Good belt: how much of a difference?

breakingcontact · August 31, 2013, 09:07 AM

I have bought probably 10 holsters and went through several guns trying to carry comfortably, I have tried different carry positions and angles as well.

I bought a 5.11 leather belt with an internal stiffener. It's better than a cheap leather one certainly. However I'm still not carrying comfortably.

I'm thinking of getting of getting an actual gun belt, like one made by The Belt Man or other heavy double layered legit gun belt.

How has a real gun belt helped improve how carrying feels for you?

Kreyzhorse · August 31, 2013, 09:28 AM

A good belt won't make carrying more comfortable by itself. No matter what you are still carrying a holster with a gun. All of this creates a friction point on your body.

With that, a good gun belt will help increase your comfort. It will support the holster and gun, prevent sag and hold your rig in one place. I always say that a good belt is the most important part of your carry rig. I've bought a cheap belt that lasted for a year and one Beltman that has lasted for several. They are worth the price you pay.

A few other tips. Leather is more comfortable than kydex in my opinion. OWB carry is more comfortable than IWB carry. Finally, carrying should be comforting, not necessarily comforting.

Herr Walther · August 31, 2013, 09:38 AM

I use a dress gunbelt from PWL and a Wilderness Tactical instructor belt with five lines of stitching. The PWL is a bit flabby after 12 years of use but still stiff enought to support a USP45 and holster. It's a tripple thickness 1-1/2" leather belt.

The Wilderness Tactical belt is around four years old and is as good as brand new.

breakingcontact · August 31, 2013, 09:51 AM

"Sag" is a good description of what I'm dealing with. I do carry a good amount. But if it was less uncomfortable I would carry more.

I had a cheap yet thick belt before. It worked for about 2 years until it got soft and wore out. I suppose this is a case of high tech (511 belt with stiffener) not bridging the gap and filling the role of a heavy quality leather belt.

Herr Walther · August 31, 2013, 10:05 AM

Yes, leather will eventually soften and become more pliable just like a baseball glove.

I don't wear the dress belt that often so I haven't replaced it yet, but the Wilderness Tactical belt is worn daily.

Flabbiness, or sag is also a function of how tight you tighten your belt. Some folks can deal with a tighter belt than others can. Wider belts spread that tightness out some, while a narrower belt can feel like a noose around your waist.

JerryM · August 31, 2013, 10:36 AM

Beltman would be a good choice.
I do not carry a 5" steel 1922, but sometimes a SA LW Compact 1911. I prefer a double thickness 1.25" belt for my use over the 1.5".
Jerry

Kreyzhorse · August 31, 2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

"Sag" is a good description of what I'm dealing with. I do carry a good amount. But if it was less uncomfortable I would carry more.

A Beltman will certainly take care of sag. You'll also get several years out of and it will than pay for itself. I paid $50 for my first gun belt and it lasted one year. I paid $100 for my Beltman and it is still my carry belt after 7 years.

Horse hide is a good choice.

arizona98tj · September 1, 2013, 11:53 AM

I carry OWB so my gun belt is typically hidden under a cover garment. I've used the same Wilderness 5 stitch belt now for 6-7 years. It has some more years left in it but I've obviously gotten my money's worth. It sees 3-4 days a week use.

Toney · September 1, 2013, 12:22 PM

Suspenders really help, the dickies with the three belt hooks is very Google.
I loosened my gunbelt a notch and am a lot more comfortable! !!

August 31, 2013, 09:07 AM	#1
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Good belt: how much of a difference? I have bought probably 10 holsters and went through several guns trying to carry comfortably, I have tried different carry positions and angles as well. I bought a 5.11 leather belt with an internal stiffener. It's better than a cheap leather one certainly. However I'm still not carrying comfortably. I'm thinking of getting of getting an actual gun belt, like one made by The Belt Man or other heavy double layered legit gun belt. How has a real gun belt helped improve how carrying feels for you?

August 31, 2013, 09:28 AM	#2
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	A good belt won't make carrying more comfortable by itself. No matter what you are still carrying a holster with a gun. All of this creates a friction point on your body. With that, a good gun belt will help increase your comfort. It will support the holster and gun, prevent sag and hold your rig in one place. I always say that a good belt is the most important part of your carry rig. I've bought a cheap belt that lasted for a year and one Beltman that has lasted for several. They are worth the price you pay. A few other tips. Leather is more comfortable than kydex in my opinion. OWB carry is more comfortable than IWB carry. Finally, carrying should be comforting, not necessarily comforting. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

August 31, 2013, 09:38 AM	#3
Herr Walther Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: A Place Worse than California Posts: 782	I use a dress gunbelt from PWL and a Wilderness Tactical instructor belt with five lines of stitching. The PWL is a bit flabby after 12 years of use but still stiff enought to support a USP45 and holster. It's a tripple thickness 1-1/2" leather belt. The Wilderness Tactical belt is around four years old and is as good as brand new. __________________ "It was people who upheld their duties to their office, the constitution, and the public by opposing Hitler who were called traitors" ------------------------------------- "...a historian asked what had happened to the German people for them to accept a criminal government. Unfortunately, nothing needed to happen. In nations across the world people accept government crime." ------------------------------------- "In democracies as well as dictatorships, subordinates illegally obey their rulers. Subordinates who remain true to their oaths of office by opposing their rulers are rare."

August 31, 2013, 09:51 AM	#4
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Re: Good belt: how much of a difference? "Sag" is a good description of what I'm dealing with. I do carry a good amount. But if it was less uncomfortable I would carry more. I had a cheap yet thick belt before. It worked for about 2 years until it got soft and wore out. I suppose this is a case of high tech (511 belt with stiffener) not bridging the gap and filling the role of a heavy quality leather belt.

August 31, 2013, 10:05 AM	#5
Herr Walther Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: A Place Worse than California Posts: 782	Yes, leather will eventually soften and become more pliable just like a baseball glove. I don't wear the dress belt that often so I haven't replaced it yet, but the Wilderness Tactical belt is worn daily. Flabbiness, or sag is also a function of how tight you tighten your belt. Some folks can deal with a tighter belt than others can. Wider belts spread that tightness out some, while a narrower belt can feel like a noose around your waist. __________________ "It was people who upheld their duties to their office, the constitution, and the public by opposing Hitler who were called traitors" ------------------------------------- "...a historian asked what had happened to the German people for them to accept a criminal government. Unfortunately, nothing needed to happen. In nations across the world people accept government crime." ------------------------------------- "In democracies as well as dictatorships, subordinates illegally obey their rulers. Subordinates who remain true to their oaths of office by opposing their rulers are rare."

August 31, 2013, 10:36 AM	#6
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,889	Beltman would be a good choice. I do not carry a 5" steel 1922, but sometimes a SA LW Compact 1911. I prefer a double thickness 1.25" belt for my use over the 1.5". Jerry __________________ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

September 1, 2013, 11:53 AM	#8
arizona98tj Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 980	I carry OWB so my gun belt is typically hidden under a cover garment. I've used the same Wilderness 5 stitch belt now for 6-7 years. It has some more years left in it but I've obviously gotten my money's worth. It sees 3-4 days a week use. __________________ stu-offroad.com Largest Jeep TJ project site on the web! (now with guns)

September 1, 2013, 12:22 PM	#9
Toney Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 790	Suspenders really help, the dickies with the three belt hooks is very Google. I loosened my gunbelt a notch and am a lot more comfortable! !!