Uncle Mike'sOff-Duty and Concealment 2 Layer Nylon Reinforced Instructor's Belt (Medium, Black)

First, I'll state that this is my first gun belt, so keep that in mind. With that being said however, this thing is serious! The belt itself is obviously very thick and rigid, not in a bad way at all, but if you've never worn a gun belt before, it's a significant difference from even a "thick" leather belt. This belt absolutely holds the weight of a firearm much better than even the thickest basic leather belt you can buy. Second, the buckle on this belt is far more substantial than I would have thought from the image. The buckle is a relatively large, thick, steel buckle. You're definitely not getting through any airport security with this, and you're not wearing it with dress pants. It's so significant that it could definitely be used as a weapon if you needed it.As for function of the belt, so far it seems to be doing wonders for me. I have been carrying AIWB for about a month and was starting to have some back problems that if not caused by carrying with a weak belt were at least being made worse from it. This belt immediately made a huge difference on my back. Not only does it do a better job of supporting the weight of the firearm, but it also is very supportive in general just due to the thickness and rigidity of the belt. It seems to be very well made and I feel pretty confident that this thing will last a long time.If you're wavering on whether or not a gun belt will make a significant difference in carrying a firearm, it will. If you're wondering if this product is solidly built, it is. And if you're looking for a relatively inexpensive yet quality gun belt, this is a great option.

I am probation officer and am allowed to wear whatever duty belt I'd like. I attempted to wear department issued leather belts and my own leather belts. They were either too loose or too tight. Never fit properly and when unbuckled were floppy. I attempted two different 5.11 nylon belts (TDU and Instructor) and they were either not supportive enough to hold a weapon or were too thick and wouldn't fit through belt loops or my holster. I bought this one on a whim and am very pleased by it. I am 32/34 waist (depending on pants) and I purchased the medium. It fits perfectly. If you were at the upper end of the medium (36), I don't think this would fit well. The belt feels very sturdy and supports my Safariland duty holster (heavy), handcuff case, OC spray case, and double magazine pouch. The velcro is strong thus far. Only time will tell if it starts to fray and lose its grip.Considering that this belt is anywhere from 5-15 bucks cheaper than 5.11's offerings, I am very very pleased.

Not the size it stamp on the belt Ordered belt the same size as pants I wear and not even close

Before I figured out how important a good belt was I spend a lot of money on holsters without ever being satisfied. A proper load bearing belt is, in my opinion, more important than the holster. This is a good belt with the qualities required for holding a heavy holster in place. The width makes it tight but manageable for my 1.5" belt slots but it does take some work. The snug fit does help keep things in place. The polymer reinforcements sewn in between the nylon give it a lot of body and firmness; just what a belt of this type needs. Fits all by pants too: jeans, BDU's etc.The bad:The sizing is terrible on this. It really needs to come in a medium/large size or at least be accurate to product sizing descriptions. I have a true 35 inch waist and after reading other reviews on sizing problems I ordered the large size. The velcro end is so long that it interferes with my holster and I didn't want to have to start cutting and sewing. I ordered the medium, the size the fit chart says should fit my waist. With the medium the velcro is two inches away from fastening and the belt is completely unusable. The packaging makes trying them on before you buy unlikely too or I would say to find a local vendor and see what actually fits.What to do:1. Buy a different "riggers" belt. There are lots of them out there.2. Understand that the sizes run small and order large (hoping you are not a between size where neither size fits right).3. Buy it and modify it (cutting, sewing, etc).

I have exactly a 36 inch waist (actual measurement, not trusting the numbers on clothing). The medium size is correctly sized for me to wear a Glock inside the waistband (IWB). But if my waist goes to 37 inches, this will be too small for secure and comfortable IWB carry.This belt is infinitely adjustable because of the Velcro. You can run the strap through the buckle once in a "simple" fold-over manner for super easy off/on. This works for general use AND securing a firearm. Or you can run the strap over the sliding bar and through the second slot for hang-from-a-rope security.Pants stay up all the way around. There is no way the edges will sag or curl. The buckle is rock-solid steel. Stitching is straight with no visible flaws. The end of the nylon strap is heat fused to prevent fraying. The melted edge is slightly rough to the touch but this in no way affects function, appearance, or comfort.The adjustability, imperviousness to sweat/moisture, and overall construction of this belt make it a more comfortable and MUCH longer lasting alternative to a leather belt for general use and firearm carry. I usually do not tuck my shirts. So I wear this belt almost all the time. However, in spite of the black color I cannot get it to look right with a tuxedo :)

A 5 star belt would be a bit wider (.25") and a bit stiffer. The buckle is very heavy duty. The size does fit the low end of the range. I am a 33/34 and bought a medium. It just fits me. I don't see a 36 waist fitting this size. I don't know that I can fit a holster inside this belt. Good thing I bought it for OWB gear. For that purpose, it held up well. It holds an OWB holster, double mag rifle/pistol pouch and a dump pouch.I would buy this again. I would recommend the medium for 30-33, and the large for 35+.