{"id":870,"date":"2023-03-09T03:06:08","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T03:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=870"},"modified":"2023-03-09T03:06:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T03:06:08","slug":"a-womans-guide-to-not-making-a-gun-belt-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=870","title":{"rendered":"A Woman\u2019s Guide to Not Making a Gun Belt Mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Serena Juchnowski<\/a><\/p>\n

U<\/span>ntil I started carrying concealed, I didn\u2019t realize how much I needed a belt. I also didn\u2019t realize one size doesn\u2019t necessarily fit all.<\/p>\n

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The author looks at gun belt options for women. While the market doesn\u2019t fully support women, there are some shining stars that offer good options. Image:\u00a0Tina\u00a0Juchnowski<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This year, I went to Gunsite Training Academy<\/a> for the first time. On the list of items to bring was a \u201cgun belt.\u201d I really didn\u2019t know what that was. I asked around and was told to look for an \u201cinstructor\u2019s belt.\u201d What that meant, I didn\u2019t know either.<\/p>\n

Googling wasn\u2019t much help. I found a variety of gun belts, but none were women-specific. Typing in \u201cwomen\u2019s gun belts\u201d took me to more specific pages, but I quickly realized that many of the women\u2019s specific gun belts were either being discontinued or offered in far fewer patterns and styles than the men\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Athena Means, owner of GunGoddess.com<\/a>, a website specializing in gun accessories and gear for women, offered some insight. \u201cAs much as the women\u2019s market has been growing over the last years as women have become gun owners and have been participating in the shooting sports, for a lot of the bigger manufacturers who have to produce in big volumes the size of the women\u2019s market is not just big enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Gun belts do more than keep your pants up. They are the literal foundation for the safe carry of a concealed defensive pistol. Image:\u00a0Max\u00a0Croster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I discovered, however, a number of small manufacturers trying to meet these needs.<\/p>\n

Sometimes you can get away with wearing men\u2019s clothes. They aren\u2019t, generally speaking, the most flattering on the feminine figure when worn as intended. Larger flannels tied at the waist, for example, can be comfortable and make a unique statement.<\/p>\n

Sadly, there aren\u2019t many \u201cwomen\u2019s\u201d belts. Go to the store and you\u2019ll find an abundance of what are called \u201cfashion belts.\u201d They are generally blingy, very thin or very thick, and designed to add accent, not functionality, to an outfit. Also, \u201cfashion belts\u201d aren\u2019t typically strong enough to support a holster.<\/p>\n

So, what options are out there for us?<\/p>\n

Belt Types<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Belts fall into several categories based on usage and style, but even these are difficult to define. Here\u2019s a brief overview.<\/p>\n

\"next\n<\/picture>
The author used Nexbelt\u2019s Supreme Appendix EDC belt to shoot an action match. She was able to easily adjust the tightness of the belt so my holster and magazine pouches were properly secured. Image: Jay Christopher\u00a0Phillips<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fashion Belts:<\/strong>\u00a0Fashion belts are produced with the goal of complementing an outfit. Some wear them exclusively for this purpose, others to keep loose pants intact. These belts are generally inexpensive and can be made of a variety of materials.<\/p>\n

Everyday Carry (EDC) Belts:<\/strong>\u00a0An EDC belt is a belt designed to be used with a holster. These are generally plain or subtly styled and are approximately 1.5\u201d thick.<\/p>\n

Gun\/Range Belts:<\/strong>\u00a0There are several types of gun belts. The \u201cinstructor\u2019s belt\u201d needed for my Gunsite course referred to a nylon belt with a v-ring buckle. These belts were originally designed to work as part of a safety system for instructors working with students during mountain rescue training, but have found a niche in the gun world as well. Strong and sturdy, they are designed to handle heavy gear without sagging. Other variations of instructors\u2019 belts have \u201ccobra\u201d or other types of buckles.<\/p>\n

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Gun belts may also come in a two-part system \u2014 an inner belt and outer belt. These are secured to one another via Velcro. An inner and outer belt system is most frequently used in competitive shooting sports like action pistol. They are typically very stiff and rigid, but allow the shooter to remove all gear on the belt at once and have it ready for use without having to thread gear onto the belt and around pant belt loops. The most important criteria for a gun belt is it must be strong enough to support the weight of your gun and gear.<\/p>\n

Looking for the best fit, I tested a few different belts. Here\u2019s what I found.<\/p>\n

Stampede Shop Leather Belt:<\/strong>\u00a0I was gifted a leather belt from the Stampede Shop years ago. These handcrafted leather belts are made by twin entrepreneurs Ethan and Emma Fleming.<\/p>\n

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This belt from the Stampede Shop supported the author\u2019s Springfield Hellcat well and fit comfortably with the Versacarry Compound Custom IWB Holster. Image:\u00a0Max\u00a0Croster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This Western-style belt is beautiful and has held up over years of use. It has a tapered tail which I greatly appreciate for appendix carry. This belt is in a unique category as it is fashionable, custom made for a great fit, and suitable for everyday carry.<\/p>\n

Magpul Tejas Gun Belts:<\/strong>\u00a0Both of the two of these belts are thick and sturdy, but a bit too much for my small frame. There are several variations, and choosing a patterned version like the \u201cEl Pistolero\u201d makes it appear a bit more feminine.<\/p>\n

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Magpul uses strong buckles with its belts. The simple styling should work with a range of clothing types. Image:\u00a0Tina\u00a0Juchnowski<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The large, heavy buckles on Magpul\u2019s belts indicates to me they might be designed for men. They are very thick and feel heavy on the body. They also don\u2019t complement feminine curves and may stand up straight, parallel to your back with a gap depending on your figure. While sturdy options, I wouldn\u2019t recommend them for women. But, put them on your list for the men in your life!<\/p>\n

Gun Goddess Women\u2019s Contoured Holster Belt:<\/strong>\u00a0Not all women are shaped the same, but if you have curves I urge you to take a look at the women\u2019s contoured holster belt from Gun Goddess. Athena Means, owner of Gun Goddess, stocks a variety of products for women she\u2019s personally tried and lent me her personal belt to test. She also contributed some key insight.<\/p>\n

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This belt was the author\u2019s absolute favorite. She believed the belt fit very well and offered excellent stability. Image:\u00a0Jeff\u00a0Davis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She noted that a contoured belt helps it to fit a little better over curves. The difference isn\u2019t obvious until laid out side-by-side next to a straight belt. I personally found a huge difference with the contour. The belt rested snugly against the small of my back, not leaving an annoying and unflattering gap. This belt was comfortable and fit far better than most of the others I tried, but is very plain if you are looking for style. (This could make for a good DIY project.)<\/p>\n

Tac Shield Gun Belts:<\/strong>\u00a0I worked with several Tac Shield products. The 1.75\u201d and 1.5\u201d belts are the same \u2014 one is just wider than the other. You must remove one half of the buckle to thread the nylon belt through your belt loops, then back through the buckle.<\/p>\n

\"tac\n<\/picture>
The Tac Shield gun belts the author tested featured a cobra style buckle. The author considers this one of the most important features of a gun belt. Image:\u00a0Tina\u00a0Juchnowski<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The tail end is quickly and easily secured to the Velcro on the appropriate side of the belt. This allows for easy adjustability. The cobra buckle is easy to use. The Tac Shield inner duty belt was light, comfortable, and intuitive to use. The edges did catch and snag on belt loops and clothing, but the rough part of Velcro always tends to.<\/p>\n

Blackhawk Foundation Series MOLLE Black Belt:<\/strong>\u00a0I used this outer belt in combination with the Tac Shield Inner Duty Belt. It arrived very stiff and rigid.<\/p>\n

\"blackhawk\n<\/picture>
While the Blackhawk belt provides a stable platform, it was one of the stiffest belts tested by the author. It included PALS-type attachment points for MOLLE. Image:\u00a0Tina\u00a0Juchnowski<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This belt is wide, but has a variety of spaces for MOLLE attachments. As part of a two-belt system, it keeps all gear on the outside of the outer belt, not compromising the fit between outer and inner.<\/p>\n

Wilderness 5-Stitch Instructor Belt:<\/strong>\u00a0This Wilderness belt came from the Gunsite pro-shop and is what I used in the aforementioned Gunsite course.<\/p>\n

\"gunsite\n<\/picture>
The Gunsite Wilderness belt is a traditional instructor\u2019s belt. The tail was a bit long when tightly cinched, but this is easily remedied by threading through one of the holster loops. Image:\u00a0Tina\u00a0Juchnowski<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pro-shop is known for stocking quality items students of their various firearm training courses need or turn to after what they brought turns out not to work. This is a simple instructor\u2019s belt, very similar to the Tac Shield gun belt, but with a v-ring buckle. This belt was extremely comfortable. I did have to try on several sizes with gear to find what worked best for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nexbelt Supreme Appendix EDC Belt:<\/strong>\u00a0I have been very impressed with Nexbelt\u2019s ratcheting system. Belts come in one length you cut to your correct size. I used this belt to shoot a PCSL 2-Gun match and for everyday carry. The belt has a buckle secured by three screws and tightened with an included Allen wrench.<\/p>\n

\"nextbelt\n<\/picture>
Nexbelt offers a variety of belt styles and options. This low-profile belt is suitable for everyday wear and light range work. Image:\u00a0Dillon\u00a0Carr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This particular belt is especially rigid with inch markings for easy reference while cutting. It takes some strong scissors or a sharp knife to cut the strap, which doesn\u2019t fray or come apart. I was easily able to work out of a holster and mag pouches using this belt, though at first I didn\u2019t cut it short enough. Leaving extra room for IWB carry also left too long of a tail when tightened for range use. It quickly tightens by pushing the tail through the buckle and releases by pushing a button on the base of the buckle.<\/p>\n

Sizing<\/h2>\n

Once you choose a belt, how do you pick the right size? The best thing to do is to find a belt that fits you well, even if it\u2019s not a suitable carry belt. Measure from the edge of the belt where it wraps around the buckle to the hole that fits you most comfortably. You may have to go to a store and try things on to do this or measure your waist with a measuring tape. (Measure where a belt would sit on your body and read off the value where the ends meet.)<\/p>\n

If you are using it for inside-the-waistband concealed carry, remember that your belt will have to be a bit longer than you would traditionally wear to accommodate the holster and firearm. For example, if my waist measurement is 32\u201d, I\u2019d want to add a few inches and order a 34\u201d. Do NOT order a belt based on your pant size alone. Pant sizes vary and often will not mirror a proper belt size. Do not get caught up in the numbers here. I\u2019ve worn size 25 pants with 34 belts. Brands vary and some styles you cut to length.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

There are many more belts on the market than I had the opportunity to test. No matter what you choose, make sure your chosen belt fits your purposes, your figure, and your style. It must fit comfortably and meet your needs, whatever they are, but you also need to feel good about yourself wearing it.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

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Stampede Shop <\/h3>\n


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Magpul Tejas “El Delgado” Gun Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Magpul Tejas “El Pistolero” Gun Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Gun\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

Gun Goddess Contoured Holster Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Tac\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

Tac Shield 1.50″ Tactical Gun Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Tac\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

Tac Shield 1.75″ Tactical Gun Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Tac\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

Tac Shield 1.50″ Inner Duty Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Blackhawk\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

Blackhawk Foundation Series Molle Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Gunsite\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

Gunsite Wilderness 5-Stitch Instructor Belt<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Nexbelt Supreme Appendix 38mm<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Versacarry Compound Custom (IWB) Holster<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"1791\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

1791 Gunleather Optic Ready BH1 1911 Belt Holster<\/span><\/h3>\n


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\n\t\t\t\t\t9mm<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Hellcat\u00ae <\/p>\n

Hellcat\u00ae Series<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Serena Juchnowski Until I started carrying concealed, I didn\u2019t realize how much I needed a belt. I also didn\u2019t realize one size doesn\u2019t necessarily fit all. The author looks at gun belt options for women. While the market doesn\u2019t fully support women, there are some shining stars that offer good options. Image:\u00a0Tina\u00a0Juchnowski This year, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}