Questions About The Nylon Instructor Belt

[Trunk Monkey]

Specifically the Wilderness Original Instructor Belt.

I have lost 6 inches around my waist in the last 2 years and all of my belts are too big so it’s time for a new one.

I’m looking at the Wilderness Nylon Instructor Belt and I’d like to know if anyone uses it, how it fits, does it hold up to carrying a full frame weapon , what think ness 1 1/2 V 1 3/4 and finally what stiffness should I choose?

I’m leaning toward the 5 stitch, all I usually carry is a S&W 4006, 2 magazines , a multi tool on the belt and a small flashlight or pocket knife in my pocket. I wouldn’t need the polymer insert for that load would I?

Any input would be appreciated

 

[MrCleanOK]

I rocked a Wilderness 5-stitch for about 5 years before the belt started fraying where it goes through the buckle. I wore mine every day, with my civilian clothes and with a military uniform. For normal day-to-day use and no military training/deployment, I expect it probably would have lasted even longer. I loved the belt material. It was stiff, but not so much as to be uncomfortable. I did not care for the buckle. As I said, the buckle wore through the nylon, and near the end of its life the velcro that keeps the tag down also gave up the ghost. The belt I'm wearing currently has a cobra buckle, and I think that Wilderness would have a knockout if they would combine their nylon web material with a cobra buckle.

 

[Beentown]

I have worn mine daily for 5 years. Just about the best $40 I have ever spent. I am about due for a new one as it is just starting to fray.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a base model 3 stitch IB which is ample for a 1911 and two magazines in IDPA which is the most I wear on the waist.

I also have a Wilderness Frequent Flyer, same belt but a Delrin ring buckle which is much lighter than the IB's. But then I am not going to abseil off the rooftop. Although I wished I could have in The Incident of three years ago.

Length is fairly critical, there is only so much limber end section to double back through the buckle and so much Velcro. If you expect to lose more girth, they do have generic lengths with more adjustment.

Get the width that your pants will accommodate.
I wear khakis with 1.5" loops, so that is the belt I buy.
If all your tackytickle pants AND YOUR HOLSTERS will take a 1.75" belt, get that.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I think that Wilderness would have a knockout if they would combine their nylon web material with a cobra buckle.

Can the buckle be changed?

I also have a Wilderness Frequent Flyer, same belt but a Delrin ring buckle which is much lighter than the IB's.

Do you reccomend one buckle over the other? I don't do anything that would require buckling in so I don't need the buckle for that

Length is fairly critical, there is only so much limber end section to double back through the buckle and so much Velcro. If you expect to lose more girth, they do have generic lengths with more adjustment.

I'm in size 38 pants now and I hope to get down to size 36 or lower but at 50 years old that may only be wishful thinking. How exact is the sizing? could I go from 38 to 36 in the same belt?

 

[Sam1911]

I have worn the 1-3/4" Instructor belt (nylon stiffener) for years. Great belt! Very comfortable and yet all the rigidity you'd need to carry a 629 or 1911 (probably BOTH!), mags, loaders, light, knife, etc.

Really works well with jeans as the belt loops are the perfect size. Can be a hair tricky to get through some mag carrier belt loops if they're cut small, but when they're on, wow do they hold position!

I can fluctuate through a couple of pants sizes with no trouble with mine, though it's been years now since I was able to get into a 34" pair of pants, it worked great then, and also worked very well in the sad years I needed the 38"s!

 

[SleazyRider]

... I also have a Wilderness Frequent Flyer, same belt but a Delrin ring buckle which is much lighter than the IB's. But then I am not going to abseil off the rooftop. ...

I have one too, Jim, and I learned firsthand just a few days ago that it's a misnomer---the TSA screeners still made me take it off when I went through the metal detector at the airport. Doesn't really bother me because I very seldom fly, and I doubt that I'll be belaying somebody from a helicopter anytime soon. Great belt that looks terrific with a pair of jeans.

BTW, Wilderness, as I understand it, will "rebuild" your Instructor belt if you send them the old buckle (maybe spray paint it first?). It may save you a few bucks instead of discarding the old one because it is worn out or no longer fits.

 

[Prometheus]

I have several styles of instructor belts.

For day to day use, I have a few "soft" instructor belts. I wear paddles on a day to day basis both for a double mag pouch and a full sized handgun. Never had a problem with them not being strong enough. I suppose if I had belt mounted holsters, that might be an issue but I find it a PIA to loop holsters everyday. Especially when I'm at home, I don't carry spare mags on my belt around the house.

I do have the five stitch stiffened Wilderness instructor belt you are asking about. It's overkill IMO. At least for my purposes. I have the 1 1/2" so it will fit all my belt loops.

It's a great belt though and I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying it. I used it almost exclusively for a year or so. It's still in my rotation and if I were wearing non paddles and OWB I'd choose it, simply because I have it and don't wear it much anymore.

 

[Jim Watson]

T.M.

I prefer the Frequent Flyer.
The steel buckle on the Instructor weighs nearly as much as a small gun or spare magazine.
Of course you could get the Titanium Instructor.

The sizing is variable enough to handle two inches.
Read the guidelines on their site about sizing, they mean them.
They do make Easy Fit belts with a wider range of adjustment, but you may find yourself having to tuck under the end as you diet.


S.R.

There is a note on the Wilderness site that the government does not trust you with a belt and TSA will often require you to remove one even with a nonmagnetic Delrin or titanium buckle.

 

[Captains1911]

I have a 1.5" 5-stitch, it's plenty stiff, and i wear it more than any of my other belts, almost daily. Its an excellent belt. The one thing I might have done differently is pay the extra for the titanium buckle, the steel buckle is heavy and clancky.

The buckle is stitched in, it can't be changed. Just follow the sizing instructions carefully with the consideration that you may go down a size or two. I believe they also make a version with a wider range of adjustment, may be a good choice for you.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Thanks every one

 

[Trunk Monkey]

@ Jim Watson

I just noticed the frequent flyer buckle is Polymer how well does it hold up?

I keep getting images of the buckle snapping.

 

[Jim Watson]

Mine has held up well. Delrin is pretty tough.
I think they have an aluminum ring buckle, too.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Thanks Jim, for your timely response

 

[Trunk Monkey]

FWIW I went with the easy fit instructor belt and sized it so I have more give going down than up

 

[444]

I wore out three or four of those belts in my career as a professional firefighter.

Obviously I didn't wear a gun, but it seems like it would be fine for that. I still have two of them that I occasionally wear just because I have them.

FWIW: I have done "bailouts" using the buckle and a rope. My buckles were metal. I don't know what metal. But, they worked.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I wore out three or four of those belts in my career as a professional firefighter.

By career I'm assuming you mean 3 or 4 belts over a minimum of 20 years of fairly hard use which isn't bad for 52 bucks

 

[444]

Yes
3-4 belts over closer to 25 years.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I received my belt yesterday and I want to caution anyone who is considering one to follow the sizing directions to a “T”. I was off by one inch and the belt is almost too small.

 

[Captains1911]

I received my belt yesterday and I want to caution anyone who is considering one to follow the sizing directions to a “T”. I was off by one inch and the belt is almost too small.

I followed the sizing instructions to a 'T' and mine was too small as well. It still works, but 1" larger would have been better.