Belts for Heavy Guns: Leather, Kydex, Steel?

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labnoti

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I have only recently been wearing a gun belt. Before that I carried other than by belt and was only familiar with fashion belts. I am interested only in concealed carry, not competition or duty.

I got one of those really heavy (16 oz) leather belts (Relentless). I find myself needing to cinch it uncomfortably tight to keep the gun from sagging. My guns range from 39 to 44 oz. Next I am trying a rigid-core belt (Kore). I think it has a kydex core.

I thought I'd ask what other people have found works well for heavier guns. Thick leather? Kydex? Steel core? Some of the steel core belts look like the steel band is fairly narrow, like Hanks. How much is enough?
 
labnoti said:
I got one of those really heavy (16 oz) leather belts (Relentless). I find myself needing to cinch it uncomfortably tight to keep the gun from sagging. My guns range from 39 to 44 oz.
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Is the belt sagging or is the weight of gun pulling your pants down?

If the former, it's a belt problem.

If the latter it is more likely something to do with you (body shape, how you wear the belt, holster choice, etc.) and a new belt probably won't fix the issue. Adding suspenders to your belt is usually the answer to this issue.
 
I went with Bullhide.

https://www.bullhidebelts.com/collections/gun-belts

The belt is great. It’s literally the sturdiest belt I’ve ever owned. No matter the weight of the handgun it’s not going anywhere.

Only thing is get this buckle ...
FCB49B81-7DFC-4968-B966-CA00B266C60F.jpeg

... instead of this one.
F0F3D6BE-0E0D-4B83-AAFC-AAC17841E0B4.jpeg

The tube on that second buckle rattles like there’s no tomorrow and it drives me and my better half nuts.
 
I have a Diamond D with kydex insert for my heavy revolvers (40+ oz. empty). For the price I believe the quality is high, I like it. Doesn't roll up or flop. I'd like an option for a roller-buckle and Chicago screws but that wouldn't stop me from buying another. I would call them before you order, I got mine probably one size too big, but if you loose weight (I'm working on it), they'll take it down for you. Nice people, took a couple of weeks to get it.
 
Ive been using a Wilderness "Frequent Flyer" belt for a number of years now and really like them. I used one of their "Instructor" belts for decades prior to switching to these.

The advantage to the FF is, it doesnt look like, or as much like a gun belt as most others. It uses two plastic rings, and works like a motorcycle helmet buckle to secure it. Like the Instructor belts, its infinately adjustable through its range, so you get a "perfect" fit every time. No more having it too loose or too tight. Its always just right.

I have both 1.5" and 1.75" belts, but mostly use the 1.75". I find theyre more stable and comfortable. I use their "3 stich" belt, but they do offer a 5 stitch to make it stiffer, and I think they offer one with a plastic insert for even more stifness. I had an Instructor belt that had the insert but I didnt like it, as it was too stiff and uncomfortable. The 3 stich works fine for me, and thats with a full size handgun IWB, a couple of reloads, my Leatherman, and phone on my belt everyday.

https://www.thewilderness.com/belts/
 
The Relentless is a single-layer belt, probably chrome-tan leather, not rigid enough to qualify as a gun belt ("100% guaranteed to not split", lol... :D). Just look at the pictures on their site: there is no way you could coil a real gun belt twice over itself...

If you buy a quality belt from any of the many specialized artisans, you'd probably not need a reinforced belt unless you were carrying a steel framed gun. These are double-layer, glued and stitched, vegetable tan leather, an entirely different critter.

Search forums on the topic, and don't believe the hype on many "we do it all, including gun belts and evening dresses" sites.
 
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For my lighter carry guns a really thick and tall leather belt works well for IWB. If I want to carry a heavy gun IWB I pretty much have to glue skateboard tape to my butt to keep my pants up. I have found that OWB works much better for a heavy gun than IWB but you will of course need a cover garment.
 
Kano383 said:
The Relentless is a single-layer belt, probably chrome-tan leather, not rigid enough to qualify as a gun belt ("100% guaranteed to not split", lol... :D). Just look at the pictures on their site: there is no way you could coil a real gun belt twice over itself...

If you buy a quality belt from any of the many specialized artisans, you'd probably not need a reinforced belt unless you were carrying a steel framed gun. These are double-layer, glued and stitched, vegetable tan leather, an entirely different critter.

Search forums on the topic, and don't believe the hype on many "we do it all, including gun belts and evening dresses" sites.
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The Relentless belt is a single layer steer hide leather belt. It's 14 oz which translates to 14/64th inch thick or almost 1/4 inch. It's vegetable tanned. It's machine stitched with nylon thread and the buckle hardware is stainless steel. It's understood that the Relentless belt is not an artisan belt, nor is it priced like one. I bought it for $59 shipped. That's similar to the single layer belts sold by Simply Rugged. Whether it's a good gun belt or not, I didn't know since I don't know anything yet about gun belts.

I'm glad I didn't make one like it because the leather seems too supple and the gun twists it and it sags. It's not the pants sagging, but the belt sagging below the beltline of the trousers only where the holster is. Gun is 44 oz or about the weight of two Glocks, so yeah, certainly a steel-framed gun. Would two top layers of leather stitched together be stiff enough? It seems like steel or kydex are a less costly way to prove whether stiffness is better. Even a laminated leather belt can get softer and more supple as it's broken in, but steel or kydex would not.
 
The Wilderness Instructor Belt is probably one of the most popular belts out there. I don't really think there's much I can add to what AK103K has already said except for if you go with the wilderness belt make absolutely certain that you understand their sizing instructions or go with one of their easy fit belts which have wider range.

I wear a 1.75 inch 5 stitch instructor belt as the under belt for my duty belt and I have for several years and it has no problem holding up to that.

I have a 1.50 inch 5 stitch that I wear when I'm not at work and it will hold a full size Smith & Wesson 4006, two magazines, a multi-tool, a knife and a flashlight with no problem.

The other nice thing about the Wilderness belts is if you look on eBay you can probably find one that's pretty close to your size for about half off because people buy them all the time and they don't read the sizing instructions and the belt doesn't fit.
 
labnoti said:
The Relentless belt is a single layer steer hide leather belt. It's 14 oz which translates to 14/64th inch thick or almost 1/4 inch. It's vegetable tanned. It's machine stitched with nylon thread and the buckle hardware is stainless steel. It's understood that the Relentless belt is not an artisan belt, nor is it priced like one. I bought it for $59 shipped. That's similar to the single layer belts sold by Simply Rugged. Whether it's a good gun belt or not, I didn't know since I don't know anything yet about gun belts.

I'm glad I didn't make one like it because the leather seems too supple and the gun twists it and it sags. It's not the pants sagging, but the belt sagging below the beltline of the trousers only where the holster is. Gun is 44 oz or about the weight of two Glocks, so yeah, certainly a steel-framed gun. Would two top layers of leather stitched together be stiff enough? It seems like steel or kydex are a less costly way to prove whether stiffness is better. Even a laminated leather belt can get softer and more supple as it's broken in, but steel or kydex would not.
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44 oz, that sounds like a 1911... I like that :)

For that weight, a reinforced belt might be an idea. No direct experience with that particular one, but the CompTac belt would seem to be a good candidate from what I understand. Kydex-reinforced, and cut on a contour, meaning that the belt has a curve to it when laid flat on a table. This helps a lot with the comfort, in that when the belt is around your waist, it takes a slightly conical shape, the edges not digging in your hips.
 
earlthegoat2 said:
I have roller buckles on most of my belts and they only rattle when unfastened.

Is that what you mean by rattles?
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Yes. I get home at odd hours sometimes because of my job. If I try to sneak in and not disturb everyone in the house and I forget about that belt buckle it’s loud enough to wake everyone up.

It’s pretty distinctive. Might as well be a bell.
 
Browning said:
Yes. I get home at odd hours sometimes because of my job. If I try to sneak in and not disturb everyone in the house and I forget about that belt buckle it’s loud enough to wake everyone up.

It’s pretty distinctive. Might as well be a bell.
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I quite agree on that account. The first belts I made for myself always incorporated roller buckles. I do prefer them in general however I can no longer seem to find them as competitively priced as I once was able to do now I pretty much exclusively use the bar style.
 
I went with Crossbreed for a few years. Great quality belts, but after about a year they'd have a noticeable sag and were not that supportive. About two years ago I switched a Beltman horse hide belt with internal stiffener, and it's held up incredibly well for that time.
 
Browning said:
Yes. I get home at odd hours sometimes because of my job. If I try to sneak in and not disturb everyone in the house and I forget about that belt buckle it’s loud enough to wake everyone up.

It’s pretty distinctive. Might as well be a bell.
Click to expand...
Don't get a Wilderness Instructor belt, between the velcro sound and clanging buckle, everybody knows you're taking your pants off.
 
JTQ said:
Don't get a Wilderness Instructor belt, between the velcro sound and clanging buckle, everybody knows you're taking your pants off.
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Other than for the spur of the moment streaker, can't see why that would be a problem.

I don't like Velcro on belts. I dealt with Velcro enough being in the final days of the ACUs in the Army. Velcro everywhere, pockets and tapes and patches. No thanks to Velcro for at least several years. And holes on belts? They wear out and if you have a waist like mine you are either too tight or too loose. Not the comfortable in the middle.

Buy yourself a Kore belt. Save yourself the hassle. I have used it as a duty belt as a CO: Taser, 6oz can of pepper spray, 2 pair of handcuffs, radio, pouch for latex gloves, flashlight, key ring (with some BIG keys). Belt never sagged. Still doesn't sag. Doesn't matter if I carry my pocket sized gun AIWB or a 1911 with 2 spares. I have one in nylon and one in leather. The leather is a good belt for when looking dressed up is the thought in mind. And you can use the inside of the belt as a beer bottle opener, what a win (if you drink beer, I don't). Plus, they get funny looks from TSA when they go through the Xray machine. It is a win all around.
 
1MoreFord said:
I have a 141oz BigFoot gunbelt with a steel liner that I think would serve you well.

https://gunbelts.com/
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I have owned several brands of gun belt, and I am now only using BigFoot gunbelts. They are steel-cored double-layer leather, and they do not sag, period. Durability is something terrible - The only reasons I've ever had to buy another is when I needed one in a different size or color. Current ones are three years old and aside from some dings and scrapes, they look like they did when I got them.
 
Steel core or reinforced belts are stiffer and do hold up the weight of a gun better but I wore out a standard bull hide Belt Man when the buckle holes started elongating and then broke through one lamination and finally bridged to the next hole. This was after 8 years of hard use and not really taking care of it but still just the same. It broke in an area unaffected by conventional reinforcement techniques. IMO, reinforcement systems aren’t worth it and upgrading belt material is. Consider horse hide, water buffalo, or elephant if available. Horse is probably the best for the money. It is incredibly dense and stiff and quite available in the US.

As far as I know, no reinforcement goes into the area where the sizing holes are. It could be done though I suppose.

Perhaps I could experiment with it.

Here are a few belts I made a few years apart from each other. 100% horse hide made from some butts I bought from Maverick Leather. Horse butt is usually castoffs from Horween. Butt is way stiff and hard to work with but with patience makes an incredible belt. It is so what hard to tool as well but I was able to make an acceptable basket weave on two of these.

FADE5C1A-C2F6-44EF-9EA4-CFACF70E6443.jpeg

772E38DD-022B-48A2-8F08-EB1CD1A088FE.jpeg
 
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psyopspec said:
I went with Crossbreed for a few years. Great quality belts, but after about a year they'd have a noticeable sag and were not that supportive. About two years ago I switched a Beltman horse hide belt with internal stiffener, and it's held up incredibly well for that time.
Click to expand...

When I finally stepped up to a good belt I got a reinforced Beltman and I've been really impressed. I got a 1.5" bull hide version with the internal stiffener, which worked out to just under $100 including shipping. Not cheap for a belt but it has made a huge difference and it looks nice enough that I wear it with Dockers in a business casual office daily, which is part of why I went with leather. It carries a midsize double stack pistol better than my prior belts carried my Shield, which has largely rendered the Shield moot because why not carry the larger gun if I'm going to have one on my belt? If I'm in a situation that I can't or don't want to carry IWB I typically drop down to a 380 in my pocket.
 
labnoti said:
I have only recently been wearing a gun belt. Before that I carried other than by belt and was only familiar with fashion belts. I am interested only in concealed carry, not competition or duty.

I got one of those really heavy (16 oz) leather belts (Relentless). I find myself needing to cinch it uncomfortably tight to keep the gun from sagging. My guns range from 39 to 44 oz. Next I am trying a rigid-core belt (Kore). I think it has a kydex core.

I thought I'd ask what other people have found works well for heavier guns. Thick leather? Kydex? Steel core? Some of the steel core belts look like the steel band is fairly narrow, like Hanks. How much is enough?
Click to expand...

You want belts with actual holes and buckles and not friction buckles to keep them from sagging. Hanks makes a good quality leather belt. I would go at least 1.5" to keep it from twisting:

upload_2019-10-1_18-20-27.png

https://www.hanksbelts.com/collections/reinforced-gun-belts
 
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