Classic Western Belt C53700

Full grain leather is the reason this belt lasts. It takes a season of work jeans, dust and sweat, and it looks better for it. The strap softens a little where it bends, and that broken-in look is the one most western wardrobes are after. This is a belt you buckle on in the morning and stop thinking about.

The two-tone strap gives it a classic western look without shouting. Polished nickel hardware sits well against work shirts and button-downs alike, so one belt covers the feed store, the sale barn and Sunday dinner. At 1 3/8 inches wide it holds up a pair of heavy denim and still sits right with a dress shirt.

Highlights

• Full grain leather that softens with wear
• Two-tone strap for a classic western look
• Polished nickel hardware for work and dress shirts
• 1 3/8-inch width that suits everyday denim
• Made in the USA with global parts

Why full grain leather is worth the money

A belt is one of the few things you wear every day, so it is worth choosing for wear. Full grain leather is the top layer of the hide, left with its natural surface. It is tougher than split leather, it takes conditioning well and it ages into something you would miss. Bonded and split leathers tend to crack at the holes and peel at the edges sooner, which is why a full grain belt usually outlasts them.

This belt is for the everyday jobs. It works at a branding, a fence line or a cattle pen, it goes to the rodeo grandstand, and it dresses up with dark jeans and a pressed shirt for church or supper out. The two-tone look makes it easy to match with the boots you already own, and the nickel hardware keeps it from looking too dressed up for work.

It suits the rider who wants one belt for everything, and the working hand who wants a belt that doesn't go stiff and crack after a summer in the sun. It is also an easy gift, because a belt that outlasts the cheap ones is one people remember.

At a glance

How to wear it and fit it

Start with your jean size. Western belts are usually sized to the middle hole, and a good rule is your pant waist plus about two inches. Measure your favorite belt from the fold of the leather to the middle hole and compare. Thread the strap through every loop, buckle it at the hole that leaves a little room to move, and check the fit again after a week, since leather settles as it breaks in.

Wear it at the waist where your pants sit, with the buckle centered over the fly and the strap lying flat. On hot days keep it out of a truck cab in direct sun, because heat dries leather out faster than sweat does.

Good to know

• Pair it with jeans and a pearl snap for the barn, or dress trousers and a button-down when you need to look sharp.
• The two-tone strap works with most western boots, so you can wear it with the pair you already own.
• Wipe off dust and sweat with a damp cloth, then let the leather air dry away from direct heat so it doesn't stiffen.
• Condition the leather once or twice a season to keep the strap supple and the edges from drying out.
• Hang the belt or roll it loosely when it's not on, rather than folding it tight, so the leather keeps its shape.
• Replace the belt when the strap cracks along the holes or the keeper stops holding.
• Fit: measure a belt that fits you now from the fold at the buckle to the hole you use most, and choose that number.

About Justin

Justin's USA-made boots are crafted by hand at the company's El Paso, Texas factory, and this belt is made in the USA with global parts.

One good belt covers workdays, rodeos and Sunday dinner, so get the next one before the old one gives out.