Ainge64 Posted April 2, 2018 at 03:49 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 03:49 PM I'm looking to purchase a couple of gun belts, and am looking for tips and recommendations. I have no qualms about purchasing online, but was hoping to maybe find a place in western Chicagoland that has some in stock so that I could actually try one on. Most of the online sites recommend going 4" above waist size. That seems excessive, but this seems to be the norm. BigFoot and Relentless Tactical seem to be popular online sellers, but are there any others anyone can comment on?So, if there are any recommendations for brand, any locations in the area, or any other tips anyone might have, please feel free to advise.Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE KING Posted April 2, 2018 at 03:57 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 03:57 PM I have a beltman belt. Great belt at a good price. I have had it for close to 10 years now and it is still in good condition. www.beltman.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.40carry Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:10 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:10 PM I've got two crossbreed classic in 1&1/2 inch width. They've been great and held up for what seems like forever. They also recommend 4-5" above waist size I used 4". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InterestedBystander Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:15 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:15 PM I have a beltman belt. Great belt at a good price. I have had it for close to 10 years now and it is still in good condition.www.beltman.netNegative on the link ;-)Try this instead https://www.thebeltman.net Frank also recently posted about this with steel corehttps://www.bullhidebelts.com/collections/steel-core-gun-belts/products/black-stitched-steel-core-bullhide-belt Have also heard positives on Hanks Amish belts.https://www.hanksbelts.com 4 inches does seem like a lot especially if you lose some pounds later. I dont recall seeing any local retailer with much of a selection. First thought would be a place with large holster selection. Its been a while but maybe GATs or MegaSports. Or Ray Oherrons in Downers Grove but they might be more duty belt focused.https://www.oherron.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE KING Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:21 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:21 PM Hey thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBL87 Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:27 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:27 PM I've owned 3 so far: Akers B21, Kore Essentials X3, and a Daltech Force SuperBio. The Akers looks the nicest of the three and has held up fine for the most part. The area with the holes did start to "curve" up likely to to pressure from my gut. I ended up gaining weight so my Akers became too small for IWB carry and it became my work belt. Next I bought the Kore Essentials belt. It gets high marks for adjustability and convenience. Unfortunately, mine started to pull through the leather on the bottom half where the buckle's teeth dig in, making it sit at a slight angle, which nobody noticed but it annoyed me. I think the cause is, again, my gut. That brings me to my Daltech Force SuperBio. It isn't actually leather, it's a synthetic designed to look like leather. It's held up the best out of all of them and was the cheapest actually. If you'd be interested, I could sell you my Kore Essentials belt for around half price. As long as you're smaller than me (which is most of the population) you could cut it to fit your size. It has some scratches and marks from use but nothing too crazy, I just never use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchDoctor Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:44 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 04:44 PM Ares Ranger belt has never let me down. I also have the Relentless Tactical belt which is fine too. http://www.aresgear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitter Clinger Posted April 2, 2018 at 06:15 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 06:15 PM Kore is the best one that I've tried. Buy BigBL87's belt. Half price is a good deal for that belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiredguns Posted April 2, 2018 at 06:25 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 06:25 PM I've had my Beltman Bullhide since I got my license. Still looks brand new and is really stout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundguy Posted April 2, 2018 at 08:51 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 08:51 PM I have a couple Alien Gear belts and a new one from Crossbreed. I like them all but may prefer the Crossbreed. I've been shrinking a bit... My most recent belt is the same size as my pants but there is not quite a long enough tongue to use the first two holes. Fortunately I can use hole #3. A belt 2 inches larger than my pants size is too big and I'm on the last of 7 holes. The recommended sizing may not be the same for all. If I chose a belt 4" larger than my pants, It would not hold my gun up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamma Posted April 2, 2018 at 09:21 PM Share Posted April 2, 2018 at 09:21 PM My EDC is a Looper classic belt, just about the perfect amount of flexibility vs rigidity for concealed carry IMO, and doesn't look like a gun belt. About 3 1/2 years of almost daily wear on the one I'm wearing now, I've been very pleased with it. http://www.looperbrand.com/belts/classic-reinforced-holster-belt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blck10th Posted April 3, 2018 at 12:31 AM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 12:31 AM I carry appendix and have a belt that is thick just in that location. The rest is single layer so it moves with you and isn’t so rigid. V-development group. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamma Posted April 3, 2018 at 01:58 AM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 01:58 AM Did a little searching since I want to pick up another Looper belt (in the other color) and I think the same belt is available on Amazon and some other places under the Blade-Tech brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted April 3, 2018 at 02:59 AM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 02:59 AM +1 for bullhide belts. I have 3, two that are their "gunfighter" belts, extra thick and single layer and are nice enough for normal dress wear. Also 1 more that has metal liner and that is my favorite, very nice finish and doesn't mar from wear after 2 years. I get them when they have clearances. Be sure to follow THEIR sizing instructions exactly -- and they recently changed. I'm a 34-36" waist and these were all 38 I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeko Posted April 3, 2018 at 05:44 AM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 05:44 AM I use www.hanksbelts.com for my belts. Thick belts, good prices, and no issues since 2014. They go on sale from time to time, think I paid around 35 a belt. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSDlady Posted April 3, 2018 at 12:57 PM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 12:57 PM The Wilderness Original Instructor Belt. Sizing instructions on the website. http://www.thewilderness.com/belts/original-instructor-belt/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricolor Posted April 3, 2018 at 02:37 PM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 02:37 PM I like the steel core belt, also a company based in Indiana. https://www.daltechforce.com/collections/steel-core-belt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBL87 Posted April 3, 2018 at 03:09 PM Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 03:09 PM Since I mentioned selling my belt, if you are interested here's a link to the thread on here. http://illinoiscarry.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=68531 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainge64 Posted April 3, 2018 at 06:33 PM Author Share Posted April 3, 2018 at 06:33 PM I appreciate all the feedback and tips. I've been looking at all the links provided and am trying to narrow my choices down. I thought I had it down to just a couple choices, but after all the posts, I find there's now several in the running! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatic Posted April 18, 2018 at 10:03 PM Share Posted April 18, 2018 at 10:03 PM Well to add to your confusion... I've got a Crossbreed, A Better Belt, and a Vedder (instructor style). The one that I wear EVERY SINGLE DAY is the Ultimate Gun Belt by A Better Belt. 1. It does not look like a 'tactical' belt. I purposely have gone out of my way to ensure my clothes look the way they did prior to getting my CCL2. It is VERY comfortable. This thing has held it's shape for several years now. It's twice as thick as any of my other belts. In addition to carrying everyday; I've attended a number of courses where we draw from concealment the whole day (100+ times per day)... never has it given me any discomfort or loss of holster retention.3. On any given day, I have a load of things hanging on my belt (spare magazine in a case), key loop, work ID, small flashlight in holder... too much crap. No sagging, no fraying, no folding.3. The owners were an absolute pleasure to deal with. I called with questions, details regarding what I wanted, what I could expect and it was as if I was having a face to face with someone in charge. (not an operator standing by) This is not to disparage any of the other belts... they're actually quite good. I my opinion there is a "step change" in improvement over the others. Best of luck in your search. Respectfully, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiliconSorcerer Posted April 18, 2018 at 10:19 PM Share Posted April 18, 2018 at 10:19 PM I like the steel core belt, also a company based in Indiana. https://www.daltechforce.com/collections/steel-core-belt I have a bigfoot also steel core. Any signs of the steel core hitting the prong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainge64 Posted April 18, 2018 at 11:42 PM Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 at 11:42 PM I ended up buying a Hanks Extreme belt. I liked the look. Casual looking enough for everyday wear and very heavy duty. Very happy with that purchase. I also bought the Kore Essentials belt that BigBL87 offered to sell. I'm also happy with that purchase. With black and a brown belts now, I'm off to a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmart Posted April 19, 2018 at 02:08 AM Share Posted April 19, 2018 at 02:08 AM I like the highnoonholsters belt. Check it out: https://www.highnoonholsters.com/gun-holster-belts/rock-steady They also offer exotics and embossed belts as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitter Clinger Posted April 19, 2018 at 07:56 PM Share Posted April 19, 2018 at 07:56 PM If you're just using the belt to carry a small everyday carry gun, like a Shield or Glock 43, you don't really need those traditional thick belts. Check out the belts made by Kore. They are much thinner than a traditional gun belt, but still very rigid. I've used it to carry my full size M&P before and it's perfectly fine and much easier to live with than a big thick belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SycamoreRuger Posted May 23, 2018 at 05:36 PM Share Posted May 23, 2018 at 05:36 PM So far I like the look and functionality of the Kore belts, but I'm looking for something in a 1.25" width. I have a Hank's belt now in that width, but I am looking for something that doesn't use the traditional buckle-and-holes design, and that won't have a long end that I have to stick though a belt loop.Kore makes a dress belt 1 3/8" wide which should work fine that I'm inclined to buy next. Are there any other gun belts of a similar design in a 1.25" width?Edit: Kore says in the description of its Intrepid belt that "This is a fashion belt, NOT designed to support firearms" but as Bitter Clinger suggested, I'm not carrying a heavy gun so hopefully it would be OK. I would still rather have a belt designed to carry a gun though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBL87 Posted May 23, 2018 at 09:20 PM Share Posted May 23, 2018 at 09:20 PM I wasn't able to find a ratchet style belt in 1.25" width, but this instructors belt from crossbreed can be had in that width and is similarly adjustable. https://www.crossbreedholsters.com/instructor-gun-belt-w-velcro-brand-closure.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cola490 Posted May 23, 2018 at 09:57 PM Share Posted May 23, 2018 at 09:57 PM I've got two crossbreed classic in 1&1/2 inch width. They've been great and held up for what seems like forever. They also recommend 4-5" above waist size I used 4".[/quote I also have a crossbreed belt, I received it the same day my CCL came in the mail, March 3, 2014, it has held up great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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