"Instructor Belts" Which width?

[Sam1911]

Wow...that Ares is one HECK of a belt! Probably even a deal, for what you're getting. But, wow.

 

[Girodin]

I take it you are wowing at the price? It is about $30 more than the wilderness belt. To be fair in terms of percentage it is a notable difference. However, for a belt that is going to last, well to be honest, I don't even know how many years (there are folks that have 4 years+ of everyday day use, and a few trainers I'm familiar with that put it through everyday use plus doing shooting classes every month, plus their own personal training and competition shooting). I would anticipate if you wore the belt daily and were a regular shooter the thing is going to last, making a very conservative estimate, at least 5 years (and probably much longer) with out any issue.

Thus over the next five years the $30 difference in price is deminimis. IMHO the difference in having what I deem a better more functional belt is an important difference and one well worth $30 extra. Ares Gear has a 4 week back order (although you can find them in stock at 3rd party vendors) so apparently I'm not the only one that thinks the extra $30 up front will prove a prudent investment over the next several years of use.

Lastly, while I don't like to needlessly waste money, by the time one invests $500-1,500 (I know its actually more for some folks) in a gun, $80 or so in a holster, $40 or so in a mag pouch, skimping $30 on a belt just seems silly. I am sure others are happy with the wilderness and don't see it as skimping. However, I don't know anyone who has used both belts that has gone back to the wilderness. Rather the migration seems to go only one way. For me it would be skimping, and the $30 is such a small amount of money as to be negligible.

That is just how I look at it. Others might reach different conclusions based on their situation or preferences.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I recently purchased a 1.5" uncle mikes instructor belt (I know) mostly because it's what I could get from my most recent midway order I needed a belt NOW not in 8weeks.

Anyways its lighyears ahead of my dollar store belts or even the crappy tagua gun belt I had tried previously.

My point is irregardless of price a real pistol belt beats the pee out of fashion grade belts.

 

[Sam1911]

No, actually, I was "wowing" in that it seems like an awesome belt! Probably more belt than most folks would ever need -- and that's coming from someone who already wears an Instructor belt frequently! -- but nothing wrong with that. Just a pretty amazing piece of gear.

 

[Girodin]

My apologies for misunderstanding. I was thrown by the line about "probably even a deal . . . But wow."

The Ares Gear belts are very good belts.

 

[lloveless]

I have always worn full thickness leather belts. I get 10-15 years of wear from them and they don't cost an arm and a leg. Find a leather worker and they'll fix you right up.
ll