Best Belts for Concealed Carry

A gun really isn’t all that helpful in your daily life if you don’t have a good holster, and a good gun belt to hold it all on. Ever since the invention of the handgun, holsters and belts have played an important role in helping their users efficiently carry their firearms, and allow them to have near-instant access to them should the need arise.

Today the EDC or CCW belt plays the same role as it did in the past, but the options available to us are much more plentiful and varied than they’ve ever been. Here at TFB most of the staff have had the pleasure of being able to test out, use, and even own a lot of different EDC belts. Today this experience will be helpful as we’re going to go over our top 5 best belts for concealed carry duty.

More Concealed Carry Articles @ TFB:

• Best 9mm Carry Ammo 
• Best Glock 19 Holsters
• Concealed Carry Corner: The Good and Bad of Constitutional Carry
• Concealed Carry Corner: Compensators On Carry Guns

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Concealed Carry Belt

All of the belt options below have to meet certain requirements for me to recommend them to you. First and foremost, the belts must be made from a durable material that allows for enough support for at least a compact-sized firearm. They all have some level of adjustability, and they’re all advertised as being “gun belts” or at least EDC-style belts. We’re not including things like fanny packs or belly bands even though you could technically use them as belts.

Since EDC is our primary concern, we’re going to focus heavily on how these specific belts can be integrated into your carry rotation, when they’ll be appropriate to wear, and what some of the pros and cons of each belt are. Sometimes even minor factors like overall style and appearance can play a crucial role in the level of concealment you have in a given situation. Of course, we know that price is a huge issue as well so we’ll include the manufacturer’s advertised MSRP for each belt to give you an idea of where each belt falls within your specific budget.

If you’re a frequent reader of TFB or a viewer of TFBTV, you’ll know that we’ve had a great partnership with Blue Alpha Belts for a very long time. In fact, I have been the proud owner of a Blue Alpha Belts Hybrid EDC belt for well over 5 years now and I’m finally getting to the point where I’d actually consider replacing it. The Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC is a semi-rigid, cobra buckle equipped EDC belt. The semi-stiff belt is made from two layers of nylon webbing and is adjustable via hook and loop material that wraps around the cobra buckle. As an added bonus, these belts are made right here in the USA over in Georgia.

Blue Alpha Belts Hybrid EDC Pros and Cons

The Hybrid EDC is a very affordable belt at just under $80. It comes in a variety of sizes and is adjustable up or down by about 6” meaning you can adjust it to changes to your clothing and gear as needed. Most of the belt is fairly slim, and is 1.5” wide meaning virtually every type of holster clip will easily clear the belt, even on the portion that doubles over on itself.

The Hybrid EDC belt will suffer from warping over long periods of time. As you can see in the photos here, my original Black Hybrid EDC is permanently warped from years of use, my brand new OD Green one lacks this bend, but it will eventually wear in the same way. The Hybrid EDC Belt is great in most casual and work situations and blends in just fine, however, it’s a no-go for formal wear as it’s too “tactical” looking to fit in for that context.

Safariland is typically known for their holsters. However, they’ve recently spread their product set to include other firearm-related gear like EDC belts. The Nexbelt’s primary feature is its one-handed adjustability. The Nexbelt uses a ratcheting system for tightening and a simple lever for loosening. Similar to the Hybrid EDC Belt, the Nexbelt features a 1.5” belt width. Safariland's nylon belts are manufactured with high-density nylon of an advanced composite of ultra-fine polyester, this unique material gives the relatively thin belt extra stiffness which helps distribute the load of your firearm and gear across your waist more evenly.

Safariland Nexbelt EDC Pros and Cons

Contrary to most of Safariland’s products, the Nextbelt is a very affordable item at just $70 MSRP. Even though it’s on the more affordable side of things, the Nextbelt is still extremely durable and adjustable. Each Nexbelt is customized by the user at home with a knife or scissors. Once the belt has been cut, the user can then adjust the length of the belt by ¼” increments to adjust for different holsters, guns, clothing and gear. One major advantage this belt has over other EDC belts is that it looks very classy, even in a suit. You won’t look out of place wearing this belt in plain view of others.

Leather is perhaps the oldest material that has been used for holsters and gun belts. Even compared to modern Kydex and Nylon designs, natural Leather still has a number of major advantages, especially if the company that makes the holsters sources high-quality leather, and has a good team of craftsmen. These are all things that can be said for Falco Holsters and their K631 leather gun belt. Thanks to Falco’s history working with falconers and hunters, their leather holsters are hand-tooled for each gun from full grain leather - the highest quality of leather you can find out there.

Leather belts do have some drawbacks in that they’re typically not as sweat or weather-resistant as modern materials like nylon and are also sensitive to scratching from sharp objects like metal holster clips. Similarly, if you’re trying to preserve the look and suppleness of your leather belt, it will require a bit more maintenance and care to keep it in pristine condition. While a fairly simple-looking leather belt like the K631 will cost only about $100, more ornate and dressy versions of these belts can cost upwards of $450. Leather gun belts are definitely a great option if your daily dress code is usually dressier, or if leather just doesn’t look out of place in your natural environment.

Crossbreed Holsters has been in the game for a very long time and they’re experts at getting you exactly the type of belt you want. One of their best belts is yet another leather gun belt - the Executive. The Executive is customizable for width, 4 different colors, buckle type and even thread color. In addition to using natural vegetable-tanned leather, Crossbreed also sews a nylon webbing strap as an inner liner to give the leather more rigidness without adding a ton of bulk and also keeps the leather from stretching over time.

Crossbreed Executive Gun Belt Pros and Cons

The Executive’s strongest feature is just how adjustable it is. The belt itself is customizable right on the Crossbreed website store for your exact fit and style. Belt buckles can be had in a number of head colors that are perfect for the well-armed executive and the nylon inner webbing means that this belt can go from the office straight to the range without issue. This is one of the few gun belts that come in a 1.25” width, which makes it much more useable with a wider variety of holster clips, tuckable clips, or chest holster straps.

5.11 Tactical is one of the first names that comes up when it comes to firearms-related gear including EDC belts, pants shirts and more. The 5.11 Trainer Belt is a 1.5” wide nylon mesh construction belt that has a number of uses outside of being a pure belt. The belt can also convert to a tie down, carry strap, or an emergency harness via the use of its integrated stainless steel buckle which is tested to a tensile strength of 5,000 lbs. The nylon itself is flexible and rip-resistant making it nice and durable for daily use and constant subjection to water dust and the elements.

5.11 Trainer Belt Pros and Cons

This belt is insanely affordable at $50 MSRP but is often on sale for around $30 directly from the 5.11 website. This belt’s strong suit is its simplicity as there are no ratchets, straps, or complicated buckles to add extra cost or complexity. The belt is the slimmest one on the list and this means that while it's lacking a bit in the rigidity department, it’s capable of mounting any and all types of holsters because of its slimmer profile.

Generally, you’re going to pay a lot more for a higher quality leather belt than an equivalent nylon-based EDC belt, but in general, I would say that you’re getting about the same amount of longevity, stiffness, support, and relative cost for either option. The biggest difference between the two primary types is in their adjustability and fit. I’ve personally found Nylon belts to be more adaptable and adjustable than my leather ones, however, many people are hobbyist tanners (leather workers) and don’t mind altering their expensive leather concealed carry belts. Your mileage may vary.

How to Choose the Right Concealed Carry Belt

Before you even go shopping for one, you first need to determine what you’ll need the belt to do. I often carry without a belt using a pretty specialized setup that works pretty much only for me. However, when the situation demands it, a belt is the foundation of my carry setup and one that needs to be carefully matched with my holster and handgun. Too heavy of a handgun for the stiffness of your belt is always a bad thing, and having an improperly attached holster/belt combo is just asking for trouble as well.

Once you’ve confirmed that your firearm, holster, and belt are all in sync, you then need to take careful consideration into what you’re going to wear and how comfortable and concealable it's going to be. The level of concealability may also change depending on the place you’re in. In short, your entire concealed carry setup will often be initially dictated by your location first, then the clothing you’re able to wear comfortably and inconspicuously in those locations - the belt is the first choice after that.

Concealed Carry Belt Maintenance Tips

Just like any other piece of equipment, your concealed carry belt needs routine maintenance, inspection and care. Things like dust, moisture, and daily use will all wear out your belt and holster faster than just keeping it in the closet - but that’s not what we bought them for! So how do we care for our concealed carry belts?

Leather

Leather is a fairly easy material to maintain, even when it comes to concealed carry belts. You’ll want to visually inspect the belt every day for signs of fraying, or wear from the top layer of the belt. You should be looking for a uniform surface in terms of both color and consistency. Discoloration could mean that your belt has been subjected to too much moisture, chemicals, oils or grease. Cracking is a sure sign of dehydration and that is something that also needs to be monitored and prevented.

Nylon Belts

Nylon belts require just about as much maintenance but when it comes to this particular material we’re much more worried about dust and fraying. There is no real way to condition a nylon belt so you’re pretty much stuck with how it looks once it’s become even slightly damaged. The primary thing that prematurely wears down Nylon belts is the ingress of dust and dirt into the fibers of the belt. Once inside, the dirt acts like very fine sandpaper, and more rapidly wears away the nylon fibers which reduces the stiffness and structural integrity of the belt.

It’s very very easy to clean Nylon belts - simply either run the belt in with some of your towels or hand wash it in the sink and leave it out to dry. If your belt is particularly covered in dirt or mud, you can use a small amount of detergent to help lift away the mess. If your belt features a Cobra buckle, you should routinely check to make sure it’s not getting stuck or has anything gumming up the mechanism for the release system on either end. A small, single drop of gun oil can be used to keep things running smoothly or to eliminate any annoying squeaks.

Conclusion

An EDC concealed carry belt is an important piece of gear and one you shouldn’t cheap out on. When it comes to life-saving equipment, I always like to try to find the best combination of quality, longevity, and price so that I can not just afford the gear, but train with it on a regular basis too. When it comes to price, I think any good concealed carry holster should be expensive enough to ensure equality, but not so expensive as to make it a massive financial pain to replace.

For those who often find themselves in a more business-like environment. I often like to recommend the use of either the Safariland NexBelt, or a nice leather belt like the ones available from Falco holsters. These two types of belts primarily do a great job of concealing the fact that you’re carrying a firearm by appearing just like any other piece of business or business casual clothing.