I never really considered it myself until I had a chance to try a dedicated EDC belt.
That experience changed my mind instantly.
Lets review what I think are the top things to consider before spending your money.
The market for EDC belts seems to be growing very fast as more Americans take control of their own safety. How can you find the one that’s the best for you?
Quality
In my opinion, the belt must be made of premium materials and exhibit excellent craftsmanship.
I have worn cheap belts sold by your generic goods stores that seemed to be of decent quality.
Three months later, I was getting ready for work and tightened my belt.
The author looks for an EDC belt that is sturdy, comfortable, convenient and of good quality. What do you look for?
I felt a pop and realized the belt buckle was completely torn off.
Sturdiness
A good EDC belt needs to be sturdy.
Not only does its job consist of holding your pants up.
A floppy belt is not a good choice for CCW. Make sure the one you use is strong and sturdily built.
The belt will also need to firmly hold your accessories in place, whether inside or outside the waistband.
The sturdiness of a belt can also impact how easily a firearm can be drawn from your holster.
If your belt flops around, the holster might also flop around while still holding onto your firearm.
Shown above are two good EDC belt choices. The bottom one is a KORE Essentials Track Gun Belt while the one on top is from We The People.
Comfort
Would you wear a belt if it is uncomfortable?
Lets go deeper: Would you carry a firearm if it were uncomfortable?
Most people would not, so comfort is critical in a good belt choice.
The author found this belt from We The People to be the sturdiest he owns. It also uses a very secure Talon buckle.
A good EDC belt will offer comfort due to its ridged construction.
Just because the belt might feel stiff doesnt mean it will feel uncomfortable.
This equals less sagging and constant adjustment.
Nothing screams, LOOK AT ME more than somebodys underwear showing and a handgun grip sticking out.
Rigid belts can also better distribute the weight of the gun around the waist.
This helps to prevent fatigue or pain to a certain area of your hip or back.
Convenience
Convenience is critical, like what was mentioned above.
What does this mean?
Large buckles are a notable culprit in this category.
There are plenty of options out there that fill all these categories.
Belt Options and Examples
There are many great belt options for modern CCW practitioners.
Lets look at a few different EDC belts which are all great options.
The KORE belt is a universal belt fitted by cutting the excess length off, then installing the buckle.
it’s possible for you to choose the buckle style and even the material finish.
Whether you want a ridged tactical or classy leather look, they are all options.
This belt handles all four of the categories listed above well.
A unique feature of this belt is the Track ratcheting system, which offers a very large adjustment range.
This belt was designed specifically for appendix carry.
The We The People (WTP) gun belt is the sturdiest one I own.
The buckle is solid, and its action is also very smooth.
To adjust the belt, you loosen the Velcro tail, adjust, then apply the Velcro tail.
The sturdiness surpasses the mentioned belts above.
But why dont I wear it as often?
That is simply because the belt is slightly less convenient to put on than the ratcheting-jot down belts.
To wear the belt, I must first remove the buckle to snake it through my pant belt loops.
This is an easy process; however, it is less convenient than the ratcheting belts.
Conclusion
If you havent noticed yet, I am passionate about my EDC life.
The belt, though often underestimated, is one of the most critical pieces of your EDC loadout.
Dont let your pants fall down by making a bad choice.
Use a belt that is built for the task.
