This isn't specifically a firearm, but it's a firearm accessory and I am excited about it, so I figured I'd post it here. I've been waiting a few weeks now for a gun belt I ordered specifically for bowling pin shooting. I have a rigged out belt for three gun competition, and a couple concealed carry belts for daily use, but I wanted something a little more purpose-driven that would carry nothing more than two magazines and a holster and where discretion wasn't a particular concern.
I ordered a custom leather belt from Mean Gene Leather. Gene is the guy who started HSGI, which made all the competition gear I used in the early 2000s. This is his retirement project. It was an expensive belt and a long wait.
This is a double layer top-grain leather belt, with nylon reinforcement between the layers to increase rigidity and minimize stretch. Gun belts have to support a lot of weight, and you don't want them to roll, sag, or stretch. This one is over a quarter inch thick with all that stuff going on.
This belt also uses an Aegis buckle. I like this buckle a lot, because it allows for a lot of variation in sizing and support. If I have a particularly heavy load, it is easy to cinch up for the extra support, without having to worry about whether there is a hole where I need it. It's also sufficiently adjustable to accomodate heavier winter clothing and multiple layers.
I have been a long time fan of the Galco SB3 belt for daily wear. It is also a two layer belt, but it is designed with concealment first in mind. Makes for an interesting comparison. The top belt is 10 years old. I've become a little smaller, and the belt has too much wear to be useful for dress clothing, so I had to buy a newer, smaller one. These belts are also two layers, but they are thinner and taper slightly towards the heavily burnished edges. They are also cut on a bias, unlike the straight-cut MGL belt. Nearly everything about the SB3 is designed to hide the fact that it is a 1.5" gun belt, and thus very different from your standard 1.25" single layer piece of cowhide. This makes it really good at blending in with dress slacks or jeans, and providing good support while not calling any attention to itself.
The MGL belt doesn't care about any of that. It is not subtle. It is thick, big, and made to hold a gun firmly in place, whether with an in-waistband or out-of-waistband holster. It doesn't care about the extra weight of a double magazine carrier. I like it well enough to wear it casually, but it is cut to accommodate a holster and mag carrier, so without them, the tail is a little long.
This belt will never look as good again as it does now. I bought it as a workhorse, and it will see frequent equipment changes that tear up it's pretty finish. However, it is built like a tank, and I will expect it to be functional long after the looks fade.
I ordered a custom leather belt from Mean Gene Leather. Gene is the guy who started HSGI, which made all the competition gear I used in the early 2000s. This is his retirement project. It was an expensive belt and a long wait.
This is a double layer top-grain leather belt, with nylon reinforcement between the layers to increase rigidity and minimize stretch. Gun belts have to support a lot of weight, and you don't want them to roll, sag, or stretch. This one is over a quarter inch thick with all that stuff going on.
This belt also uses an Aegis buckle. I like this buckle a lot, because it allows for a lot of variation in sizing and support. If I have a particularly heavy load, it is easy to cinch up for the extra support, without having to worry about whether there is a hole where I need it. It's also sufficiently adjustable to accomodate heavier winter clothing and multiple layers.
I have been a long time fan of the Galco SB3 belt for daily wear. It is also a two layer belt, but it is designed with concealment first in mind. Makes for an interesting comparison. The top belt is 10 years old. I've become a little smaller, and the belt has too much wear to be useful for dress clothing, so I had to buy a newer, smaller one. These belts are also two layers, but they are thinner and taper slightly towards the heavily burnished edges. They are also cut on a bias, unlike the straight-cut MGL belt. Nearly everything about the SB3 is designed to hide the fact that it is a 1.5" gun belt, and thus very different from your standard 1.25" single layer piece of cowhide. This makes it really good at blending in with dress slacks or jeans, and providing good support while not calling any attention to itself.
The MGL belt doesn't care about any of that. It is not subtle. It is thick, big, and made to hold a gun firmly in place, whether with an in-waistband or out-of-waistband holster. It doesn't care about the extra weight of a double magazine carrier. I like it well enough to wear it casually, but it is cut to accommodate a holster and mag carrier, so without them, the tail is a little long.
This belt will never look as good again as it does now. I bought it as a workhorse, and it will see frequent equipment changes that tear up it's pretty finish. However, it is built like a tank, and I will expect it to be functional long after the looks fade.
