Does anyone use a nylon belt for CCW? Something like a rigger's belt? Looking for a thin yet strong belt to CCW a Ruger SP101. My current carry belt has gotten too small and I need to get a new one that hopefully isn't too thick to avoid printing but supports the gun nicely. Also wanting one that is comfortable to wear.

Thoughts?

Check out the Wilderness Instructor belts. The 5-stitch version should offer sufficient support. I have the 1.5" Frequent Flyer version and it works well. I've used it to carry K-frames with an IWB holster. Bonus: The FF version has no metal components so you can wear it through airport security and/or metal detectors.

There are other makers, but I'm not familiar with them.

I still prefer my Beltman belt for regular carry. I'm not sure how a belt prints, though. A good, thick, double-layer leather belt is still the best option, in my opinion. I think it gives the best support for carrying a gun, helping to keep it close to your body, which helps minimize any printing issues the gun may have. Belt thickness wouldn't have any effect on printing.

But the Instructor-type belts are good if you prefer nylon.

Original Instructor Belt


Measure your holster loops. A1.5 won't fit my Galco holsters

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Retired Career Security Guard

I love my edc cobra belt from bluealphagear.com

My only experience with nylon shoulder holsters. With daily use, they grow "fur" and get limp. Maybe the belts are better.

[QUOTE=ContinentalOp;139884146]Check out the Wilderness Instructor belts. The 5-stitch version should offer sufficient support. I have the 1.5" Frequent Flyer version and it works well. I've used it to carry K-frames with an IWB holster. Bonus: The FF version has no metal components so you can wear it through airport security and/or metal detectors.

Been using the Wilderness 5 stitch Frequent Flyer belts for about 2 years now.....can't beat them for <$40. Generally weekends, at the cabin,work belt for IWB and OWB

Still like my Bianchi B12 fancy stitch belt for most EDC.... w/ Sparks Summer Special.

The two current nylon belts I use are made by Condor and Spec Ops. Both are excellent and I have no problem supporting either a K frame M19 2.5 or Sig autos like a P220. I have the belts in both 1.5 and 1 3/4" widths in tan color but they are available in green, black etc. Best part of these belts is that they are totally adjustable in length unlike a leather belt with holes. Forget exactly the price but it was around $25. As far as printing they are fairly standard wear now with frequent fliers that don't want to remove their belt at the air port and I'm sure plenty of active duty and recent vets use them for casual wear. I'd try to keep the nylon belt width to 1.5" at most. The instructors belt IMO is over kill and screams gun to those that are familiar with firearms. Also found the nylon belts comfortable due to the light weight and flexability. Per an expert English holster maker he felt the most important factor in supporting a holstered firearm is being able to tighten up the belt sufficiently and still be comfortable and also keeping the belt as inconspicuous appearing as possible for both outside and inside the waistband wear.

I don't know about "overkill" but the rest of this statement is spot on. Instructor belts are as ubiquitous in the firearms community as Glocks(there's a reason for that) and anyone who knows guns is going to at least suspect that you're carrying as soon as they see the belt. I got away with it because no one sees my belt.

That said I've worn Instructor belts for about five years (same belts) I have a 1.25 for casual wear and a Black 1.5 for wear at work that has been used as an under belt for a duty belt and still looks brand new.

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Retired Career Security Guard

Thanks all, I plan to wear a t shirt over it, I normally don't tuck in unless I'm wearing a jacket in which case that would cover the belt.

My wife carries a Pavona ,30oz loaded, with 1.5" wide waxed cotton belt, OWB holster. It is plenty stiff, and she has never complained. When I am not using a full size belt I use one also.

Fortunately, I can wear jeans to work now, so this has been my one-and-only belt for the past 4 years.

It’s borne my girth plus a 3” M-64 in an OWB paddle + 2 Comp IIIs, no complaints and girds up as well as day one.

About the best $50 I’ve ever spent.

5.11 Double Duty - coyote on one side black on the other just swivel the buckle around! It is a double thickness nylon belt that has supported everything I've carried from a full size 1911 to a Shield 9mm and Shield .45. Nice belts and DEFINATELY will not break the bank!!

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SFC, US Army, Retired

I am thinking about this one:

SR EDC Belt – Blue Alpha Gear

It has a plastic buckle instead of the cobra. I do not ever foresee needing the 10,000 lb tensile strength of the expensive cobra buckle. $29 with free shipping, seems like a winner.

Rather than nylon, I use the Looper belts with kydex inserts that allow a thin stylish belt that looks like a normal 1.5" belt, not a gun belt.
Classic Reinforced Holster Belt —

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Science plus Art

Excellent quality:

Ares Gear

I wore a leather gun belt for a long time but within the just few months I've been wearing a nylon belt. The company is "klik" I believe it's spelled. Awesome belt. Has a genuine cobra buckle, easy to tighten down and remove. Thick enough to provide plenty of support but none of those other extra straps on the side. Highly recommend them. The owner of the company called me directly after a few emails back and forth to help me puck the right belt and size and was very helpful/ patient.

Belts don't "scream gun" unless they have an NRA buckle attached.

I've carried guns for years using both leather and nylon. I now only use Frequent Flyer belts because you can't beat the infinitely adjustable feature when carrying a gun. The tightness of a belt has to be adjusted so that there is little up and down movement to the holster. One quarter inch looser or tighter can make a difference in comfort. Extra stiffening is just a marketing gimmick. I've never had a properly made leather gun belt or nylon belt allow a gun in a good holster to move away from my body. The real secret is a snug fit that is going to be comfortable for all day carry.

The belt is as much a tool as the holster. Sure a nice leather belt looks good. But carrying a gun isn't a some kind of style or fashion game. The well made web belt just works better.

Bill