Is a gun belt necessary?

Makes all of the difference in the world. The belt is what actually holds the gun on your body. You really will not understand the difference they make until you try one. A gun belt even makes difference with pocket carry.
 
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I think so.

They need not be expensive. A serviceable gun belt costs only a few dollars more than a decent regular mens belt. I have no idea what womens belts cost.
 
The heavier the grade of belt and the thicker it is the more it distribute the weight of the weapon across your entire waist. A good belt also has the advantage of lasting longer for everyday use, even with a weapon attached to it.
 
$30 Blackhawk CQC, EDC for past 9 months, nothing else ;) even in "nice" clothes, I just swap out the black one with my tan. Yes you can be saved with the belt, via airlift/climb what ever else..
 
A cheap belt will make a good holster seem cheap. But a good belt will make cheap holster seem good. Or something like that. A good belt IS very important in other words.
 
Since most, or many of them are "double" belts, isn't that unnecessary for a IWB. ? I could see it with a holster worn on the hip. Seems to me those would be stiffer and somewhat uncomfortable. I don't have one and have been wearing my Sparks IWB with a Kahr MK40 comfortably, and with no problems, in an ordinary 1 1/2" work belt. :confused:
 
jimmy10mm wrote:
Since most, or many of them are "double" belts, isn't that unnecessary for a IWB. ? I could see it with a holster worn on the hip. Seems to me those would be stiffer and somewhat uncomfortable. I don't have one and have been wearing my Sparks IWB with a Kahr MK40 comfortably, and with no problems, in an ordinary 1 1/2" work belt
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I found that a nice, stiff belt from 5.11 made IWB carry more comfortable. My previous belt had lost quite a bit of stiffness, although it was also a "gunbelt". New belt, more comfort. Despite the fact that it is pretty stiff.
 
A well made holster can't really be appreciated without a decent gun belt. I always carry with a reenforced gun belt. JMHO
 
I've found that it matters very little with IWB carry personally. I don't notice a difference myself.
 
The heavier the grade of belt and the thicker it is the more it distribute the weight of the weapon across your entire waist. A good belt also has the advantage of lasting longer for everyday use, even with a weapon attached to it.
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+1. If you carry a heavy gun, a good leather gun belt is more important than the holster you use.

Now, you can carry a gun with any cheap belt, but until you carry one with an actual gun belt, you don't understand how well they support gun making it easier to carry and conceal.

Check out www.thebeltman.net His work isn't cheap, but it will last a very long time with proper care. My first gun belt cost $50 and lasted for a year before it broke down. My beltman cost $100 and is 5 years old and still going strong.
 
Hey ak-473690
It makes ALL the difference.This is what I carry,and it's all heavy,but I also made my self a thick 1.5" wide belt to carry it.I dont even know that I carry a 1911 and knive.
Thank you,
Henry
ps...the small belts are a joke,and makes it a pain.
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Is a gun belt necessary? Does a bear, uh, live in the woods?

I don't do IWB, so I don't know how critical a good belt is for that. But for OWB carry (as with many other things), a good stiff belt can help!

I think just as important as the belt's stiffness (with leather this is usually achieved with a double thickness) is the belt's width. I like a 1.75" belt, which still fits in the loops of most jeans or work pants. For dress trousers, you can use a narrower belt or have your belt loops made bigger.

A lot of guys here seem to swear by The Beltman, but I get my leather belts from Bob Mernickle,
http://www.mernickleholsters.com/pb/pb7.html
Figure on paying $100 or so. I think it's worth it. His belts are way heavier than even the Bianchi and Safariland belts I used to use, and those were nothin' to sneeze at!

I would also advise that, for concealment, go for plain leather, no "Lazy 8" stitch or basketweave; those kind of shout "pistolero".

I used to know detective-types who would wear their buckle on the side, presenting only leather from the front view, on the theory that a shiny buckle made a target in low light. But if you're carrying a holster and a couple of spare mags, a buckle on the side is just going to get in the way. But I still wouldn't go for a big, shiny "rodeo" buckle. But that's just me.

For hot weather wear (to avoid perspiration damage to leather), or just to go cheaper than leather, a fabric belt from Wilderness Tactical or 5.11 works just fine (I use one with a fabric holster from WRB). Once again, get the stiffest belt (with a stiffening layer inside), preferably in 1.75" width. That should only set you back around $30 for the 5.11, although the Wilderness can be twice that.

Don't skimp on a belt; a good one is a wise investment.
 
Hey Ringolevio
I agree-thick leather is the way to go.I shoot SASS,and made my own leather+holsters.It feel's great because the belt is wide.I made the belt in the picture,and it's almost 1/4 thick.
Thank you,
Henry
 
The reason for a proper gunbelt...

A proper "gunbelt" or a belt that can fully support a loaded firearm, spare pistol magazines, white light, handcuffs/restraints(if needed) or a folder knife/blade is a smart move.
There are well made leather & nylon belts you can buy from open sources.
Some designs like Mitch Rosen, Bianchi or Galco have narrow widths in the front to "appear" more like a regular dress belt.
I have & use a lined black nylon Unkle Mike's belt that fits most pants or uniforms. There are many styles, colors, sizes to pick from now.
Clydefrog
www.5.11tactical.com www.Mitchrosen.com www.Blackhawk.com www.thebeltman.net www.Galcogunleather.com .
 
Best of them all is a Sam Browne. But, unfortunately if you wear one and you aren't in uniform it makes you look like an Illinois Nazi (cfr "The Blues Brothers")...

K.
 
Since most, or many of them are "double" belts, isn't that unnecessary for a IWB. ? I could see it with a holster worn on the hip. Seems to me those would be stiffer and somewhat uncomfortable. I don't have one and have been wearing my Sparks IWB with a Kahr MK40 comfortably, and with no problems, in an ordinary 1 1/2" work belt
Click to expand...

A leather belt made from two straps (double belt) will not stretch as much over time as a belt made from one thick strap. A two strap (and one strap) belt can be made more comfortable if the buckle end of the strap is skived (thinned) therefore reducing the bulk where the belt folds over the buckle.
 
Most leather belts will sooner or later start 'curling' up esp w/ dunlap disease. They guy pictured above, probably wont have nearly so much of that problem.
 
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