The Finest Males’s Belts of 2024

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 of the Rest

Men’s Belts Comparison Chart

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 bomb-proof. 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.

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 30-mm) 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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.