If you carry a gun or a pocketful of gear, then I bet you love a good belt. One of the odd things I took away from the Marine Corps was that if your pants had belt loops, you should wear a belt. I always wear a belt, and I recently got my hands on what might be my last belt, the Nexbelt.
I’ve worn all manner of belts, from leather to nylon, with varying belt styles and goals. I’ve used Magpul belts, belts with metal inserts, and traditional belts with nothing more than stiff nylon. Little did I know how much I’d been missing out on. Before the Nexbelt, I wore a simple tactical belt with a tension buckle. I fought with it, especially when I had to tuck my shirt in. It constantly became loose, and out of spite and apathy, I waited way too long to replace it.
Once I got my Nexbelt, I wondered what the hell was wrong with me. Why did I wait so dang long? Having a buckle that never slips and slides is a godsend. I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s talk about what Nexbelt gives us.
What Is Nexbelt
Nexbelt is a ratcheting belt system. The buckle interfaces with a series of ratchet points on the belt. Adjust the belt to the proper size, and it stays there. You get a satisfying click as you slide the belt through the buckle, and you get tons of adjustments to ensure the belt fits just right. These minimal adjustments allow for a proper fit without dealing with a belt that’s either loose or uncomfortably tight.
This isn’t the first ratcheting belt I’ve used. In fact, my experience with the previous belt turned me away from them. My issue was the belt buckle would slip off of the belt at the worst times and would require me to remove the belt, reattach the buckle and carry on. Nexbelt prevents this with two stainless steel set screws and a clasp. This allows for a tight fit without worrying about that tight fit causing my belt buckle to pop off.
I’m using the Nexbelt Titan 1.5-inch belt, and it is specifically designed to be a rugged EDC belt for concealed carriers, but that’s one of many options. Nexbelt makes belts for women, men, and EDC, as well as Golf belts and fancy leather dress belts. There is also an exclusive Rowland Thomas collection with the fanciest of leather materials. There are various colors and buckle designs available as well.
How does the Nexbelt work?
Each belt comes out to 55 inches, and you trim the belt to fit your waist. A sharp pair of trauma shears trimmed excess bulk off with ease. I attached the buckle to the trimmed end, and I was off to the races. The belt slides into the buckle and is locked down. A small lever at the bottom of the buckle releases the latch and makes it easy to take the belt off.
The pawl of the ratchet interacts with a polymer track inside the belt. This strap is seemingly quite tough, and I’ve grabbed, pulled, and pried and couldn’t get it to break with the buckle and pawl. Once on, it’s on and doesn’t seem to be capable of being pried apart or failing without some extreme measures.
Strapping Up With the Nexbelt
My daily carry is pretty simple. It’s a gun, typically a P365XL with a Holosun EPS in an IWB rig. I carry a knife, a spare magazine, keys, a wallet, and a tourniquet. It’s not too much gear, and the belt easily supports it. In fact, after strapping a gun on, I was somewhat shocked I dealt with lesser belts for so long.
The pants never sagged, even when sitting and standing over and over. I used to hate adjusting my belt and gun to prevent sag, and that’s not an issue now. Hell, just strapping up with the Nexbelt is much simpler. Slap it on, slide the belt through the buckle, and we are ready to rock and roll.
The belt is made from nylon with what Nexbelt calls “a super-high density microfiber material that is an advanced composite of ultra-fine polyester fibers.” It means the belt is stiff and tough. It doesn’t bend when I reholster it, and it doesn’t fall apart when faced metal holster clips. After over a month of daily use, the belt still looks new. Its harsh texture makes it easy to clean and keep looking fresh.
Beyond Basics
For fun, I grabbed my Wilder Tactical belt and belt pad and used the Nexbelt as the base belt. Meaning I connected the tactical, warfighting, load-carrying belt to the Nexbelt and connected the Nexbelt to my pants. It had no problems supporting the weight of the belt and belt pad, as well as the rifle and pistol mags that are located on the belt.
The Nexbelt supports it all without complaint. The rugged, stiff design ensures the belt and belt pad stay put and don’t sag or bend. It’s a great base belt outside of the belt buckle. The buckle is somewhat larger and, when faced with a Cobra buckle, was somewhat difficult to work around. I think Nexbelt should make a minimalist buckle for this very reason.
That’s my only complaint with the Nexbelt. The buckle is just a bit too big. Sometimes it presses into me while I drive. Honestly, it’s a very small complaint, but a valid one.
Daily Carry Approved
The Nexbelt is an awesome option for daily carry. It’s a great gun belt and can be used for a variety of roles. It works as an everyday, concealed carry belt and as a base belt. It would be great for USPSA or IDPA, too. Keep in mind that the model reviewed here is the everyday carry belt. They also make the NTAC-45, a 1.75-inch belt that is hitting duty size for carrying a full loadout.
Nexbelt has won me back over to the world of ratchet belts. I plan to get the NTAC-45, and in time it might become my competition belt. Check out Nexbelt if you want to refine your EDC belt.
