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Best Concealed Carry Belts: Don’t Let Your EDC Weigh Your Pants Down
Finding the best concealed carry belt is one of the most important considerations you have to take when getting into carrying.
When I first started carrying, I had a faux leather belt from Walmart that was clearly not up to the task. It was uncomfortable and made me dread tucking a holster into my waistband.
I was extremely uncomfortable all day long, and whenever I got into the car, I would take the holster off for some relief.
It was a nightmare. Did I really need to carry a firearm? Why was I putting myself in such an uncomfortable position for something that may never happen?
I caught myself thinking about not carrying anymore. Then, I knew I needed to find a way to make carrying more comfortable. Mind you, I was carrying a Glock 19X, which is no small firearm.
A friend wound up suggesting that I buy a different belt, a belt made for concealed carry, and pants in a larger size than I normally would wear. I finally realized the importance of a quality concealed carry belt. My whole carrying experience changed for the better.
After a few years and many different belts, here are my top recommendations and some tips to make carrying a bit easier.
Hanks Montana Bison Belt
One of the first EDC belts I bought was the Hanks Montana Bison belt. If you’re a fan of high-quality leather and want a belt you can dress up or down, then you’re in luck.
The belt is made of double-stitched North American Bison leather with a single-prong stainless steel belt buckle and weighs between 17-18 ounces. It’s a very heavy-duty belt, which is what you want, considering it’ll be holding your holster, gun, and various accessories like mag pouches in place. While it doesn’t have steel or nylon reinforcement like other belts, the double-layer of Bison leather doesn’t fold like your cheaper belts.
Since it’s made of leather, its looks get better with age. Unlike other belts, there is no peeling or anything like that, but you should condition your belt occasionally with a suitable leather conditioner if you want to keep it looking its best. I use Huberd’s Shoe grease.
On top of it all, the Hanks Montana Bison Belt has a 100-year warranty, no questions asked.
The Hanks Montana Bison belt is not all looks; it performs well, too. Source: hanksbelts
Nexbelt Supreme Appendix
Nexbelt is one of the few companies to do the ratcheting belt buckle system and do it well. Instead of having only eight holes for tightness, the Nexbelt uses a system that gives you over 30 different adjustment settings.
This is a huge plus if you are trying to gain or lose weight or carry different-sized firearms. If you go out to eat and find yourself stuffed, you will also appreciate the ease of loosening your belt.
The Supreme Appendix belt is made of super-high density microfiber, which gives it the stiffness needed to keep your holster in the right place and the ability to re-holster should you need it.
It features a low-profile buckle to ensure the device isn’t getting in your way if you carry it in the front and also allows space for spare magazines should you need them.
If you’re looking for maximum comfort and great support, this is a belt worth checking out.
The Nexbelt Supreme Appendix belt delivers a modern look. Source: nexbelt
Kore Essentials Nylon Gun Belt
Kore Essentials was one of the first companies to roll out the ratcheting belt system. This innovative system changed concealed carry as a whole, and I’ve been using its Nylon Gun Belt for over a year now.
My favorite part of the Kore Essentials belt is its ease of use. You size them yourself based on your waist size, and then simply place them in the buckle and clamp and screw it down with the Allen key that comes included.
The belt has 40+ adjustment options thanks to the patented track system used, and the buckles are interchangeable depending on the look you’re going for.
It has a load rating of up to ten pounds, so you should be covered regardless of which firearm you carry. Just in case you wind up not liking it, it does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is more than enough time to figure out if you want to keep it.
The all-black Kore Essentials Nylon Gun belt helps keep the low-profile look. Source: koreessentials
Blue Alpha EDC Belt
If you’re a fan of the Cobra buckle, then you’ll love the Blue Alpha EDC belt. Like the bigger gun belts used for duty purposes, this EDC belt has an easy-to-use male-to-female buckle system that snaps together.
Best of all, it will fit through your belt loops.
The Blue Alpha EDC has velcro for adjusting the tightness of the belt and is great for wearing with sweatpants. It allows you to maximize your comfort but still keep your EDC safe and secure.
It’s made from two layers of 1.5-inch nylon to give you the added durability to keep your gun and extra magazines in place.
The key takeaway is that this is the gun belt for you if you wear sweatpants to run errands.
The Blue Alpha EDC belt is rather basic but very functional. Source: bluealphabelts
AWS 1.5 Inner Belt
If you’re planning on running a full belt system soon, the AWS inner belt is one of the best that can be used. Not only will this save you money, but it will also kill two birds with one stone.
Some companies, like AWS, sell the belt as a replacement part. But you don’t have to use this one; any inner belt will do.
These belts use velcro all the way around to secure the belt in place and can cover multiple waist sizes. You can use this for your standard EDC setup and add the outer belt to complete your full shooting system.
The AWS 1.5 Inner belt is affordable and versatile. Source: awsin
Tips to Make Carrying More Comfortable
These are some things I wish I had known before I started carrying.
- Buy a holster with a claw attachment to help minimize printing
- Buy pants a size up to accommodate the holster
- Belts with track systems are the best for adjusting on the go
- Undershirts make appendix-carrying much more comfortable
- Don’t wear a cheap Walmart belt
- Adjust the angle of your car seat back so your firearm isn’t pressing into your stomach (if you decide to carry in the appendix position)
Conclusion
As I’ve said before, a good EDC belt can make a world of difference in your day-to-day life and activities. Especially if you’re carrying a firearm, think of it as an investment in your happiness because there is nothing worse than having to adjust your firearm all day long to avoid discomfort or to keep it secure.
My number one pick is the Hanks Montana Bison belt. If you’re into carrying and looking good while doing so, it’s a fantastic option. It’s robust and will last you a lifetime; if it doesn’t, there’s that lifetime warranty to help you get another one.
Be good and take care.
