Probably preaching to the choir here. But, there maybe someone like me that thinks they don't need one.
I've been carrying for almost 3 years and I've always worn a regular department store leather belt. I've read plenty of articles and forum posts on the necessity of a good gun belt. But I kept telling myself I don't need one, they're too much money. My IWB holster is fine with my Walmart belt.
Well, a few days ago, I drew my pistol at the range and the holster almost came out with it. The front clip came up over my belt. That's all it took. I bought a Crossbreed leather gun belt the next day. It was the only brand I could find locally so that's what I bought.
I had no idea what I was missing. Everything feels so much more secure than before. Holster is tighter against my body. I didn't realize how much movement there was when my holster was clipped to a regular belt.
Dont be like me. Buy a gun belt.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

Good advice. But it sounds like you might need a better holster too.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I was just gonna say - keep that in mind when we say you need a good holster too! Don't "cheap out".

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Stay protected my friends.

The belt is 50% of your carry rig. There are good inexpensive double nylon belts. I like the Comptac leather with kydex reinf. I also use the cabelas instructor belt quite a bit. Tons of good holster makers out, leather, kydex or hybrid. Anymore I favor kydex or hybbrids over leather.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I have an IWB Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0. I have no complaints about it. Before that I had a Foxx IWB holster which was ok. The Alien Gear is much more comfortable and secure. I wouldn't rule out another brand in the future.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

That said, especially for a heavy gun, that aint the place to pinch pennies. (nor the holster) I dislike brand bashing, BUT an uncle named Michael is not worth trusting your life to, IMO.

An IWB depends mostly on the clip. I learned very early, training
students, that most women and some men never even wear a belt.
So I set out looking for a clip-on IWB that would cling, and not come
out wrapped around the gun. I tested a lot of them. I only found
3 that used a clip that would grab ahold of the fabric on the waistband
and not let go. FIST, Garrity, and BCO (Bell Charter Oak). So, those
are the ones I would recommend to students who didn't want their
holster coming out, wrapped around the gun, on the draw. That was
some time ago, so I can't be sure that they still use that type of clip.
And probably others do too by this time, maybe.
I'll try to make a picture of the clip on the BCO. It's brown, and the
other two are black, so the brown will probably make a better photo.
We'll see. I'll be back shortly.

Attached Images

SAM_1111.jpg (77.9 KB, 39 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

I did pretty much the same thing. Before I started making hand stitched double layer gun belts, I used a store bought 9 ounce leather strap belt.
"Good enough," or so I thought.
Until, I decided to try my hand at making a proper gun belt. 1 1/2" wide, 1/4" thick and 2 layers of 9 ounce leather. Took a while to stitch but it was well worth the effort.

Makes a huge difference carrying my snubby owb.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Filson Double Belt....not cheap but the best there is.

I use High Noon holsters with a reverse J steel clip for inside the waistband carry. It will NOT come off the belt unless you specifically take it off. For belts, I generally pay $20 to $30, whether it be from Walmart, a leather crafter, or at the gun show. They work just fine for me.

Exactly! When I first started carrying, I used those holsters. Was constantly having to push it back down because it would come off the belt. And given I keep and use stuff for MANY years, the inside foam material started deteriorating and becoming a crumbling mess on just about every one. Don't want that **** gumming up a semi-auto! I switched to leather holsters and never looked back. I use a Mister Softy holster from High Noon and it works just fine.

Speaking of Crossbreed; did you know they have a website that sells their blems and seconds?

Belts: https://www.crossbreed-seconds.com/belts/

Click on Products in the upper right to see the holsters.

I've bought two belts and two holsters. I never could find the blem on either belt, and still not sure with the holsters.

Anyway, they are a very inexpensive way to try out a gun belt. You won't find a gun belt from any of the major players for $30.

EDIT to add: If you don't see your size, just check back in a few days.

I have found Velcro closure reinforced nylon belts to be the best for me.

They are infinitely adjustable while wearing. This promotes comfort and security. Leather belts with holes are not so comfortable as to length adjustment.

They are stiff enough to carry a lot of weight and distribute it well. They are not so stiff as to be uncomfortable or cut into me. Good quality nylon belts have rolled edges that are not sharp.

They are reasonably priced.

They last forever without degrading.

I like the ones with simple metal buckles that do not stick out too much, are not too wide (taking up belt space). The Velcro nylon tail feeds through the buckle and back to the right for closure. The belt tail goes over my AIWB holster attachments, both securing and hiding them.

I find the 1.25” width belt to work fine. On the belt I carry a full size M&P 9mm with an RDS to the right of the buckle, a fixed blade push dagger immediately to the left of the buckle (11 o’clock); a hi-cap extended mag at 10 o’clock; and my phone in a holster clipped to the belt just behind my left hip. All day every day, except days I wear a suit with a tucked shirt and deep conceal carry a Shield in low AIWB.

During a long day I will reposition the AIWB holster about a 1/2” for comfort, and I find as the day goes on slightly loosening or tightening the belt (1/4”) also helps with comfort.

I have three Wilderness Tactical belts in black, OD green and coyote that I rotate between depending on what I’m wearing. The colors are superfluous because I always have a covering garment, but it reduces wear on the belts and gives me some sense of fashion before hiding it.

Once you spend the money to get really good equipment, you never look back.

Conceal Carry starts with a good Gun Belt .. with out that carrying has too many obstacles to over come to be anywhere near comfortable ..

I have several colors all according to the pants I'm wearing ..

I too carried "inappropriately" for years. I spent money on good holsters, from Galco and Comp-Tac, but I resisted a belt for at least 5 years. It sounds silly, but a good belt is more important to comfortable CCWing than the holster.

Spend the money on a good gun belt, from a good gun company (i.e. - many of the mass-produced holster/belt makers are still cheap), such as:

Wilderness Tactical
Milt Sparks
Kramer
Comp-Tac
A&G Gunleather
Beltman

You might want to get rid of the "clip on" holster. I bought one but soon realized they are not the best way to anchor a holster to a gun belt.
You need a proper gun, belt and holster for it all to come together and work properly during a "stressful " situation !

Gary

Whether you carry OWB or IWB you need a solid belt AND a dependable holster. I won't debate clip on versus loops, that's a subject for another thread, but I can make almost any decent holster work if I wear the correct belt. I have discovered that all well made leather belts at 1.5 inches work great so that includes most purpose made gun belts plus a variety of "western" belts.

Dress belts at less than 1.5 inches will only work well with holsters with smallish loops or metal or plastic "clips" that fit the belt correctly. Otherwise there is too much "motion" when your gun is drawn.

As a side note, clipless Remora IWB holsters are WONDERFUL with almost any belt but are especially great with thick, 1.5" leather belts.

Same here, especially for AIWB.

Always preferred leather but owned a couple of $9 (Walmart) U-Mikes....dumped after couple days OWB carry of snubbie revo.

When Galco came out I tried both their gun belts (black and brown) (real stiff, never sagged with even N frame, 4 and 6 inchers). Holsters have been S & W "duty style" usually black and when need for brown or tan arises I own several Galco holsters, usually thumb break or strap over hammer style.

I agree that....just like the credit card ad of some years back...your life? Priceless..........for all else (quality gun belts, quality holsters) there's MasterCard.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Carrying a gun w/o a belt is just an accident waiting to happen imo. What holds the holstered gun in the waistband? Me, I do not wear my pants that tight, gotta have a good belt.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Be prepared to shell out more $ if your sizes are EQUATOR, or OMG, IT'S COMING THIS WAY , or so I am told.

well i learned a very long time ago...buy something once...and buy quality...otherwise u will wind up spending it in the long run...i only buy the best i can afford now...and take care of it too...when it comes to holsters...i have found my favorite are leather IWB Milt Sparks VM2...for me they fit the best and i know they are not cheap...but worth every cent...and to the belt...i am still looking for just the right one...i have been toying with the idea of a Blue Alpha Hybrid for a while...i would never cut corners on something like this...God Bless,John
find what works for u ...

Okay, in light of this discussion in re quality leather belts, if you don't mind spending real money for the highest quality leather belt I recommend Murray Custom Leather Company.

Welcome to Murray Custom Leather

© 2001-2018 MurrayCustomLeather.com

After the fire I bought some excellent leather belts at a Western store here in Dallas but as soon as I settled down I made sure I had at least one of Dick Murray's belts. I used to have a lot of them because as I gained weight I would buy new ones in various colors! Dummy me, I shouldn't have gained the weight but that's a whole nuthuh smoke!