quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

Originally posted by LoboGunLeather:
The clothing industry has engaged in "vanity sizing" for many decades. Very few people actually know what their waist size is.

I appreciate the response and completely understand why ordering based on trouser size or the number on an existing belt does not work, but that wasn’t my question.

My question was about actual waist size measured with a tape measure which is the reason I included the blurb about $350 swim suit in my first post.

To order a suit for my son, I take two measurements with a tape measure and look those up in the manufacturer’s sizing chart to find the correct size suit to order. Every single suit I’ve ordered him in the last six years has been the correct size. That’s three different manufacturers with each manufacturer having two different sizing charts depending on the type of suit. The tech suits are made in 1” increments. I’m literally laughing out loud right now thinking about if Speedo, TYR, or Arena’s instructions for ordering a suit were to measure an existing suit that fits and order that. Completely ridiculous. It couldn’t be done.

Imagine buying different size wheels for your vehicle, then while buying tires for it, the tire guy says go find tires that fit your wheels and vehicle and tell me what size they are.

I’m just realizing now that the true reason I can’t order a belt based on measured waist size is because none of the belt makers have provide a chart that says if your waist is X, then order Y size. There could be a couple extra rows taking into account dress pants, jeans, IWB, etc.

My first response was not as clear as I might have made it.

The reason why you cannot order a belt based on waist size is because there is no recognized standard in the clothing industry. The practice of "vanity sizing" is not standardized from one manufacturer to another. There is no standard on the "rise" of trouser waistline, i.e.: the location on the body at which the trouser waist will be worn.

Prior to the mid-1960s most trousers were made to be worn with the waistline at or above the navel, not around the hips as has become the more common practice since.

You can measure a person's waist precisely with a flexible measuring tape. That measurement will only be valid for trousers and belts worn at the precise level at which the measurement was taken.

A person who has made up his mind prior to starting a discussion cannot be persuaded. Perhaps my comments will help others more than the OP of this thread.

Buy your belts at a department store and if the fit is not correct you can probably exchange for another size. But when you order a gun belt made to your specific instructions you may not be able to convince the maker to commit the time and materials to correct your mistake.

Prior to my final retirement I spent over 9 years working 7 days per week, 10 to 14 hours per day, no days off, no weekends, no holidays, no vacations, pounding out 35 to 55 orders every week for customers in all 50 US states and 32 other countries. I still have several boxes filled with handmade products produced to customer specifications, returned by those customers because of sizing errors. Carved and tooled holsters ordered for a 4" revolver by customers with 5" revolvers. Belts with elaborate hand-tooled names inscribed that were too short or too long for the intended user.

But you already have everything figured out, everyone in the business is wrong and you are right.

I'm glad that I am comfortably retired now instead of having to deal with another guy who knows everything.

I didn't make up my mind until my prior post. It was a good discussion that really did help me think it through.

His Beltman belt that was ordered on 11/14 was delivered on 11/25. It looks fantastic and fits his suit pants on the smallest notch and his jeans on the second smallest notch, so he'll be wearing it for many years to come.

Thank you to The Beltman!