In the past, I have been making regular Jeans width decent quality causal belts work for also bearing the weight of whatever shootin iron I was packing.

Now, all of my brown casual wide belts are in disrepair, and I want to upgrade to a belt that looks like a regular, plain belt to wear with Carhartts or Wrangers etc. but that is thicker and stiffer for use and help in packing my full size all steel 1911 and assisting with the weight dirstribution. I use only pancake style holsters, which also help with comfort and concealment.

So, what make and model do you guys or gals suggest?

Please, nothing that screams "CARRYING!" like a basketweave with a cop style buckle. Something a bit more inconspicuous, if you don't mind.

Thanks in advance for everyone's suggestions, idea's and or links!

MARK

Filson makes a double layer harness leather belt. I have been using one for a couple of years carrying my 1911 every day and the belt still looks new. Made in USA and lifetime guarantee. Think they are around $88.

My favorite carry belt is from C5 leather: http://shop.c5leather.com/product.sc?productId=16&categoryId=1
Big Jim does great work and is very accommodating to his customers. Best $70 I've ever spent on a gun belt.

I got my old man the Filson double thick. It is a very nice belt but not as comfortable for me as my C5.

On a cheaper note I also have the Cabelas Double Duty Belt. It was a gift and my field/hunting belt. It's very stiff yet super comfortable and durable for its $40 cost. It is not my normal carry belt but has spent plenty of time holding up a carry gun and IWB rig, or one of my S&W's or SBH's in OWB field holsters when hiking or hunting.

Mallard Addict,

I looked at and really like those CS Leather double thick belts. Sharp looking and plenty stiff from what I can see.

Thank you!

Any others I should consider for this role?

I just found this site and clicked on some of the items for more detail and close-up images.
Found one I really like and not bad prices ~ 'YOUR TACK'

> http://www.yourtack.com/Gunbelts.html <

Von Ringler.

hammerless smith aluminum J frame with Barami hip grip, loose T shirt.

I have Mitch Rosen belt and it is the best belt that I have ever used or seen. I have worn it daily since 2008 and it has not lost its shape or stretched in any manner. Well worth the money.

http://agcustomgunleather.com/store/

I have been using these for a few years and they are great

I like his holsters, will look into his belts.

I quite carrying J frames about 25 years ago. My rarely carried 'small' handgun is a much thinner and even lighter, equally reliable KelTec pistol. I also do not like any carry plan that requires the use of my off hand to get to my gun i.e. lift a shirt or other garment. The off hand might be busy keeping an assailant or his weapon away from one's body, or even may be already disabled by his first attempt at me.

I decided several years ago to just get good and accustomed to packing a full size 1911. An open casual shirt or light vest makes a 1911 dissapear on my large frame.

Spend your money here.

http://www.montanagunslings.com/Belts/

I've been wearing Milt Sparks 1-1/4" dress belts for about 30 years and Sparks 1-1/2" belts with jeans for about 15 years. I can outgrow them but I cannot wear them out. My son now has my first Sparks belt (cordovan 1-1/4") and loves it. The dye on that one could stand to be touched up. He does not use it as a gun belt, but it would still work for that purpose.

I bought one of these for my brother 10 years ago and he is still wearing it every day...

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/co.../Best_Quality_Belt_DL_1_5_quot__Gun_Belt

Bob

I wear an SOE gear 1.5 inch cobra buckle "riggers" belt. They are made of scuba wrbbing, and extremely rigid.

That is a good looking option as well. More good choices than I thought.

Thanks, eveyrone

WOW, I just looked them up and they are quite stout, as well.

I think I need to stay with brown leather, but those belts are way cool for sure.

I think I have tried them all, this is without a doubt the best casual belt I have ever used.
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/87..._ci_google-_-pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google

RB, thanks for the link, another good option.

I never knew there were SO many good choices!

No more department store casual belts for me.

Even the very best ones from a Dept store, and highest priced ones, are not even in the same LEAGUE as most of these belts which have been reccomended. The higher cost of these belts will pay for themselves many times over with how long the reviews are telling me they last.

My elephant hide jeans belt comes closest, and works pretty well, but I fear that even this old favorite may become a wall hangin piece very soon. OR, I might have an extra piece of stiff bull hide sewn in along the back on the right side where I carry, with perhaps a piece of stiff foam, polythylene or similar added between the two layers at least on that one side. But in thinking this through, it may be better to have the added leather and stiffening material added all the way around.

I love wearing leather gear from an Elephant that I shot myself and had made up in Boulawayu Zimbabwe (Taxidermy Enterprises).

This next clothing purchase of mine, with some stiffening mods to my old favorite, should make it even easier and more comfortable to continue carrying a real gun 24/7/365.

This query/post is turning out to be one of my most informative. I just love this place.

http://www.511tactical.com/operator-belt-1-34-wide.html

I swear this is the best belt ever made. I wish i would have found it years ago. i have always had trouble keeping my pants up due to what my wife describes as "NO ASS". Keeps my pants up at work all day and i'm very active at work.

Thanks for that link! I was just given my first article of clothing from 5:11 tactical, an olive drab multi pocket shirt. I am EXTREMELY impressed with the quality and real 'engineering' that went into that garment, so I will give thier belt high consideration. This 5:11 shirt is the only shirt I have ever owned that I can compare favorably to my TAG brand Safari shirts, purchased in Zimbabwe, and which I still wear often even though they have been a regular part of my wardrobe for 8 or so years already. This is the highest praise I can give and I never thought I would find something else that was in the same class.

The "pay once, cry once" principle is at work here once again.

The SOE belts beabthe hell out of 5.11 any day of the week

Can't say anything about SOE belt. Just know I bought the 511 belt 5 years ago and it still is in great shape and works well. I hand unload 1000-1500 cases a day and climb in and out of a trailer about 50 times a day. Keeps my pants up with all the movement and never loosens up. When I hip carry a pistol it doesn't go anywhere.

I've had both of them. The SOE beltnis thicker and and a lot more rigid. The only downfall of the SOE belt is lead time. About 4 weeks

I wear a 1.5" Latigo from a saddle. Cut to length, some brass rivets or even Chicago screws and it's about as inconspicuous as they come and I guarantee you ain't going to destroy it.

Been wearing a Galco gun belt for several years now.
I pack a 5" all steel 1911 every day and this belt, with a Milt Sparks summer special 11 is a great combo for ME!
Comfortable enough for all day carry.

Virgil B.

Aker for me, check out the B21.

http://akerleather.com

Milt Sparks for the win. My first one was department purchased in '93, carried one or two guns on it every day until the threads started giving out at the tip end in 2012.

Got another one on my dime. Reckon it'll last til I retire in 2023...

That is a good recomendation and great longevity, for sure.

I will look into these all, in more detail, when I get my first post Christmas commision check on about the 10th of Jan. and make decision and a buy.

Much thanks to all who offered some suggestions. Loads of good options.

Bianchi B12, haven't bought one in several years the one I am wearing has to be 7or 8 years old still looks and wears fine.

Armorbelts.com carry a ss comander in a kramer horse hide holster. Works great for me.

Another vote for Milt Sparks. I have four custom made gun belts from various makers. Even some that are almost 2 inches wide made with double layer of quality leather to help carry the heavier guns.
Milt sparks makes his with a slight curve and they are one layer of quality leather. They work better than any of the others because they conform to the waist better. I don't even have to cinch them really tight to keep the gun close to my body. And that is with a 1.5 inch wide model. E

+1. My brown one is 5 years old and the black 3 years. Daily wear and couldn't ask for a better 1 1/4" gun belt.

Tis one will not break the bank, but it is a good looking servicable belt.I have had a lot of people ask about it. Bianchi, B9. Check it out.

So, for the last 3 years you've been wearing both every day?

I've been wearing one of Al's horse hide belts everyday for 3 years and it's no worse for wear; one tough belt.

One thing I forgot to mention;

Get yourself a leather punch of the correct size and make extra holes between the factory holes.

This way you can cinch the belt up to exactly the right spot to carry you pistol comfortably without it sagging your pants down on one side.

Works for ME!!

Virgil B.

I wear one from the Beltman everyday. It is a quality belt. I would like to get one in Elephant for my next one.

http://thebeltman.net/bh112.htm

Mark check out Bandara......and eliminate the holster...