I've been using standard belts (wider ones, usually 1.25") that I buy at department stores for my CCW since around 2000. I've never had a problem with them but I keep seeing people talk about how much nicer belts made for holsters are, so I'm wondering what some people's recommendations are.
Do they really make a difference, especially given that I've never had a problem with a standard belt? I don't have a lot of money to spend on one but I'd certainly entertain recommendations if people really notice a difference.
I've used a $20 Desantis leather belt for years. Works just fine for me. If you carry a light gun it doesn't matter much at all. When I carry my P99c I use just a regular belt. With a 1911 I use the Desantis as it's more rigid and doesn't sag under the extra weight.
Back in the day (when I lived in another state) I occasionally carried two guns on my belt at once...a G17 IWB and a G36 SOB. Even then I wore a belt that I had bought at Walmart and still had no issues. I suppose that's why I wonder how much better a "special" belt designed for holsters would be.
Again it's really only helpful if the gun or guns are heavy. Two Glocks at different positions is easier weight wise and distribution wise than an all steel Sig or 1911 sagging in one spot.
I use Beltman belts for 12?years now everyday all day all jeans and dress/suit pants and will stay with them. One belt for 10+ years and the other for 8 years, I feel it is worth the money. I carried a G27, .357 Magnum 4", and a 2", FN 5.7 and now a G41 and they are all comfortable and concealment has never been question with T shirt and jeans IWB.
The Beltman belts are most definitely worth the money. But, for iwb carry, I like the Uncle Mike's instructor belt with the metal buckle. It's always the perfect size, no matter how big a dinner I eat.
I'm looking around at belts online, and this raises another question. What size to order. Do I order based on my pant size, or add a few inches so that my holster fits IWB?
I would probably put the gun on with the holster and a belt and then measure what the. circumference was and give that measure to the belt maker/seller and have them help decide what size to order.
Carried with cheap Walmart leather belts far too long. Last year or so I ordered a couple wilderness belts. One a 1-1/2 three stitch and the other 1-3/4 five stitch.
It's like wearing a tow strap but comfy, they don't stretch. With the buckle design and the Velcro it's not going anywhere. The wider five stitch is the better option IMO regardless what you're carrying. Money well spent and I doubt they wear out anytime soon.
Just saw an ad in a magazine for "Amerihide" gunbelts. It says single or double-layer bullhide belts starting at $29. I'd suspect the single layer start at $29 and I know nothing of this maker but it's another choice....
My vote goes to Aker gun leather for a leather gun belt. I like the version with the kydex insert to make it more rigid. And any of the aforementioned instructor style belts work well too. I am currently using an Uncle Mikes 1.5" instructor belt with the kydex insert and it has been working very well. The Aker belts are about $40-$45. My UM belt was only $30.
How much the belt matters depends on how you're using it. This stuff is very situation-specific and personal.
For a light gun at 4:00 in a holster with support points widely separated, the belt is NBD. For a heavy(er) gun supported at a single point, belt rigidity can be the difference between no-go and a great carry system.
You really have to experiment to find out what works best for you. If may take a few years, and your priorities may shift with time. If you are serious about being able to fight with a handgun, and you've put the time in to develop serious skill, the considerations are probably different that they are for someone who just wants to carry a gun.
A handgun does not just disappear and blend in with a human body. That's true from the standpoint of concealment and also deployment.
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I have two gunbelts, and they're the only belts I wear. Most of the time, I carry a G19 IWB with a spare mag on the weak side. For the past ~7 years, I've used an Aker B21. I paid something like $55 for it, and it has served me well, but I'll probably need to replace it within the year. I also have a DeSantis Econobelt that I've used for ~4 years. I paid ~$20 for it, and it's held up well. No need to replace it yet.
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