Leather Western Belts: Things to Know Before Buying a Western Belt

Leather Western Belts Complete a Cowboy's Outfit

A Guest Post by Charles Pogue

Linda and I went into one of those boot outlet stores a while back, and we found a rack full of those big old buckles for western belts. You know the kind that if you wear, there's no way in a Montana mountain you can bend at the waist. They sure did look nice, but then I saw one thing I didn't expect to see--one of those belt buckles talked!

I’m not in the market for a talking belt buckle, but while we were at the boot outlet, I did pick up a nice Nocona western belt,and I may just go back one day in the not too distant future and buy a nice buckle for it.

As with every other article of clothing I wear, I am partial to western style in belts. I like western or country clothing. Western fits right in with my heritage, but it is more than that. Western belts, also called cowboy belts, are durable. They are usually thicker than an ordinary belt, and consequently you will find yourself wearing one for years before it wears out, if it ever does.

Things to Know Before Buying a Western Belt

There are a few things to remember when buying a western, or any other belt, for that matter. You need to buy a belt that is at least one size larger than your waist size. That’s so you can buckle it in such a fashion that the end will fit into the next belt loop instead of dangling around like a cattle rustler when paying the ultimate price for his dastardly deed.

Consider the width of the belt. There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a wide belt then discover it won’t go through the belt loops. Also, think about the design. Even if the belt is narrow enough to fit through the belt loops, but has two or more layers of heavy leather or has raised metal conchos or studs, it may be too thick to fit through.

Always keep in mind the color, so it will go with your boots. If those two things are an exact match that is best, but color coordinating will work too.
Speaking of boots, don’t buy a belt that costs more than your boots, that’d make you look kind of upside down.

Now some people say you ought to leave the fancy cowboy western belts for fashion models and celebrities. I guess those folks don’t know much about us country and ranch folk.

You gotta have a big old heavy western belt, because if you have to load an ornery old Angus bull in a trailer, you gotta have a belt tough enough to tie his feet together so he won’t get away whilst you back the pickup and trailer up to him where you can get him on board. The people with that advice just don’t know much about belts or country and ranch folk.

Do you have a favorite western belt?