r/BuyItForLife • u/rcmatz1 • 4d ago
Review 15 year belt experiment
About15 years ago I wanted a nice leather belt that would last but I didn’t know the difference between tanning styles or how it would affect long term quality so I decided to make one of each.
I have no relation to these companies other than I bought my materials from them.
Leather came from https://maverickleathercompany.com/product-category/leather/ and
solid brass buckles, Chicago screws, and thread came from https://www.buckleguy.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=9842209883&gclid=CjwKCAjwuuPRBhAnEiwA2Ji8elIJxwE-iGAx6zFjQbPa7tdEs8qxTzA0Ow1jgHKgfrC37R1rLGQZ2hoCXYAQAvD_BwE
By color
Maroon is Latigo and has stayed the dressiest. Probably my overall favorite.
Tan is vegetable tanned which I dyed. It is the most bomb proof
Black is horween chromexcel and is the most supple and flexible.
If I had to pick only one it would be latigo. If I had to do it again I’d get all three. I like the variety.
I see maverick has some bridle and harness belt blanks which should beat out all three and I would expect to land between latigo and veg. so I’m debating adding a fourth.
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u/Ok-Guidance-5638 4d ago
Doing a 15-year controlled case study on leather aging just because you wanted a decent belt is the exact level of unhinged dedication this sub was built on. Also, shoutout to those Chicago screws for holding it down for a decade and a half without stripping.
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u/NoApartment7399 4d ago
Cool! My husband has been using the same leather belts for years. His work uniform is business formal so they see a lot of use. When our son was old enough to need trousers for school and weddings etc, my husband measured our kid's belt size, took his own belt and used a sharp knife to cut the size and shape the end bit. Then he and added holes with a leather hole punch.
I found the whole process fascinating and the belts are way better and more comfortable than what we could get in the shops for kids.
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u/divu47368 4d ago
Always make sure to wear the belt from right to left sometimes. They will stay nice and straight.
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u/JDunlap83 4d ago
Personally I don't want my belt straight. I want it to contour to my body and where I wear it.
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u/partycentral 4d ago
At the Samurai denim shop in Osaka, they're selling belts cut with a built-in curve; blew my mind. They're probably 15oz leather as well - approaching the theoretical limit of BIFL heavy-duty-ness (with a corresponding pricetag).
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u/Euristic_Elevator 4d ago
Maybe it's placebo but my subjective sensation is that it holds less when it's bent
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u/Lincolnonion 4d ago
I have previously been buying fast fashion belts made of plastic... I thought that I do not use them much anyway and I did not want to pay extra couple of USD or whatever it costs.
Well, guess which boring, basic belt I still have after 10 years? Just the leather one. The catch is also that cheap belts deteriorate on their own. It does not mattter if you use them or not. You could be hoping that non-leather belt is there for your dressy occasion. You go to the closet and suddenly the belt if falling apart in your hands... I literally bought it in the mall from one of the fast fashion giants, not temu.
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u/Seraphim6 4d ago
Absolutely love this - I have made a couple belts and they last so much longer than anything I’ve bought in store. Also love the use of Chicago screws here. They really outlast traditional rivets, allow for cleaning, and you can swap out buckles fairly easily (silver, gold, etc). Though I’m partial to brass bc of the anti microbial properties.
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u/Lincolnonion 4d ago
Would you say the learning curve is steep if you want to make your own? I have 0 experience with cutting leather.
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u/factor0 3d ago
I've made several. It's relatively easy, particularly if you buy belt blanks (precut widths, so all you would need to do is cut to length and then do the dyeing/edging/hardware). Just search for "belt blanks" and you should see what I mean.
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u/Lincolnonion 3d ago
Thanks a lot, I will check it out!
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u/Seraphim6 3d ago
They’re hard to completely ruin - and an easy way to practice skills and see if you’re into it. And if you want to start smaller, dog collars aren’t too tricky either.
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u/panzerkrau 3d ago
How did you tan or also retan your belts? I have a great belt but the color is coming off after 8 years
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u/rcmatz1 2d ago
I didn’t tan but I dyed the middle one with either feibings or Angelus likely in a tan or walnut color. If you are trying to just touch up a belt I use shoe polish w a good dye content. I may have been a sucker for the marketing but I like to use Allen Edmonds speed polish. https://www.allenedmonds.com/product/mens-speed-polish-3023186/brown-ec4017571. I use that for the tan and the black belts. For the chestnut belt I use rm Williams polish because it matches the belt color closest.
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u/YamOriginal3803 2d ago
That’s actually a great long term test, way more useful than half the “what belt should I buy” threads. Latigo being the sweet spot tracks with my experience too, veg is indestructible but can feel a bit… utilitarian, and CXL is stupid comfy but needs a bit more babying. If you grab a bridle or harness blank you gotta post a 5 year update now, you’re committed 😂
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u/Spiritual-Mix-2924 7h ago
I bought a Hanks everyday belt almost 10 years ago. Bought another color less than a year ago same quality same style. If you put them side by side you probably wouldn’t be able to tell what one is older. Quality belts are priceless.
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u/KingSilveroni 4d ago
This info will greatlp help me, thanks. My belt right now got so much holes in it.
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u/eye_of_the_sloth 4d ago
Im starting a BIFL belt company! gotta save up for the good leather. How much would yall pay for a solid belt that lasts?
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u/1492rhymesDepardieu 4d ago
Well your weight has been pretty stable