March 25, 2014
By Brad Fitzpatrick
It's absolutely critical to have the right belt for concealed carry . Anyone who regularly draws from a holster knows a bad belt will impede the ability to properly pull the gun out in a dynamic situation.
Civilian dress belts are designed to be stylish and to perform one basic task; preventing the world from seeing your underpants. Department stores don't design belts for carrying guns—but the companies on this list had concealed carry in mind when developing their belts. You only need to carry with a standard belt one time and then switch to a dedicated carry belt to understand the difference.
Concealed carry belts must be stylish, can't show the world your drawers, and most importantly they must be strong enough to bear a holster and stiff enough not to bend, flex or stretch when drawing a sidearm .
Purpose-built concealed carry belts come in all styles and designs. From "practical tactical" to the polished professional look that would blend in on Fifth Avenue, no matter what you're wearing, there's a belt on this list that will work for you.
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If you carry concealed with a belt not mentioned here, let us know why you like it in the comments below.
Ares Gear Aegis Enhanced Belt Building on the success of their Ranger Enhanced belt,
Ares Gear now offers the
Aegis Enhanced — a sturdy concealed carry belt with a simpler, cleaner look than its predecessor.
The Aegis Advanced is 1.5-inches wide and is composed of two layers of Ares' proprietary scuba webbing, making it solid and secure. There's an additional thin layer of colored webbing on the exterior of the belt, and the Aegis Enhanced comes in your choice of eight different colors. The buckle is made of durable 17-4PH stainless steel. Ares has done a good job making the American-made Aegis blend in; you can wear this belt with almost any outfit without drawing attention.
Price: $109.99
Blackhawk CQB Rigger's Belt This beefy
Rigger's Belt from Blackhawk isn't going to blend in with every outfit. But when you're wearing tactical or work pants and you want an extremely solid belt that will carry all your gear, the Rigger's belt is hard to beat.
This 1.75-inch wide nylon belt has a tensile strength of 7,000 pounds, incorporates parachute-grade buckles and adapters, and comes in 5 different colors.
The Rigger's belt has a decidedly tactical slant, but its wide structure provides a secure platform for your firearm and it is extremely durable and comfortable. If you wear jeans on a daily basis this is a good option, though the Rigger's belt, despite its good qualities, is too extreme an accessory to pair with a business suit.
Price: $39.99
Blackhawk CQC Pistol Belt On the exterior, the
Blackhawk CQC looks like most any other high-quality dress belt. It has a leather exterior, metal hardware and a medium contour design. But internally, the CQC Pistol Belt is designed specifically for concealed carry, with a high-strength polymer-reinforced spine, PVC core and durable non-woven nylon.
The CQC Pistol Belt covers a wide range of dress styles — from shorts and blue jeans to power suits — and no one will ever know the belt was designed for concealed carry. Regardless, the CQC Pistol Belt's stiff body construction provides the stability you need to draw a weapon quickly.
Price: $36.99
Comp-Tac Contour Tapered Belts Comp-Tac's Taper Belt uses a clever design. When you look at it from the front, it looks just like a high-quality leather belt — but inside, it's reinforced with sturdy Kydex for added support.
It comes already pre-countered (rounded to fit the body) as opposed to other non-supported belts, and that's a result of the Kydex support inside. It's available with or without a contour (contoured belts narrow in the front) in either black or brown. This is a great belt for any clothing style, and it has an optional Velcro interior.
Price: $90
DeSantis E25 Belts DeSantis offers the
E25 belt, which is 1.25-inches wide and has bonded leather and synthetic construction, making it an ideal concealed carry belt for those who wear dress clothes.
On the exterior, it appears to be a standard leather belt, but the sturdy lining provides an ideal platform for holding a concealed firearm in place. It won't bunch or flex like a standard leather belt, meaning you can draw your gun quickly and efficiently.
Price: $24.99
Galco CB3 Concealable Contour Belt Galco Gunleather offers the
CB3 Concealable Contour Belt in a variety of sizes and colors — all of which are constructed from and lined with premium saddle leather for a comfortable fit.
They also provide a secure platform for drawing a firearm, and the heavy-duty leather won't bend, stretch or flex when you pull your gun. Its ends are tapered for a classy look, and its buckles are made of nickel-plated brass for years of use. This belt will work with virtually any clothing, from casual clothing to dress pants, and the premium leather construction will stand up to daily carry.
Price: $114.95
Galco Reinforced Instructor's Belt Galco offers their
Reinforced Instructor's Belt in two colors (black and Coyote Tan), in a variety of sizes. These belts offer Type-13 nylon webbing for durability and comfort, a drop-forged buckle and Roguard epoxy finish to prevent the nylon from fraying after years of hard use. They're made from a reinforced polyurethane interior that increases rigidity, and provides a secure platform for rapidly drawing a weapon.
Price: $54.95
Uncle Mike's Instructor's Belt Uncle Mike's Reinforced Instructor's Belt is 1.5-inches wide and is available to fit waist sizes from 32- to 54-inches. It is constructed of nylon with a rigid polymer interior that is stiff enough to carry your firearm securely. Double layers of nylon help reinforce the firearm and accessories, and the large buckle is secure and easy to use.
Price: $35.95
Vertx Raptor Belt Vertx engineers design their tactical clothing to withstand the most extreme conditions, and the
Raptor Belt is a product of that philosophy. The Raptor is one of the most sturdy and heavy-duty belts on this list.
It has two-piece, high-density polyethylene stiffeners to make the belt sturdy enough for carrying firearms while reducing sagging. The Raptor comes with a patented buckle that locks whether the buckle is facing up correctly or is rotated. This belt is functional and looks natural with tactical or work pants. It's also comfortable, and it won't warp or rise up when worn. Also available in a variety of colors and sizes.
Price: $79.95
