Ram Rod

I seem to see alot of threads pertaining to who's who in the world of belts. Manufacturer or supplier names are often mentioned. Me? I like real leather. I actually looked at a couple of potential carry belts today at JCPenney! $9.99 I found the one I wanted, but alas---only in 36", and 42". I'll take a 38" thank you. So---this brings me to my question--(and poll)--why does anyone pay outrageous prices for some leather belt of a specific dimension, from a holster manufacturer when you could find an almost seemingly endless resource in your own community? Genuine leather is not good enough? Don't want to pay anything less than a dollar per inch? Must have some well-known 'tactical' name on the inside where no-one can see? What makes you want to spend an exorbitant amount on the belt?

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RamRod-----sans remords
live, eat, breathe, sleep Glock

Thumper

I just want quality craftsmanship and quality leather so I pay what I must to get it!

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USMC 1968-1971

ALWAYS carry! - NEVER tell!

"Don't go to stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things!"

myusername

Its not just a strip of leather. The ones I have are two strips of thick leather sewn together very strongly. They do not flex when twisted and can support more stuff than I'll ever carry. I have yet to find anything like it in a department store. Even the thicker belts at the western stores aren't as strong as a good gunbelt.

Echo_Four

I said someone mentioned on the forum, but it was me that mentioned it. I buy leather belts only from Looper Leather. You can buy online, but I buy from their store in Oklahoma City.

As for non-leather, it is Wilderness belts.

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QKShooter

Actually, you would THINK that leather is leather...and it is.
But, when you really start to get to know leather...beginning at the hide then you realize how much variation there is in leather & MUCH depends on where it's taken from on the hide.
There are also huge differences in the density and compactness of leather from different tanneries.
The age of the animal, the quality of the tanning and finishing process & the list goes on.
Also the strength and tenacity of the leather is in the top grain.
Most good gun belts are not one strip of thicker leather.
They are made up of two thinner top grain strips cemented Flesh to Flesh and then additionally Lock~Stitched together.
Before even beginning to do the construction the Maker needs TWO high quality top grains and that means double the "highest quality material cost" right off the bat.
Also the reality is that you can only cut so many BEST QUALITY belt strips from one hide.
That is because the closer you get to the BELLY the LESS suitable the leather becomes for holster or belt applications.
The direction that the strips are cut is also critical or you will have a stretchy belt.
The strips cannot be cut from the back to the belly because that will give you a crappy gun belt.
Now and hopefully you can see how a BEST quality Gun-Belt is more than just a leather belt.
Especially in how long they will last and how long they will continue to properly support a full size full weight firearm.
Now add the hand finishing - the careful edge dyeing and edge finishing - & the final overall hand finish on the belt and the cost starts to stack up.
The buckles should also be either solid brass or Nickel Silver or some quality material that is NOT Plated Pot Metal or Zinc Die Cast which can give you a very embarrassing and inopportune break when you are carrying a firearm.
Are best quality gun-belts worth the extra cost? I think they are. They are every bit AS IMPORTANT as the holster.
They are probably LESS important if you are carrying a smaller .380 OWB but, for sure if you intend to pack a full weight serious Self~Defensive firearm in a proper fashion a good belt is a must.
Even MORE important if you are carrying in a rig that places a full size/full weight firearm higher up on the belt because you never want your rig flipping down on you.
With a cheap belt you'll need cinch up the belt overly tight. A BEST quality gun belt distributes the weight of the firearm (and possible accouterments) on the belt which can structurally handle the gun weight and so the belt can be worn less tight....allowing you to do things like go out and eat a good dinner without constricting your intestines.
You will never fully appreciate having a high quality GUN Belt until you buy one.
Just my personal somewhat educated opinion that gun belts really are worth the price.

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dropped_71chevy

Where's the poll option about how a quality gun belt is the best way to go? I didn't buy a quality belt because I was trying to support a vendor nor was it my attempt to be a snob. I bought one because, on the advice of the good folks here, I realized that it was the best decision that I could make.

I went with a belt from the vendor that made my holster and magazine holder.

Pitmaster

I had to make a small adjustment to the truth of my leather belt purchasing. I prefer to buy quality gun belts and have purchased two belts in different colors. I also buy extra snaps to match the belts for my IWB holster. I have purchased my holster and belts from Black Hills Leather who leans more towards cowboy shooting but does great work.

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Pitmaster

HELGA: Where are you going?
HAGAR: To sign a peace treaty with the King of England.
HELGA: Then why take all those weapons?
HAGAR: First we gotta negotiate...

ccw9mm

Great. I have yet to find a decent carry belt at any strip-mall department store. Not to say they don't exist. They just don't exist near me frequently enough for me to have ever seen them, in 16yrs of looking.

Availability. That's a pretty simple factor. No amount of wishing's going to make a sub-par belt for any amount of money stand up to the duty. Sizing, for another. No belt that's 6" too long or shot is going to help me much, though a long belt can be shortened for ... well, more than $9.99, but significantly less than an "exhobitant" price, if a sufficient belt could be found.

If it's formed into a purposeful belt, sure.

Price has nothing to do with it. Who wouldn't want to spend less, assuming availability, sufficiency an durability? But without those factors, the price is irrelevant.

All of the above.

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Thoughts: Justifiable self defense.
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
Deal with evil through strength. Affirm the good in Man through trust.
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maclean3

I agree with QK completely, until you've tried a true, top quality gun belt you'll never realize how much difference there really is - or how much department store belts suck for supporting a carry rig. Are good belts worth the $75 to $100 or more? Absolutely!
Jack

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HotGuns

Pitmaster

I've been described as rather rotund more than once. I used to buy my belts at Casual Male/Big & Tall. They stretched and wouldn't last that long and I would pay $30+ for them. Since I bought a couple of gun belts at twice the price I find they work better and last longer making them a better purchase in the long run. I would rather have a custom gun belt than any regular commercial belt.

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Pitmaster

HELGA: Where are you going?
HAGAR: To sign a peace treaty with the King of England.
HELGA: Then why take all those weapons?
HAGAR: First we gotta negotiate...