Everyday Carry
By Robb Manning
Keep Your Pants On!
In concealed carry, one of the most important pieces of gear is often the most overlooked; the belt. You can have the smallest, lightest handgun on the market, and the fanciest holster, but if you don’t have a proper belt, you are not going to be carrying effectively. By carrying effectively, I mean: concealment, draw, and comfort.
The easiest way to convey the point is to draw a parallel with a rifle. Start with the most expensive, accurate rifle money can buy. Then buy a top of the line scope, say a Schmidt & Bender, or a Nightforce. This should be a great set up - with this combo, you can hit a pimple on a fly’s rear at 500 yards, right? Well, that depends on your next purchase; the scope mount. If you buy a high quality scope mount and rings, then the rifle/scope setup will work, and you will reach the maximum accuracy you, the shooter, are capable of. If you go with the $29.99 scope mount, then you have wasted all of your money.
With insufficient scope mounts, the quality of the scope and rifle do not matter -- the scope will never be properly mounted, and accuracy will suffer. The same is true in concealed carry. A person can be highly trained, have a great gun and holster, and proper concealed carry attire; but, if he/she carries a firearm using an improper belt...that’s a recipe for failure. The training, firearm, holster and attire will all be pointless.
Improper belts are bad for several reasons. First of all is concealment. The stress placed on a belt by the weight of a gun will cause the top of the belt to buckle and fold over. This means the butt of your handgun will be sticking out, making it print on your shirt. It also means that as you walk, your handgun is going to bounce up and down; also a giveaway. Forget trying to run with an improper belt -- your handgun will be flopping around like a fish on land. This is not only a giveaway, but imagine as you’re working your way towards a busy Wal-mart checkout lane, your gun pops out of the holster and clacks across the aisle. Not good.
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Second of all is your draw. If you should ever need to draw your handgun in self-defense, an improper belt could spell disaster. A proper belt means that when you draw, the belt stays in place when the handgun exits. The pistol clears the belt quickly and clean; enabling a fast, crisp gun presentation to the target. An improper belt means when you draw your handgun, the belt will pull, causing the holster to follow the gun up. Even a slight move of the belt could result in the handgun is not going to clear the holster as cleanly.
The third reason reason for a good belt, is comfort. The same bad things that happen in the first reason, concealment, also equate to bad comfort. For if the handgun is moving around a lot, it’s going to be rubbing and bumping against you. This might be annoying for a short while, but after a few hours of this, you’re going to have some some pretty serious discomfort. The result is rub burns, blisters, and even bruises, in the instance of a heavy gun impacting against your side (or the barrel against your leg). Sure, it sounds minor, but there’s no need be uncomfortable when a good belt can prevent all this. The big problem with discomfort is, while most people can deal with it for awhile, soon the gun starts staying home.
I have found three belts that I really like -- of two different price categories. Of course, there are more out there, but I own these three and recommend them. Good leather gun belts aren’t cheap, but they will last you a long time. I’ve purchased many leather belts throughout the years, and I can tell you the leather is getting thinner and cheaper. You’re lucky to get a couple years use out of them. Not so with these gun belts -- they’ll last you a very long time. In no specific order:
Mernickle Holsters -- Dress Belt, double thick (www.mernickleholsters.com. Model PB1, $79.95). This belt is a double thick, lined belt that looks great when dressed up, but can also be used for daily wear. Very sturdy, and stiff enough to handle all handguns -- even the heaviest of steel. The buckle snaps into place, and is easily replaced. Comes in 1.25”, 1.5”, and 1.75”. Available in Black, Mahogany Brown, Saddle Tan, and Natural.
Side Guard Holsters -- Double Layer Belt (www.sideguardholsters.com. $80). Two pieces of leather glued and stitched together. Also very sturdy and will handle all guns, from the smallest to the largest. Comes in 1.25”, 1.5” and 1.75”. Choice of Black or Brown, and Chrome or Brass colored buckles which screw into place and are easily replaced. SGH also offers a Single Layer Belt ($40) as option for those with a smaller budget for for pants that won’t take a double layer belt, though I have not tried the single layer.
Spec.-Ops. -- Better BDU Belt (www.specopsbrand.com. $20). I’m a huge fan of web belts, and this one is one of the better ones I have found. It’s plenty stiff to support any size/weight handgun I have carried (up to a 1911, and a Glock 20c), yet it’s a great, inexpensive option -- especially for those of us that are more utilitarian than we are fashionable. It’s also designed not to slip and become loose. Comes in 1.5” and 1.75”. Available in Black, Olive Drab, Tan, Grey, and Coyote Brown.
With these options, including a great utilitarian belt priced at $20, you should be able to find a belt that suits your price range, and will perform as a good gun belt should. So if you have a belt that’s not up to the task, do yourself a favor and get one that is.