Any recommendations for a good stiff belt like Ares Gear?

[pepsi2451]

I'm looking for a new belt. I have been wearing an Ares Gear Ranger belt for 15 years and love it but over time the outer webbing has frayed to the point it no longer stays tight and is now about to break. I tried reaching out to Ares Gear to see if I could get it repaired but I haven't been able to contact anyone.

I would order an Aegis belt from Ares Gear but it looks like Victory First took over operations of Ares Gear earlier this year. They haven't posted anything on social media in months and I saw a comment someone left on their facebook page that said they have been trying to contact them for over a month. I don't want to order from a company I can't get in contact with. I don't even know if they are still in business.

Any recommendations for a good stiff everyday CCW belt?

[Markinsac]

Nexbelt has been solid for me. It is one of the "ratchet" style belts. Sportsman's Warehouse has had some of the models in the past.

[G-forceJunkie]

Check out Blue Alpha, they make some nice stuff.

[Cheep]

I use Kore.

[L84CABO]

Check out Blue Alpha, they make some nice stuff.

This would be my first choice...or similar...over the clicky belts.

I'm currently using an Ares Gear Aegis Enhanced belt that is probably close to ten years old and still going strong. But it's got the old school metal belt buckle on it and I've been thinking about getting something with a lower profile...it is a bulky buckle. So I will likely go with Blue Alpha or something similar with a cobra buckle, as I think the setup is far more robust than the clicky type belts. YMMV.

But if you go with a Cobra buckle, make sure the female end is a step down in size from the male end to make threading through belt loops easier.

Also note that you may be able to cleanup the fraying with a little bit of FIRE! It depends how bad it is though. And if you get a new nylon belt, it's a good idea to check it every year or so and clean up any fraying with fire. If you catch it early, it can really help.

[socal m1 shooter]

Nexbelt has been solid for me. It is one of the "ratchet" style belts. Sportsman's Warehouse has had some of the models in the past.

Second this. I have a couple variants of this one which I have used for more than five years. Predictably they are doing some Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals right now. Not all their belts are suitable for carrying a pistol, only the EDC belts. Typically they have a stronger buckle/stronger belt-to-buckle connection.

The ones I use have hex-head/Allen screws which are coated with Loctite that bore into the belt material to make sure it never separates from the buckle. This design seems good to me, as I have never needed to tighten/re-set these screws. I have worn one of their belts daily, even when not carrying.

I started with traditional leather gun belts but after trying a ratcheting belt, I would never go back.

[zkubidu]

Kore has been good to me as I also use the belt when we go camping/dirt-bike riding. It's a nice compromise, and I keep 2 colors and swap out. Not too hard, but stiffer than grip6 med and much better hold for any sidecar/holster+mag configuration with claw.

[jben]

Second this. I have a couple variants of this one which I have used for more than five years. Predictably they are doing some Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals right now. Not all their belts are suitable for carrying a pistol, only the EDC belts. Typically they have a stronger buckle/stronger belt-to-buckle connection.

The ones I use have hex-head/Allen screws which are coated with Loctite that bore into the belt material to make sure it never separates from the buckle. This design seems good to me, as I have never needed to tighten/re-set these screws. I have worn one of their belts daily, even when not carrying.

I started with traditional leather gun belts but after trying a ratcheting belt, I would never go back.

Came to say almost exactly this!

[madland]

https://ciguera.com/collections/belts/products/emissary-edc-belt

This is my belt of choice. I tried the Kore early on when I started carrying. Then stumbled across this while watching an old YouTube video with Garand Thumb.
I use this belt EVERY day. Absolutely love it. I've used it with a suit. Uniform. Everything. It's kept up very well too. Very little signs of wear.

[socal m1 shooter]

OP you did not specifically ask, and since I am unfamiliar with the belt you are replacing, here's something for you and for anyone looking at this thread and wondering if they can benefit from it in some way.

I received a Groove belt (magnetic buckle) as a gift and I laughed when I went to their Web site to educate myself because they explicitly describe their product as "a belt for men with no butts." I'm one of those men.

That is a constant issue for me and for many: what works best to keep your pants in place when carrying weight on your belt (gun, whatever)?

I'll certainly try this Groove belt, but what I like best about my ratcheting Nexbelt is the adjustability on the fly, so to speak. I put it on and go about my business, and if turns out the belt should have been a wee bit tighter, no worries, I can easily adjust it. It may be just another click or two tighter, and it is just right. Pants stay where I prefer them, gun stays concealed, and so on.

Groove belts can't be adjusted on the fly. You have to remove the belt, make the adjustment, and put it back on.

I have a couple of traditional leather gun belts as well, with the holes about 1" apart. Those can be adjusted on the fly, not as discreetly as the ratcheting Nexbelt, but not in fine-tuned increments, either. In my experience, easily adjustable on-the-fly, without removing the belt, gun, etc., is much nicer than any alternative. The ratcheting belts are the ones which best deliver in that way.

YMMV, you might be an older no-butt guy in your senescence like myself, or not, but gun belts, holsters, all highly personal choices. What works for me might work for you, or maybe not.

[12GAUGE]

I like the Nextbelt with the push button release, not a fan of the kidney bean style.

[Echidin]

I tried my Ares aegis for ccw and found it to be too stiff and bulky (that’s what she said) for cc. It’s a good belt, but it’s been relegated to use during classes where an OWB holster is required. I also used one of the Kore ratchet style belts for a while. It wasn’t a bad belt, but wanted to get away from the buckle. Blue Alpha Gear belts are all I use now. They’re sturdy, comfortable and no bulky buckle to mess with.

[pepsi2451]

I feel like I should post a follow up. After about a month, three emails and two social media posts aresgear finally responded and said they would fix my belt. It took about another month after I sent it in to get it back. They replaced the outer webbing and the belt looks good. The new webbing may be a litter thinner than the original or I might just be imagining it, I guess I will see how it holds up. Hopefully I will get another 15 years out of it.

I don't like how hard it was to get in touch with someone but once I did the process to get it repaired was smooth. I understand another company recently took over operations, I don't know if that had anything to do with the response time. In the end aresgear did stand buy their guarantee and repaired it free of charge.