A leather belt that won’t fall apart?

Submitted by ChocolateSmoovie t3_11akeao in BuyItForLife

I wear belts every day, and the problem that I have with them is the end up splitting in half at the seams or the leather starts shredding on the hole that I use.

My Dad has had the same leather belt for over 40 years, and it has never split and never shred.

I’ve paid up to $65 for what I thought was a good belt and always buy leather belts. Still always the same thing.

Are there any good quality leather belts out there that will last for more than a few months before they start falling apart?

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mildly_sexy t1_j9sjfur wrote

Hanks belts. No other option. Lifetime warranty, but you won’t need it.

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vankamperer t1_j9slkdx wrote

look for a local craft fair. there may be a leather worker who makes high quality belts. I've seen several.

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ChocolateSmoovie OP t1_j9sm91n wrote

This is a great idea. I never would have thought of this.

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w00t89 t1_j9tdlbw wrote

Not a bad idea, but the quality is more variable. I got one from a craft fair and the leather was great quality but the build was so shoddy it fell apart within 2 months. I’m a fan of weargustin.com, I’ve had one of their belts for around 5 years and it shows no signs of wear and looks great. Nice looking patina on it now too.

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geocyclist t1_j9tkqgp wrote

I’ll second this, especially if you’re in an area with Amish or Mennonites. Last one I was at, they had a stall with strip stock that they would cut to your size and build the belt while you waited.

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lynxss1 t1_j9tu4g0 wrote

I second this. I got a belt from a street vendor in Santa Fe, NM 20 years ago and still looks like new. They made it in front of me and I got to pick different custom options that they made on the spot. It was quite expensive though at $300 with sterling silver and turqoise but hands down best belt I've ever owned, my primary belt as every other one I've tried has fallen apart quickly.

I found this vendor again last month and I was so happy as I'd been looking for another in a different color for decades. Inflation sticker shock though my same belt in black is now $700 ouch! going to have to save up.

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AgreeableStep69 t1_j9u96u4 wrote

700€ for a belt?! goddamn, seems excessive even for a good one

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lynxss1 t1_j9uc8sa wrote

Dollars not Euros but yes still very high. It's mostly the stones and silver driving the price though, I bought the wife a small ring last year that was $100 for the same materials. I cringe spending so much on just a belt but I've literally been trying to find another one for 20 years.

This would have to be my one splurge for the year though and dont want to do it right out of the gate so going to hold off for a while, last years purchase was a pair of Nick's boots.

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jfvauld t1_j9snspl wrote

Saddleback Leather Tow Belt

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old-hand-2 t1_j9tcs0i wrote

Saddleback leather. All their goods have a 100 year warranty which is why their slogan is “they’ll fight over it when you’re dead”

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PuzzleheadedLow4687 t1_j9sx0dy wrote

A good leather belt doesn't have seams along which to fall apart. It is just one big thick piece of veg tan leather with a hefty buckle on one end (there may be stitching where the belt is folded over to fasten the buckle but it should be heavy duty saddle stitching).

The best belts are oak bark tanned leather. If you google oak bark tanned leather belts you should be able to find a craftsperson in your country making them to order. It will cost more than the belts you have been buying but should last forever.

​

That said I also have a couple of belts from high street stores which have held up well, but they are also one piece of real full grain leather.

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reddirt7 t1_j9tfoqf wrote

There are some smaller shops on etsy that have awesome quality and prices for full grain leather (which shouldn't shred and doesn't have seams).

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nuF-roF-redruM t1_j9tncb5 wrote

Try a Red Wing belt from the boot store. Made in USA and only around $50.00.

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CellophaneRat t1_j9sjk0p wrote

I have no idea where you are. I've worn my dad's belt that he wore in the brickyards every day for my thirty years at work. Outside that, the belts from the craft market by the old schools in Cambridge, England are excellent. I've also had two belts from steel toe studios in Seattle that are still almost as good as new and are only fifteen years young.

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knoegel t1_j9sjw7c wrote

I'm sure they're trash now, but I bought a leather belt from Old Navy in 2004 for my first job and it's still looking new. Daily worn. Got a wallet the same day and I'm still rockin' it!

The wallet astounds me the most. I wasn't military but did some federal police work for a bit on the border. ATV squad, brush work, and hunting drug smugglers. That wallet stayed in my uniform pants cargo pocket and I still use it today.

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neilz4 t1_j9skoo4 wrote

Tanner Goods makes indestructible belts in a lot of different widths to suit your use case (thinner for dressier/more formal stuff, wider for more casual)

Guarded Goods also makes bulletproof leather belts, also with dressier options, as well as a variety of custom/made-to-order options (he stocks a lot of leather). I remember this guy posting his very first wallets on a sub about 8-10 years ago and he grew his business into his full time gig. That's dope

I wore a similarly constructed veg tan leather belt from Corter for 5 or 6 years before I gained too much weight. Other than the patina and the belt forming to my waistline, there's effectively no wear on it and I still have it in a bag or drawer somewhere. I linked the shop page, but they've not made belts for a while.

I recently bought a belt from Ewing Dry Goods that I've been wearing with a recent denim purchase. These are handstitched vs. riveted, so I guess you could maybe possibly not have it FOR LIFE (I'd argue it could be restitched easily). But the stamp is cool and it's a one man operation - love supporting stuff like that.

Also have to mention Hollows Leather because I have always wanted something from him but not had the need at the right times to pick something up

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Bobbyhero t1_j9soear wrote

If you don't want to break the bank, but still want something good, look up Crazy Horse leather belt on etsy. It's good leather. Or you can dm me and I can make you a good one for $50 plus shipping. I have gray and brown currently. The gray is buffalo and the brown is saddle leather.

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imzeigen t1_j9tgf3b wrote

Buy a hand made one. I have one made out of a bull neck leather. It was like 20 bucks 21 years ago and it is still strong. I bought it Mexico and it is a bit stiff but damn we even used it to pull a small 3 cylinder engine out of a daihatsu where the chains weren’t able to get inside.

I just paint it black every 4 or 5 years

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MrWieners t1_j9tnu1h wrote

If you’re looking for a work type belt (not a dress belt) I love the shit out of the one I got from Duluth. It’s just a single strip of full grain leather. 4 years in with at least 3 years of daily use and still soft to the touch and no cracking or signs of drying out.

Haven’t found a decent dress belt though. Planning to try hanks as soon as my current belt wears all the way out

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Scourlaw t1_j9tr8oq wrote

I'm a fan of Gfeller casemakers leather goods, including belts. They make leather goods primarily for field geologists, and if you've ever known a field geologist you know they need extremely durable goods.

It is pricey, but it's also a pretty small company.

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StanCranston t1_j9u32ea wrote

Hanks. My favorite BIFL purchase.

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ThemDawgsIsHell2 t1_j9vetnt wrote

+1 for tanner goods.

At the end of the day, you want something that’s a single piece of leather. Doesn’t hurt to saddle soap and condition it a couple times a year.

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Yars107 t1_j9vxaku wrote

I got mine from a local cobbler. Cost me less than $40 and it's made out of saddle leather or "sole" leather. It's been with me for 10 years and Ive just change the buckle because I got bored of the old one.

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catnip1229 t1_j9wiesy wrote

Try Tory leather. They make halters, leads etc. for horses and the belts are truly good. I bought my husband one before our kids were born and it's still in great shape, the only thing is that it stretched out slightly so he's had to move holes once or twice.

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jakeish_atelier t1_j9wnd1u wrote

Found a leather worker on etsy. Uses horse bridle/full grain leather. It has outlasted any store-bought belt and I'm an electrician who puts a small pouch on it everyday.

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theother_Jeff t1_j9xboe5 wrote

A number of good recs in here already, but I’ll throw in Thirteen50 leather. Got 2 belts from them a couple years ago and they’ve both patina’d beautifully and only gotten better with wear. I think they were about $50 and totally worth it. You pick from like 6-8 different leather colors/types, pick your width, and then pick your buckle style/metal and belt tip shape. Super thick leather and exceptionally good quality for price ratio

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Undrthedock t1_j9yyexc wrote

Late to the party but I can’t recommend belts from The Beltman enough. I have a bullhide belt that’s almost 20 years old, worn daily, and I swear it’s better than new.

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nexus763 t1_j9sq2tt wrote

Do you care for them, because aleather is "alive". I got several belts and I regularly balm them. Doesn't make them as new but they hold strong.

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Pistolius t1_j9t9azq wrote

https://www.ospreylondon.com/men/all-accessories/the-wesley-4cm-leather-belt-cognac

I got something like this about 10 years ago and it's still going strong with basically daily wear. Sometimes leaves a bit of brown on my jeans but that washes off! I think I paid about £20, but inflation..

In my experience, the bit of a belt to fail is the buckle, so get one that is sewn in and not a clip. I've had too many clip belts fail and need to be fixed with tissue paper to be usuable. Really annoying.

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ConBroMitch t1_j9tljvw wrote

Carmine Jack’s Oak Bark outfitter kit. It’s a custom, made to order belt. Incredible quality.

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waggletons t1_ja55hii wrote

Beltman- Granted, they're more for carrying firearms but you'll get a very stiff belt that'll hold up. I've had mine for 6+ years now, no signs of wear.

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hublar t1_ja5q0s8 wrote

I'm pretty tough on belts. Versa Carry leather gun belts have held up best. Even compared to Amish bull belts. they aren't "guntastic" and you don't need to carry a gun to use them. they just last forever

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