The value of a good belt

kgd

kgd

Joined
Feb 28, 2007
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We hear so much about PSK's, but so often ignore the basic clothing implement. The Belt. Maybe we all just assume that this is worn by everybody - afterall that is the thing that secures your sheath right?

So travelling, I found the value of a belt. It is just a nice little piece of security. In worse cases a turnocate. It can be used as an emergency tie down and lashing system. An imaginative survivalist might even be able to make something of the buckle and pin.

Interesting enough, I've wen't through 4 or 5 leather belts just this past year. I don't buy decorative little things, I just try to find a good solid leather belt in basic black or brown. Its primary function is to hold up my pants, maybe secondary as a fashion statetment (for us not so thin guys - the belt marks the transition from waist to stomach). I've bought a couple of a cheap belts which I didn't expect to last and they didn't. Lately I've bought a $40 belt, of 100% leather. Actually in this case the belt is still functional but the fashion statement outside laminate just peeled off. Now I'm on stuck on a Caribbean Island with a delaminated belt - but then I don't care - it still performs its core function. Perhaps that extra investment was good.

Well this is a lamnent to that common item we tend to wear - the belt - as a survival item. We don't really give it much credit or recognition. I was surprised to see all my fellow expats just sauntering about in various types of leisure pants. Seems many folks don't bother with belts anymore.

Among you city folks - who thinks of putting on their belt as their morning ritual - actually thinks - yeah this is part of my PSK!


Aside - Just arrived in St. Lucia today. St. Lucia is an amazing place. A breath of fresh air from the crime ridden Trinidad. Trinidad does have its charms -but not like St. Lucia. This is the place you all really want to be. Okay - I'm going back to the bar but hope to catch up with you folks soon!
 
i wear a belt when i put on pants with belt loops, which is alot of the time. oddly enough, i seem to wear thinner material, comfy pants that don't have belt loops, just a draw string when i am hiking or in the woods.

but for everyday wear, when i don't really need a ton of flexibility or breathability, i wear a good, sturdy leather belt. it has three pins, and holes all the way to the end of the belt (meaning that i can lock it at any length, good to use as a strap for a gear bundle or as a tourniquet without holding it or tying it.

it is just a strip of leather, no lamination or anything. just simple and sturdy.

i suggest, if you take belts this seriously, to see a saddle maker that can make you a really strong, hefty belt with some serious hardware. duluth trading co also has some good looking belts.
 
I had this thought a while back and decided that leather wasn't the right thing for all the situations you might need to use it in.

Other than using it as a strop, I think nylon would be much better. Although, admittedly it is less stylin'

Specifically, I wanted something that could hold my weight in a pinch. I settled on a Smokejumper Belt. (I'm not sure if I can post a direct link to it, but you can google it). I would think that it would be sufficient for all the things you mentioned above with the advantage that you could use it as a climbing harness (if you trust your beltloops) or towstrap in a dire emergency.

Edited to say you can get it at the same place mneedham linked to above
 
Oetzi the 5000+ year old frozen dude thought the same way you do. He actually had a little PSK in a hidden pocket at the back of his belt. Until you mentioned it, I guess I hadn't thought of it as part of my PSK, but you're right. It is possible that one day it could save my life, but I'm going to keep my super tinker close at hand too.
 
i'm young but just recently started wearing a belt all the time and the one i have is from Eddie Bauer but it's lasted 2 years with little sign of wear. The one thing i've learned is to stay away from layered leather belts, and stay with the thicker single-piece belts. Overtime, the layers will come apart and it'll fray and look bad.
 
For me a belt is not only essential, but also required for duty. I like leather, but the only ones I will consider are horsehide. I wear a SOE or HSGI rigger's belt for duty, and when off duty, I've been wearing the Liger synthetic belts...WOW! The Liger belts are svelt, both casual and dress capable, extremely tough, no effects from sweat, rain, heat or cold. They are now my primary belts for CCW or anytime I'm in civilian clothes. But yes, a belt is a part of my EDC unless I'm running, in the gym, swimming or any other PT/Sports activity.

ROCK6
 
Normally I wear a 2" leather belt unless I'm wearing my toolbelt, which begs the question: how does one wear a leather belt under a pack's belt ? I can't seem to find a belt I like to wear under it, so I tend to wear some sort of cargo pants with a low-profile closure like velcro or a snap when I'm backpacking. The Levi's-style rivetted buttons are a killer after wearing a pack all day IME.

I definitely agree with the utility of a 2" strip of leather, especially for repairing gear. I've seen some woven paracord belts that look like a great way to carry some extra line, but they too seem like they would be pressure points under a pack belt.

For day hikes though, one definitely needs a place to hang all the steel !:D

EDIT: holeymoley, just a thought: check out how to tie a Swiss Seat. It uses about 12 feet of rope and gives you a sit harness that's a definite improvement over a 'swami belt' hookup. Just my .02
 
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I wear a BHI Universal BDU belt (have one each in 3 colors for various clothing choices) everyday and have been for years.

Very heavy duty nylon; it feels like I could tow my truck with the thing, and they seem to last forever.
 
Filson makes a fine leather belt using bridle leather and brass fittings. I get around 5 years hard use out of mine, and then use the old belt as a strop.
 
I like to wear the NPS duty belt. It's pretty beefy and cool looking too. Last time I worked for the NPS I used my uniform allowance and bought 3 of them. The thinner version is pretty lame, but these are nice and thick. I also wear a smokejumper belt similar to the Yates 1.5 Inch Uniform Rappel Belt.
http://www.yatesgear.com/rescue/tactical/images/lg/450RappelBelts02fg.jpg

b631c249.jpg
 
I always wear a belt, leather with jeans and canvas with cargos. It holds up my pants and my swisstool which I feel helpless without. We've been through alot together, me and that swisstool. I really like the belt in mneedham's link and the "gets better with age belt" and "ranger work belt", both towards the bottom of the link. The only problem for me is that I wear a size 28 which is really hard to get. If anyone has a good link for good leather in that size, please post it.
 
DeadeyeLefty said:
EDIT: holeymoley, just a thought: check out how to tie a Swiss Seat. It uses about 12 feet of rope and gives you a sit harness that's a definite improvement over a 'swami belt' hookup. Just my .02
Click to expand...

Nice!:thumbup:

Thats why I come here, I learn something new every time.
 
I always wear a belt for some of the reasons stated. On my belt is my Vic Spirit, Fenix L2D, spare keys, Fox 40, and a Doan mag bar.

One thing I've been wanting to make is a Slatts Rescue belt with a different colour, though :(. The only thing holding me back is I want to incorporate it somehow with a magnesium/ferro rod belt buckle and I haven't worked out how I want to do that yet.

Doc
 
I wear a belt everyday, it's what holds my leatherman which I also carry everyday. Then when I go outdoors, I add my belt knife to it.

I only wear plain leather strips, that have been died black. I've had the same belt for about ten years, and it's in as good of shape as the day I bought it. Oh, and it only cost about $20.

Do yourself a favor and go to your local leather store and pick up a belt that is nothing more than a 1.5" strip of leather with a buckle on one end.
 
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