. It still works well, but has definitely lost some rigidity/stiffness since then. Getting it wet probably didn't help, but weather conditions at the range are what they are.

I have a couple of Wilderness instructor belts (had to get a bigger once after I got out of college!) and they hold up extremely well. They just aren't the prettiest thing to look at.

I'd like to try an Ares Ranger belt enhanced now.

Also, my preference has become to opt for more stiffness/rigidity/optional insert if I'm uncertain.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top