Where's the leather? (Page 2): Well, that's no good. I have leather belts that have lasted for decades. I also have some faux leather belts that have held up (no pun intended) almost...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Well, that's no good. I have leather belts that have lasted for decades. I also have some faux leather belts that have held up (no pun intended) almost as well. Do you send them away to be serviced every year?

Labeling a non-leather as leather is a dirty trick - illegal, actually. Unless the death of an animal was involved, someone should go to jail.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

kenArchi wrote:

These 3 belts are supposed to be made of leather. What are they making today?
My last belt lasted me over 30 years.
Pure solid leather. No skin like you see in these belts.

I suspect your belts are Naugahyde and not real leather!?

bwa

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Search for gun belts or custom gun belts. The one I just replaced was 20 years old and is still good for holding pants but not stiff enough for my pistols. My current belt is an off the shelf Aker with a stiffener and was about $60.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Double post sorry.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

StanMac wrote:

I’ve often wondered why leather products are so expensive. Americans love beef. And all the cows that are slaughtered to satisfy that craving have a hide that gets sold to leather producers. How many millions of cows are processed each year? Seems leather should be less costly.

Stan

The vast majority goes to shoe companies in the US or some other country. And the tanning of the hide to produce leather is a step many don't bother with (not to mention you DO NOT want to live downwind of a tannery) and a lot goes to the pet treat/chew industry. A lot of feet to need shoes, a lot of doggies that love "raw hide" chews. Leather jackets, leather wallets, hand bags, furniture etc. etc.
Plus the artificial stuff is easier to work with and cheaper to use to make belts.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

kenArchi wrote:

These 3 belts are supposed to be made of leather. What are they making today?
My last belt lasted me over 30 years.
Pure solid leather. No skin like you see in these belts.

That looks like cheap bonded leather. Go to Bullhidebelts.com to get the real leather.

rwoodvira

Here's another company that is really quite good - Amish craftsmen:
https://www.yoderleather.com

peekaboo

Probably on sum disrepectful childs behind

drucker Loc: Oregon

kenArchi wrote:

These 3 belts are supposed to be made of leather. What are they making today?
My last belt lasted me over 30 years.
Pure solid leather. No skin like you see in these belts.

That's not "skin" you are seeing, that's plastic or other coating that has been laminated onto the blank material that may or may not be actual leather. The center one certainly looks like some kind of fiber.

Real leather is the whole skin and the top layer will show "grain" or pores where the hair originally grew. But careful, the imitators are very good at adding a "grain" effect to the fake surface. It looks good to start with but doesn't withstand the stretching and twisting that a belt gets. "Full Grain" leather is usually used to describe "real" leather but Top Grain can also describe leather with the back skived to make a thinner leather. Sometimes leather is even split with the "flesh" side portion getting a new imitation top surface. The older the cow/bull, the thicker the leather, and good belting and saddle leather isn't cheap, especially the longer lengths!

I started working with leather about 65 years ago and have a belt from my early high school days that is still in great condition. The only problem is it didn't grow up (and "out") with me!

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

pendennis wrote:

In a lot of the local gun shops around here, they carry high-quality belts made by the Amish. They're solid leather 2" belts with roller buckles and are cut accurately to size. I have a couple that are over ten years old, and they just keep on goin'.

Hi pendennis, thanks for the lead. Over the years, I've only gotten the big box store belts, and they peal their outside thin skin over time...as the OP's pictures show. So I went to https://amishmadebelts.com/ and ordered my most expensive belt ever at $57.99. It just today arrived, and it is the best belt I've ever gotten...solid leather (not thin skinned), 1/4" thick, and sized right based on their sizing methodology. I expect it to last many years...money well spent.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

bobbyjohn wrote:

Hi pendennis, thanks for the lead. Over the years, I've only gotten the big box store belts, and they peal their outside thin skin over time...as the OP's pictures show. So I went to https://amishmadebelts.com/ and ordered my most expensive belt ever at $57.99. It just today arrived, and it is the best belt I've ever gotten...solid leather (not thin skinned), 1/4" thick, and sized right based on their sizing methodology. I expect it to last many years...money well spent.

Uniform stores also carry really good belts, mostly in basket weave. The 3-4" double thick "Sam Brown" equipment belts that go over the pants belts are great for carrying lenses etc. a few companies make lens pouches hat fit those belts. When the gear gets heavy add shoulder straps to help distribute the weight. When weather is hot it is cooler than a photographers vest.