Best Gun Belts for Concealed Carry and Formal Use

best edc belt

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If you are an everyday carry (EDC) or even an occasional carry gun owner, then you have been in search of the ideal carry rig for you. It may start with the holster, but the belt is where the equipment lives. An inferior edc belt makes carrying your gun a real chore. On the other hand, a good belt encourages everyday carry and makes for comfort in the long run. Most gun-toters are looking for a belt that is stylish, well made, functional, and most of all comfortable.

After searching our closets, I and a group of range buddies and EDC gun owners, male and female, went to suppliers and distributers far and wide on a quest to find the best gun belts. Read on to find out what we learned, what we liked, and what you need to know about holding up your pants while carrying. We’ll also give you a heads up on our favorite pick.

PRODUCT

DETAILS

Products

BEST FOR SOLIDITY

Hank’s Everyday Belt

Hank’s Everyday Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Brown
  • Size: 36
BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY

Crossbreed Holsters Classic Gun Belt

Crossbreed Holsters Classic Gun Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Brown & Black
  • Size: 36
BEST FOR COMFORT

Magpul Tejas “El Original” Gun Belt 2.0

Magpul Tejas “El Original” Gun Belt 2.0

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Black; Chocolate; Light Brown
  • Size: 32-44
BEST FOR VERSTILITY

BLACKHAWK! CQB/Riggers Belt

BLACKHAWK! CQB/Riggers Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Desert Sand Brown, Black, Olive Drab
  • Size: 34-51
BEST FOR SECURE CARRY

Relentless Tactical Ultimate CCW Leather Gun Belt

Relentless Tactical Ultimate CCW Leather Gun Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Black
  • Size: 36.25
BEST FOR STRONG LOCK

Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt

Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Brown, Grey, Coyote
  • Size: 34-38
BEST FOR LIMITLESS STRENGTH

Daltech Force SuperBio CCW Gun Belt

Daltech Force SuperBio CCW Gun Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Black
  • Size: 36
BEST FOR DURABILITY

Grip6 Work Belt

Grip6 Work Belt

  • Material: Nylon
  • Color: Black; Chocolate; Light Brown
  • Size: 36
BEST FOR STRENGTH

BigFoot Steel Core Leather Gun Belt

BigFoot Steel Core Leather Gun Belt

  • Material: Leather
  • Color: Brown
  • Size: 36.25

What To Look For In A Gun Belt

Belt Width

Most gun belts come in “standard” widths of 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75 inches. Which size is right? Ideally, make sure that your pant belt loops, holster loops, and belt width all match. Many dress pants and lady’s fashions often come with 1.25-inch belt loops. 

Some men’s slacks and most jeans come with 1.5-inch loops. My closet has pants and shorts in both sizes. Therefore I have two gun belts. When I’m wearing dress slacks with 1.25-inch loops, I carry a sub-compact with a 1.25-inch loop holster like the Raven Concealment 1.25 Inch Phantom Holster.

If you don’t want to invest in two different rigs and or guns, stick with 1.5-inch fashions. 1.75-inch belts are usually confined to “tactical” applications. Most of the gunbelts we reviewed are 1.5-inch models, with several available in other widths.

Construction

Stay away from department store belts. Belts made for gun carry endure stress that will deform and or destroy standard dress belts. Also, avoid exotic leathers and belts with conchos, studs, or other bling items. Look for made-for-purpose or heavy-duty belts with:

  • High-quality full-grain leather or synthetic material
  • Heavy-duty thread and stitching
  • Corrosion-resistant hardware
  • Double or triple layer construction
  • Secure, slip-resistant buckle

Belt Size

Order your belt 3-6 inches longer than your measured waist size. If your waist size varies (like during the holidays), go for the 6 or even 8-inch overlap. Check belt notch (buckle holes) placement and increments. The non-tactical belt we reviewed can be used for IWB or OWB carry. Go longer for IWB carry.

Pliability And Flexibility

If a belt is over-flexible or over-elastic, it may droop or sag under holster and gun weight. If it is too stiff, it will dig into the hips and be uncomfortable. If you are getting the idea that choosing a gun belt is an exercise in compromise, you’re right.

Clothing

Don’t stop at belt considerations. After all, you’re going to hanging this rig on your belt loops. Examine the clothing that you will be wearing while carrying. Try for full-width well-constructed waistbands to prevent gathering and pant roll-over. 

Look at the belt loops. They should be substantial and well stitched. Pay attention to belt loop spacing. Ensure that they accommodate the ideal position for your holster with one belt loop between holster loops if possible.

Best Concealed Carry Belts [Top 9 Belts]

1. Hank’s Everyday Belt

gun belts

Hank’s Belts and Leather Goods says that their everyday belt “will last you for the rest of your life with the warranty to back it up.” This 1.5-inch belt is hand-made from full-grain steer hide with black oxide coated belt buckle. The .22 inch thick leather is equivalent to double-layer construction in sag resistance. At about $65, it is an affordable US-made product. It comes in tan, brown, and black with dyed edges.

We liked the premium finish dyed edges lifetime warranty. The belt was flexible enough to break into hip contours and stylish. We wished it had ¾ inch spacing on the belt holes instead of 1-inch.

Hank’s Everyday Belt

The price of Hank’s Everyday Belt varies, so check the latest price at

2. Crossbreed Holsters Classic Gun Belt

edc belt

The Crossbreed Classic Gun Belt is a tri-ply belt incorporating a woven nylon webbing, cemented between 7 oz top grain leather layers for durability. It has heavy-duty recessed stitching along the dye-finished edges. The nylon layer provides stiffness and stretch resistance. This belt is substantial enough to hold mag holders plus any other equipment you want to tote. At about $57 it is a solid pick.

We liked the premium stitching and the roller buckle. Some guys liked the stiffness. Others thought it was a bit too stiff.

Crossbreed Holsters Classic Gun Belt

The price of Crossbreed Holsters Classic Gun Belt varies, so check the latest price at

3. Magpul Tejas “El Original” Gun Belt 2.0

gun belt

Magpul, best known for its line of gun-related hardware, has been in the gunbelt business for some time. Magpul revamped the Tejas “El Original” Gun Belt 2.0 with a dual-layer construction and a low profile buckle. 

A flexible polymer inner layer reinforces the bullhide leather outer layer to form a .25-inch thick belt. Magpul says that the low profile buckle reduces printing while carrying, but we don’t know what that’s all about. Buckles don’t print; guns do. $75 gets you a copy in tan, brown, or black.

We liked the low profile buckle and the ¾ inch spacing on the holes. The stitching wasn’t fully recessed and the lateral flexibility gave us doubts about sagging in the long run. The ladies said it was comfortable.

Magpul Tejas “El Original” Gun Belt 2.0

The price of Magpul Tejas “El Original” Gun Belt 2.0 varies, so check the latest price at

4. BLACKHAWK! CQB/Riggers Belt

best gun belt

When you are ready to step into the tactical zone, this is the belt for you. Price ranges from $30 to $65 based on belt size. Blackhawk starts with 7000 lb tensile strength, 1.75-inch nylon webbing, and adds MIL-SPEC parachute grade buckles and hardware. 

The whole thing wraps you up in a velcro overlap. This nylon belt is stiff enough to carry your gear without sagging if you keep it snug. It comes in a variety of colors, from spec ops camo to ninja black. If you decide on this belt, KNOW YOUR VENDOR. This is a great belt but, there are tons of fakes and cheap knock-offs out there.

Most guys liked it, and most girls panned it; some of each will buy it. It fits the bill for a quality tactical belt,

BLACKHAWK! CQB/Riggers Belt

The price of BLACKHAWK! CQB/Riggers Belt varies, so check the latest price at

5. Relentless Tactical Ultimate CCW Leather Gun Belt

best edc belt

Carry aficionados and holster junkies will recognize Relentless Tactical as a maker of high-quality leather holsters for IWB and OWB applications. They also make a line of leather gun belts which have widespread popularity. We tracked down a range buddy who has been wearing his Relentless Tactical brown leather gun belt for over a year. Here’s what we found. The Relentless Tactical Ultimate CCW belt is not the “ultimate” gun belt, but it’s a good bet for the price of $55-$60. 

Relentless Tactical makes this belt from a single strip of 14-ounce premium full-grain US leather. 14 oz leather is equivalent to 7/32 inches thick. That puts it a tad under some of the other leather belts we reviewed. However, these belts hold up well to long-term wear with full-size handguns. The surface finish was in the “good” category, as was the edge finishing. The belt comes with a premium nickel-plated roller buckle

Relentless Tactical belts are hand-made in the USA and backed with a lifetime warranty. We liked the price and the roller buckle. This belt is sag-resistant with all but the heaviest loads. The edge stitching is not fully recessed and may fray in wear areas over time. The Relentless Tactical is a good gun belt that fits every budget. You can score one by clicking the links below.

Relentless Tactical Ultimate CCW

The price of Relentless Tactical Ultimate CCW  varies, so check the latest price at

6. Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt

edc belts

This review is for the Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt, one of several in their lineup of belt products. Blue Alpha touts themselves as “a small American business in Atlanta, GA that makes high-quality products catered to the outdoor and shooting community.” Their lineup is confined to nylon EDC, range, and duty belts, along with some accessories.

Blue Alpha Hybrid makes the EDC belt from two layers of nylon webbing stitched together with matching nylon thread. The belt comes with the Cobra quick-release buckle described later in this review. Adjustment is by means of velcro strips on the flap end of the belt. All of the components are high-quality, and the belt is well made. A lifetime warranty backs it.

We like the quality of the components, but we have trouble with the belt’s design. The velcro flap makes the belt twice as thick in that section, giving the belt an uneven feel. The small end of the Cobra buckle does not fit through standard 1.5-inch holster loops, necessitating removing the buckle to thread through your belt loops and holster loops, then reassembling the belt once it is on your pants. We consider this belt useable with clip-on holsters and gear only. The thread-through buckle on the flap end bulges up and makes the buckle uneven to wear.

Despite the odd design features, if you are a Cobra quick-release buckle fan and want a nylon EDC belt for your clip-on gear, this might be the belt for you. At about $70, the price is in line with other quality tactical nylon belts. Look up the latest Blue Alpha offerings by clicking on the links below.

Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt

The price of Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt varies, so check the latest price at

7. Daltech Force SuperBio CCW Gun Belt

best ccw belt

The Daltech Force SuperBio is the only belt we reviewed, not made with leather or nylon. We included it not so much for its features, but for what it doesn’t have. We relied on Daltech Force’s specifications and hundreds of customer reviews to give you our take on this gun belt.

Daltech Force makes this 1.5-inch belt from a proprietary polymer that lies somewhere between flexible plastic and vinyl. It has an integrated polyester webbing that provides stiffness and stretch resistance.

What it doesn’t have:

  • No leather, no dyes, no long term surface wear and discoloration
  • No nylon, definitely not a tactical look
  • No stitching threads to fray, break or wear
  • No porosity, no fading, no stains

This gun belt is space-age meets concealed carry. According to Daltech Force, the SuperBio gun belt is “100% water proof, sweat proof, dirt proof, oil proof, chemical proof, ice proof, and it won’t fade from long sun exposure”. At 5/32-inch thick, it is the thinnest gun belt in this lineup. Even so, users report no stretch, no sag, and no fold-over even after years of use.

This belt is a high-tech dress belt made from synthetic materials with a stylish nickel-plated, removable roller buckle. I like the design philosophy of simplicity meets indestructible technology in an ultra-strong dress belt. 

For $50 this you can wear this belt on your next trip to the range or the opera. Mine is on the way. You can get one by clicking on the links below.

Daltech Force SuperBio CCW Gun Belt

The price of Daltech Force SuperBio CCW Gun Belt varies, so check the latest price at

8. Grip6 Work Belt

best concealed carry belt

We included the GRIP6 Work Belt because it is available at a reasonable price of about $40, and it has a thinner, more flexible profile than most gun belts. Heavier guns may droop on this belt, but I recommend this belt as a comfortable, form-fitting alternative for lightweight concealed carry holsters. Stick a Ruger LCR (13.5 oz) in a nylon holster, and you have a near-invisible combo that you can carry all day, sitting or standing in comfort.

This belt features a low-profile, lay flat buckle with no moving parts. That makes it infinitely adjustable for exact fit. The flap tucks behind the belt for a clean look.

It comes in a variety of buckle designs and belt colors. We note that the belt comes in “Standard” 2000 lb nylon and “Workbelt” in 3000 lb nylon. We recommend the heavier 3k nylon model for all but the lightest of guns.

We like the flexible, clean nature of this belt. Some users report that the buckle frays the backside of the nylon over time. We also worry about drooping with heavier rigs. If you want a stylish, affordable belt for a slim carry solution, check out the best deals on the links below.

Grip6 Work Belt

The price of Grip6 Work Belt varies, so check the latest price at

9. BigFoot Steel Core Leather Gun Belt

concealed carry belts

The BigFoot Steel Core Leather Gun Belt isn’t the only gun belt that I own, but I wear it the most. Simply put, this is a made-for-purpose gun belt. Every aspect of this belt is designed from the get-go to be the highest quality, best performing belt you can hang your gun on.

BigFoot starts with two layers of drum-dyed, hand-finished English bridle leather. A thin, flexible stainless spring steel core is sandwiched with heavy-duty, fully recessed high-count stitching using Tex 270 military-grade thread. The edges are beveled, burnished, and painted. Add a nickel-plated roller buckle, and you have a work of art as well as a belt.

This belt is super strong, will never sag, looks great, and comes with a one year warranty. I love this belt. It is a great concealed carry gun belt. It comes in a very close second to our number one pick below.

We like the stellar quality of this belt. Some may not like the total lack of lateral flex, but if no-droop ultra stability is what you’re looking for, this is the best belt for you. At about $90 it comes in at the high-end price-wise, but it’s worth every penny. If you are looking for a classic leather gun belt with no compromises, click on the links below to get the best deals on this belt.

BigFoot Steel Core Leather Gun Belt

The price of BigFoot Steel Core Leather Gun Belt varies, so check the latest price at

Parting Shots

Once you choose a gun and decide to carry it, your gun belt is perhaps the most critical element of your rig. Your belt will probably be the deciding factor in whether you will stick with it. Choose your belt carefully. If it doesn’t feel comfortable for your frame, look elsewhere. Many of the belts we reviewed allow test periods so that you can try the belt with no-hassle returns.

Some of the nylon belts we reviewed can be fitted with aftermarket buckles like the popular quick release Cobra buckle

Don’t stop fitting your rig at just the gun and holster. If you wear it on your department store regular belt, you will most likely be disappointed and may stop carrying it. Click on our affiliate links for more information and customer reviews on these fine gun belts.

Reference:

Featured Image Coyote Works

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