Vol Texan wrote:I've heard good things about Beltman on here, but I've not tried them myself. I bought a Comp-Tac when the time came for me to buy a gun belt, and it was also a great experience (plus, they're local here in the Houston area).
I bought a Comptac, Kydex reinforced (about 9 years ago) loved it, still wear it
I bought another Comptac Kydex reinforcedwhen they had a sale, loved it, still wear it for church
I bought a Desantis Econobelt, no reinforcement, it's ok for doing yard work. not as supportive
I bought 2 styles Steel reinforced BigFoot Belts, 14 Oz, and 20 oz, (same steel reinforced belt as Alien/Allen Wear belt, possibly same as Hanks Steel Reinforced onres too) ) about $60-=80 each one is the standard, one is the super thick like the Beltman belts. They're hanging over saw kitchen chair right now, neither is as supportive or as stiff as my Comptac kydex reinforced belts (I got both with Velcro plus reinforcer.
http://www.comp-tac.com/gun-belts/
I got Comptac Kydex Reinforced plus Velcro on the two belts I wear pretty much daily for the lasts 9 years or so, That's what I'd recommend over steel reinforced or super thick double layer leather even with steel inserts. I did leatherwork in the 1960s, my dad made boots, saddles etc in Lubbock in the 1940s with some famous bootmakers, and I was impressed with Comptac quality,
Texas made too.Yes, the comptac cost about twice as much as the steel reinforced Bigfoot belt, they both "look" nice, but Comptac is just better, stiffer, more supportive and though I only had the Bigfoot belts a year or so, I'm thinking Comptac would last longer too. I polished mine maybe twice in 9 years, still look good, except a spot where I got white paint on one while housepainting once.
Be sure, whatever brand you buy, you read and follow their size guidelines, everyone is different how they measure, like for one brand I need a 40 to middle hole, another brand I needed a 44 to middle hole