Orion Leather Mens 1 1/2 Rustic Hot Dipped Tan Harness Leather Belt

This review is on Orion Leather Men's 1.5" Rustic Hot Dipped - while it is still new, so an update after much use will still be due. I am not an expert, just someone who is/was searching for quality, long time-use leather belt that could take some duty.In the meantime, ...This belt is exactly what I was looking for. Thick, tough, and a good looking belt. It will hold weight, a gun as if it were a feather (to the belt). I EXPECT that it will hold up over time, but only time will tell for sure.The Leather - "Full Grain" appears to capture the quality accurately. ("Genuine" is also used in the Amazon description, but is a broader term and not one associated with high quality.) The belt is stamped inside as "Full Grain"; I believe it. There are too many intricasies in leather processing to hold a true standard - name branding will have to do. But this is good stuff. It is smoothed on the surface as I want - not looking for natural bumpy/grain feel for a belt.The thickness is 5 mm most of the length (~1/5th an inch), thinning to 4.5 mm, suitably so, at the holed end for buckling up - and it appears thinned by pressure (good). That is thick!Being thick, it may seem like a wrestle to buckle initially, but after only even a day it was giving where it should, holding up where it should. Being thick and full grain, it should hold up without drooping as much as even quality thinner belts do, which also means that it will take time before it fits like a glove so to speak, but it will still be comfortable in the meantime.It is painted black on the edges as the picture shows, which can hide cheating, but in this case I believe that it is suitably for a better final product. A close look at paint/stain indicates that it penetrates into the side, and is not simply a surface coat that would reveal raw leather after use. I suspect that this belt was truly tanned/soaked all the way through as it should be.The color/surface treatment - I do not truly know what "Hot Dipped" is, but I assume this affects the final color, and together with Full Grain, it is prone to variation belt-to-belt. My first order turned out too small for my taste, but it was almost the exact color of the picture in the listing; the replacement was more on the uniform darker brown, but uniformly so along its whole length. However, I suspect that this belt will lighten and reveal its own variation light/darker inch to inch (truer to the picture), before it gets darker from long term use and goes through cycles of warm/cool, humid/dry, on/off, sweating, etc.Buckle is solid. I will be keeping it, not one to go cowboy. Snaps for switching out buckles are solid. Harnessing loop at the snaps is firmly under the snaps and with quality staples. There is not a weak point on this belt.Now, Sizing... Sizing is "standard", but that solves little for the on-line buyer. Sizes are in 2-inch increments, which means we are almost always between sizes, depending upon you, the time of day, the clothes you are wearing, etc. Then what is your True waste measurement? Don't lie, don't let your pant "size" lie to you. Measure it. Then, you order "one-size" up (i.e., 2 inches) allowing for pant and shirt addition to waste. This belt adds 6", but that includes 1.5" of tapering, so in a way, 4.5" added length (Standard 5"), so a wee bit on the shorter side theoretically compared to other belts. An alternative, of course, is try on some belts where you trust the standard sizes wearing what you want and then order the size you like here. This is a great belt.I am a true waste size of 36.25" (today), even though I wear a 34" (and 33") jean comfortably anywhere on my waste. I now have a 38" size belt of this item. The true belt length of 44" tip-to-buckle wrap-around apex including the end-width tapering. It is on the long side if I do not tuck my shirt or wear a thin shirt; it is on the just-right side with a thicker shirt -- and it will give me a break on my own thicker days. The 36" belt fit marginally well, but unforgiving for me, going to a heavier shirt. If I end up over time on the thinner side, I will just clip the end and boot polish the edge.Initial posting September 2015; I will post an update next year.

This belt is wonderful. One of the biggest hang ups I have had with buying belts lately is that they are all so flimsy. This belt has the girth I've been looking for and is well made. I'm not allergic to Nickel, however this belt has none, and the buckle can be replaced easily as the buttons are solid in construction as well. This is a little more than I was hoping to spend on a belt but with the finished product in my hands, I can see this is worth every penny spent and a real bargain compared to some alternatives. I am already thinking of ordering another one next month for back-up.The following is an edit, as I have had this belt for nearly a year and a half. A couple of months ago I noticed a few things about the belt. Keep in mind that I have literally worn this belt just about every day, summer or winter, rain or shine. The belt has started to bend in the tailbone area (very common for those who wear tight belts). However, this is a 1.5" belt which is usually the tolerance of most jeans and pants. It's just pressure over time, sort of like geology. Also, the tongue area has developed welts where I normally buckle up. I am impressed actually. This belt still has a lot of life in it. I never intended this belt to be anything other than a general purpose utility belt. Just keep in mind this isn't a miracle belt nor is it a belt one would wear to anything formal.

The media could not be loaded.    The sizing on this belt is unusual if you are coming from a standard department store belt.I think it is due to the thickness of the leather.A thicker material will lessen the circumference and on top of that, this belt is considerably less pliable (at least at first) than a cheap department store belt.Example:In multiple manufacturers, my pants waist size is 34 inches.In all previous department store type belts, I wear a 36.This belt was on the last hole on a 36 inch belt even though it is the same length as a cheaper belt.(see video)So, for (snug) 34 inch waist, I had to return the 36 inch belt and get a 38.It fits perfectly in the third hole middle hole.This was for the brown Orion Leather Men's 1 1/2 Rustic Hot Dipped Tan Harness Leather Belt.I then ordered the Orion Leather 1 1/2 Black Latigo Leather Belt  Mens 1 1/2 Plain Black Latigo Leather Belt Old Silver Buckle Made In USA Size 38 in the 38 inch size.The black one was a bit softer and more pliable than the brown one.With some pants, the black one fits on the third hole, with others, it fits on the fourth hole.

Is this a pistol belt? No. If you want a pistol belt, get a lined pistol belt like one from Aker leather.Is this a fashionable belt that will last a very long time? Yes. It is a nice-looking, well-made, and sturdy belt that will likely last for decades.My belt was the Rustic Hot Dipped. I ordered a 32. I wear a 32 in most pants, and this rides or or less in the middle hole. When I first put it on, I thought I had made a mistake-- the first hole was rather tight. I figured I would weather the storm and this would be an incentive to not gain weight. Over the next week, I found that the middle hole was most comfortable. It's been smooth sailing after that.After wearing it every single day for several months, I think I have a taste for the quality it will offer in the future. I've cleaned and conditioned it once. I might-- might-- do that again in a year.Like any other piece of leather, yes, it does take the shape of the environment into which it is forced after a while. It will bend and conform to the wearer's body. Expect that.