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Nothing will ruin any day faster than losing your pantsand few accessories tie an outfit together more fully than a good-looking belt. But not every belt for men is made equaland not every activity requires the same to cinch your waist. While many can look similar at first glancematerials and construction quality can vary broadly. We've gone deep into the weeds to pick out the best so you don't have to.
After researching dozens of the top-selling options for men's beltswe selected and purchased a mix of the most popular for side-by-side testing to suss out which ones will truly stand the test of time and which ones will likely peelcrackor fade with everyday use. We wore these belts daily and during extended travel to answer questions about durabilityversatilityand ease of use.
Our favorite overall belt is the Main Street Forge The Bootlegger. It pulls most casual outfits together nicely and is built with high-quality materialsincluding thickfull-grain leather and a hefty steel buckle attached with metal rivets. Those looking for a casualwebbing- belt should check out the Groove Life Groove. It offers one-and-done sizingstretch-polyester fabricand a self-lockingmagnetic buckle.
Editor's Note: Our belt review was updated on April 82025after testing several recent additions to the lineupincluding models from DickiesArcadeand Amazon Essentialsand naming a new batch of award winners.
The undeniable quality of the Main Street Forge The Bootlegger grabbed our attention from the get-go. Its strap is one solid strip of thick full-grain leatherrugged enough that we think it could last for decades. This belt is traditional and simple. Its only accessory is a hefty steel bucklewhich is secured to the Bootlegger's keeper loop by two large metal rivets. These rivets have an allen screw slotmaking them removablewhich allows the wearer to change or replace the buckle assembly — something we really loved. Tester Jason Wanlass noted“My belt was size 42 with seven sizing holesand it took a bit of time to wear them in before I found them easy to use.” Howeverwe were surprised at the Bootlegger's soft texture and overall flexibility right out of the box. This belt is primarily for casual fashionbut it also could double as a work beltand we think it fits in perfectly in the outdoorsalthough it is heavier than synthetic belts.
We loved the overall look of the Bootlegger. It's simpletraditionaland still classy enough to tie together a business-casual wardrobe. But our lead tester points out“I don't think anyone will say this belt has a place in high fashion or will fit into a corporate sea of suits and ties.” Sowe think it will have limited versatility beyond casualeveryday wear. Although it's designed to earn an agedweathered lookthis belt absorbs oils and stainsso it can be a little problematic when it comes to spills or other mishaps. The Bootlegger has few color optionsand its quality and construction process make for a higher price tag. Howeverthe trade-off is an authentic productmade with pridethat can be worn for years and years. If you have your sights set on leatherbut want to control coststhe Dickies Casual Leather is a great option. It's split leathernot full-grainbut well-made and much cheaper. The Dickies Men's Leather Double Prong and the Timberland Classic Jean Belt are also great optionsalthough none of these three belts have the Bootlegger's ruggedrawlook or feel.
Watching a monk debate ritual in Tibet. The Bootlegger is dressy enough to pull off business casual. It's super easy to adjust and put on or take off. We also love how soft and flexible the leather iseven right out of the box. Credit: Jason Wanlass
In our opinionthe Groove Life Groove is one of the coolest synthetic belts on the market. Nothing we've recently tested comes close to its unique functionoverall qualityor hefty price tag. After months of wearing and testingwe feel you get what you pay for with this beltbut you will pay more. In factit's one of the priciest models in our lineup. Cost woes asidethis beauty's stretch-fabric strap is made from durable polyestertough enough to hold its shape after repeated use. It offers one-and-done sizingwhich allows the user to adjust it once and then wear it the same size for months. We loved its stylishsleekself-locking aluminum bucklewhich uses strong magnets to snap it closed with little effort automatically. Moreoverthis belt looks good with activewearoutdoor clothescasual dressor a business-casual vibe. Tester Jason Wanlass noted“I think some fashion-forward shoppers will even find the Groove compliments a more trendy suit and tie look.” It's great with jeansshortschinosslacksand more. It also has a decent color selection to get the right belt for your attire.
We didn't like needling this belt through our belt loopsespecially on jeans. The Groove is a little rigid. To be more specificits dense polyester strap doesn't bend or flex wellmaking it less accommodating and harder to handle. Alsothe buckle is wideso if you make the mistake of plunging in buckle-firstit takes a bit of finagling to feed it through each belt loop. Additionallyafter sizing your beltthere will be leftover strapping held in place by a capture loop. This extra belt strap also tends to get in the way when feeding the Groove through your belt loopsespecially if you accidentally feed it the wrong way (there is only one easy direction to feed this belt). Howeveronce in placethe Groove is super easy to buckle and unbuckleand it can be left attached to your pants if you have a uniform or simply want to wear the same pair of jeans for a few days. The Mountain Khakis Webbing Belt is another great synthetic option. It's made of nylon and is less expensive. If you're in the market for a tougher tactical beltthe JUKMO Tactical Nylon Web is an exceptional option built to last. We also liked the simplicity of the Grip6 Gunmetal 32-Inch Web.
Our first interaction with our Groove Life belt. It's magneticstretchycomfortableand tough. It also has a nice look and is versatile enough to wear in any settingbut formal. Credit: Jason Wanlass
For a run-of-the-mill leather beltwe feel you can't beat the price and value of the Dickies Casual Leather. For the costthis split-leather model has a ruggedtraditional look but is also sleeker and smoother than the Main Street Forge The Bootleggermaking it more versatile because it more easily blends into what you're wearing. The Dickies is super softcomfortableand very pliable. It's double-stitchedoffers seven adjustment holesand is capped with a heftysolid-steel buckle. During our testsit outscored more expensive models across all metricsearning it one of the highest overall scores in our entire lineup.
As statedthe Dickies is made from split leatherwhich is sourced from less-denselower layers of animal hide that are located beneath the more pristinestrongerlayers of hide used to source full-grain leather. The result is a weaker leather that simply may not be as durable. In shortthe likelihood of a shorter lifespan is the only serious negative aspect we specifically noted. Our lead tester has no hesitation in singing its praises: “I am confident this belt is still a great buy and is likely to last for several yearsassuming proper care.” If you like the Dickies brandbut would rather have more adjustment optionsthe Dickies Men's Leather Double Prong has sizing holes along the entire length of its belt strap. The Timberland Classic Jean Belt is another leather option with a cleanstylish appearance but is a little higher in price.
Getting up close and personal with our favorite best buy. It's super soft and flexiblebut also tough enough to wart off everyday scratches and scuffs. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Clean linesan attractive buckleand pinpoint sizing options define the Chaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustable. We loved wearing this belt when getting dressed up for workdinnerchurchweddingsand more. It's classy and offers a cleanermore streamlined look than conventional dress belts. What we loved most is its ratchet- adjustment systemwhich allows the wearer to tighten or loosen the belt in 1/4-inch increments easily. The tip end of the belt sports a 9-inch strip of teeth that ratchets through the buckle's catching pin when the belt is tightened. To loosensimply press the release lever on the buckle's exterior. Another customizing feature we loved was the Chaoren's pre-marked size indicators added in 1-inch increments on the backside of the belt strap. Our tester quickly commented“These proved incredibly helpful as I cut lines to size the belt to the desired length.” Howeverour favorite thing about this belt is that it looks like it should have a much higher price tag than it actually does.
Although double-stitched and reinforcedthe Chaoren is not full-grain leather so that it may break down over time. Likewisethe ratchet system has more moving parts than a traditional dress beltwhich leaves us a bit more curious about its long-term durability. Howeverit held up well during our testing period. Andalthough it can be trimmed to sizethis can also be problematic if you're not slow and methodical (there's no going back). If you choose the Chaorenthoughyou'll have your pick from tons of fun colorsand it's priced well enough that you could even buy two or three. We think the Lavemi Leather Ratchet Dress Belt appears to have higher quality leather and is another great ratchet modelbut it's higher priced. The Amazon Essentials Classic Dress is another friendly-pricedtraditional dress belt made from synthetic materials instead of leather.
Tailoring our Chaoren to our waist. We liked the ability to custom fit our beltbut recommend doing it slowlymethodicallyand in incrementsbecause there is very little room for error. Credit: Jason Wanlass
There's not much to the Bison T-Lockjust a skinny synthetic strap and a plastic snap-top buckle. It's endlessly adjustablesuper easy to useand comes in many cool patterns and colors. Everything else about this belt is pretty basic. Howeverwhat we absolutely love about the T-Lock is how easy it is to slip on and take off. We also like how quickly it packs and how simple it is to hand-wash and hang dry. One tester raved about the Bison T-Locksaying “Whenever I am living out of a suitcase or being an airport junkieI can't help but love this belt — it's my new best travel buddy.” The manufacturer's site states it was specifically made with travel in mind; howeverwe also think the T-Lock makes for a great all-arounddaily-wearer. Passing through airport security is a breeze with this belt. Andwhile many countries don't require it to be taken off (plastic buckle)when you are asked to remove itit slides off the waist in two seconds or less. Its thinner strap also makes it super easy to needle back through your belt loops and get a move on to your departure gate.
We suspect the plastic buckle may wear out over timeand we aren't enamored with its skinny body. The T-Lock kind of stays in one laneso it's not very versatile and not super fashionable. It also comes in two lengthsso if you need to shorten ityou'll need to trim it by hand and then melt the fresh end with heat or flame. But in the endthis skinny option is stronglightweightdoesn't cost a lotand was our favorite option for international travel. If you don't like thin belts but still like the idea of the Bisonwe think you should take a look at the Mountain Khakis Webbing Belt or the Grip6 Gunmetal 32-Inch Web.
We wore our Bison T-Lock in ItalyKoreaNepaland Tibet. It's super lightweightvery easy to adjustand quick to put on and take off. It's also entirely syntheticso you can often keep wearing it all the way through airport security checks. Credit: Jason Wanlass
We never grew tired of wearing the Arcade Atlas during months of testing. It was so stretchy and comfortable that we rarely felt it around our waist. This casual belt is perfect for everyday use; howeverafter using it during several backpacking tripswe fell in love with it as a great choice for outdoor recreation. If you hikeclimbfishor do other outdoor activities and are searching for a super flexible belt that is lightweight and strong enoughthe Atlas is a great option. Tester Jason Wanlass spends a lot of time outdoors and mentions“Moving outside often requires more stretchingbendinghunchingor twisting than I do in my home life; I found this belt's elastic polyester strap facilitates these movements with ease.” Even betterit can be dialed into your exact waist size with just a few tugs and then locks in to keep your preferred size permanent. Its two-piece buckle makes connecting and disconnecting easyand its stretchy nature allows it to fit your body.
If you like to carry many things in your pocketsthe Atlas doesn't hold up against heavier loads. We feel it could also wear out in just a few years if it is extensively worn. The buckle has more moving pieces and is made from plasticso there is plenty of room for accidental breakage. In addition to not being super durablewe also had a harder time snaking it through our belt loopsand we also feel it's just a little bit overpriced. But we adore this belt when it comes to pure comfort and freedom. We also liked how the Under Armour Webbing and the Bison T-Lock performed in the outdoorsbut if you want a beefiertactical- optionthe JUKMO Tactical Nylon Web will certainly do the trick.
We wore our Atlas hiking and backpackingand even on some travel stops in KathmanduNepal. It's stretchable so it bends with you no matter what you're doing. We also loved the buckle. Credit: Jason Wanlass
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Hanging our Grip6 Gunmetal belt out to dry in FlorenceItaly. Belts consisting of man-made materials are generally easier to wash and dry. Credit: Jason Wanlass
How We Tested
After purchasing some of the market's most promising and best-selling beltswe devised a testing plan to compare them side by side. With each model in handwe paid close attention to the thicknessrigiditytextureand feel of the materialsalong with the weight and construction of each buckle. We put each model on and took it off several timesweaving it through our pant loopsbuckling and unbuckling itand practicing finer tightening and loosening. We cut the trim-to-fit models to our preferred size. We then wore each model with various outfits on various occasions — from running daily errands to construction projects to meetings at the officeall to identify the best options for different needs.
We tested each belt using five key performance metrics:
Material and Construction Quality (25% of overall score weighting)
Buckle Hardware and Quality (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (20% weighting)
Style and Versatility (20% weighting)
Adjustability (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is brought to you by Jason WanlassNick Bruckbauerand Ross Patton. Jason has been testing products for GearLab for eight years and has a considerable amount of experience in sniffing out the best gearparticularly when it comes to clothing. Jason is an avid hikerbackpackerand traveler. Whenever possiblehe combines all three passions into one tripcarrying buckets of products to use and test in real-world settings. With over a decade of experience as a professional engineerNick brings an analytical and scientific approach to his reviews and is an expert across a wide variety of consumer and outdoor products. His close attention to detail helps him evaluate and explain small nuances that may greatly impact the comfort or performance of a product. He takes pride in helping readers determine the performance features most relevant to their needs. Nick wears a belt dailyfrom more formal attire at his office job to lightweight models for weekend backcountry excursions. With a Bachelor of Environmental ScienceRoss is no stranger to methodically analyzing the world around him and has been reviewing products for GearLab for over five years. For the ten years before he joined our teamhe spent his winters as the technical representative for a world-class snowboard apparel brand where he specialized in R&D for men's products.
We conduct side-by-side tests on each belt and then wear them in various settingsdoing everyday things.
Analysis and Test Results
We put our lineup to the test and rated each model to determine the best materials and constructionbuckle hardware qualityease of useadjustabilityand versatility. We think these performance metrics are the most important qualities to look for when searching for a new beltand we will try to point out the most suitable options for your needs and priorities.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
Belts have a fairly wide price range due to different materialsdesign qualityor special features. Sometimescertain models only cost more because of their brand name. The one you choose should depend on your and needsbut it will also depend on your budget. The Dickies Casual Leather is one of the best values in our lineupbecause it's well-made and easy to afford. The Lavemi Leather Ratchet Dress Belt and Chaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustable are affordablelook greatand are adjustable in 1/4-inch increments. The straps on the Mountain Khakis Webbing Belt and Bison T-Lock are all made from high-quality synthetic materials that are toughinexpensiveand built to last. For folks in the market for a stretchy belt ideal for outdoor recreationtraveland action sportsthe Arcade Atlas is worth every penny. Lastlyyou can't go wrong with the Main Street Forge The Bootlegger or the Groove Life Groove. Both will cost you morebut they are durablesolid investments.
A slew of belts prepped for the rigors of our hands-on testing process. Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Material and Construction Quality
Sometimesit's hard to distinguish between productsas many belts can look alike at first glance with similar colorssand general material types. Quality might not seem a high priority for a simple accessory meant to hold up your pants. Stillwe've found that better-quality materials and construction techniques can be the difference between a belt that loses its luster after a few months and one that lasts several years or even decades. By spending a little more upfront for higher quality materialsyou will enjoy a well-built product that won't crackpeelwarpsagor fade as you wear it through the years.
One of the most impressive models we tested is the Main Street Forge Bootlegger. It is made from a single piece of full-grain leather nearly a quarter-inch thick and is noticeably burlier than most other leather models in our lineup. The thick leather is surprisingly soft and flexibleeven right out of the box. It also sports a weatheredrustic finish that is perfectly at home in everything from the rugged outdoors to even some business-casual settings. The beauty of this belt is in its simplicity — a simple build with high-quality materials means that the Bootlegger should last many years of daily use.
The Bootlegger is all natural and made the old-fashioned way. It has two parts: metal and solidfull-grain leather. Simple but extremely tough and built to last. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Know Your Leather
All leather is not the same. Full-grain leather is the thickest and most durable variety and has not been sanded or altered from the original hide. Top-grain leather is similar to full-grain leatherexcept the top layer has been sanded or polished to remove imperfections or unevenness. Genuine leather typically consists of the middle layer of a hide after the outer layers have been removed and often has an artificial texture added to it. Bonded leather is like particle boardwhereby tiny scrap pieces of hide are bonded with chemical agents.
We never had to worry about the Bootlegger's ability to survive our daily activities and chores due to its simple design and quality materials. Credit: Matt Bento
Full-grain leather models are made with high-caliber materials and construction and could make a great choice that should last a very long time; howeverthis kind of quality will cost you more. On the less-expensive side — but still quite durable — is the Dickies Casual Leather. It's a split-leather beltso its lower-grade leather is stitched and reinforcedyet it still performed well in our testing and is stout enough to last for several years.
The Dickies belt is split leathernot full-grainbut it's double-stitchedsolidand still tough enough to last. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Other durable options include the JUKMO Tactical Nylon WebGroove Life Grooveand Chaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustable. We especially loved the flexibility and strength of the JUKMO and Groove Life synthetic fabrics and their very rugged buckles.
Playing with our JUKMO quick-release aluminum buckle. It's smooth (and a little addicting) to operateand it's really strong. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Several other synthetic options in our lineup also received respectable scoresdespite being lighter in weight. The Mountain Khakis Webbing BeltBison T-Lockand Timberland Classic Jean Belt are well-made with high-quality materials and simple and strong construction. We also really liked the Grip6 Gunmetal 32-Inch Web. All are lighter and would be ideal for active use outdoors or casual wear.
Getting ready to hit the historic streets of FlorenceItaly. As for pure strengththe Grip6 is very lightweight but extremely rugged -- it's also a little more difficult to lock and load. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Buckle Hardware Quality
Today's marketplace includes some intriguing buckle designs in addition to the classic prong . Our lineup also includes models with plastic and metal quick-release clipsmetal slide-through bucklesclamp- bucklesand a pass-through ratcheting design. We evaluated which s were the easiest to usethe most reliableand the least intrusive.
The full-grain leather option that we tested also has a high-quality buckle connection. The Main Street Forge Bootlegger buckle is attached with a double-backed leather loop and removable screw-like rivets. This construction method seems very durable and versatileallowing you to remove and replace the buckle. But you'll need to take care not to damage the finish on the rivets when unscrewing them.
The Bootlegger is a little bulky out of the boxbut surprisingly soft and pliable. It tends to lay even flatter and becomes even more supple over time. Credit: Matt Bento
One of the unique buckle designs is the ratcheting on the Chaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustable and Lavemi Leather Ratchet Dress Belt models. These buckles are very similar in design and use a spring-loaded bar that connects to a row of teeth embedded within the end of the leather. As the tail passes through the bucklethe bar engages the teeth and grabs the leather for a snug and secure fit. This design is also easily adjustable and can be tightened by pushing more of the tail through the buckle or loosened with a simple flick of the spring-loaded lever. Both buckles are made of dense metal with a decent amount of heft. Howeverthe reliance on a spring mechanism makes us hesitant to call it a favorite for the long haul.
A breakdown of the Lavemi model's buckle system.
Simpler optionslike the Mountain Khakis Webbinghave a simple double-pass buckle. While easy to useit surprisingly requires some practice to cinch tight.
Locking in our Mountain Khakis belt. This nylon beauty is really strongand has a unique buckling system that is easy to complete. Howeverwe feel it's lacking a bit when it comes to fashion. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Our other favorite buckles were those on the Timberland Classic Jean BeltGroove Life GrooveJUKMO Tactical Nylon WebDickies Casual Leatherand Bison T-Lock. Our favorite to latch is the Groove Life because it employs powerful magnets that automatically lock the buckle. Andalthough it's made of plastic and is less durablewe loved the buckle on the Bison T-Lock for its simple but effective design.
Magnetic attraction: the Groove Life belt is not only fun to latchit's also quite sturdy once it's locked into place. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Ease of Use
None of these products are necessarily difficult to usebut a high-quality belt should be easy to thread through your pant loopsstraightforward to buckle and unbuckleand convenient to adjust on the go. Simple designs are usually betterand special features like reversible designstrim-to-fit sizingor tails that pass underneath the buckle seem to add to the difficulty.
The simplest design seems to be the traditional prong designwhere the tail of the belt threads through the pant loopsslides through the buckleand the prong latches through one of the holes. Although not necessarily the quickest processit is time-tested and can be done without much thought. The downside to this design is that the spacing or number of holes limits the adjustability. But this is still the easiest to use. It is found on several leather models and leather blend models in our lineupincluding the Main Street Forge BootleggerDickies Casual LeatherMarino LeatherTimberland ClassicAmazon Essentials Classic Dressand Dickies Men's Leather Double Prong.
With fewer moving parts to loosen or breaksimple traditional prong buckles are some of the easiest designs to use. Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
The Lavemi Ratchet and Chaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustable models have an intuitive ratcheting design that provides simple adjustability through a wide range of sizes. It is easy to tightenloosenor make minor adjustments on the go. Additionallythe Bison T-Lock is extremely easy to usemaking it ideal for travel and being on the move.
A thin synthetic belt with an easy-to-use flip-top buckle makes the Bison T-Lock extremely simple to take on and off and to cinch into place. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Keep It Simple
In this product categorysimpler is often better. Designs with fewer seamsconnectionsor moving parts are usually easier to use and typically last longer with fewer points of potential weakness.
One of our favorite belts to wear is the Arcade Atlas. After being sized onceit can be buckled and worn repeatedly without needing adjustment. It's also very lightweightflexibleand comfortable.
Showing the thinness and lightweight flexibility of the Arcade Atlas. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Style and Versatility
Although is undeniably subjectivecertain s tend to be more versatile and can be worn for a variety of occasions. Traditional leather models are typically very versatile and look at home during formal and casual occasions alike. Synthetic models tend to be less formal and are usually lighter and softermaking them more comfortable and best suited for active use. Howeverthey might be inappropriate in the office or for a business meeting. Simple designs with classic colors and materials can usually be worn for a variety of situations.
The best-performing leather models for this metric include the Main Street Forge The BootleggerDickies Casual LeatherChaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustableand Lavemi Leather Ratchet Dress Belt. Both the Forge and Dickies models are less formalbut are classy enough to still pull together a business casual wardrobe. The Chaoren and Levemi are perfect if you wear a suit and tie.
Ideal for more dressy occasionsthe Lavemi Ratchet is a sleek and stylish option. Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
We loved wearing the Timberland Classic Jean BeltUnder Armour WebbingGrip6 Gunmetal 32-Inch Web. We also really love the overall look and versatility of the Groove Life Groove. The Groove Life has a unique flare that makes it look the part in a wide variety of settings.
The Groove Life is smoothsleekand classy. It's also sporty enough to be worn with a wide variety of wardrobes. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Adjustability
Traditional prong designs typically have a series of five to seven holes for sizing adjustmentsbut oftena wearer can fall between sizes if there is a large enough gap between holes. Other models with slide-through buckles offer unlimited adjustments within their overall size range. The Bison T-Lock and Under Armour Webbing are two of the easiest models to adjust to a precise circumference. They're easy to tightenloosenand make micro-adjustments to while on the go.
The Chaoren Leather Ratchet Micro Adjustable and Lavemi Ratchet are simple to adjust. They use an intuitive ratcheting buckle system that allows for precise micro-adjustments on the fly. Simply push the tail through the buckleand the ratchet automatically catches and maintains a snug fit. To release itmove the spring-loaded leverand the ratchet unlocksloosening any tension. Micro-adjustments are achieved by gently pushing on or releasing the ratchet. We also liked the adjustment features of the Mountain Khakis Webbing Belt and Grip6 Gunmetal 32-Inch Web.
Sizing our Lavemi Ratchet Dress Belt. The great thing about both of the ratchet belts in our lineup is their ability to be cut to size; howeverwe recommend taking things slowly and deliberately -- there's no do-overs. Credit: Jason Wanlass
It's pretty easy to adjust most of the traditional leather models we testedbut with a standard prong buckleyou risk being stuck between sizes. While most of us hope to only jump between a couple of different sizes in our adult lifetimehaving a wider range of adjustability is a nice feature.
A Note on Sizing
Sizing can sometimes be confusing. Most manufacturers of traditional prong s recommend ordering one or two sizes up from your pant size. For exampleif your pant size is 34you should look for a size 36 or 38 for your belt. Ideallywhen there is a series of five to seven-prong holesyou will use one of the center holes rather than an end hole.
Showing the easy-to-adjust Bison T-Lock while high on the Tibetan Plateau. Its sizing options are endless and it is one of the easiest belts to adjust. Credit: Jason Wanlass
The classic- models with a prong and a handful of holes generally offer the least amount of adjustabilityexcept the Dickies Men's Leather Double Prongwhich has a set of holes every inch for the entire length of the belt.
Glamour shot of our Mountain Khakis model. Credit: Jason Wanlass
How to Pick the Right Belt for You
At its corea belt is pretty basic. It has one job and one job only: keeping your pants from falling down. Howeverthere are still a few things to consider when shopping for the right cinch for your waist. Finding the best belt mostly centers on functionand fabrication.
How Do You Dress?
What you like or are required to wear is the primary question you should consider when looking for a new belt. Are you a casual dresseror do you tend to stick to a more formal look? Most belts have a specific lane that they stay inbe it workoutdoorsformalcasualor business casual. Picking a belt that will complement your key wardrobe groupings is important. Andif you want to maximize your dollarlook carefullybecause some belts have enough versatility to cross between different clothing s.
What Kinds of Activities Do You Engage In?
Dress belts are not the best choice for backpacking in the woods. Likewisewe don't suggest wearing an outdoor belt with your favorite suit and tie. In shortthe things you like to do will often dictate the belt you need to wear. Some belts are fashion-forward but wouldn't hold up well against prolonged exposure to the elements. Other belts are perfect for passing through an airport security checkpoint or hitting the town but may not look great in a business setting. Sowhen selecting your beltit's best to consider what you do and where you're going. It's also important to consider sizing optionsbuckle functioncolorand ease of use.
What Type of Materials Will Serve You Best?
There are two basic types of belt materials: natural (leathermetal) and synthetic (nylonpolyesterplastic). Generallyleather beltsespecially high-grade onesare hardywell-madeand built to last. They also offer a more polished look and . Howeverthey are often more difficult to clean and are more susceptible to being damaged from contact (scratches)the elements (raindirtmud)and accidents (foodoils). Synthetic belt straps are mostly composed of nylon or polyester. Their buckles are often made from plastic but can also be aluminum or steel. Synthetic belts are usually lighter than leather but may be just as strong and long-lasting. They are available in a larger array of colors and patternsare easier to wash and dryand are more suitable for harsher conditions.
Conclusion
Our testers closely examined a diverse lineup of products to offer you our expert recommendations for the best belts on the market. While some intriguing designs are out therewe found that simple is often better — less complex designs made with the highest quality materials are most likely to last the longest. Spending a little more on a high-quality product could mean many more years of wear. Whatever your or budgetwe hope this guide helps you find the right belt for your needs.
