New Gun Belt Time

Oak City Tactics

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Time for a new EDC gunbelt. I know it’s not super Gucci but I’ve used a 5.11 1.5” instructor belt daily for probably 7 years. I’ve got others as well for other options. 1.5” Custom leather gun belts, 1.5” HSGI Cobra buckle reinforced gun belts, First Speer AGB 1.75”, bunch of 1.75 riggers belts, Bianchi fancy stitch 1.75”, etc.
The 5.11 was reinforced and had an open ended tail that fed easily through Belt loops and holsters. Infinite adjustment and the materials dried well. The Velcro has worn out however. As a result of that and the teeth on the buckle wearing down over such a long time, it’s starting to slip when not under tension. The worn Velcro allows the tail to fall away from the belt at times. When that angle changes the buckle tension system can be compromised and it loosens.
I have to have a free running end. No cobra buckled type systems. I don’t want to disassemble the belt to easily thread it on. Wide range of adjustment. 1.5” and reinforced or stiffened. Range of neutral colors, probably not all black. Leather not preferred. Bonus points if it can function as a rigger belt with a tie in point.

Ares Gear? Some sort of Biothane construction option? What am I overlooking? Part of me says just buy another 5.11 it’s been pretty decent in the role.
 

Oak City Tactics

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Might should add it’s going to see mostly AIWB carry of full size guns in a Phlster with a single spare mag pouch. Occasional use with Kydex pancake type holsters as well and at times might get a single rifle mag briefly attached. It needs to be acceptable looking with the shirt tucked in on occasion as well but not that often.
 

dcsp3x

Member
I like the graith specialist belts, apparently they've changed the name/ownership/who's actually making them but its now under mastermind? I have 2 ares gear belts and they are good, but I like the low profileness (word) of the specialist belts more. I have gone back and forth between the two but i usually end up with the specialist belt more often than not. https://www.mastermindtactics.com/shop
 

ggammell

Does not pass up an opportunity to criticize P&S.
Blue Alpha Gear EDC Belt May fit you bill. I have two. Love them. Changed from the awards Aegis because the buckle interferes with AIWB.
 

WAVandal

Regular Member
I'm using a HSGI 1.5" no velcro riggers belt for daily use, had it about 4 years now. I carry a G19.5 with TLR7 and RMR off duty in a JMCK AIWB holster. I don't think it's anything special or ground breaking but it works well. When I was on light duty after breaking my leg it held my G17.4 with X300U in a Safariland ALS holster on my strong side, spare mag and cuffs on the weak side. It looks good enough for use in a LE environment with a tucked shirt. When carrying AIWB, I do push the buckle off to the side.

Now, I'm looking hard at Ares Gear's Aegis belt in black with the stainless to replace it. I think the buckle looks better for my daily use in the Seattle metro area and would draw less attention with a tucked in shirt. I have their duty belt and am a big fan of it.
 

Barry B

Regular Member
Another happy Ares Gear Aegis belt customer. I also run the buckle to the left hip when carrying AIWB. I like this belt a lot. The stiff belt alone removed a great deal of printing with AIWB, and a wedge on the holster removed even more. I’m very happy with the Aegis belt and would buy again.

Barry
 

Oak City Tactics

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Staff member
Moderator
Blue alpha inner belt requires considerable Velcro contact to retain it without a friction buckle. That long tail would play hell with anything other than snap loops. The other blue Alphas have the same issue as the HSGI I already had. A cobra buckle. No cobra buckles. I tried leaving the Cobra buckled and just running the free end through the adjustment when I take it off and on but the Velcro that secured the tail started pulling up. Besides if I have to do that why bother with the bulk of the cobra buckle anyway.
 
Also very happy with the Ares Gear Aegis belt. I position the buckle on the left hip as well. I've had it for 6 + years as an everyday belt. I've gone through a lot of different holsters in that time frame & I've found the holsters configured with a wedge to conceal the best (Tenicor Velo & Tier 1 Axis for me). The buckle allows you to easily & discreetly adjust the tension whether you're sitting, standing, running, etc.

The Tenicor Velo, combined with the DCC clips make a Glock17/x300 disappear under a T-shirt for me.
 
I have had numerous belts over time and have for the most part settled on the MEGINGJÖRÐ belt from V Development Group. I like a more flexible belt but most of them don't have enough structure to get a consistent draw stroke. This one has pretty much solved the problem for me at least.
 

Vembo

Newbie
Might should add it’s going to see mostly AIWB carry of full size guns in a Phlster with a single spare mag pouch. Occasional use with Kydex pancake type holsters as well and at times might get a single rifle mag briefly attached. It needs to be acceptable looking with the shirt tucked in on occasion as well but not that often.

I follow you on IG and see that you rock big guns (G17, G34) so I would recommend the Vdevgroup MEGINGJÖRÐ - AIWB SPECIFIC - CONCEAL CARRY BELT. I run a G17 in appendix as well as IWB mag pouch, IWB Cuff pouch and sometimes a IWB TQ depending on the job, belt hold great and performs the best out of all the belts I ran for concealment and appendix.
 

PM07

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
I'm a huge fan of Wilderness Products belts, especially the Frequent Flier model . I have Jones tactical , Ares and a couple of other 'name' belts but always come back to the Wilderness belt. My younger brother is using one of my older belts, after I wore it for 10+years. You can getg them as soft or stiff as you like at a great price to boot.
 

Barry B

Regular Member
So, I have some belt weirdness going on. Bear with me, I’m hoping someone can splain to me this.

I have a regular belt. 1.5”, flexible leather extremely flexible/worn in. I have an Ares Gear Aegis Belt. VERY stiff. Not cheap.

I have a Crazy Eyes Kydex holster with a claw and UltiClip.

That setup prints LESS with the regular belt vs the Aegis belt at AIWB in skinny jeans.

Didn’t swap pants for cargo shorts for this test, but it seems BOTH belts print less in Skinny Jeans than in Cargo shorts. My cargo shorts are not as snug as my skinny jeans.

Another test I did was I ran NO BELT at all and put the UltiClip on my skinny jeans, and there was no drooping and the printing was almost zero. Assuming that is due to the lack of belt allowing the gun/holster to ride lower?

The printing seems to come from the backplate and grip at 12 oclock tilting outward. Which the Ares Gear stiff belt is supposed to combat.

Has anyone else experienced this??? I LIVE in shorts in the summer, and assumed the Area Gear belt would dramatically reduce printing.

Thanks... not happy, there is something I’m missing, clearly.

Barry
 
So, I have some belt weirdness going on. Bear with me, I’m hoping someone can splain to me this.

I have a regular belt. 1.5”, flexible leather extremely flexible/worn in. I have an Ares Gear Aegis Belt. VERY stiff. Not cheap.

I have a Crazy Eyes Kydex holster with a claw and UltiClip.

That setup prints LESS with the regular belt vs the Aegis belt at AIWB in skinny jeans.

Didn’t swap pants for cargo shorts for this test, but it seems BOTH belts print less in Skinny Jeans than in Cargo shorts. My cargo shorts are not as snug as my skinny jeans.

Another test I did was I ran NO BELT at all and put the UltiClip on my skinny jeans, and there was no drooping and the printing was almost zero. Assuming that is due to the lack of belt allowing the gun/holster to ride lower?

The printing seems to come from the backplate and grip at 12 oclock tilting outward. Which the Ares Gear stiff belt is supposed to combat.

Has anyone else experienced this??? I LIVE in shorts in the summer, and assumed the Area Gear belt would dramatically reduce printing.

Thanks... not happy, there is something I’m missing, clearly.

Barry

AIWB works best with a flexible belt, not a stiff one... It needs to conform to your contours where as a very stiff belt will create a hoop effect around the front of your waist. You also want as minimal a buckle as possible or else you need to offset the large buckle off to the side of your waist between 10 and 11:00.
Your skinny jeans are working better because their tightness is supporting the gun against your body better than the cargo shorts can. With the proper AIWB belt this will not be an issue.
Go buy a belt specifically made for AIWB carry and see what a difference it will make. One of the best, and happily cheapest, belts to try is a Mastermind Tactics Specialist which is $35 and should solve your issues. The LTT Foundation belt is another great option for about $10 more.
 

Barry B

Regular Member
Hey - Thanks. Amazing you don't know what you don't know. I Like the Ares Gear belt, esp for training classes. But it did seem to "hoop" on me in certain clothes. Googling the belt you recommended. Thanks much.

Barry
 
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