Top Reasons to Buy the Best Handmade Leather Belts for Men

A handmade leather belt is not a luxury item. It is an investment in your wardrobe that will last for years. This article will outline some of the many benefits of owning a handmade leather belt and hopefully convince you to stop wasting money on cheap, poorly made belts from big box stores. When you're ready to get rid of your old belt, give one of our awesome full-grain leather belts and patented belt buckle designs a try.

Handmade Leather Belts for Men

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rolls of black leather for making black belt, made in USA. Our leather is similar to harness leather and english bridle leather, but more supple.

Full-grain leather makes the best belt

There is nothing quite like a handmade leather belt. Unlike mass-produced belts made from synthetic materials, handmade leather belts are built to last. The high-quality leather is soft and pliable yet durable enough to withstand years of wear. Each handmade leather belt is unique, with its own individual grain pattern and color. When you invest in a quality belt made locally with full grain leather you can be confident that you are getting a piece that will last for many years. It's so durable and sturdy that you can even use it for gun belts!

Handmade leather belt made to fit

  • There's nothing worse than buying something online based on vague sizing details, only for it to arrive on your doorstep and not be the correct size. Every day store-bought belts only come in standard sizes like small, medium, and large. There is no reason you should settle for an ill-fitting run-of-the-mill belt when you can get a custom-sized artisan belt for a similar cost.

  • measure through the belt loops with your pants worn at a traditional height or wherever you typically do. 36 pants size uses a 38 belt. If you need a large mens belt order a custom size

    We are happy to make any of our belts in a custom size, just send us your body measurements. We will tailor-make your belt to fit with room to spare so you can continue to use it if your waist size changes. A custom-sized belt will always be the perfect size for you without worrying about wasting time and money on returns or exchanges. Check out our guide on how to measure for a belt.

Leather belts are more eco-friendly than belts designed to break quickly

  • Good quality leather products will last for many years. It's the reason why leather is a traditional wedding anniversary gift and archeologists are always digging up intact leather artifacts. The less frequently you have to buy a product, the fewer raw materials you use, the less strain you put on the earth. It seems counter-intuitive for a business to encourage their customers to buy less but better, but we feel good design and craftsmanship is worth it.

  • Avoid "Genuine Leather"

    A garden variety department store belt is made with cheap plastic-y materials or low-quality leather byproducts. You can expect it to last less than two years before it begins breaking down. This looks like deforming, cracking, splitting, and tearing. The belt's failure is entirely by design. Nothing you do will ever return these inferior products to a wearable state, so you have to spend more money to buy a new belt. There are much better options available if you're after that stylish vintage belt.

  • discount leather belt that looks worn. wearing genuine leather belts is a risk. Looks great the first day, but quickly breaks down after you've worn it a few times. geniune leather is bad.

    This crappy department store belt started falling apart after less than a year of use. What a waste!
Bryan and Cristina accepting an award for their unique belts.

Buying local leather goods supports small businesses and craftsmen

Now more than ever, people want to buy goods made by local craftspeople. The environmental, ethical, and financial benefits of buying local are well documented. Purchasing a handcrafted belt from a local craftsperson is reinvesting your money in a community and supporting a small business.

Small businesses operate more sustainably by necessity - smaller budgets mean using materials in new, innovative ways to reduce waste. What matters to them is creating a small number of exceptional products for their customers rather than mass-producing a large number of cheaply made ones. What you buy doesn't have to travel as far to get to you, leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

western revolver gun belt buckle with click button lock on handmade leather belt. heavy duty hardware, thick weight leather.

Small batch and cooler styles

Another reason to buy small: small-batch artisans can afford to be more creative with their products than big chain retailers. You're more likely to discover a one-of-a-kind statement piece or that perfect distressed leather belt when you shop from a small maker like Obscure Belts. Check out our run of limited edition belt buckles if you're searching for special items, like our best sellers the Gunslinger Outlaw gun belts.

Hands demonstrating our patented belt buckle design. Unscrew a special screw from the belt's hole to adjust your size. The leather tucks behind the buckle so you don't have a floppy belt strap.

Buy products designed to last

We take great pride in the leather we use. Our belts are made with high-quality leather that will withstand years of use without cracking or tearing. We use one solid thick piece of full-grain leather tanned by a 75-year-old specialty tannery right here in the USA. They use traditional vegetable tanning techniques to make vegetable-tanned leather that is durable yet supple enough for everyday use.

Aside from great quality materials, our revolutionary belt buckle design protects your belt from wear and tear. The stress of daily use is put on a special metal sizing screw, not the belt directly. The leather strap lays flat against your body, eliminating the creasing and wear patterns that traditional belt buckles create. A better belt buckle design means your leather will look great and last longer than other belts with minimal maintenance.

Check out our other article if you're interested in learning more about the best types of leather for belts.

Handmade leather belts are an affordable investment for your wardrobe

A quality leather belt is a long-term investment that will last a lifetime if properly cared for. The price of a handmade belt is significantly less than the cost you would pay in a department store because it's made just for you. You can be confident in the quality of the product and know that it will last much longer than anything mass-produced.

All our leather belts are made by hand in our Wisconsin workshop and orders take a couple of days to make, but they are worth the wait! The individual characteristics of each real leather belt are complemented by our one-of-a-kind belt buckles. There is no wrong way to style these types of belts - pair these accessories with your favorite denim jeans or dress them up for the office.

Mens Casual Belts

Casual Leather Belts for Men and Women With so many options available,... 

Mens Casual Belts

Antique Stone Dial 7 belt buckle turns like a safe lock. Grey distressed American leather. Custom belt sizes any size waist

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Stone Fractal cool belt buckle for jeans and cyberpunk pants. Black leather belts handmade with American leather. 1-1/2 inch width.

Stone Fractal 2.0 Buckle on Leather Belt

Stone Fractal 2.0 Buckle on Leather Belt

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Buying handmade belts is worth it

When it comes down to the long-term benefits of buying a new leather belt, there are plenty of reasons why buying handmade belts is worth the price. Our belts will last longer than anything from a big box store because they have been made with high-quality materials and great workmanship. Plus, there really isn't anything better than knowing that what you buy has real value. If you're looking for a great gift idea or want something more personalized, head over to our shop to check out our selection of handcrafted leather belts at affordable prices. We have hundreds of 5-star reviews, and many customers come back for more handmade leather belts! Thanks!

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