5 Best Gun Belts For Concealed Carry

We think a lot about guns, ammo, and holsters, but choosing the best gun belt for our specific needs deserves more than an afterthought. 

The belt is what connects the gun to the body, so maybe we need to think a bit more about which one we choose and how we wear it.

My goal for this article is to help you understand the different types of gun belts, to explain why you’d pick one over another, and give you some of the best options out there so you can find the right one for you.

Gun Belts: The Quick List

• Best Tactical Belt: Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC
• Best Formal Belt: Kore Buffalo Leather
• Best for Sitting: EDC Belt Co Foundation
• Best Low-Profile: Tenicor Zero
• Most Versatile: Nexbelt Titan

What is a Gun Belt?

The Lumbar Load-Bearing Logistic System – or gun belt, I guess – is not your average department store belt. Any belt can hold a gun, but not every belt deserves the title of "gun belt."

Weak belts bend and sag under the weight of a firearm. This has some pretty big downsides. 

Most importantly, it shifts your gun, meaning it’s never exactly in the same place. Even a slight difference can make it difficult to get a clean, consistent draw. This might not be dramatic, but getting that master grip before you draw will be a little trickier.

It also can compromise concealment, pushing the gun outward, away from the body, and creating an easy-to-see lump. No one wants to look lumpy.

Finally, the downside most noticed by concealed carriers is discomfort. It’s uncomfortable, annoying, and makes you want to leave the gun at home. 

A gun belt is designed to provide a rigid platform to support a heavy firearm and keep you comfortable. There are tons of different types of gun belts out there: casual, formal, tactical, low-profile, and more. 

Best Gun Belts 

1. Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC - Best Tactical Gun Belt

Material: Nylon webbing
Width: 1.5"
Sizes: 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48
Colors: Black, coyote brown, OD green, wolf gray

Blue Alpha has made quite a name for itself by producing excellent belts. They offer both concealed carry and battle belts, and today we’re focusing on the CCW-friendly Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC. 

The Hybrid EDC belt mixes some of their experience with battle belts and some of their experience with EDC belts to produce one helluva gun belt.

The idea is to provide an everyday carry belt with the strength of a tactical belt. A Cobra buckle provides strength and rigidity but still fits through standard belt loops. This makes life easier overall while still giving you a duty-grade buckle.

To keep your belt from sagging and to provide support for the heaviest of EDC guns, the belt is extremely rigid. Two layers of resin-impregnated nylon webbing ensure that the belt doesn’t sag and roll under the weight of a firearm and extra mags.

Great support leads to a consistent draw and a lot more comfort, especially if you’re carrying a fairly large gun. The Hybrid EDC Belt is also going to last and last. If for some reason it doesn’t, Blue Alpha covers it with a lifetime warranty. 

I use it for EDC and concealed carry, but if I switch to LARP-at-the-range mode it works with my Safariland mid-ride holster, AR mag pouch, and other gear with ease. 

Some folks are going to find this belt a bit bulky. It’s thicker and stiffer than most belts. It’s also got a somewhat tactical appearance, thanks to the cobra buckle and webbing design. It’s not exactly formal, so it loses some versatility.

2. Kore Buffalo Leather - Best Formal Gun Belt

Material: Buffalo leather with Super Fiber core
Width: 1.5"
Sizes: 24-44
Colors: Black

The Kore Buffalo Leather gun belt mixes an old-school appearance with modern tactical features. If you’re in need of a belt you can wear with nicer clothes but still support your gun, then here we go. The black leather and simple, low-profile buckle look classy and understated with more formal attire.

You can even swap the buckle to one of Kore’s other options if this one doesn’t match your style.

The Kore Black Buffalo is, in fact, made from buffalo leather. It’s thicker and more durable than horsehide or cowhide. That’s about where the normalcy ends, because Kore belts don’t use traditional buckles and holes.

Instead, they use a hidden ratchet system. The track has 40 different sizing positions in 1/4-inch increments that allow for a comfortable fit every time you put it on. Being able to precisely adjust the belt for size ensures you properly support the gun every time you tuck it inside your waistband.

To release or loosen the buckle, you just have to press a small tab. This makes it super easy and discreet to loosen the belt when you’re sitting, then tighten it when you stand up. If you practice a little, you can do both with one hand.

I want to make sure my gun stays comfortable, and my belt doesn’t roll or sag. To prevent that from happening the Kore belts use something they call the Power Core. Structural material inside the belt keeps it supportive through vertical rigidity. 

If I'm wearing a blazer and slacks, I'm grabbing the Black Buffalo.

Like any leather belt, this one requires a bit of maintenance to keep it looking good. Also, in my experience, Kore belts need a bit of a break-in period before they become really comfortable. They feel stiff and rub a little at first, but give them some time and they smooth right out.

3. EDC Belt Co Foundation - Best Gun Belt for Sitting

Material: Cordura, reinforced nylon webbing
Width: 1.5"
Sizes: 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50
Colors: Black, desert sage

If you’re buying a gun belt, you might want to look at the expertise of people who had to carry guns for a living. Veteran police officer Bryan Eastridge, who is a firearms expert and instructor, designed the EDC Belt Co Foundation after years of using gun belts that had room for improvement.

The Foundation Belt is a little different from your average gun belt. It attempts to offer a happy medium between being strong enough to be supportive and comfortable enough to be worn for days, especially when seated and driving.

To do this, the entire belt isn’t stiff; just the front portion, more or less. Around the lower back, the belt is as flexible as any other belt.

The belt uses a simple hook-and-loop system for sizing, and the buckle is an extremely low-profile tri-glide. I love the low-profile design because I often off-center my belt buckle to get it out of the way and carry in the appendix position more comfortably.

This setup works best for daily carry guns; it’s not a duty belt. This lighter, more comfortable belt is ideal for a typical concealed carry gun and maybe a spare magazine. 

4. Tenicor Zero - Best Low-Profile Gun Belt

Material: Nylon webbing
Width: 1.5"
Sizes: 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44
Colors: Black, coyote

Tenicor is mostly known for their concealed carry holsters, so breaking into the belt business just feels natural. The Tenicor Zero belt does a few things a little differently than other types of gun belts.

One of the big priorities of the Zero Belt is concealment. It’s a zero-bulk system that’s designed to prevent the hula-hoop effect of stiff belt tails pressing outward. To accomplish that goal, the tail of the belt tucks behind the main strap and stays in place via passive tension.

The friction-based camming system allows for nearly infinite adjustment. You can tighten or loosen the belt to the exact millimeter. I find that the belt tends to move with me rather than remaining rigid.

Supportive webbing provides vertical rigidity. This is adequate for a holster, spare magazine, and other gear. This prevents the typical deformation I experience with standard belts. The buckle is incredibly small and low-profile, so it doesn't get in the way of an AIWB rig.

The Zero Belt is comfortable, flexible, and low-profile, while allowing for plenty of support for a considerable loadout. It'll work great with a Glock 19, light, optic, and so on. 

I suspect it might tap out if you toss in a big, steel-framed gun like the old Smith & Wesson 5906, though. Some guns are just a bit too heavy for a minimalist belt.

5. Nexbelt Titan - Most Versatile Gun Belt

Material: High-density microfiber exterior, nylon liner
Width: 1.5"
Sizes: Up to 50" waist (standard), up to 67" waist (XL)
Colors: Black, coyote, dark brown, gray, OD green 

At the moment, my personal daily gun belt is the Nexbelt Titan. I love this ratcheting EDC belt and have been using one almost daily for about three years. It’s been through lots of classes, range trips, and SHOT Shows, and it still works great.

The Titan Black isn't formal, but it's also not overly tactical. It's just right for daily carry. The hidden track clicks to the right size with 1/4-inch increments and excellent retention, much like a Kore belt.

I like the clicks and micro-adjustments in case I switch from AIWB to OWB. The belt still fits regardless of the placement of the gun. I can click it into place to make room for whatever is on or in my waistband.

This belt is made from a super-high-density microfiber composite material designed for rigidity. 

The clasp is held in place with stainless steel set screws, and the buckle is powder-coated for outstanding durability. I live in Florida, and the sweat resistance of the backing keeps the belt from weakening and getting gross.

This is a cut-to-fit system, which means you take the risk of trimming it too short – err on the long side and make repeated cuts if necessary. The buckle is a bit large for some AIWB holsters, and it can be a bit pokey when seated; it took me some time to get used to it.

Stay Strapped 

A gun belt is a critical piece of gear for anyone who carries. It connects you to the holster and therefore the gun. It needs to be tough, rigid, and work with what you wear, because at the end of the day, it’s still a piece of clothing.

By choosing the best gun belt for you and your specific needs, you’ll be more comfortable and more likely to use it every day.

Meet the Experts

This article was written by Travis Pike. Travis is an expert gear tester, and he has published articles in many of the firearm industry's top publications. Prior to working as a writer and gun reviewer, Travis served as a machine gunner in the Marine Corps.