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A quality belt is very important. Generally, gun belts and work belts take a lot more wear and tear than normal belts. This is especially true if you are overweight.
What is important in the belt is that it not stretch (or not much) and that it be the correct size for your holster or vice versa. You don't want a holster with 1.5" loops riding on a 1" belt. The holster will fail to provide proper stability and ride. That can make the difference between a comfortable ride and reliable positioning to a holster that moves around, is not comfortable, maybe sags or pulls on the pants wrong, may tilt, and therefore may not be as reliable for use as you would like. Here, it should be pointed out that the belt loops need to match the belt as well. It is all part of a system. So your pants need to fit the belt and so does the holster. You may have to guage your belt to your pants and then your holster to your belt, especially if you are needing a particular size, such as 1" which seems to fit dress clothing best (I have found).
I have not gone with the really expensive belts. I have no doubt they are a good thing to buy. Thusfar, I have found a commercial doppleganer to Bianchi $60 belts that cost me $15 at Academy Sporting goods and last about 2 years. The only difference I can find is in the buckle. The leather thickness, stitching, and finish are the same.
The other option I have found better is a guy at the local DFW gun shows that sells fiarly heavy weight, thick belts that I assume are made in Mexico. They cost me $30 a piece and are well made. So far, they handle my abuse just fine.
Personally, I like to go with the wider belts rather than thinnger. They also tend to be thicker. Sizes of 1.25" or 1.50" will hold gun, mag pouch, cell phone, knife, etc. better than a little skinner belt. Notice that the belts on cops and workmen are wide. That isn't for show, but function. So I suggest getting the widest belt your pants and holster will accomodate. If your holster is made by somebody like Milt Sparks and is of some of their particular models, you can actually buy new holster loops in different sizes to change out as necessary. In my case, that model is the VersaMax-II. I find it to be a fine IWB holster.
What is important in the belt is that it not stretch (or not much) and that it be the correct size for your holster or vice versa. You don't want a holster with 1.5" loops riding on a 1" belt. The holster will fail to provide proper stability and ride. That can make the difference between a comfortable ride and reliable positioning to a holster that moves around, is not comfortable, maybe sags or pulls on the pants wrong, may tilt, and therefore may not be as reliable for use as you would like. Here, it should be pointed out that the belt loops need to match the belt as well. It is all part of a system. So your pants need to fit the belt and so does the holster. You may have to guage your belt to your pants and then your holster to your belt, especially if you are needing a particular size, such as 1" which seems to fit dress clothing best (I have found).
I have not gone with the really expensive belts. I have no doubt they are a good thing to buy. Thusfar, I have found a commercial doppleganer to Bianchi $60 belts that cost me $15 at Academy Sporting goods and last about 2 years. The only difference I can find is in the buckle. The leather thickness, stitching, and finish are the same.
The other option I have found better is a guy at the local DFW gun shows that sells fiarly heavy weight, thick belts that I assume are made in Mexico. They cost me $30 a piece and are well made. So far, they handle my abuse just fine.
Personally, I like to go with the wider belts rather than thinnger. They also tend to be thicker. Sizes of 1.25" or 1.50" will hold gun, mag pouch, cell phone, knife, etc. better than a little skinner belt. Notice that the belts on cops and workmen are wide. That isn't for show, but function. So I suggest getting the widest belt your pants and holster will accomodate. If your holster is made by somebody like Milt Sparks and is of some of their particular models, you can actually buy new holster loops in different sizes to change out as necessary. In my case, that model is the VersaMax-II. I find it to be a fine IWB holster.