Holster belts

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mcmurry

mcmurry

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Those of you who carry a gun daily as a non LEO or off duty LEO, what kind of belt do you use in your pants? I have a decent pants belt, but it's not very stiff and allows my holstered gun to twist and fall over when I'm trying to put on my pants. Would a stiffer belt work better? I have seen magazine ads for belts with a thin layer of metal, but I believe those would be uncomfortable.
 
Pants belts are good for pants. Not so good for guns.

You’ll get lots of opinions about thickness, height, stiffener or no, leather or other materials, etc. Mostly good info and advice. Sponge it all up and then choose.
 
mcmurry said:
Those of you who carry a gun daily as a non LEO or off duty LEO, what kind of belt do you use in your pants? I have a decent pants belt, but it's not very stiff and allows my holstered gun to twist and fall over when I'm trying to put on my pants. Would a stiffer belt work better? I have seen magazine ads for belts with a thin layer of metal, but I believe those would be uncomfortable.
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I made my own belt but you can buy ones that are very similar. You didn't mention your body type, pistol size or carry position though. Those three things can dramatically change which belt works best.
 
I use a Wilderness Tactical Instructor belt, the 5-stitch stiffness. The Wilderness 5-stitch (in Instructor belt or Frequent Flyer model) is typically the baseline for a gun belt. I will handle the poly-guns and aluminum framed guns just fine, and be OK with full size steel framed guns, though you may want to move up to a dual layer leather belt or one with a stiffener for a real heavy gun.

Most of the leather holster makers offer a dual layer gun belt. The 1.5" width is the most versatile as it will fit most pants belt loops and 1.5" is generally the default width for most holster loops.

Pay attention to sizing directions, as all the manufacturers are a little different. If you follow their instructions you'll be fine. If you oder a belt to match your jeans size, chances are good it won't fit.

The Wilderness Tactical https://www.thewilderness.com/belts/#bottom

The Beltman has already been mentioned, and A&G Custom Leather is another respected leather belt maker.

A&G Custom Leather https://agcustomgunleather.com
 
I would dare say a good gun belt is more important than a good holster. Many of the problems you will have with uncomfortable carry come from the belt, and not an uncomfortable holster.

I have tried several low cost/economy belts such as the Gould and Goodrich Security Pro, Desantis Econobelt, generic nylon and leather belts. The belt I am currently using is a gun belt from KORE. I have one in nylon and faux-leather. The biggest upside to this belt is it doesn't use belt holes. Instead there is a very durable track on the back side that allow for much more size adjustment. Just made a big meal? Can back the belt off half an inch without being too tight or too loose to hold up a firearm.

https://www.koreessentials.com/collections/gun-belts
 
bearcreek said:
I made my own belt but you can buy ones that are very similar. You didn't mention your body type, pistol size or carry position though. Those three things can dramatically change which belt works best.
Click to expand...
I'm 5'10 and eighty pounds overweight. I've gone from "pear" shaped to barrel!
Thanks to everyone who answered. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
Once you purchase a good leather carry belt and use it a few times you will never use an inexpensive single thickness department store belt again, even when you are not CCW.

Personally, (not a recommendation just for information only) my everyday belt even for work (office casual) non-CCW (obviously) is one of those (double thick) from the Beltman (see post #2 above). Yes expensive. But it wears like iron, looks perfect even after almost daily use for 13 years and keeps the holstered gun in perfect position. I'm skinny and have basically no hips, a good carry belt is a tremendous asset.
 
I agree with the advice given above. A few months ago I purchased the leather Midway USA concealed carry belt. Item number 705007. They were on sale for $35. I got the black one. I like it so well I plan to get one in dark brown next time they are on sale. I use it even when I'm not carrying a gun. They are an excellent belt for the price.
 
Once you start using a proper belt for carry, you'll never go back. My favorite is a Beltman; my cheapest (but still surprisingly serviceable) is a DeSantis Econobelt. Here are a few of the gunleather links I have bookmarked:
AG Custom Gun Leather
Beltman
Bigfoot Gun Belts
Hanks Belts
Mean Gene Leather

Of the above, I have only owned a Beltman. That said, I read enough good stuff about the others that they were serious contenders.
 
I’ve used and actually wore out a Beltman. I used it hard so I still give it the highest recommendation.

My wife has an A&G in horsehide. She carried a Glock 23, 2 extra mags, Asp baton, cuffs, and flashlight on it for 3 years and it is still as nice as day one.

I make my own now and make them thicker and out of tougher leather than most makers but they are stiff and uncomfortable for the first month or so. Double thickness gun belts are all I use even when I’m not carrying a gun.

They help a great deal even when pocket carrying. On the Beltman site it is mentioned that good stuff belts can even provide lower back support. I think this is quite true.
 
The belt is always more important than people initially think and I learned that the hard way.

I saw a fairly thick leather belt at Kohls, it was around $32.00 so I thought I'd try it and save some money. I bought it and two weeks later the buckle sheared off. It looked like ZAMAK to me. The buckle just broke in half.

I had another Kohls leather belt and the thing stretched and stretched over time. It came with 5 holes, I started on the third belt hole and I ended up using the last hole on the belt, and I hadn't lost weight. I ended up throwing it out because the layers came apart. It looked like crap and I couldn't wear it to work. I definitely did not get my money's worth from that $32.00 Kohl's belt.

I purchased a Bullhide belt with a steel stiffener and it has been great. The only issue I have is getting into the ballpark. I think they have the metal detectors turned down to be less sensitive than at courthouses. Every time I go through the entrance at the park, I go to take off my belt and they tell me each time "Oh you don't have to take off your belt" and so I don't take off my belt but then it trips the metal detector and they wand me and I say "Just let me take off my belt." Once I take off my belt I go right through with nary a beep, and they frown and look at the brass buckle on my belt but then they give me my belt and I go on my way.
 
I wear wa Big Foot Gun Belt every day. It’s quite comfortable and even the heaviest pistol I own in a holster, plus pistol and rifle mag carriers will not make it sag or roll over.

Makes a huge difference in comfort of carry and what you can get away with carrying.
 
Kydex stiffeners work pretty well too. I would think they would be a better compromise for a stiffener than steel. Then again, steel sounds better in marketing materials....,

I generally don’t stiffen any of mine as thick horse hide doesn’t really need it.
 
I bought a belt on e bay, described as an amish leather gun belt. WOW, the thickest nicest belt I have ever seen. And not overpriced like so many. In three or four colors. 1.5 or 1.75 width, highly recommend. Just ebay up gun belt and you will see them. The only belt I have ever had to break in!
 
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