Looking to purchase a new leather belt and I'm trying to weigh pro's and con's for 1.5" vs. the 1.75" width. The belts I have now are 1.5" width. Is there a big advantage with a 1/4". Which to you prefer and why?

I vote 1.5" because it's easy finding pants/shorts that would fit 1.5" belts....1.75" seems to be less common. This also affects holsters, most are 1.5".

I find that bumping up to 1.75" makes more of a difference with Wilderness/Rigger/Instructor-style web gun belts. The 1.75" web belts have noticeably more vertical rigidity than the 1.5" web belts, which helps preventing the holster from rolling outwards away from the body.

A quality leather 1.5" gun belt is plenty stiff, though. I don't see the need to go 1.75" with leather.

And as mentioned, not all pants will accommodate a 1.75" belt anyway. So much of it will be dictated by your personal wardrobe.

Personally, I have both 1.75" web belts and 1.5" leather belts, and get my holsters with 1.75" belt loops. I've never had a problem using the 1.75" loops with a 1.5" double-thickness leather gun belt.

I wear the 1.5" leather belts when I need to be dressier, or when I'm wearing pants that don't accommodate a 1.75" belt. I wear the 1.75" web belts when dressed more casually for day-to-day stuff, or when wearing plainclothes or my soft uniform at work.

This!

Don't know that I have ever seen a pair of pants with anything but 1.5" belt loops. But then, I have not actively searched for any, either.

Not sure how much "better" that 1/4 inch of belt width would work out. Mine is 1.5", very stiff and does not "fold" or collapse.

Paid more than $40 for it, but it is designed to support a holster and gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Elk Hunter:
Don't know that I have ever seen a pair of pants with anything but 1.5" belt loops. But then, I have not actively searched for any, either.

I've found that most jeans, cargo pants, and other casual pants have 1.75" belt loops.

Most slacks, and some older style jeans, will only fit a 1.5" belt.

And some suit pants will only fit a 1.25" belt.

I like the 1.25” if it is a thick gun belt. I find the wider belt in that thickness just does not work with many of my belt loops.

1.5". Fits a wider variety of pants belt loops. I have a 1.5" Beltman belt that works with most of my pants. I also have a 1.25" Beltman belt for those rare occasions I wear a suit, or for one of the few pants I have where a double-thick 1.5" belt is just too big.

I like the 1 3/4" width best. I dont have any pants which they wont go through the loops. Mine are also 5/16" in thickness.

It can go the other way too - many holsters have 1.5" loops or clips. You can often order them in the wider size, however.

I use 1.5" wilderness belt with the stiffener and it works great for both inside and out. I am going to start searching for a 1.25" wilderness style for IWB carry, I find the 1.5" overkill while carrying the 43.

Never tried an 1.75" belt, but I love my 1.5" Armour Belt and my Fiancée loves hers too! When Mike made hers, he even printed/burned her name into it, which I thought was a pretty cool little touch.

I prefer the 1.5" in Wilderness, Rafter and Galco.

 
1.75" is the way to go. I have not found many pants makers whose loops will not fit 1.75", nor I have I found many holster makers who do not offer a 1.75" option. The extra width gives you a greatly increased stability in drawing from a holster. At least the pants I buy, which come from 5.11 or Duluth, and other manufacturers.
 

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are these pants ,denim jeans ? or dress pants?

I like the 1.5 inch better since there is usually no issue with belt loops on my pants, shorts, jeans. I have run into some pants not having loops that would work with the 1.75 inch belts

I have an assortment of both. 1.5 for sub and ultra compacts. 1.75 for compact (G19) and up.
Spec-Ops Better BDU belts are all I ever use now.
They are cheap, well made, USA mfg and make an excellent gun belt.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Never tried an 1.75" belt, but I love my 1.5" Armour Belt and my Fiancée loves hers too! When Mike made hers, he even printed/burned her name into it, which I thought was a pretty cool little touch.

He put my name on the belt I got a couple months ago.

Hes a good guy. I screwed up on measurement. It was about 3 inches too long. He had me send it back to him to get it fixed. He fixed it and shipped it back to me free of charge.