Time for a new belt - Suggestions? UPDATE

sceva

sceva

Bronze Supporter
Joined
Feb 19, 2004
Messages
2,318
Reaction score
3,763
Location
NE IL but I'm from Ohio
My current go to belt is a 1.5" El Paso Saddlery dress belt I bought about 20 years ago. Worn whenever I carry and every weekend with jeans. It has held up well but I am looking to get a replacement before I retire next year.

Current belt: El Paso Saddlery lined – stitched dress belt; 1.5" wide, plain russet. 38" from the buckle end of the belt to the center hole. As currently worn I use one hole back ( the fourth hole) from the end but when using an IWB holster I have to move up a hole or two . I seldom wear belt holster but when I do they have the single belt slot / loop in the back ( Safariland or Bianchi belt holsters)

Another El Paso Saddlery belt would be about $90 plus shipping. I am leaning to getting another one from them but some of the posts I see make me wonder if they have the same quality as 20 years ago.

Any other options you recommend without breaking the bank? I don't want to spend much more that the El Paso and would prefer less if possible.

Must haves:
I want to stay with a 1.5 width
Probably lined / stitched as they seem stiffer over time than one thickness leather???
Russett, saddle brown or there abouts
Probably plain but MAY go basket stamped
A possibility of gaining weight in the future so Maybe an inch longer than now???
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
I have a floral belt and holster on order from El Paso now and it will be the first of their products I've owned. I have had Bianchi belts in the past and they were good but they keep shrinking, well that's my excuse.;)

Here's another company I've look at recently and they seem to have some pretty nice products not as costly as some but not exactly cheap either.

Orion Leather just google it.
 
Looking into Beltman ( Steer or Horse? and benefit to one over the other? ), Milt Sparks, and, of course, another El Paso.

Looked at the $30 dollar belt, Good value but I think I would prefer double thickness sewn. Not sure why but it just seems like the better solution.

Others to look at?
 
Like many others, I found the $30 online belt hard to resist. They shipped very quickly and the belt is a good value. I'm not at all sorry I bought it. However, I've found that for OWB carry, my custom made belt from Red Cent Custom Leather to be the cat's meow. The difference in stability is obvious.

Because he's a one-man operation, he'll make anything the customer wants (thickness, width, length, color/finish, hardware, etc.). The one he made me was a special color, 1.5" wide, two-piece stitched (which finishes the back much better than the one-piece $30 belt) and cost a whole bunch less than you're looking to pay for a replacement of what you currently have. He's now my go-to guy for leather items.
 
Last edited:
My go-to for belts is Beltman. I have a 1.5" double-thickness bullhide belt that's held up very well. I've used it to carry a 3" 65 in an IWB holster comfortably all day long. I don't know what the current pricing is but I want to say it's probably somewhere around $70-80 for their standard double-layer belt (horsehide and exotic skins are extra, some options are extra). They're available in different colors that should suit you.
 
Filson makes a nice 1 1/2" double thickness belt. It's not cheap--Filson stuff never is--$125.00.
 
Comp-Tac Kydex Reinforced Contour Belt at comp-tac.com

I have two; a black and a brown belt. My wife has a black one. I have worn them everyday for 6+ years now. Works great with OWB or IWB holsters l love them.
 
I love my black 1.5" Bigfoot gunbelt. Double sided with steel band core. The outside leather is english bridal leather which is soft. I have had it for a year and looks like new. Cost a hear ago was about $60.

I am leaning toward also getting a $30 gun belt in brown. Just to have a choice in color.
 
I have been using a Comp-Tac Kydex re-enforced belt almost every day for 10 years and it is still going strong. I also have an Eaglestroker gun belt that is really comfortable with my J frame. The heaviest an best looking gun belt I own is a Tucker & Byrd... workmanship is of the highest order and carries my heaviest guns with ease and comfort, Finally Snubbyfan is making a ranger style gun belt for my BBQ rig.
 
I have a beltman with the steel insert. It does a good job of supporting a m66 snub. Unfortunately I no longer have any meat on my hips. I can't even wear a belt comfortably without a gun. Digs right down to.bone almost. I don't care for suspenders but have little other choice these days.
 
I have a Galco on right now. I like it. It replaces a Bianchi that I only had a few years. I bought that because the one before it finally shrunk too much to be worn. The new one was of terrible quality.

So I put on a Galco that I'd been aging for a while, maybe 18 or so years. It instantly became a favorite and made me wonder why I neglected it. Last year when the wife asked what I wanted for Christmas, I took off the then barely used Galco and told her I wanted one 2" longer. It now sits where the one I'm wearing used to live. I take my time and work my way into things.

Womens all want to go buy something and wear it the same day (or week or year).

My realization that I had a nice belt came a few months ago when I went for a stress test. The nurse said "thats a nice belt". First time anyone has ever commented on my belt in a positive way.
 
steelslaver said:
I have several from Bullhide Belts. You can order width and thickness. No need for stitching if you get their 1/4 thick belt.
Click to expand...

I have a Bullhide brand belt too, for about 2+yrs now.

Pretty much all of the roughly 1/4" thick, single piece leather belts are the same. So I would go with the cheapest one I find fashionable. My Bullhide belt was a $40 clearance item.

However, if you don't want ANY sag to occur over time, then you would want a steel/polymer insert belt. Anything else will sag to a certain degree over time.

My next belt will be whatever the cheapest insert belt I can find is. Bullhide nows makes them like that, so maybe theirs. Although, if one can get say 5yrs of life out of my Bullhide belt or the $30 belt, that's not too shabby but will have to replace after a while.
 
Thank you all for your input.

I am down to three; I will either get another El Paso Saddlery belt, a Beltman or a Milt Sparks.

I know the $30 belt is a good deal with a lot of followers but I do believe I would prefer the double glued and sewn construction.

The Milt Sparks at $110 is $20 to $30 more than the other two so it is pretty much down to the El Paso at $90 or the Beltman at $80 for Bullhide and $90 for Horsehide.

Question on Beltman; Bullhide or Horsehide? Is there a real advantage in horsehide that would make me want to spend the extra $10.00?

Truely; I really like the El Paso Saddlery I have now and would just get another one if I was sure a new one would be the equal of my 20 year old one.

Thanks
 
Dick, can you tell us exactly which model Galco you recommend?
rburg said:
I have a
Galco on right now. I like it. It replaces a Bianchi that I only had a few years. I bought that because the one before it finally shrunk too much to be worn. The new one was of terrible quality.

So I put on a Galco that I'd been aging for a while, maybe 18 or so years. It instantly became a favorite and made me wonder why I neglected it. Last year when the wife asked what I wanted for Christmas, I took off the then barely used Galco and told her I wanted one 2" longer. It now sits where the one I'm wearing used to live. I take my time and work my way into things.

Womens all want to go buy something and wear it the same day (or week or year).

My realization that I had a nice belt came a few months ago when I went for a stress test. The nurse said "thats a nice belt". First time anyone has ever commented on my belt in a positive way.
Click to expand...
 
sceva said:
Question on Beltman; Bullhide or Horsehide? Is there a real advantage in horsehide that would make me want to spend the extra $10.00?
Click to expand...

What gun(s) do you carry? Just my opinion, but anything up to a typical service size handgun (K/L-frame revolver, 1911, etc.) should do fine with bullhide in the 1.5" width. Anything bigger or heavier and the horsehide might be worth the extra money. You can also contact Beltman and see what they say.

FWIW, even though I don't plan on carrying anything bigger than my Beretta 92FS on occasion, my next Beltman belt will likely be horsehide, just because I want one. Oh, and if it matters, I'm also planning on getting the 7-hole option.
 
I just purchased a belt from 30 dollar belt about 2 weeks ago. Can't beat them for quality and price. If any thicker I couldn't get it buckled. I recommend trying them.
 
Check out Armour Belts Great quality. Great options. Quick delivery. Priced right. Formerly Bissell Belts. Small family owned business.
 
Mene Gene Leather. Great product and service. I'd lost more weight than I thought and bought 2 belts that were too big. He trimmed them down at the buckle end and had them back to me in about a week, maybe less. I have been very favorable impressed.
 
What I like about Kore belts so far is the ratcheting buckle that lets you easily cinch it in when you have to take your gun out of your waist band and then easily let it back out a few notches when you reholster it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Holster/Belt rig
Replies
13
Views
503
chief38
chief38
N
  • Locked
Expired/Withdrawn WTB - belt buckle
Replies
0
Views
178
Naphtali
N
B
Expired/Withdrawn Mitch Rosen, Tucker, Lobo & Kirkpatrick holsters, Milt Sparks belt, 22 Jet brass + S&W & CT grips -- FINAL REDUCTIONS
Replies
9
Views
3K
bbtrout
B
sceva
New belt coming
Replies
15
Views
2K
sceva
sceva
M
  • Locked
Sold/Withdrawn Deluxe El Paso holster for 1911 Commander
Replies
1
Views
360
Xfuzz
Xfuzz

Latest posts

Back
Top