Holster carry; pants belt or separate belt

[sceva]

Title says it all. I have almost always carried my holster on a good belt that also hold up my pants when carrying open or concealed. Normally I am wearing jeans and a good stiff 1 1/2" belt. Sometimes a holster has to be shifted one way or the other depending on where the belt loops are but that is usually not an issue. I have noticed that in some of your photos the holster is on a belt, sometime with a knife or mag carrier. Is that just for the photo or how you carry it, two belts always seemed a little awkward to me.
This is about day to day or concealed carry. I understand that competition or western rigs are a different matter.

 

[Alk8944]

Unless you are wearing a Sam Browne belt as a uniform police officer then a steel-lined trouser belt. Look at $30 gun belt for good ones at a reasonable price: 30 Dollar Gun Belt | High Caliber Gun Belts. Period. – Thirty Dollar Gun Belt

 

[RMFnLA]

Agreed, a good belt is indispensable.

I use the Poyolee CCW, $34 on Amazon.

 

[sceva]

Yes, a good belt. Mine has been an El Paso Saddlery for the past 25 years or so. My old one started to show it's age and I got bigger so I got new one a couple of years ago.

#20 “Dress Belt” – El Paso Saddlery

A number of good one out there, Beltman, 30 dollar, and of course the holster makers. I started with El Paso and liked it ( with my buckles) so I stayed with it. Doesn't hurt that they'll replace it free is it wears out or in my case at a discount since I wanted to keep the old one.

 

[somorris]

I just use one belt like you always have. I don’t believe I would like having to wear two belts.

 

[Baxter6551]

One belt. Usually 1 1/2 inch. Couple of good ones:
The Belt Man
Hank’s Belts

 

[lihpster]

Ted Blocker 1 3/4" gunbelt and Perry suspenders. Although a dedicated pistol belt is nice for speed. When the noise is right outside the door of the tent or just in the hall, speed matters.

 

[CH4]

I have a few belts and holsters from Mernikle. Bought em at shows for $30 a piece. Well made.

 

[Old cop]

When I first made detective some of the older cops did the two belt thing but it never worked for me. I couldn’t use belt keepers like with the Sam Browne/uniform & the outer gun belt kept shifting around on me. My issued weapon was initially a Colt DS that went into evidence following an OIS, then a Model 10 snub square butt.

The Model 10 I have at home but I’m still looking for that old Colt DS, Serial #689642. If you happen to have that old DS pls PM me.

 

[madmikeb]

I have recently bought some belts from Versa Carry. They are really nice belts, double layer, and real reasonable if you buy through a special and they have specials constantly.

 

[StrawHat]

Have your holster maker cut a “window” in the belt tunnel so you can position your holster over a belt loop. Or, have your tailor move the belt loops so they frame the holster. I have used both methods and they work equally well. If you need a special belt to hold your holster securely, your holster is built incorrectly.

Kevin

 

[murphydog]

I thought I recalled a semi-recent thread on the same subject:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/gun-le...ddition-pants-belt.html?highlight=double+belt

 

[Claymore33]

.45 acp is carried in OWB or IWB holster attached to pants belt. When carrying S&W revolver it is in cowboy rig with separate belt which has 20 bullet loops.In Texas we wear Ranger style belts 1.5” as our pants belt.

 

[Onomea]

I think on the forum the pics with holsters and belts are just pics showing off a nicely matched rig. Like this one:



When I wear it, in the belt loops it goes.

 

[minconrevo]

I've used both stout leather as well as nylon. The leathers have included one with a spring steel insert and another had a plastic one. Took a while, but both eventually wore out. For nylon, I prefer a 1 1/2 or 1 3/4" double thickness. Often these are reversible to another color for more versatility. It's still stiff enough to support a holster well, while being flexible enough for comfort. A nylon rigger's belt works but it screams "gun".

My vote is "both".

 

[Onomea]

...In Texas we wear Ranger style belts 1.5” as our pants belt.

Since I retired and no longer wear a suit, I wear a 1.5" belt daily. (When I was working the 1.5 incher was standard on weekends.) I'm mostly carrying, but even when I'm not I like a 1.5". Usually it's an old Mitch Rosen that has softened up after 20 years but works fine for snubbies. If I'm carrying something bigger, I usually use a stiffer belt.

A few years ago I bought a Mitch Rosen that tapers in the front so that it looks like a dress belt but then widens to 1.5" to provide support. The idea is wear it with a jacket so no one knows it is a gunbelt. Frankly, have not found a use for it.

While I recognize that some well informed folks don't think gunbelts are necessary for well built holsters, I think that belief is overly categorical.

There are a lot of well built holsters. And it is a truism that not every well built holster will work for every individual. My view is that if a gunbelt makes the holster make and model you prefer, for your gun and your body type, feel more secure and comfortable, then wear a gun belt.

Me, I like gun belts, and as noted above they also serve as my regular pants belts.

 

[Mike in Reedley]

If you like back pain and added weight, then a separate pistol belt over your trouser belt is the way to go. One of the advantages of Detectives over Patrol, was I didn’t have to wear that miserable duty belt.

You can get by with a mediocre holster as long as you have a good belt, but it doesn’t work the other way around. Buy a quality belt (I wear Simply Rugged or 5.11) that fits your holster. The reason you feel your holster shifting is probably because the holster has a 1 3/4” belt slot and you’re wearing an 1 1/2” wide belt.

 

[dobegrant]

I prefer the single belt for EDC, only time for a separate belt/ holster combo is when hunting.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

This is about day to day or concealed carry. I understand that competition or western rigs are a different matter.

1 belt and I have a lot of choices but mostly heavy-duty 1.5" leather belts.

Western rigs are fun, though, when you're cowboy action shooting!

 

[BKLooney]

I have a number of gun belts, a few of them from Beltman and other quality makers.

The ratcheting Kore belts are what I finally settled on, absolutely no sag and the ratcheting is fantastic. Always the perfect fit!

Best Rated Gun Belts - EDC/Range/LEO | KORE Essentials
– Kore Essentials