Do I Need A Gun Belt for IWB Carry? Gun Belt vs Regular Belt
Do you need a gun belt for IWB Carry? In a word, yes, you do. When you are considering IWB carry, it’s important to remember a number of factors but one of the most important factors is your belt. We know it might seem a bit trivial but in reality, you should think of your gun belt as an integral part of your concealed carry system. Having the right system helps ensure you have a safe and comfortable experience when carrying.
You might be thinking, come on, a belt is a belt, right? Well, no. Your typical belt just isn’t designed to accommodate the weight of your sidearm and other accessories, like a mag carrier. When your belt can’t support the weight, your gun will eventually sag or move into a less than ideal position. This could result in your weapon not being in the right place when you need it most or it could increase the potential of ‘printing’ which can expose the fact that you are carrying. Kind of defeats the whole ‘concealed’ part of carrying, right?
Can a gun belt make carrying a gun more comfortable?
Aside from reducing your level of concealment, when you don’t have the right gun belt, your comfort is going to suffer as well. As we’ve discussed in other articles, comfort is a big factor when deciding to carry. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many cases where folks who try concealed carry wind up giving up because of comfort and, believe it or not, your gun belt plays a very important role.
Now when it comes to selecting your belt, we’ve got you covered. Our gun belts are not only great looking, more importantly they are built specifically to carry the weight of your gun and any additional accessories like a magazine holster. With three of the best models on the market, our Gun Belts are made with the highest quality materials and constructed right here in the USA. Multiple color options allow for the right belt to go with the right clothes, be it your favorite pair of blue jeans or your best suit.
What’s the difference between a regular belt and gun belt?
The biggest difference between a regular belt and a belt made to carry a gun is strength and stability. Gun belts are made with tougher, higher grade materials, making them a stiffer and better able to maintain shape, fit and function when carrying.
"One of the big problems with a regular belt is that your weapon can sag causing the grip to pull away from your hip and reveal that you are armed."
When speaking to a number of law enforcement officers, we learned that they won’t leave home without a gun belt when they are working under cover and carrying IWB. One of the big problems with a regular belt is that your weapon can sag causing the grip to pull away from your hip and reveal that you are armed. With that said, we highly recommend following in their footsteps and going with what the pros do.
What should I look for in a gun belt?
When looking to purchase a new belt you probably think about the material, color, and brand. The same thing goes for a gun belt, there are a few factors to consider when making your selection.
Stiffness: Your gun belt needs to be strong and stiff enough to hold up your gun and holsters without sag. Most gun belts are made of higher quality material to accommodate for the weight, making them stiffer.
Thickness: If your belt is too thin your clip could slide around or come off your belt. If it is too thick your clip will not fit on your belt at all. Your belt should be thick enough to fit your holster clip without it changing positions as you move.
Material: Most gun belts are made of leather or nylon. Leather gun belts are not your typical belt, they may be extra thick or contain additional materials to increase the stiffness. Nylon belts, on the other hand, are typically a thicker more tactical belt made to withstand the weight of your gun.
Buckle: Depending on the material there may be various buckle options for a gun belt. Leather belts may frequently use a standard style buckle, whereas nylon belts may use a quick-release buckle like our Cobra® Belt or a low profile buckle like our V3 Belt.
Some of these factors are important to the functionality of a gun belt like stiffness and thickness. Others like material and buckle are more personal preferences.
What are my options when selecting a gun belt?
At Vedder Holsters, we have you covered. We know the importance of quality, fit, and function. We have three types of gun belts with additional options in color and size. All are handcrafted and covered by our bullet proof Lifetime Warranty.
Our leather gun belt is made with two layers of premium cowhide. Set between the layers is a solid polymer core, providing extra strength to maintain strength and structure. It’s a great looking belt that works with your best suit or your favorite pair of jeans. Regular belts are usually a single layer of leather or other material. They lack the strength to hold up anything other than a pair of pants.
Our Cobra® belt features premium extra stiff dual layered 1.5” nylon and a quick release Cobra® buckle making it easy to put on and take off. Our Cobra® belt is also constructed with Velcro, allowing you to adjust for the perfect fit. For more information on our Cobra® Belt check out our article “Why You Need A Cobra® Gun Belt”.
Our V3 gun belt is made of the same durable nylon as our Cobra® Belt making it sturdy enough to hold up everything you carry on a daily basis. The buckle uses a lightweight, low profile design while still being strong enough for all day wear. The V3 belt features our proprietary design that allows you to set your size once and then take your belt on and off without needing to adjust it.
How do I know what size gun belt I need?
To find the correct size for your gun belt you will want to take a belt you currently own and put it on with your gun and holster also in place. Make sure the belt is comfortable, not too tight and not too loose, take the belt off remembering where the ends met. Measure from the base of the buckle to where the end was. This is your belt size, it will most likely be approximately four inches larger than your pant size.
You can also use your pant size to find your belt size when ordering online. The size is based on the standard men’s sizing measurements. Many belts are adjustable within a few inches to accommodate for various gun sizes and ensure you are comfortable.
For more information on sizing, we suggest watching our video below “How to Pick the Right Sized Gun Belt”.
To review, when deciding to carry concealed, it is imperative that you have a well-made system including your firearm, your holster and yes, your gun belt. These all work together to ensure you maintain the right level of comfort, concealment, and most importantly the ability to respond in the situation we all hope never comes. Better to be prepared and ensure the safety of you and those around you than go with the wrong equipment. We know from the pros and our own experience that your comfort, ability to maintain concealment, and keep your gun in the right place is dependent on your belt and is precisely why we recommend one of our Vedder gun belts.
But remember, ultimately, it comes down to what you find comfortable and meets your needs in a concealed carry system. We recommend visiting our Vedder Holsters website for all of our belt and holster options, and for more information to help you choose the carry system that works best for you. Like everything we sell, our gun belts are covered by a Lifetime Warranty and 30-day money back guarantee. Absolutely no risk when you are looking to reduce your risk when carrying IWB.
Looking for items beyond holsters and belts, check out our Resources Page for popular product links like lights, laser, first aid, maintenance, and more. Also, take a look at our new video on gun belts specifically for carrying inside the waistband.