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How to Choose a Gun Belt for Concealed Carry

How to Choose a Gun Belt for Concealed Carry

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Any building is only as strong as its foundation — you don't have to be a construction expert to understand this simple principle. But when it comes to concealed carry, many of us overlook the importance of the gun belt as the foundation of our setup. Even if you're using a quality holster and dressing appropriately, you may still struggle with printing and discomfort if your belt is loose or sagging. So, let's take a look at some of the key criteria for choosing a gun belt for every day carry.

Above: A sturdy belt makes a world of difference to support your firearm and holster of choice. This photo shows a Glock 45 in an LAS Kaizen-L holster on a Nexbelt Supreme EDC gun belt.

Belt Size

There's more to selecting a belt size than you might think. First, your belt size is not the same as your pant size. For ordinary belts — like the leather dress belt you might wear with a pair of slacks — it's generally recommended to add 2 inches to your pant size. So, if you wear 36-inch waist pants, you'd need a 38-inch belt.

However, that's not enough for a gun belt designed to carry an inside the waistband (IWB) holster. The holster requires a little extra space between the belt and your body, so your belt size will end up being slightly larger.

Kore Essentials, one of the gun belt manufacturers featured later in this article, recommends adding 6 inches to your pant size to accommodate an IWB holster. By this metric, if you normally wear 36 inch pants, you'd want roughly a 42 inch belt for concealed carry. Keep in mind that this isn't a 100% precise method, since some setups will require more room, especially if you're also carrying other IWB items like a mag carrier and/or trauma kit.

♦️ In our experience, pant size + 4 inches is a good place to start for an IWB carry gun belt.

An appropriately sized belt should put you in the middle of the adjustment range, allowing the belt to be loosened to add more IWB gear or tightened for use without any IWB items. For belts that require cutting to fit, like Nexbelt and Kore Essentials, be sure to follow the old "measure twice, cut once" rule!

Belt Width

The next key consideration is the width the belt material itself. Your gun belt might be the right size for your waist, but if it's no wider than a shoelace, it won't be able to retain a holster effectively. Width improves rigidity, and rigidity improves support for the weight of a firearm and any other EDC gear that accompanies it.

Above: The Nexbelt Supreme EDC is a 1.5-inch belt, and fits nicely into the belt loops on most everyday clothing, as well as shooting-oriented apparel like these 5.11 Defender Flex jeans.

Casual dress belts are often around 1.25 inches wide, but most gun belts are either 1.5 or 1.75 inches. This increase in width provides more stability and support, but also brings trade-offs.

The belt loops on some pants may not be wide enough to accommodate extra-wide belts, so you need to ensure your belt fits your favorite pants before buying it. Generally, this isn't a problem with 1.5-inch belts, but 1.75-inch belts (especially very thick ones) are a little more restrictive. You might only be able to wear your 1.75-inch belt with hiking pants or other outdoor-oriented clothing, as opposed to jeans and shorts from regular clothing retailers. There's also a wider variety of 1.5-inch belt choices on the market, while the selection of 1.75-inch models is more limited.

♦️ For these reasons, we typically prefer 1.5-inch gun belts.

Above: Due to their rigidity and firm grip, LAS Concealment Stiff Hooks will fit either a 1.5 or 1.75 inch belt. Many other clips on the market, such as metal DCC overhooks, are designed specifically for one or the other.

Belt Thickness

Some gun belts are nothing more than a strap of nylon webbing with a buckle, while others use multiple layers of material (as discussed in the next section) to add rigidity. As you may expect, this results in different thicknesses. Words like "double layer," "reinforced," or "laminated" typically indicate a thicker belt.

Thick belts offer more support and rigidity, but come with some drawbacks:

  • As with wide belts, they may not fit every pair of pants you own.
  • Some holster clips or overhooks may not be able to grip the material securely, especially where it "doubles up" on one side of the buckle.

♦️ Whether you prefer a thinner or thicker belt, be sure your holster attaches to it securely. You should be able to draw your gun rapidly without the holster shifting on (or releasing from) the belt.

Belt Materials

In the image above, you can clearly see the difference between two belt materials, which reflect their intended purposes.

  • The Nexbelt Supreme EDC belt (left) is made of dual-layer nylon with a reinforced core, and is designed as a standalone belt for every day carry.
  • The Snake Eater Tactical Inner Belt (right) is made from ultra-thin, lightweight Cordura laminate with loop Velcro exterior. The product description clearly states, "It is not intended to hold up gear on its own... [it's] an anchor for your load bearing gear belt."

While the S.E.T. inner belt is a great foundation for a "battle belt" or duty belt system, and it'll certainly hold up a pair of pants, it's simply not rigid enough to support a holster:

Note how the holster sags heavily on the waistline in this photo — that's not good. It also doesn't provide enough leverage for the Stack-It Wing to counteract printing. We provide this example as a reminder to always use a belt for its intended purpose. If a belt doesn't specifically say it's made for use with concealed firearms, it probably won't be very good for that purpose.

Above: In comparison to the previous photo, it's easy to see how much more support a stiff gun belt offers.

Most gun belts are made primarily of either nylon (sometimes called SCUBA webbing) or leather, often stitched together in multiple layers. In many cases, manufacturers also add a stiffened core made of Tegris, Kydex, or even steel to prevent flexing and sagging.

♦️ When designed appropriately, any combo of these materials can make a great gun belt.

How Stiff is Too Stiff?

So, you might be thinking "shouldn't I just pick the stiffest belt I can find?" The answer is no, and we'll explain why. Excessively stiff belts can cause uncomfortable hotspots around the hips or lower back, since they don't contour to the body. They can also create a "hula hoop" effect that actually inhibits concealment by pulling the holster away from the abdomen. Remember, your waistline isn't a perfect oval!

♦️ There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the "how stiff is too stiff" question, but we'd encourage you to look for a middle ground that's both supportive and flexible.

Additional Features

Some gun belts include outward-facing Velcro material that allows them to serve as the foundation for a bulkier "battle belt" or duty belt system. This allows you to wear them every day with an IWB holster, and then strap on an outer belt with an OWB holster and mag carriers for trips to the shooting range.

A few belts, such as the Wazoo Cache Belt (pictured above), also include hidden pockets for cash and other valuable items. Whether you're planning on doing a Bear Grylls impersonation and surviving in the wilderness or simply want to avoid getting pickpocketed while traveling abroad, this can be a handy feature.

Best Gun Belts

There are dozens of high-quality gun belts on the market today, so you shouldn't have any difficulty finding the best one for your needs. We've listed a few popular choices below, and categorized them by buckle style.

Traditional post-and-hole buckles

  • Classic design with punched holes for adjustment
  • Examples: Hanks or Beltman

Minimalist loop buckles

G-Hook buckles

Magnetic buckles

Ratcheting buckles

Cobra quick-release buckles

  • Two halves click together like a seatbelt, producing a connection that's incredibly strong
  • Examples: Wilder Tactical or HSGI

Looking for a Concealed Carry Holster?

Finding the right belt and holster combination can completely change your perspective on concealed carry. We've heard from many of our customers who now feel confident to carry bigger guns or wear less layers of clothing because printing is no longer a concern. If you're ready to take your IWB carry setup to the next level, check out our new Kaizen modular holster series.

Patrick McCarthy

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