Gun belts have been around since the early 19th century. They were initially designed for lawmen and cowboys. Since that time, belts for carrying guns have continued to evolve. EDC gun belts come in many different materials, sizes, and capabilities.
Why should you wear a gun belt, and is it worth the money? Why not carry a gun in your pocket or just tuck it on into your waistband? Well, there are many reasons why gun belts make sense for a handgun owner who wants to open-carry or conceal-carry their firearm, but let’s dig into the top 6 reasons.
Top 6 Reasons to Wear a Gun Belt
1. Comfortability
Many new gun owners put a great deal of thought into their handgun purchase but relatively little into the gear needed to carry it around. A well-concealed carry gun belt is essential to carry your weapon on your body comfortably. A well-fitting handgun belt keeps your gun and holster where they belong - either inside or outside your waistband. A good gun belt won’t cause your pants to sag or droop, which is often experienced when a gun is tucked into a pants pocket. Gun belts also are especially great for those who everyday carry (EDC). Guns tucked in your pants or pockets become uncomfortable when sitting, bending, or anything else that the average person does in a day.
2. Safety and Security
If you're going to carry a handgun, whether concealed or openly, it’s imperative that your weapon doesn’t accidentally drop on the ground. Though modern firearms come with safety features that help prevent them from accidentally firing in circumstances like this, unfortunately, it sometimes still occurs.
Belts for guns were made especially for this reason. Most holsters attached to gun belts have some type of passive retention, significantly reducing a firearm’s chance of falling out of a belt and holster rig.
Though many handguns now feature firing pin blocks to prevent drop-fires, they aren't foolproof. When the weapon hits the ground, the gun's firing pin could be knocked into a chambered round's primer, resulting in a bullet discharge.
3. Ease of Draw
The ease with which you can draw your handgun from your gun holster belt is sometimes a matter of life or death, especially if you find yourself dealing with an armed criminal. One thing's for sure: Flimsy gun belts that inhibit their wearers from smoothly drawing their gun from its holster often do more harm than good.
Consider this: an excellent tactical gun belt allows for easy drawing because it's well-built, sturdy, and light enough to be an EDC. If you have to continually adjust your belt so that you can get to your weapon without fumbling around, then you should consider trying a different belt.
4. Tactical Advantages
Quality gun belts do come with certain tactical advantages.
You should never buy any gun belt or holster rig solely because they look "tacticool." Instead, select your holster belt or any gun-carrying belt based on its fit, its durability, and its ability to do its job - keeping your gun in place.
Regular or department store belts usually don't offer the stiffness and strength needed to hold up both a holster and a loaded handgun capably. A well-constructed gun belt is typically more rigid and thick than typical belts. While some in leather, these belts often stretch and don’t offer a weatherproof solution or continued stiffness and rigidity.
Ideal gun belts are made with scuba webbing or a similar material. They also offer a solid buckle since the buckles are often the first thing to break. We highly recommend a Talon belt buckle, which is designed to last a lifetime.
Tactically, rigid gun belts help facilitate the draw-aim-fire movement, which is more commonly known as the "draw stroke.” The chance you'll be able to draw your handgun smoothly and quickly is improved if your belt has enough vertical rigidity, or resistance, to keep your holster in place as you draw. When you're attempting to draw your weapon, the last thing you want is to have your holster flopping around on an insufficiently stiff or rigid belt. Taking too long to draw your gun because your belt is allowing your holster to move around far too much isn't something you should accept from any belt, whether it's an adjustable gun belt or not.
5. A Confidence Boost
Carrying a handgun is serious business, and you must take it seriously at all times! This also means you need to have the confidence to carry a gun. If the gun belt you have selected for your EDC doesn't fit right, or if it's just too cheap or not rigid enough, you may end up losing confidence in your ability to use your weapon. In some cases, you may decide to avoid carrying a handgun altogether, even though you've trained to do so safely.
6. An Insurance Policy
Think of your pistol, tucked safely away in the right gun belt holster and attached to the right gun belt, as an insurance policy. Like any other type of insurance, you hope that you’ll never experience a life for death situation where you’ll have to use it, but for your ‘insurance’ to be entirely sufficient, you need to have coverage at all times. Don't skimp on your insurance!
- Find the best gun belt you can.
- Make sure it's the right one for your needs.
- Be sure to wear it and your carry gun whenever it's appropriate for your circumstances.
Use a Checklist
Before you purchase your concealed carry EDC gun belt, keep a checklist in mind to help you select the right one. Typically, there are four factors to consider when purchasing gun belts. They are:
A. Rigidity
Rigidity sets great gun belts apart from regular belts. This is why you should always go with a well-designed gun belt rather than a cheap department store belt.
B. Quality
Quality gun belts feature top-flight materials, such as scuba webbing. You can easily distinguish cheaper, less-sturdy gun belts from higher-quality gun belts. Besides the rigidity, make sure the gun belt has a quality buckle, like a Talon buckle.
C. Comfort
Comfort in gun belts comes from various factors, including fit, rigidity, and quality. Keep in mind, though, that what feels comfortable to one gun owner may not feel comfortable on another. IT may take time to get used to wearing a pistol belt, but it should not hurt or cause you discomfort.
D. Style
Many of today’s gun belts often feature a great deal of style. Some belts are so well-made and versatile that they would work well for both a formal occasion or those simply wearing a well-worn and comfortable pair of blue jeans. Though you shouldn’t buy a gun belt solely based on style, there’s plenty of great gun belts that offer quality and style.
Final Thoughts
As a final thought, think of your handgun as one part of a total weapon system that includes you, your EDC belt, and your holster. To quote Aristotle, "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” Once you've obtained your gun belt and holster, you need to practice drawing, aiming, and firing your handgun. Only when you're comfortable and confident in yourself, your handgun, and your equipment will you be able to draw and aim your weapon effectively no matter the situation. Check out our wide assortment of holsters, gun belts, and other accessories you may need.
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