Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What makes a good gun belt?

I hear people say don't use a regular belt but instead buy a good gun belt.Why not use a regular belt?What makes a belt a good gun belt?And who makes a good gun belt?

http://thebeltman.net/aboutb.htm

Buy from him, too. Awesome stuff.

Wilderness Tactical

Stiffness, a good pistol belt ought to be stiffer than a wedding peter.

Something like a Glock 19 in a Crossbreed doesn't require an UBER belt. I use a 1.5in Safariland full velcro inner belt everyday, the kind made to velcro a heavy duty belt to. It is a good belt, but it isn't heavy and it isn't stiff. If you must have a 1911, more belt is required.

Galco sells some very nice, stiff, strong belts.

Typically if you are talking about mid to full size handguns (25+ ounces) you want:

At least 1.5" wide.

Two Piece leather construction - two pieces sewn together will be stiffer and much more resistant to stretching than a single thicker piece. The stretching is what allows the belt to fold and sag...

For heavier pieces/greatest comfort, stiffer is generally better. Some manufactures sandwich kydex or similar polymer stiffners between the leather layers. Some belts are made out of horsehide which is both stiffer and thinner. In my opinion, horsehide is the best option - if you can afford the firearm, the practice ammo, the holster and the CCW permit, this is relatively cheap and offers a noticeable upgrade.

Different manufactures will also offer their own extras: velcro liner for accessories, different buckles, double row stitching etc.

Some of the lighter carry pieces can get by without all of the above (1.25", no kydex, cow hide, etc. but I generally prefer to stick with a quality 1.5" horse hide gun belt - they make the lighter guns almost forgettable on your waist.

David

I just learned some stuff here. Will begin the search for some good gunleather belts. Horsehide, eh? Never heard that but will look into it for sure!

My 1.5" horsehide belt came from here:
A&G Gun Leather

Thank me later........dark beer is fine.

I give free lessons on how to drink beer.

Von Ringler is my pick for a belt and a few holsters. Top quality stuff.

My needs might be a bit different,hunting up here in Alaska,want something that is handy while I'm cutting up a game animal.Chest holster suits that task,with a 629 44 Mag in it ........

I'll be a character reference if anyone asks about your classes.

You don't need some bitchen name brand belt...for God's sake it's a belt, nothing secret about it. Here's what you need...just 3 things

Wide - As wide as your belt loops will accomodate. If all you were is jeans, then you can go pretty wide. But find the pants you commonly wear, find the smallest belt loops, and that's the width you wear. For truely "dress" pants, then it's time to go with something like a pocket gun unless you're a hired gun.

Stiff - Stiffness just means that after years of a belt loop from the holster bearing down on the belt, it will just continue to hold up.

Thick - Thick gives you the stiffness and durability, yet keeps the belt pliable enough that it can be used every day. You can get a 1/32" belt to be stiff enough, but it won't be practical for every day use. So a thick belt just gives you support and longevity. With what a good leather belt goes for these days, longevity is a good thing.

I'll second what Kevin Gibson has written. I've got "gun belts" that weren't sold as such. Of course, I've got "gun belts" that were billed as exactly that.

A good gunbelt maker can build you a beautiful dress belt suitable for wear with your best suit that no one would peg as a gun belt. I have one made by Lou Alessi nearly 15 years ago that looks as good today as the day it was shipped, and it's supported fullsize 1911's and N-frame revolvers hundreds, if not thousands of times.

The key attribute of a gun belt is that it holds your holster in place without allowing it to shift, sag, or otherwise move from where you want it to be. Other considerations such as comfort, style, etc, are all secondary at best.

I will say that a lot of "gun belts" are so stiff as to be uncomfortable for daily all-day wear, and others are simply too ugly to be worn with anything but jeans or BDU's. But that's a matter of personal taste and comfort, so as long as it holds your holster firmly, use your own criteria from there.

Agreed, and I think A&G is close to perfection w/o being a big name. Placing the order directly with the man who would build my belt, the short turn around, then receiving a product that was obviously made with care by a craftsman with pride in his work all made me a very happy customer. And the price seemed very much in keeping (if not a little low) with today's market. I'll continue to point anyone in his direction that will listen.

A lot of holsters, esp. IWB holsters, carry the gun up high above the beltline. Especially if you have a little pudge around the middle, the top of the pistol will tend to push outward, twisting the belt in the process. A stiff belt resists the twisting and keeps the gun snugged up so the grip doesn't lean out so much.

I was using Beltman until I discovered Aker. They run about $15 cheaper and have served just as well.

I've been wearing a couple of Akers for at least 10 years (maybe 15, I forget). They are the old ones with a metal reinforcing strip, not polymer. Good stuff.