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Alright guys. I have read a lot about how a good belt makes carrying that much better. Is there somewhere in Houston that carries good belt? I know there are a lot of belt sites online, but I am more of a "see before buy" kinda guy. Any recommendations?

I don't know of any stores in Houston that carry good "off duty" gunbelts. I am a "hands on" kinda guy myself, but with belts it doesn't make much difference to me. I just like simple black leather belts. Mine is a dual-layer bullhide from thebeltman. The quality is excellent. I got mine delivered in a couple weeks. http://thebeltman.net/

For more casual occasions, I wear a Wilderness Instructors belt with the metal buckle. I have heard some people don't like the plastic "frequent flyer" model because of slippage.

Most gun stores keep some in stock. Collectors Firearms and Carter's Country carry a few brands from the major manufacturers and Top Gun range has some of the local Hoffner's and Comp-Tac varieties. There are usually a few vendors at the gun shows in Houston as well.

I also prefer thebeltman and wilderness tactical and get them online.

Once you have worn a "good belt" (personal taste will change the definition), you will probably never go back to a department store belt.

FWIW, width matters. A good 1.25" belt isn't as comfortable or secure as a good 1.5" belt. Common pant belt loops don't let you go any wider than 1.5", but go as wide as you can.

I have Beltman, Comp-Tac, Wilderness, 5.11, and others.

After a couple of dozen wearings, the Beltman's dye came off the top, load-bearing edge of the belt. No biggie because the belt is still as sturdy as the day it was made, and it isn't on display when I wear it. But it's a cosmetic flaw.

The Comp-Tac is a solid performer. It tapers from 1.5" to 1" in the front--a pseudo Ranger belt--and as such the only gripe I have is that it doesn't have many holes for those of us whose waists go through changes. But it's "pre-curved" to fit properly with its thin Kydex insert, and is a good-lookin' gun-belt that's not supposed to look like a gun-belt.

I think my best-belt wish list would include a 1.5", double-hasp, infinite-hole, Kydex-reinforced, "pre-curved" job. Something like this from Duluth Trading, but with the Kydex and shaping. Somebody should build this (Gregg, you listenin'? <smile>).

The Wilderness/5.11 type fabric sliders handle the changing-waist thing better than leather ever could. With a Kydex or nylon insert, I'd deem these fit for duty. Without an insert, I think you have to cinch them up too tight to compensate for the lack of rigidity. Thousands of trainers who wear them may disagree, I'm sure. But you also have the thickness issue: without an insert and double-layer of fabric, if you use an IWB holster that relies on clips to the belt, the typical trainer's belt isn't thick enough to secure the clips. The 5.11 folks do offer leather belts that I haven't tried, though.

But my confession is that my favorite belt over the past couple of years has been a Rocky leather work-belt I bought at Gander Mountain for under 20 bucks. Model RBM1031. It ain't suitable for office casual dress, but it's stood up to everything I've thrown at it--multiple, thousand-round training courses (in the courses I've taken the past 18-20 months, I've always worn this belt), as well as IDPA--and it's still solid. It gets the nod on most weekends. If I'd been smart, I'd have bought several, including a size up and a size down.

I purchased a good one at the gun show for about $30. I don't recall the seller, but she did let me try it on first.

Check out Maxpedition's Liger gun belt.

Review: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=148723

Pictures and Ordering Info: http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/vie ... FQodOGC5kQ

The belt is very strong, stable, and comfortable. The buckle is classy enough for business wear and low profile enough to attract no unusual attention at all.

I've worn one for several months and couldn't be more pleased.

I also have some of The Wilderness belts, and like them very much for casual and tactical wear.

I have a 5.11 dress belt that I bought from ProDefense in Webster (I-45 South & Nasa Parkway). Good be for the price. $30ish. Only problem is that some of the black has come of the top and bottom edge. Fixed with shoe polish. Might try sharpie next time. Holds my G30 just fine.

randtx,

I have a 5.11 belt I bought at TOP BRASS MILITARY. They have a good selection of 5.11, and several locations.

topbrassmilitary.com

For a nice black or brown leather belt, I get the Indestructible Belt from Casual Male Big/Tall. It is a thick leather, 1½" belt. If you are below the size 40 minimum, I'm sure you could just trim it down and use an awl to poke new holes. I am a Big/Tall guy anyway, so I can get mine as-is. I have used this belt for my carry for several years now (since getting my CHL), so I highly recommend them. They aren't a "tactical" belt, but they are VERY sturdy. =-]

LINK: http://www.casualmale.com/store/en_US/c ... d=cat10083

I have a nice Galco dress belt I got a Collector's at a reasonable price. (One of the few things I've seen there that was reasonably priced.)

I can't give high enough praise for the COMP-TAC belts. I have one in black and one in brown. I wear them daily and just a little shoe polish to keep them looking good. Daily wear and competition, for my money....they are the best.

solaritx wrote:I can't give high enough praise for the COMP-TAC belts. I have one in black and one in brown. I wear them daily and just a little shoe polish to keep them looking good. Daily wear and competition, for my money....they are the best.

Werd.

iratollah wrote:I have a nice Galco dress belt I got a Collector's at a reasonable price. (One of the few things I've seen there that was reasonably priced.)

I purchased a Galco CB4 from them 6 or so years ago and have worn it everyday since. I purchaced both that belt and my Tucker Heritage Special from them. I don't think they sell Tucker anymore but last time I was there they still had Galco.

I can't say it was reasonably priced as I spent $100+ just for the belt but the trade off is that the Collectors staff really knows their stuff and there is a very large selection on just about everything they sell. The CB4 retails for $120 from Galco.

The contouring on the belt makes for a much more stable platform than anything else I tried and I tried them all. I felt like an old woman looking for shoes when I was picking my belt and holster combination. The Collectors staff guy that helped me was very knowlegeable and patient and got me exactly what I needed. At the time I was a big time newbe at carrying and was appreciative of the help. I've always known that no matter what the product, quality leather is going to cost $$ and I didn't want to have to do it twice.

$100 is probably a bit much for a belt but like I said, it fit and worked better than anything else I tried due to the contouring. It really keeps the holster in tight and is very comfortable.

After almost 7 years, the stitching is still tight and the finish hasn't rubbed off anywhere.

BTW, My Tucker Heritage Special has gone through about 5 sets of clips but the leather part still works great. Stiches are still tight and that super thin leather is worn smooth on the inside and my Beretta has virtually no holster wear on the finish.

TDDude wrote:I can't say it was reasonably priced as I spent $100+ just for the belt but the trade off is that the Collectors staff really knows their stuff and there is a very large selection on just about everything they sell. The CB4 retails for $120 from Galco.

At Collector's, if you paid less than MSRP, you received a 'reasonable' price.

I also have a Tucker Hi Ride OWB (don't remember the model name) that holds my P239 close and comfortable. All day comfort. I have a Galco for my P228 that also holds that bigger gun fairly close. But the belt is what makes the big difference.

I have one of the 5.11 1.5" belt with an insert. Best belt I have ever worn. I carry a 5" SS 1911 in Galco Royal Guard with 2 extra mags in a Comp-Tac mag holster on the other side. Just carried outside the home today (New CHL ). Been carrying at home and private range for a few months.