Hiking belts are different from ordinary belts. Hiking belts are often easy to use, light in weight, and easy to snap in place. Some hiking belts can also be used for emergency purposes. There are many belts that are meant for the outdoors. Lots of companies are now making hiking belts and tactical belts. I am recommending a few of the ones that I feel are very good.
Best Hiking Belts – Quick Chart
Hiking Belts | Weight | Material | Buckle | Colors |
1. 5.11 TDU 1.5-Inch Belt | 9.6 oz | 100% Nylon | Plastic | Multiple |
2. Nike Men’s Tech Essential Web Belt | 4.8 oz | 100% Cotton | Rubber coated military buckle | Multiple |
3. Under Armour Men’s Webbed Belt | 7.7 oz | 100% Polyester | Metal | Multiple |
4. Columbia Men’s Military-style Web Belt | 5.8 oz | 100% Cotton | Metal | Multiple |
5. JASGOOD Nylon Canvas Breathable Military Tactical Men Waist Belt | 5.6 oz | Thicken Nylon | YKK plastic buckle | Multiple |
6. Mountain Khakis Men’s Webbing Belt | 6.4 oz | 100% Nylon Belt | Metal | Multiple |
7. Propper Tactical Duty Belt | 4.8 oz | Nylon webbing | Plastic | Multiple |
8. Fairwin Men’s Military Tactical Web Belt | 12.3 oz | 1000D nylon | YKK original plastic | Multiple |
9. Arcade Belt Mens Adventure Ranger Belts | 11.2 oz | Nylon | non-metal | Multiple |
10. CQR Tactical Belt | 3.2 oz | Nylon Webbing | Plastic polymer | Multiple |
11. Bison Designs 38mm wide Light Duty Last Chance Belt | 4.8 oz | 38mm Webbing | Aluminum | Multiple |
12. Klik Belts Tactical Belt Heavy Duty 2-Ply Web | 8 oz | 100% Nylon | Alluminum alloy | Multiple |
13. Thomas Bates Titan Strong Buckle Outdoor Nylon Canvas Belt | 3.2 oz | Nylon Blend | Polycarbonate | Multiple |
14. JUKMO Tactical Belt | 10.86 oz | Nylon | Aluminium | Black |
15. Arc’Teryx Men’s Conveyor Belt | 5.6 oz | Webbing | Metal | Multiple |
How To Choose A Hiking Belt
Types Of Belts
Formal Belts
Formal belts are very beautiful and these are often made out of leather that is somewhat shiny. These are meant for dress shirts, suits, and other formal wear. People often wear these belts for parties, churches and other special occasions.
Casual Belts
Casual belts are meant for casual wear. These are often used in conjunction with jeans and cargo pants. These are very durable and these belts can be bent and twisted. They will go back to their original shape once the bending and twisting is over.
Outdoor Belts
These are often made out of nylon or polyester. These are very lightweight, and smaller than casual belts. These are often webbed belts or belts that are made out of some type of webbing. These often do not have holes and will often use a clip on buckle or sliding latch buckle.
Choosing The Material For An Outdoor Belt
Leather
Leather is very beautiful and very durable. Leather has water repelling capabilities which makes this very good for rainy weather. Unfortunately, leather is too expensive and too heavy for hiking. Leather is very common for formal belts and not that good for hiking belts.
Canvas
There are a lot of people who love canvas like me for example. This material is very easy to clean and very durable. Most items made out of canvas are very affordable because this material does not cost much. There are a lot of people who hate that this is very hydrophilic or that this absorbs water way too much.
Polyester
Polyester is most likely one of the best materials that companies can use to create hiking belts. This material also has a low cost. This material repels water which makes it great for rainy weather. It is easy to see that polyester is very good and very durable. This material is lightweight and easy to carry as well.
Nylon
A lot of very popular hiking belts are made out of this material. I love the water repelling capabilities that this material offers. This material is very durable and works well. Most people love nylon because this is very affordable. This is very lightweight which is why a lot of people get items made from this material.
Oxford Fabric
Oxford fabric is one of the best materials. Flexibility is one of the good things that this material offers. This material works well and repels water. Oxford fabric is often loved and preferred by a lot of people because this is very easy to clean. Oxford fabrics are very durable and they look very good.
Choosing The Buckle Of The Belt
Buckles with a tongue
These belt buckles are very common with leather belts and other formal belts. These is the traditional way of locking a belt. The fabric will have holes while the tongue will stick in to one of these holes to lock it.
Buckles with a hook
No one really use this type of buckle anymore. It is more common with cowboy belts that were used in the past. These are often made out of metal. The fabric will have holes. The hook or hooks will latched on to these holes to keep the belt in place.
Buckles with a sliding latch
Buckles with a sliding latch are often made out of metal. There will be a latch the locks the belt in place. These buckles will often have teeth and the belt fabric do not have holes. These are very easy to use and very effective.
Clip On
Clip on buckles are very common for a lot of tactical belts, military belts, skater belts and hiking belts. These are very easy to use. Just snap the buckle to close it.
Choosing The Buckle Material
Metal
Metal buckles are very strong and durable. They have a good grip and they tend to outlast the fabric material before they break down. Metal buckles are very shiny, eye catching and will often have beautiful designs. The drawback is that metal is heavier than plastic.
Plastic
Plastic buckles are very lightweight. These are very common with a lot of outdoor belts, tactical belts, and other similar belts. Plastic buckles are often used if the user is going to be carrying a lot of other weight or going to be doing some strenuous activity.
Things To Consider
Weight
One of the biggest differences between a normal belt and a hiking belt is the weight. Hiking belts tend to be lightweight. The buckles tend to be made in plastic so that they have less weight. Weight is very important when it comes to the outdoors. The more weight you carry, the easier it is to get tired. The less weight you carry, the more energy you will have to have fun, enjoy and you will be able to walk more.
Material
Hiking belts are often made out of nylon or polyester. These materials allow the item to be very durable and very light in weight as well. The most common materials in most people’s hiking gear would be polyester and nylon. They provide weather protection, abrasion resistance, water resistance and so on. So if you are picking a belt, try to look for these two materials.
Length
The length of the belt is usually not that important. So if you are looking for the perfect length, it most likely does not matter. Belts these days, you can cut them. I was surprised when I got a very long belt before. I wanted to return it. It turns out that I had to take out the buckle and cut it. It really just takes around 5 minutes to create the perfect sized belt. So if you are worried about the length, make sure that the belt is adjustable or can be trimmed down.
Buckle
The buckle is mostly about style. Some like their buckle very simple, non-existent, non-attention grabbing and some like the opposite. Some like their buckles to be lightweight and some like their buckles to grip the belt fabric very tightly. There are different styles of buckles. It is really a matter of preference. Since we are talking about hiking, we all just want something very lightweight.
Durability
The durability is also very important. I noticed that the more I wash some belts, the more worn down or aged they look. Some are also not like that. Some looked new even after washing them a lot of times. This is important for me because I tend to just put my pants into the washing machine without even taking out the belt. So make sure that the belt is very durable and can handle being washed multiple times.
Best Hiking Belts
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1. 5.11 TDU 1.5-Inch Belt
Weight: 9.6 oz
Material: 100% Nylon
Buckle: Plastic
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Durable and lightweight, non-metallic, low profile plastic buckle, 1.5″ nylon webbing, easy to lock and feels comfortable on the waist, ideal for outdoor activities
Short Review: There are quite a few hiking belts that I love however this is one of my favorites. There are a lot of items that I have tried but I still find this to be one of the best. This is made by a very popular company and they specialize in a lot of tactical and outdoor activity items. I have a lot of 5.11 pants and clothes in my closet. The company creates a lot of tactical and outdoorsy type of items. The durable nylon construction made the belt very durable but also lightweight. The plastic buckle weighs less than a metallic buckle. Easy to lock and unlock.
2. Nike Men’s Tech Essential Web Belt
Weight: 4.8 oz
Material: 100% Cotton
Buckle: Rubber coated military buckle
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Tough and lightweight, reversible webbed-cotton belt, adjustable closure, coated military-inspired buckle, one size fits most people, bottle opener at back,
Short Review: This is an amazing backpacking belt that I also found over the Internet. Nike is a pretty good company that is also very popular so most of the items that they will produce will most likely be of high quality. This belt is no different. Amazing item for the outdoors that provides lots of benefits. This is a high quality item that you can expect from this company. This is extremely lightweight and great for hiking purposes. You can choose from a variety of colors which makes this very ideal if you love fashion.
3. Under Armour Men’s Webbed Belt
Weight: 7.7 oz
Material: 100% Polyester
Buckle: Metal
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Made out high quality materials that will last for a long time, 100% Polyester, nice logo on the buckle, easy to put on and take out
Short Review: This belt is pretty good. Another belt made by an amazing company with lots of positive reviews as well. I’m not a big fan of the buckle but it does not bother me at all. This is among the best items mainly because of the price tag and effectiveness. I didn’t need the bottle opener on the buckle but I guess maybe some people want that. It is not useful to me though. The belt itself is aesthetically nice or very stylish.
4. Columbia Men’s Military-style Web Belt
Weight: 5.8 oz
Material: 100% Cotton
Buckle: Metal
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Popular and amazing company, military-inspired belt, cotton webbing, durable, metal buckle and logoed tip, lots of positive customer reviews
Short Review: This webbed belt is really inexpensive and it works well also. Columbia is an amazing company when it comes to outdoor items as I have a few of their jackets and clothes as well. This item has a lot of positive customer reviews which should supply you with the info you need before obtaining one. The belt is very durable but the downside is that the buckle is a lot heavier than I thought. It is a little bit on the heavy side compared to the other items. It is also made out of cotton which tends to absorb a lot of water. I did not find that to be the case on this one but I am still not a big fan of cotton on my hiking gear.
5. JASGOOD Nylon Canvas Breathable Military Tactical Men Waist Belt
Weight: 5.6 oz
Material: Thicken Nylon
Buckle: YKK plastic buckle
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Comfortable and breathable, lightweight and wear-resisting nylon, feels more flexible, easy to dry in air, non-metallic buckle, suitable for metal allergy to wear, durable
Short Review: The high quality materials used to develop this outdoor belt made it fantastic. I really like this a lot and I am exceptionally happy that this is available online. Just by taking a look at this item, I know that you will love it as well. his is very durable and very lightweight. This is very easy to adjust or trim. I used a scissor and the stove I have at home to burn it. It looks really good and feels very durable. I could use a formal attire for this and I don’t think anyone would know the difference or that this is made for the outdoors.
Check Out My Other Reviews – hiking first aid kits – hiking belts – hiking shoes – hiking vest – hiking hat |
6. Mountain Khakis Men’s Webbing Belt
Weight: 6.4 oz
Material: 100% Nylon Belt
Buckle: Metal
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Amazing item for the outdoors, company makes high quality items, durable fabric, lightweight and ideal for hiking
Short Review: This impressive hiking belt will satisfy your needs. Versatile item that makes hiking a lot more fun and provides lots of usefulness. This has a fantastic rating and a great deal of feedback. Sturdy items such as this one will usually mean that the item will last for a long time. If you want durable items, then you should try this belt that I have listed. This is very good and very easy to use. You should think about acquiring one mainly because this is both high-quality and budget friendly.
7. Propper Tactical Duty Belt
Weight: 4.8 oz
Material: Nylon webbing
Buckle: Plastic
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Non-metal buckle, beautiful and durable, materials are very high quality, well made, heavy duty nylon webbing
Short Review: If you obtain this webbed belt, you may be astonished at how fantastic this is. This is amazing and it has received a large amount of compliments in the internet. The belt is very big or very large and you have to trim it so that it will fit perfectly for your waist. I just cut it off with a pair of scissors and used the stove in my house to burn it. The buckle is easy to latch on and can be taken out easily as well. One of the best hiking belts that I have ever tried.
8. Fairwin Men’s Military Tactical Web Belt
Weight: 12.3 oz
Material: 1000D nylon
Buckle: YKK original plastic
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Materials are very high quality, lightweight and works well, quick release, 100% nylon, meant for tactical or military type of activities
Short Review: I really like this belt and that’s why I am recommending this to you. This belt is meant for tactical purposes. Great for police, military, security and so on but I found that it works well for hiking also. This has a great deal of positive customer reviews that men and women who I recommended this to were incredibly satisfied. This is a very stylish belt that also has a quick latch mechanism. It is simple to close and simple to take out also. I’ve never heard of the company but their belt is very good so I’ll keep an eye out for some of their other products as well.
9. Arcade Belt Mens Adventure Ranger Belts
Weight: 11.2 oz
Material: Nylon
Buckle: Non-metal
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Strong nylon, thick webbing, awesome and very light, non metallic buckle, stylish
Short Review: Another amazing hiking belt that I recommend. I’ve seen a lot of This is constructed out of non-metal buckles, heavy duty nylon, and natural elastic. This is lightweight, low-profile and comfortable. This one is pretty amazing also and comes in different colors. The price is very inexpensive and the belt works well. Lightweight which makes this good for hiking and it looks very fashionable as well. Buckle is very easy to lock and unlock which is great if you need to pee while hiking in the outdoors.
10. CQR Tactical Belt
Weight: 3.2 oz
Material: Nylon Webbing
Buckle: Plastic polymer
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Designed to be lightweight, military and law enforcement performance design, rip resistant, works well and easy to put on
Short Review: This is an awesome outdoor belt that I have grown to love so much. This is a fantastic deal. I have a lot of CQR outdoor pants and I like this belt also. Very similar to the 5.11 that I recommended above. You will have a better understanding of this item if you read through the positive consumer feedback. This item works really well and I am happy that I have one. This looks very tactical or very militaristic. Not the typical hiking belt that I see online. This is very durable, works well and a solid belt with a very cheap price tag.
Check Out My Other Reviews – hiking water bottle – hiking sock liners – survival blankets – camping hatchet – army duffle bag |
11. Bison Designs 38mm wide Light Duty Last Chance Belt
Weight: 4.8 oz
Material: 38mm Webbing
Buckle: Aluminum
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Aircraft grade aluminum black buckle, 38mm width webbing can be cut with a hot knife, very durable construction
Short Review: I like this hiking belt also. The structure felt strong and durable. The buckle is a little bit weird but it works well. Easy to lock and unlock which is great for hiking. The price is a little bit higher than most but you get a good quality item that a lot of people like. A good belt that works well and great for other outdoor activities.
12. Klik Belts Tactical Belt Heavy Duty 2-Ply Web
Weight: 8 oz
Material: 100% Nylon
Buckle: Alluminum alloy
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Military grade, heavy-duty nylon belt, , multi-purpose design with lots of capabilities, quick release cobra buckle
Short Review: You will love this outdoor belt since it is very good. This has a lot of positive customer reviews so you can read them all if you want. This is very stylish and comes in a lot of colors. Very durable construction that does rip easily. Great for everyday use and for outdoor purposes as well. Mainly used for tactical and other militaristic activities but works well as a hiking belt also.
13. Thomas Bates Titan Strong Buckle Outdoor Nylon Canvas Belt
Weight: 3.2 oz
Material: Nylon Blend
Buckle: Polycarbonate
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Titan strong unbreakable buckle, lightweight design, rugged nylon blend web strap, TSA friendly non metal buckle
Short Review: Another outdoor belt that I found in the Internet. I found this when I was looking for other military and tactical types of belt. This comes with titan strong unbreakable buckle, grips and locks firmly and the TSA friendly non-metallic buckle is fully nickel free and allergy safe. Can be used for hiking and other outdoor activities as well since it is very comfortable on the waist and very easy to use. This comes in a lot of colors which makes it very stylish. A great multi-purpose belt but this belt is also a little bit expensive more expensive than the other belts that I recommended.
14. UTG Heavy Duty Web Belt
Weight: 10.86 ounces
Material: Nylon
Buckle: Aluminum
Colors: Black
Feature Summary: Very durable, snap closure, simple design that is very effective, durable and well made
Short Review: This outdoor belt may be one of the very best things that I have ever ordered. This is constructed with heavy-duty buckle, made of aluminum alloy, has very strong load-bearing capacity. The strap is made by special stretch material which is more solid than regular belt. This is very durable but it is not the most aesthetically pleasing belts that I have ever gotten off the internet. It works well and the design is also very simple. No complaints here if we are talking about functionality. A great multipurpose belt that will keep my pants up and has a simple design as well. Looks like the free hiking belts that we get from buying hiking pants sometimes.
15. Arc’Teryx Men’s Conveyor Belt
Weight: 5.6 oz
Material: Webbing
Buckle: Metal
Colors: Multiple
Feature Summary: Heavy duty, textured webbing, beautiful belt, heavy duty, textured webbing belt with contrasting color stitch, technical outdoor functionality, comfort and durability, buckle closure
Short Review: There are a great deal of things that I really like concerning this outdoor belt. The first one is that it is made by an amazing company. I have a lot of items made by Arc’Teryx. I love their jackets. This belt is one of the highest quality belts that I have ever seen. This incredible company continues to make remarkable items such as this one. I am happy that the positive customer reviews regarding this item being awesome are accurate. This is a little bit expensive but this is also very durable. The price is really the downside of this item. I can most likely buy 3-4 belts for the same price. However, if you love Arc’Teryx, then this is a great belt to have.
Good lists of belts. I got the first one and it works well.
5.11 is great for tactical gear and pants. good for hunting also.
The arcade belt looks nice. They have good designs to choose from.
Thanks for putting the weight of the belt. I need something that is very light.
I got a very good one for a discounted price. Thanks! Got it on sale.
GOOD BELTS!! I LIKE THE LIST!
I got the belt that I wanted. Thanks for the awesome list of belts!! So hard to choose but I’m happy with my choice.
I went with the Arc’teryx. Just the brand alone. It just speaks finese and quality. Nothing else matters.
I always thought that the metal buckle will give a lot of weight but I was wrong. Overall, they didn’t matter that much. Thanks for the recommendations. Columbia all the way!!!
Thanks for the useful information. I got all the info I needed to make a good choice. All the belts are nice… I wish I could half of them but I know I will only need one.
Don’t know why you put Arc’teryx as the last belt in your list. It should be the first one. It is the best belt out of all of these crappy ones.
I love your website but in reality, the top 5 belts are the only belts that are worth while. The others are not that wellknown so I didn’t pay attention to them.
I love the CQR belt. It is easy to put on and take out. Very lightweight also which made it good for hunting or hiking.
I love the belts in here. The propper belt was the winner imho.
I didn’t know Stanley made a belt for hiking so I tried it. It is very cheap though so I am not sure that it is the same company. The belt is nice. No problems over here.
I ultimately went with the nike belt. It is small and good for my height. Love it.
Thanks for the recommendations and I ultimately bought the first belt. Been using it for work and for the outdoors. Never had a problem with it.
I have been buying columbia products for 10 years now. When I saw the belt, I ultimately bought it. Best belt I have ever bought.
Been using the 5.11 belt for 3 years now. It still looks new and no signs of wear or tear. Best belt I have ever used.