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The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Keep your pants up with the best men's belts of 2024. We've tried options for work, play, and casual wear to help you find the best belt to suit your needs and preferences.
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Most of us take belts for granted. We typically consider them to be good belts if they stay latched and keep our pants snug above the waist. A well-designed men’s belt keeps the pants in the correct position throughout the day and offers elements of style and adjustability that can truly enhance an outfit’s looks, comfort, and performance.

Recently, belts have evolved in an ever-advancing marketplace. They are finally getting the attention they deserve, as many brands are taking belt design to the next level. With various latching mechanisms and materials being implemented in the design, there’s a belt for everybody and every activity.

Author Andrew Potter tested and analyzed these belts for months while doing everything from working and rock climbing to having dinner with friends. So, whether you’re looking for a casual and stylish belt to hold up jeans on the weekends, a durable work belt, or a lightweight and stretchy belt for active pursuits outdoors, we tested nine great options and have recommendations for you. 

Read on to learn more about our favorite men’s belts of 2024. Our comparison chart shows all the models we tested at a glance. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide and FAQ section to help you find the best belt for your specific needs and style.

The Best Men’s Belts of 2024


Best Overall Men's Belt for Outdoor Use

Arcade Atlas Belt

Specs

  • Material 85% post-consumer REPREVE polyester/rubber
  • Sizing Standard: up to 40", Long: up to 50"
  • Stretch Yes
  • Buckle style A2 pinch release
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Durable
  • Contoured buckle
  • Stretches with your body

Cons

  • Polyester can become stretched out over time with heavy use
Best Budget Men's Belt for Outdoor Use

Bison 30mm T-Lock Belt

Specs

  • Material Nylon
  • Sizing Medium: up to 38”, Large: up to 42”
  • Stretch No
  • Buckle Style T-Lock
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Great weight to strength ratio
  • Cool color options
  • Simple buckle design
  • Can be trimmed for size
  • Won't set off metal detector

Cons

  • Cheaper feel
Best Men's Belt for Work

Groove Life Groove Belt

Specs

  • Material Stretch webbing
  • Sizing S, M, L, XL, XXL
  • Stretch Yes (minimal)
  • Buckle Style Aluminum alloy magnetic clasp
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Burly
  • Durable
  • Techy clasp is a head-turner
  • Easy to use
  • 94-year warranty

Cons

  • Large buckle is difficult to get into thin belt loops
  • Pricey
Best Leather Men's Belt

Main Street Forge Classic Leather Everyday Belt

Specs

  • Material Buffalo leather
  • Sizing Even sizes 32" to 52"
  • Stretch No
  • Buckle Style Traditional, steel
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • High quality materials
  • High tensile strength
  • Classic look
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Buckle prong scuffs up the black buckle pretty quickly (gives it a vintage look)
Best Budget Leather Men's Belt

Timberland 35mm Classic Jean Belt

Specs

  • Material Leather
  • Sizing Even sizes 32”-48”
  • Stretch No
  • Buckle Style Classic
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Great deal
  • Classic look
  • Nice feel

Cons

  • Will most likely crack with extended use
  • Lower quality leather
Another Great Men's Belt for Work

Arcade Belts Hardware Belt

Specs

  • Material Stretch webbing
  • Sizing Standard: up to 40”, Long: up to 50”
  • Stretch Yes (minimal)
  • Buckle Style High density plastic pinch-release
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Durable
  • High tensile strength buckle
  • Easy to use
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Large buckle is difficult to get into thin belt loops

Best of the Rest

Another Great Stretchy Men's Belt

KUHL Resistor Belt

Specs

  • Material Stretch webbing
  • Sizing S/M: 28”-34” L/XL: 35”-42”
  • Stretch Yes
  • Buckle style Pinch release
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Extremely durable
  • Easy to slide in and out of loops
  • Reversible tail

Cons

  • Not ideal for casual use if the buckle is showing
A Quality Leather Belt With Timeless Style

Nohma Double Prong Retro Style Leather Belt

Specs

  • Material Buffalo-hide leather
  • Sizing Even sizes 32” and 50”
  • Stretch No
  • Buckle Style Classic steel, copper, brass, or nickel
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Incredibly strong
  • Stylish
  • Customizable
  • Family-owned business

Cons

  • A bit clunky
  • Large buckle sticks out under shirts
A Classic Outdoor Belt

Patagonia Tech Web Belt

Specs

  • Material Nylon webbing
  • Sizing One size
  • Stretch No
  • Buckle Style Classic overlap
The Best Men’s Belts of 2024

Pros

  • Bomb-proof
  • Can be used as a strap
  • Stays in place

Cons

  • Not ideal for casual use
  • Buckle will trigger metal detectors

Men’s Belts Comparison Chart

MSRPMaterialSizesStretchBuckle Style
Arcade Belts Atlas Belt$3585% recycled REPREVE polyesterStandard: up to 40″, Long: up to 50″YesA2 Pinch release
Bison 30mm T-Lock Belt$21NylonMedium: up to 38”, Large: up to 42”NoT-Lock clasp
Groove Life Groove Belt$65Stretch webbingS, M, L, XL, XXLYes (minimal)Aluminum alloy magnetic clasp
Main Street Forge Classic Leather Everyday Belt$41Buffalo leatherEven sizes 32″ to 52″NoTraditional, steel
Timberland 35mm Classic Jean Belt$20LeatherEven sizes 32”-48”NoTraditional
Arcade Belts Hardware Belt$40Stretch webbingStandard: up to 40″, Long: up to 50″Yes (minimal)High density plastic pinch-release
KUHL Resistor Belt$42Stretch webbingS/M: 28”-34”, L/XL: 35”-42”YesPinch release
Nohma Double Prong Retro Leather Belt$45Buffalo-hide leatherEven sizes 32” and 50”NoClassic steel, copper, brass, or nickel
Patagonia Tech Web Belt$35Recycled nylon webbingOne sizeNoFeed-through metal buckle

Why You Should Trust Us

The team at GearJunkie has been testing outdoor gear and apparel for years. In that time, we’ve learned that having the right gear can make or break your experience. Of course, flashy outerwear and fancy accessories typically get the lion’s share of the attention, but even something as simple as a belt can play a major role in your comfort and enjoyment wherever your adventures take you.

Whether we’re climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, traveling, having a backyard barbeque, or heading out on the town with friends, we’re often wearing belts, and we’ve used quite a few over the years.

Our men’s belts buyer’s guide author, Andrew Potter, has been testing and reviewing gear for GearJunkie for a few years. He’s an avid outdoorsman who spends his time hiking and climbing and has explored mountains and crags from the eastern Sierra of California to the Appalachians in Virginia.

He’s a connoisseur of quality gear, and he knows that keeping his pants secured comfortably around his waist can often be as important as wearing the right shoes or jacket. In addition to testing the belts for this guide, Andrew has contributed to several others, including the best camp shoes, hiking socks, sun protection shirts, and men’s wool sweaters.

How We Tested Men’s Belts

For months this past winter and spring, we wore this diverse selection of nine belts whenever we were wearing pants. We wore them to work, to the climbing crag, while hiking, out to dinner, and everywhere in between. So, pretty much every day.

Other than testing the belts for basic functionality, we looked for latching mechanisms that were simple to use and bombproof. We did our best to tweak them, apply lateral pressure, and test for potential unclasping. We also tested for general ease of use — nobody wants to fumble with their belt buckle on their way out of the restroom.

We also closely examined material wear and task-specific performance. If a belt was designed for active use, we looked for a combination of stretch and assurance. For casual leather belts, we looked at overall durability and material wear. For heavy-duty work belts, we examined their potential for breaking or tearing and then looked at whether the material lost tension after overstretching.

Testing the T-Lock buckle on the Bison belt
Our testing included basic ease of use of all of the belt buckles, but also involved trying to identify weaknesses in their designs; (photo/Andrew Potter)

Buying Guide: How to Choose a Men’s Belt

All of the belts on this list perform the function of holding up pants admirably, but each belt has unique qualities that set them apart. Depending on what you’ll be using it for, there are a surprising amount of things to consider when purchasing a belt, including your preferences for things like material, stretch, and buckle style.

Material

The belts on this list are made of leather, nylon, polyester, and other post-consumer materials. Stretch webbing has different qualities from rigid webbing, and even the different types of leather provide a unique look and feel. This comes down to preference and the necessary function. If you’re looking for optimal strength, the static webbing of the Patagonia Tech Web belt will get the job done.

For athletic pursuits, a belt with built-in stretch might be the best fit to move with you while you climb, hike, ski, or ride a bike. For more pliability and give in a nylon belt, either the Arcade Atlas or the KUHL Resistor are our favorite options. For less stretch but still enough to provide comfort while being able to hold up a tool pouch, for example, the Arcade Hardware Belt or the Groove Life Groove Belt are great options.

With leather belts, you’ll pay a premium for enhanced strength and quality. This is the case with the Main Street Forge Classic and the Nohma Double Prong Retro Belt, both of which are made from high-quality buffalo leather. This leather looks and feels better, but it will age better and last longer than cheaper options.

Buckles

The buckles on this list vary from plastic T-locks (Bison 30mm) to brass double prongs (Nohma Leather). The pinch-release mechanism is the most popular for active belts, as it easily buckles on the go. Others involve sliding the material into a clasp, which takes a little bit more time.

With its magnetic grooves, the Groove Belt offers a new take on buckles and is impressively functional. If you’re hoping to dress up your belt for certain occasions, you’ll want to pay attention to the buckle style. Whether you’re going for something minimalist like the Arcade Atlas’ clean-looking pinch buckle, or something classier like the Nohma Double Prong, there’s something for everybody.

Stretch

Hanging a tool pouch from the Groove Life Groove Belt
Stretch can be a desirable trait in a belt. The Groove Belt has a very minimal amount of stretch that makes it ideal for bearing the weight of tools while remaining super comfortable; (photo/Andrew Potter)

It’s simple: Some people prefer belts that stretch, and some prefer belts that do not. Others prefer a small amount of stretch that locks out to support weight for something like a tool pouch to hang from it. Whether or not you want any stretch in your belt often depends on what you’re using it for. There’s a wide variety, and we’ve got more than one of every type on this list.

If a rigid feel is important to you, you’ll want to stick with static nylon webbing or leather. Stretch and lock webbing, like with the Arcade Hardware and Groove Belt, falls in the middle, providing enhanced comfort with the ability to bear weight. People who wear belts while doing intense activities like rock climbing tend to prefer more stretch for enhanced mobility and comfort, as is the case with the Arcade Atlas and Kuhl Resistor belts.

Durability

Detail shot the three leather belts we tested
Quality of materials makes a huge difference in a belt’s lifespan. Both the Nohma and the Main Street Forge belts are made from higher-end leather and they back it with a lifetime warranty. The inexpensive Timberland belt, on the other hand, will cost you less but probably won’t last quite as long; (photo/Andrew Potter)

Paying for something like a belt can seem burdensome, so it’s good to have the assurance that it will last you a while. The buffalo leather belts on this list offer premium feel and durability, and as they naturally age you’ll see why both Nohma and Main Street Forge are willing to offer lifetime warranties.

Stretch nylon and polyester weaves tend to weaken over time, so active belts will eventually have to be replaced. Stainless steel buckles will obviously last longer than plastic buckles, and the quality of plastic becomes a factor over time. For a balance of functionality and durability, consider that Arcade’s Hardware Belt utilizes high-tensile, high-density plastic in its buckle.

FAQ


How do I know what size belt to order?

Belt sizing is fairly simple. The stretch nylon options on this list come in a couple sizes with each size fitting a range of waists. The static webbing belts typically come in a single size and can be trimmed down for the ideal fit by the consumer. You’ll just want to carefully cut it and then burn the edges to reseal the fibers.

Most leather belts come pre-cut in even waist sizes. Typically, people like to order a size up from their pant size. So, if you have a 34” waist, you’ll want a 36” belt. But, we’d recommend taking a look at the manufacturer’s sizing recommendations before purchasing to ensure you get the right fit.

A look at all of the mens belts we tested to compare their sizes
Belts come in a range of sizes, fortunately finding the right fit is as easy as knowing your waist size and checking the manufacturer’s sizing recommendations; (photo/Andrew Potter)

Aren’t all belts pretty much the same?

Yes, and no. Any belt on this list will work for its primary function of holding up your pants, but belts have unique applications and styles for those who want to tailor them to their specific needs. Unique buckle styles, capacity to stretch, and materials all come into play when considering a belt.

Realistically, any of the belts we tested will work well enough for casual wear. However, which material you choose will likely depend on your style preference — most people will opt for leather with a pair of jeans or casual pants.

For active folks, a stretch belt may be the best choice so it can move with you as you bend at the waist, scale cliffs, or take long strides. Likewise, nylon is probably a better bet for outdoor activities where you may sweat a lot. Not only can synthetic materials be washed more easily, but leather can be damaged from extended exposure to moisture and salt.


What’s the best belt for rock climbing?

There are several belts on this list that are great for rock climbing. Many climbers tend to prefer a stretchy belt that can move with them during dynamic movements, so either the Arcade Atlas or KUHL Resistor Belt are prime choices. On the other hand, trad climbers and ice climbers might prefer something stronger, like the Patagonia Tech Web Belt.

What’s the best belt for travel?

There are several good travel belts among the models we tested. Basically, any belt that doesn’t have any metal in its construction is a safe bet. The Arcade Atlas and Hardware Belts, the KUHL Resistor, and the Bison T-Lock all have plastic buckles. This means you should be able to wear them through most TSA screenings without issue.

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