Gun Belts in NE Ohio?

[deanimator]

Does anybody know of a place in NE Ohio to get a decent gun belt for concealment?

I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a good stiff, black belt on which to carry the tuckable IWB i'm making for my Citadel 3.5"

I'm looking for something in the $30-50 range.

I don't mind making a holster, but without a sewing machine, a belt's just WAY too much hand stitching to even consider.

[TSiWRX]

How stiff is stiff?

I haven't tried Dan's Biothane (http://www.zlogonje.com/belts.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), but his leather stuff is just absolutely awesome. My Beltman has been my "beater" training leather for the last couple of years because of it, FWIW. The leather is a bit over your budget and quite a wait, but it's really the best I've come across, and it's local.

Top Gun Supply in Chesterland should offers Beltman dual layer bullhide leather belts under their own house brand, so you can try it on for size. Beltman belts are what many consider to be the Gold Standard with respect to leather belts, and as their house brand, it's only slightly above the high end of your budget. IIRC, they also offer Blade-Tech Looper reinforced leather belts, which is another great product. Aside from a friendly staff that'll let you try the belts on for size, the other big benefit is that you'll get to walk out with the belt right-away. I'd check their website for what's in-stock (as well as their store hours) before you make the trek.

What these belts have in common is stiffness. That Wilderness 5-Stitch? It's overcooked Ziti in-comparison. It's nowhere near as stiff as the wine-barrel-ring that's the full-synthetic Ares Gear Ranger (and copies) or the Volund ATLAS, but as far as non-reinforced leather goes, it's about as good as it gets in terms of stiffness.

Tractor Supply Company has a good selection of wide (but not necessarily stiff) and durable leather belts at very reasonable prices (towards the low end of your budget). Without inherent stiffness, for a heavy pistol, you may need to tighten the belt a bit more, but it should still be relatively comfortable due to that same lack of intrinsic stiffness.

Amish-made leather belts tend to be very sturdy, durable, and also readily available at reasonable prices. In addition to the local Amish population and specialty leather shops (RW Leather, for example), Kames Sports have in the past (maybe now, too, I don't know? you'll want to give them a call) stocked "Amish Leather Belts," which may lack some stiffness and the refinement of top-dollar leather, but will still carry the weight of even full-sized steel guns just fine.

For the life of me, I can't recall what they had at Atwell's. You might want to give them a call and ask what they stock.

[BobK]

I am a big fan of Daltech Force gunbelts as being reasonably priced and good quality. Sure, my Beltman Belt is better quality, but it was double the price.

I have three belts from Daltech Force: a brown basketweave single layer, a black double layer bullhide with stiffener, and their biothane belt. All are as good today as they were three years ago.

Here is one holding a gov't model 1911.

[Stryker74]

+1 for Daltech. One of their double-thick belts was my daily for a few years.

I finally got to the last hole on it, and decided it was an opportunity to get a new (smaller) belt. So, I went with a biothane model from Zlogonje. I have been pleased with this belt as well. So, a +1 for that one too!


The biothane is lighter weight, but not as stiff as the Daltech I had been using previously - so it takes some getting used to when putting your gear on the belt. The plus that I like about the biothane is that it has a tacky feel to it. Once I tighten it on my waist, my gear takes substantial effort to move along the belt.

The biothane is also thinner - which caused me a bit of a problem with a certain IWB holster that used molded plastic clips to loop over the belt. Those clips were molded for the more traditional leather thickness - so they would move around more than I wanted. With the metal spring type clips, I don't think that would be an issue.

I am pleased with the biothane, and it was worth the cost from Dan. Hard to beat the price for a good functional belt that will hold my gear, and does not stretch out like leather can (and usually does) over time.

[CCIman]

I currently use a couple of Dan's biothane belt's and they are a bargain at the price he charges. http://www.zlogonje.com/belts.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hugely better than any leather belt.

I also use spec ops better bdu belt 1.5"- they are also a fantastic general purpose belt, cheap belt.

[TJW815]

How about a good nylon like belt that is more adjustable than a standard leather belt?

[gfrlaser]

I go to a local leathersmith that makes shoes, belts. Pick the material, the buckle and the stiffness you want. Costs me $50. Maybe you have one near you?

[TSiWRX]

The biothane is lighter weight, but not as stiff as the Daltech I had been using previously - so it takes some getting used to when putting your gear on the belt. The plus that I like about the biothane is that it has a tacky feel to it. Once I tighten it on my waist, my gear takes substantial effort to move along the belt.

The biothane is also thinner - which caused me a bit of a problem with a certain IWB holster that used molded plastic clips to loop over the belt. Those clips were molded for the more traditional leather thickness - so they would move around more than I wanted. With the metal spring type clips, I don't think that would be an issue.

^ That's a very good point.

Belt thickness and how that impacts its interaction with carry gear (not to mention one's wardrobe) is something that's often overlooked until it's too late.

[deanimator]

How about a good nylon like belt that is more adjustable than a standard leather belt?

I prefer leather, for appearance's sake.

[Mr. Glock]

Alan...I like gear, but I could never write a post that detailed about belt options. Well done.

[Werz]

How about a good nylon like belt that is more adjustable than a standard leather belt?

I prefer leather, for appearance's sake.

I like the Daltech Force Creased Bull Hide BULLBELT®. It's all leather, in your price range, and heavy duty but still pliable. I use it with a couple of different Zlogonje Snapcake holsters, which broadly distribute the weight, so I have experienced no deformation of the leather. My most common EDC is a subcompact 1911.

If I want to impress people with how stiff my belt is, I'll wear my lever-buckle powerlifting belt.

[Brian D.]

I go to a local leathersmith that makes shoes, belts. Pick the material, the buckle and the stiffness you want. Costs me $50. Maybe you have one near you?

always seem to be leather makers out in Amish country. One bunch of them in southern Ohio were prolific enough to keep a chain of three or four western clothing stores stocked with their double-thickness belt.

Made in any color you want, as long as you want black.

[LegoGlock]

For Op's price range i'd highly recommend Hanks leather belts. Friend has one and is solid for the money.

http://www.hanksclothing.com/hanks_amis ... unner.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TSiWRX]

Alan...I like gear, but I could never write a post that detailed about belt options. Well done.

Wait, you want nylon options, too!

Addendum -

I still like leather belts best for going through TSA. No-one gives it even the remotest of second-looks. The barrel-band Ares Gear Ranger always gets the stink-eye from *someone*, but I've even seen the winky-wink with everything from my Wilderness 5-Stitch to SOE Rigger's. And ever since that they told us that belts should come off, my Frequent Flyer has just been hanging there attracting dust.

Besides, when taking off something super-stiff like the Ares Ranger, you've really gotta be careful of others around you - I almost thwacked the little girl with the belt on a previous trip. Had I known that we'd draw "TSA Pre" for our vacation, I'd have worn that belt our entire trip (as-is, I credit it with holding up my pants through Universal after we were soaked-to-the-bone on the water-rides ). Definitely applying for TSA Pre.

[BobK]

Definitely applying for TSA Pre.

Yep. I received a "Global Entry" card some time back which also includes TSA-Pre.

Has definitely been worth having!

Glad to keep my laptop in the case, my belt on my hips, and my shoes on my feet!