Keep in mind that though us long-time forum members may have seen most topics covered in a thread or two, there are constantly NEW MEMBERS joining that benefit from seeing some of these "old threads".

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Stay protected my friends.

I'm really surprised, and disappointed, to hear you say that. Obviously a good holster is paramount, but the belt is an integral part and should be considered just like the holster.

A good belt without a good holster, will be a disappointment.
A good holster without a good belt, will be a disappointment.
A good holster with a good belt, will be a wonderful experience.

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Freedom isn't free.

I think the bottom line is awareness (of this topic). I agree with the OP's thought and hope that this thread does inspire instructors to address the topic--should they have not done so otherwise.

A professional or hobbyist in another discipline may think it is common knowledge (mechanic suggesting preventative maintenance, doctor suggesting care regimens, and so on). Fact is, most of the people even who are into firearms do not take this into consideration. I agree with the others that suggest it is a 'system'. Each according to their ability, finances, and preferences, sure. It is an interplay of all these things, but yet there is also the situational awareness and emotional intelligence aspects too. Heaven forbid something were to happen, a person likely only has seconds to make sound decisions that will impact the rest of their lives and others. Stop to think on that for a moment (rhetorically).

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Rather be outdoors

We'll agree to disagree. No one can define a 'good' belt or a 'good' holster without arguments ensuing :-). But none of us can argue with what you or anyone else personally likes, either.

If you look again at what I said, I test my designs against a cheap Walmart belt that still has its tag on it. If the prototype doesn't carry well on that belt, it doesn't get produced. Recall that I'm not a maker, but a designer; so my creations are always for mass-production not personal satisfaction. I.e., I don't design one-off 'custom' holsters; all the parts are interchangeable for mass production.

I do play around a bit with ramping up into production; these are for a dealer:

batch jm 1-19 (5).jpg

batch jm 1-19 (6).jpg

Kamuran Aker once told me, 'your designs put my company on the map'. They did the same for Bianchi and Galco and De Santis and Assault Systems; and didn't hurt 20 more companies any, either.

Nothing to be disappointed in there. 'Good' belts don't exist, only poor holsters on stiff belts. Been at this more than a half century and was there while we were making all the mistakes throughout the industry.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

Having purchased two DeSantis E25 belts from Midway recently and wearing them daily on both my work (duty) trousers and my "good casual" pants, even without a holster or pistol, I can honestly say that the difference a good belt makes is astounding.

The belt "holds" over the full width, not just a narrow part as my issue leather one does. My pants no longer need to be "adjusted" every time I get out of the patrol car and my shirts remain tucked in. They also have not stretched as thinner leather belts do after a few days of wear.

Something tells me I will be wearing a "proper" gunbelt simply as a trouser support system for as long as I am able to do so and never go back to thin leather.

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View from down under

I am bringing this topic back around for the benefit of any NEW members who are instructors, or new members that just need to know.

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Stay protected my friends.

When I took a class from Ken Hackathorn he certainly addressed this topic.
His advice was " If you can fold it in half vertically it is NOT sturdy enough.

Fortunately for me, my Carhartt work belt did the job and then some....AND it was not super expensive.

Maybe it will work for others as well....

Randy

All of the notion of 'get a good gunbelt' is nonsense because the makers can't define it; my friend Hackathorn's explanation is not clear to me as you've shown it.

A good gunbelt only needs to be rigid across its WIDTH; and that's only necessary on a poorly designed holster; which most of the old models from the 1970s are. 1970s gunleather evolved from the fast draw gunleather of the 1960s; and it evolved from the leatherslaps of the 1950s. All these makers were ex-saddle makers (Ojala did not make his own gunleather) notably Andy Anderson. So saddle leather was used, it was double thick and stitched, and everyone agreed what a 'good gunbelt was'. But it was also the '70s so the belts were a minimum of 1-3/4" wide for fashion reasons including the loops on jeans. The trousers belt was quite literally a cinch strap and old Skeeter even called them that.

Fast forward to today, and every gunleather maker who tells his buyers to buy a good gunbelt is having trouble keeping his designs stable on the belt. Kanaley at Sparks is one of the worst about this and simply refuses to learn better. But we know from a half century of gunleather engineering since Milt Sparks first copied Andy's designs and then Nelson's, that center of gravity controls the relevance of the belt.

Make the holster too high, as John Bianchi did on the Askins Avenger, then perpetuated by Sparks, and the belt will have to be quite stiff along its LENGTH to hold up the top-heavy pistol. Drop the center of gravity to the ideal height -- on an auto even Paris Theodore, who turns out to have been quite the amateur, knew that was with the mag button clearing the top edge of the belt; on a revolver it's with the cylinder overlying the width of the belt -- and one can use any belt that fills the width of the holster's tunnel for it.

Andy's gunbelt sets were not carried at the waist; they were carried on a 2-1/2" wide gunbelt around the pelvis above the hips. Their center of gravity was so low that they even had tie down straps. When Jeff Cooper mandated that the pistols be carried up at the waist on a trousers belt (the Texas Rangers had made that decision 70 years before) those same makers just didn't stop and think -- why do the belts need to be so stiff? These were not holster people; all three of them wanted to be actors. So they just kept cranking them out the old way and the oldies of that era, including Ken, didn't ever stop to think about it, either. Can't teach an old dog new tricks it seems?

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

The two dominant and controlling rules of firearms self-defense are:

Rule One: The only known way of surviving a gunfight is avoidance. A gunfight, be definition, means a bad guy wants a good guy dead.

Rule Two: If Rule One is unavoidable, don't get shot. That means a good gun cannot remain within a threat's sight picture.

I do agree that a good quality gun belt facilitates ease of carry. But gun belts to not always complement social affairs; e.g., formal functions, black tie affairs, etc.

They can be blamed !
because making the decision to conceal carry a weapon of Destruction should not be taken lightly and every person should do their due diligence to have all the information they can possibly gather to do it right and safely.
There is way more information out there than any one person can possibly read to make the correct decision. JMHO
A good gun belt ? I got mine from Alien Gear very stylish and it has a stainless steel band in between the leather running from the Buckle all the way around to the holes. No leather flop on this belt.

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2 Cor 5:17
John3:16

Red,
That makes me laugh out loud.....Any one that wears a sidearm daily knows.

Just how often do you wear a real sidearm in your daily travels?

All My Best,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I prescribe, for fits of giggles induced by considering advancements in gunleather knowledge, the state of the art in 1975: Andy Anderson's all-steel gunfighter rig.

arganbrights (7).jpg

This will restore one's world to a state of peace.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

When I was instructing for CC licensees and qualifying retirees for annual
LEOSA qualifications...I like to see proper gear. As some have said, the
sidearm, holster and belt should be seen as a unit.

My real world experience is based on nearly fifty years of carrying a sidearm for work and or sport.
Whether it be a horseback, in a vehicle or office desk chair...I like a rig that'll wear all day long and
not leave a feller sored up....

I also like pant belts and gunbelts constructed from full grain leather.
(not all leather qualities are the same)







.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I honestly don't believe that really good Stiff leather cuts it.
Internal reinforcement between the bands of leather assures that it will never sag.
Gun Belt | Alien Gear Holsters
JMHO

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2 Cor 5:17
John3:16

Once again, bringing this back around for the benefit of NEW MEMBERS and instructors who would not have seen it before.

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Stay protected my friends.

Whenever I take a course, I make sure the topic comes up.

Good holsters go a long way for proper concealment and comfort, however the belt is just as important. The first time you run up a flight of stairs, you figure this out really quick.

A good set of suspenders along with a good belt & holster is my way of packing!!!