Choosing A Gun Belt

Streetrod · March 11th, 2009, 01:26 PM

I keep hearing you need a good gun belt, but I have not seen wear anyone tells what a good gun belt is. What are you looking for when you look at belts? This is all new to me.

JeffB · March 11th, 2009, 02:25 PM

Streetrod, you'll probably get a lot of recommendations of various makers, but I'll try to answer the generic "what to look for."
First off, it depends a bit on the sidearm that you're carrying, and the carry method. A full size 1911 platform handgun needs a stouter belt than a Ruger LCP-sized handgun. Primarily look for:

1. quality leather (doesn't come cheap) or man-made material;
2. proper width for your holster. Too wide and the belt loops won't fit the belt, too narrow and the holster/gun combination will move about too much;
3. stiffness. This may or may not be a function of how thick (single or double thickness material) the belt is. Regardless, the belt is the main weight bearing vehicle for the holster/gun. A belt not stiff/thick enough won't support the weight, and cause your carry to sag, bulge (if concealed carry), and be uncomfortable for continuous wear.
4. length. Gunbelts are usually measured a bit differently than casual/dress belts, especially if the carry is IWB. Look to the maker's recommendations on how to measure for proper length.

HTH

-jb

hihosilver · March 11th, 2009, 02:31 PM

I just got my Beltman black bullhide belt. You can wear it everyday, but it will still hold a large weapon without sagging. I would go with beltman. You want a stiff belt, but comfortable. ALso, a beltman doesnt look like a gunbelt...

community · March 11th, 2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffB

Streetrod, you'll probably get a lot of recommendations of various makers, but I'll try to answer the generic "what to look for."
First off, it depends a bit on the sidearm that you're carrying, and the carry method. A full size 1911 platform handgun needs a stouter belt than a Ruger LCP-sized handgun. Primarily look for:

1. quality leather (doesn't come cheap) or man-made material;
2. proper width for your holster. Too wide and the belt loops won't fit the belt, too narrow and the holster/gun combination will move about too much;
3. stiffness. This may or may not be a function of how thick (single or double thickness material) the belt is. Regardless, the belt is the main weight bearing vehicle for the holster/gun. A belt not stiff/thick enough won't support the weight, and cause your carry to sag, bulge (if concealed carry), and be uncomfortable for continuous wear.
4. length. Gunbelts are usually measured a bit differently than casual/dress belts, especially if the carry is IWB. Look to the maker's recommendations on how to measure for proper length.

HTH

-jb

+1 nice post.

BamaSteve · March 11th, 2009, 03:26 PM

Looking into getting my own soon as well. One thing I would suggest, spend the extra for velcro if you IWB carry. If you ever want to tuck you can get the clips for it. Usually $10 extra...but if you know you'll never need it, of course don't get it. Just something to consider.

EW3 · March 11th, 2009, 03:49 PM

+1000 on Beltman belts; I have two.

pgrass101 · March 11th, 2009, 03:54 PM

BLACKHAWK! CQC Pistol Belts - BLACKHAWK!

Entry level belt, they will support you pistol but will wear out a lot sooner than a good leather belt

jarhead79 · March 11th, 2009, 04:02 PM

Good gun belt:

Double thick. Always double thick. This doesn't mean huge, just 2-ply. Any holster maker that makes belts, uses 2-ply. 2 layers of leather, glued and stitched. I'd say they average 1/4 inch thick, give or take a few 32ths.

The belts that the beltman, me, HBE, and several others are pretty much the same. I know we 3 use the same leather. Others use different leather, but product is still pretty much the same. Some makers also might add a kydex strip or some other stiffener between the leather, but this is hardly necessary. You could get a thinner belt with this added, but I don't think thinner is an option, just thicker.

Crossbreed uses latigo/vegtan in their leathers which is something I wouldn't mind trying. Latigo is usually a little stiffer than veg tan, but I'm not sure on the wear of it, how it will break in.

Nate

Rcher · March 11th, 2009, 06:13 PM

I have an HBE gun belt that Eric made me and its outstanding. I had him make mine with a taper from 1-1/2" tapered to 1-1/4" at the buckle. He did a fabulous job tapering it. IIRC, he used 2 layers of 6-7oz leather, bullhide on one side and cowhide on the other. Mine is a little less than 1/4" thick and holds my 32oz. 1911 very rigid. One of these days I will post up some pics of it as soon as I get my new HBE holster.

los · March 11th, 2009, 06:22 PM

The Wilderness Instructor's Belt (3 or 5 stitch) is a great gun belt for the price.

I've used one for about 7 years without any issues.

March 11th, 2009, 01:26 PM	#1
Streetrod New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 5	Choosing A Gun Belt I keep hearing you need a good gun belt, but I have not seen wear anyone tells what a good gun belt is. What are you looking for when you look at belts? This is all new to me.

March 11th, 2009, 02:31 PM	#3
hihosilver Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dark side of the moon,Texas Posts: 235	I just got my Beltman black bullhide belt. You can wear it everyday, but it will still hold a large weapon without sagging. I would go with beltman. You want a stiff belt, but comfortable. ALso, a beltman doesnt look like a gunbelt... __________________ Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it ......

March 11th, 2009, 03:26 PM	#5
BamaSteve Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 663	Looking into getting my own soon as well. One thing I would suggest, spend the extra for velcro if you IWB carry. If you ever want to tuck you can get the clips for it. Usually $10 extra...but if you know you'll never need it, of course don't get it. Just something to consider. __________________ Smith & Wesson M&P9cCrossbreed Supertuck EDC Light:Nitecore EX10 R2 EDC Knife:Remington Sportsman Series “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” --Thomas Jefferson 1816

March 11th, 2009, 03:49 PM	#6
EW3 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 935	+1000 on Beltman belts; I have two. __________________ "Naked and Starving as They are We Cannot Enough Admire the Incomparable Patience and Fidelity of the Soldiery" – George Washington, Valley Forge, 1777.

March 11th, 2009, 03:54 PM	#7
pgrass101 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,654	BLACKHAWK! CQC Pistol Belts - BLACKHAWK! Entry level belt, they will support you pistol but will wear out a lot sooner than a good leather belt __________________ Noli nothis permittere te terere "If ignorance is bliss then shouldn’t most people happy?" -Thomas Jefferson-

March 11th, 2009, 02:25 PM	#2
JeffB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern Colorado Posts: 17	Streetrod, you'll probably get a lot of recommendations of various makers, but I'll try to answer the generic "what to look for." First off, it depends a bit on the sidearm that you're carrying, and the carry method. A full size 1911 platform handgun needs a stouter belt than a Ruger LCP-sized handgun. Primarily look for: 1. quality leather (doesn't come cheap) or man-made material; 2. proper width for your holster. Too wide and the belt loops won't fit the belt, too narrow and the holster/gun combination will move about too much; 3. stiffness. This may or may not be a function of how thick (single or double thickness material) the belt is. Regardless, the belt is the main weight bearing vehicle for the holster/gun. A belt not stiff/thick enough won't support the weight, and cause your carry to sag, bulge (if concealed carry), and be uncomfortable for continuous wear. 4. length. Gunbelts are usually measured a bit differently than casual/dress belts, especially if the carry is IWB. Look to the maker's recommendations on how to measure for proper length. HTH -jb

March 11th, 2009, 04:02 PM	#8
jarhead79 Distinguished Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Stansbury Park, UT Posts: 1,298	Good gun belt: Double thick. Always double thick. This doesn't mean huge, just 2-ply. Any holster maker that makes belts, uses 2-ply. 2 layers of leather, glued and stitched. I'd say they average 1/4 inch thick, give or take a few 32ths. The belts that the beltman, me, HBE, and several others are pretty much the same. I know we 3 use the same leather. Others use different leather, but product is still pretty much the same. Some makers also might add a kydex strip or some other stiffener between the leather, but this is hardly necessary. You could get a thinner belt with this added, but I don't think thinner is an option, just thicker. Crossbreed uses latigo/vegtan in their leathers which is something I wouldn't mind trying. Latigo is usually a little stiffer than veg tan, but I'm not sure on the wear of it, how it will break in. Nate __________________ Sig P239 9mm Bersa Thunder.45 Ruger SP101 .38 SPL Glock 36 (night sites) UBG Holsters current wait time as of 7-16-2009: 3-5 weeks.

March 11th, 2009, 06:13 PM	#9
Rcher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Montana (resident) Utah (currently) Posts: 1,095	I have an HBE gun belt that Eric made me and its outstanding. I had him make mine with a taper from 1-1/2" tapered to 1-1/4" at the buckle. He did a fabulous job tapering it. IIRC, he used 2 layers of 6-7oz leather, bullhide on one side and cowhide on the other. Mine is a little less than 1/4" thick and holds my 32oz. 1911 very rigid. One of these days I will post up some pics of it as soon as I get my new HBE holster. __________________ >>----> Keep it Concealed: *"The Element of Surprise is Far Superior than the Target of Fate".*

March 11th, 2009, 06:22 PM	#10
los Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corpus Christi, Tx Posts: 684	The Wilderness Instructor's Belt (3 or 5 stitch) is a great gun belt for the price. I've used one for about 7 years without any issues. __________________ What we've got here is failure to communicate.

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