Gun Belt

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Goffman

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Hi All,

I have been reading (and occasionally posting) on this forum since february, and I have learned A TON from the conversations here. One thing that's come up a number of times is the value of a well-made belt for concealed carry. Folks usually say something like "it's all about the belt" (quoting member WC145 from a recent post) or "be sure to get a really good gun belt" (quoting member OKFC05).

A few questions:

1. In terms of materials and/or construction, what is the difference between a "good gun belt" and the standard men's leather belt that one might purchase in a typical department store?

2. How specifically does the "good gun belt" aid concealment of IWB and/or OWB holsters?

3. I've noticed that a typical belt of mine will start it's life nice and straight, but, after a month or so, develop a "dip" at the rearmost section of the belt (the section that is exactly opposite my belly button). Will this occur with a "good gun belt" as well?

4. Do you have any recommentations for a particular brand of "good gun belt" that is both durable and affordable?

As always, any comments, advice, suggestions, input, thoughts, etc., would be appreciated greatly.
 
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I'm looking at a Galco belt that's 1 3/4". I've been wearing a Galco 1" belt for over 10 years -- I sometimes swim with it on, carry with it, wear it every day -- and it is sturdy as can be. A 629 weighs it down just enough that I'm moving up 3/4" in width so it better fits the 1 3/4" slot in my 5BHL holster. A stable rig is a comfortable rig. I would like to have gotten a Bianchi B7 cartridge belt in .44 before they stopped making them.
 
I wear 1 1/2" belts. They fit jeans, shorts and Dockers-my pretty much only daily wear.

I went through three 5.11 dress belts in less than a year. They "break" where they buckle and, though still functional, annoy me too much to use them.

I bought two belts which are working well. A Galco cordovan belt that hasn't a bit of wear showing after 6 months and a black one from the Beltman.

BTW, rather than wait for the Beltman to make one, I found that Top Gun Supply, one of the best new and used gun dealers on the Net, has Beltman's black belts in stock at $69.95. I ordered mine and got it two days later. I wear it most every day during the week now and it is heavy, comfortable and shows no wear.

I know there are others, just as good, but these have been working fine for me.

Bob
 
I carry at the upper end of what's considered normal comfort and weight-wise (5" 629/IWB). There is no comparison between a cheezy, china-made, chrome tanned (or arsenic, nuclear byproduct, ect.) department store belt and a real american made gunbelt. The leather is top quality, vegetable tanned leather and designed to be stiff from the side, so as to prevent a gun from sagging. The department store belts die in a year, or two. A good gunbelt may last a lifetime.

My 629 shifts around some when I use my 1 3/4" army issue nylon belt. My 1 3/4" Beltman belt puts that nonsense to an end.

You will find that, being leather, the belt won't stay perfectly straight, but will take on a little bit of an S shape as it learns to fit your body. Side to side stability, such as is needed to support a large gun in a pancake holster will not suffer.
 
My very favorite belt used to be a Wilderness Instructor's belt, 1.75" width, with the C.S.M. insert. While I still wear one each and every day, Wilderness has started using cheaper materials. The belt I was wearing 3 years ago is a much better belt than the one I got 3 months ago.

Anyway.

Another good LEATHER belt is made by Looper. It is two strips of leather with a strip of kydex sandwiched inside. That little "dip" you were talking about? You won't have it with a Looper belt. They guarantee their belts against warping. If it warps, send it back for a free replacement.

Looper Reinforced Holster Belt
 
The problem with the Wilderness type of belts is that they look at little too casual with nice pants or shorts and a polo.

I guess they are fine with a T-shirt and jeans or jean shorts or some tacticool 5.11/Blackhawk pants, but I prefer to look just a tad more nicely dressed unless I am out in the sun shooting or going to and from the club or range.

A Beltman or Looper or Galco fills the bill. I am not sure it the Looper's insert will eventually "break" or kink as the 5.11 belts do.

For real dress occasions (dress pants and shirt/tie and maybe coat), I have one of the 1 1/4" Uncle Mike's Dress Belts which will support a gun and holster, too.

Thankfully, since I have retired, dress occasions are very rare.

Bob
 
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straightshooter1 said:
The problem with the Wilderness type of belts is that they look at little too casual with nice pants or shorts and a polo.

I guess they are fine with a T-shirt and jeans or jean shorts or some tacticool 5.11/Blackhawk pants, but I prefer to look just a tad more nicely dressed unless I am out in the sun shooting or going to and from the club or range.

A Beltman or Looper or Galco fills the bill. I am not sure it the Looper's insert will eventually "break" or kink as the 5.11 belts do.

For real dress occasions (dress pants and shirt/tie and maybe coat), I have one of the 1 1/4" Uncle Mike's Dress Belts which will support a gun and holster, too.

Thankfully, since I have retired, dress occasions are very rare.

Bob
Click to expand...

I wear the Wilderness on duty and when I'm not in a uniform (which is rare) I wear it with shorts and a T-shirt. Looks fine.

But I do have my Looper for when I "dress up" for the occassion. And no, the Looper will not break. The Kydex does not go all the way to the end where it folds over around the buckle. It DOES however go all the way to the tip of the belt.

I'm tellin' ya, for 45 bucks, it can't be beat.

Another option is the Filson belt. Those guys go overboard with their stuff.

Filson - Shop By Category: Accessories: Belts & Suspenders: 1-1/2 Inch Double Belt
 
Goffman:

I have been enjoying my Belt Man (TheBeltMan.net) 1.5" wide belt for a while now and it looks as good as the day it arrived. I just carry a 640 (J-frame) and my Tucker IWB holster goes nowhere. Belt Man provides great customer service, too, imho. Thanks for starting the thread -- it reminds me that I need to get another belt but with 7 holes rather than 5 holes.

GL,

Chris
 
I'm glad Goffman started this thread. I was happy with my Wilderness Belts - wore them nearly all the time but then with the last one I got some months back I thought it wasn't holding up nearly as well (it was already showing signs of wear and the other two, each a year older - hadn't). So I'm also glad Glock 'em discovered it too 'cause sometimes I think I'm nutz when I notice stuff like that.

I gotta figure the Filson belt is good since I have had two of their wool jackets forever and they're my favorites...over the lighter fleece, etc. and they've gotten a workout in all kinds of weather thru the years. They changed management over there in Seattle a few years back and some stuff is imported, but the 'real' Filson goods (coats, leather, pants) are still being made in the Seattle factory.

I will get one of those "Loopers." Aside from the cheaper materials, I've also started seeing a lot Wilderness belts around lately, to me they're a 'tell'. The "Looper" will blend in better and also look a bit nicer on those incredibly rare occasions when I care about that stuff anymore.
 
I use a Wilderness 1 1/2" instructor for my bigger guns and 1 1/4" Frequent Flyer for IWB and my snub...these are way more comfotabl than my thick Alessi leather belt....yeah, they are a bit "tactical" looking but I never tuck my shirt in...so it's a non-issue...
 
+ whatever for the Wilderness belts, and don't know about lesser quality of newer belts vs older belts since both my belts are less than a year old. They work fine, look good, and can't beat the price.
 
In my experience, there is absolutely no need for a "gun" belt. A proper "dress" belt such as ones made by Coach or Trafalgar are wholly suitable for carrying just about anything. I use them, exclusively. I now CCW a j-frame but in the past routinely CCW'd a 14 shot 9mm.

I see no need whatsover for a belt that screams "gun."

Be safe.

PS:

One's belt must match one's holster...and shoes/other leather accessories, too.
 
Gentlemen,

thank you for your input concerning my questions. I appreciate your time to reply.

So, it sounds like a quality gun belt will add some stability to a holster and, as a general item of attire, will last a lot longer than the department store brands, but otherwise is not going to add greatly to my efforts at concealment. Am I summarizing adequately?

I'm very interested in these belts that contain stiffeners (e.g., Belt Man). I imagine that would sort of help keep everything (e.g., holster, expanding waistline, etc.) in its place.
 
I wear a belt to hold my pants up. Been doing so for over 60 yrs. More than half of those years have seen the belts holding a holster and sidearm.

The only time I experienced problems with a belt is when it was a cheapo from some discount store.

Belts that have given me the best wear, comfort and looks came from western wear stores and were not cheap and not some phoney material but rather real leather.

Name brand items are often no better than any other similar priced item but often you pay more for the name.

The belt I am wearing at this moment has been holding my pants up for the last three years and has held 10-12 pounds of sidearm, cuffs and extra mags almost daily during that time and it still looks brand new. Cost $47 at a western store, genuine leather. Never a problem with a good belt. I wear it with $40 jeans and $400 suits. Just a good quality 1 1/2 inch belt.
 
Goffman said:
So, it sounds like a quality gun belt will add some stability to a holster and, as a general item of attire, will last a lot longer than the department store brands, but otherwise is not going to add greatly to my efforts at concealment.
Click to expand...
A good belt will keep the butt of your gun tucked into your body as tight as is possible and minimize shifting of the gun. If the gun gets uncomfortable you may get squirmy. A good belt will eliminate this problem as far as is possible. Nothing is a bigger give away than "shifting, or hunching up" one's gun. YMMV on how much a good belt helps you. For me, with a three pound primary and a total of about five pounds of guns and ammo, it is indispensible. The person appendix carrying a J frame may find that the belt matters little.
 
I purchased a "Real Man's Belt" from Simply Rugged Holsters. It is made from some sort of super thick, high quality leather and it is much stiffer than my other belts. If I'm carrying one of my bigger guns, I weat it, along with one of the Simply Rugged Holsters. It is a tank compared to my other belts...and if you happen to be a fat guy like me, they can make them any length (their web site shows what to measure on an existing belt). Good luck, B
 
I have a Mitch Rosen belt that's around 15 years old and a Kramer that's around 10 YO. Both look almost new and neither looks to be anything other than a regular belt. Relatively expensive but since they last forever no big deal. Hard to beat a belt designed to support carry.

Rosen Product Line and Leather Gun Belts

These guys certainly aren't the only ones out there making good stuff, just two examples IMHO.

Bob
 
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