Notes for Newbies: Belts

[Sandhiller]

I don't see much discussion on this topic and thought I'd chime in with a few words. A kind of 'Ode to Belts'!

I can't tell you how many new pistoleros I have seen show up for a range session wearing the most g-awful monstrosities for pistol belts. The pistol belt may just be the most under-appreciated and misunderstood aspect of pistol-craft for newcomers.

In a nutshell: Get a good belt! It is the foundation for carrying a handgun. A cheap, poorly made belt will make your days miserable and is likely to convince you that you don't "need" to carry all the time. Maybe you don't, but your gear should make that possible, even comfortable-- not a punishment.

I've been there myself, so I know how hard it is to rationalize spending big bucks for a good belt. I know there are belts out there for less, but I estimate that one should plan on spending at least $75 for a decent belt. I just bought a new pistol belt and with S&H it set me back right at $100. And I am happy with it! (It's a Mernickle. Beautifully made. 1/4" thick. Handsomely stitched and lined. Comfy, and holds the holstered gat like it's set in concrete.)

A new shooter has a lot of stuff to buy and tends to skimp on "frills" like holsters and belts. Don't. Get the best belt you can afford. You'll never regret it. Anything less and you WILL regret it. Every day you carry!

(The same goes for holsters, but this is about belts.)

[mp3mogul]

I will definately second that. A good quality leather belt is a necessity!

[pioneer461]

100 % agreement, but they no longer have to be leather. I recently purchased a nylon belt from the NRA store for $29.95. They are made by 5.11 Tactical and come in 3 colors. If you don't want the NRA logo, you can order directly from 5.11 Tactical, same cost. There are two basic styles, the operator and the trainer models, but for some reason NRA only shows the trainer model.

The belt provides a rock solid platform for all of my holsters.

http://www.nrastore.com/nra/Product.aspx?productid=686%20GRP
http://www.tactical-store.com/511-tactical-tactical-belts.html

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb294/pioneer461/police.png

[VegasGeorge]

Amen to the importance of the belt. And, it doesn't have to be a tactical or shooters belt. There are a lot of good leather belts out there for not a lot of money. For good support you need a belt that is 1 1/2 inches wide with a good solid buckle. If you expect the belt to hold the gun securely close to the body, you need to cinch it up tight. A loose belt is more comfortable, but translates to a loose holster.

[tuna]

I've found two types of non leather belts that are pretty effective and don't sag under the weight of a handgun....

Wilderness Instructor Belts - I do NOT have one, but I know several people in real life and a hundred internet folks who rave about them.

SPECOPS "Better BDU Belt" - I found this in the BX on base, and it works real well for the past two years and still has its shape and rigidity after daily use in uniform (only carrying a multitool and buck knife) and for CCW with jeans.

[nodaywithout]

i found that the 5.11 trainer belt is great for me and the price is in my budget

[pioneer461]

i found that the 5.11 trainer belt is great for me and the price is in my budget

If you've been wearing yours a while, I have a question, since mine is new and I'm still adjusting. I ordered the size that was given on the web site that I should order, and found that the velcro fastener overlaps in the same location I want to put my holsters, OTW at 3:00. I thought about simply flipping the belt over and fastening it that way, but then my little NRA logo is upside-down. Is there something I'm not understanding about how to use these? :shrug:

[nodaywithout]

If you've been wearing yours a while, I have a question, since mine is new and I'm still adjusting. I ordered the size that was given on the web site that I should order, and found that the velcro fastener overlaps in the same location I want to put my holsters, OTW at 3:00. I thought about simply flipping the belt over and fastening it that way, but then my little NRA logo is upside-down. Is there something I'm not understanding about how to use these? :shrug:

your not missing anything just ignore the nra label and do what works for you or get another one from 5.11 itself instead of the nra. Personally i would go with the first one.

[In10city]

SPECOPS "Better BDU Belt" - I found this in the BX on base, and it works real well for the past two years and still has its shape and rigidity after daily use in uniform (only carrying a multitool and buck knife) and for CCW with jeans.

Is this a nylon or leather belt? What color is it?

I'm currently using a cheap-ish leather belt from WalFart but I still get some holster movement with it when getting in and out of my vehicle so I have to do the surreptitious adjustment with my forearm/wrist that any FBI agent would notice. I'm going to take a look at my BX for it but if I can't locate it, I'll probably order one of the previously mentioned belts on this thread.

[In10city]

I think I found it:
https://thor.aafes.com/wsICSImage/clsShowImage.asmx/ShowImage?id=M406W.jpg&type=medium

Is that what you are talking about Tuna?

[junglebob]

Amen to the importance of the belt. And, it doesn't have to be a tactical or shooters belt. There are a lot of good leather belts out there for not a lot of money. For good support you need a belt that is 1 1/2 inches wide with a good solid buckle. If you expect the belt to hold the gun securely close to the body, you need to cinch it up tight. A loose belt is more comfortable, but translates to a loose holster.
If you are wearing a suit or dress slacks a BDU belt or nylon belt is going to look a little strange. It may just let some bad guy know you are packing, too.

[VegasGeorge]

I just bought my first "real" gun belt. It's a 1 3/4" wide, 1/8" thick leather belt made by Desantis, the holster maker. I notice that it's made of much stiffer leather than I'm used to. That means that the belt itself will hold much of the weight of the gun without wanting to turn out and over. That, in turn means that you can get good support from the belt without having to cinch it up as tightly as you would a more flexible belt. I like it, and it looks just fine with dress slacks or jeans.

[In10city]

Good lead VegasGeorge! They've also got a good selection of holsers.

Link to the belts:
http://www.desantisholster.com/storefrontB2CWEB/browse.do?action=refresh_browse&ctg_id=4384