The hiking belt is an essential gear to consider for hikers and trekkers who prioritize comfortable outdoor experiences. They keep hiking shorts, pants, and jeans in a secure fit. It provides stability and support by firmly securing all essential gear around the waist. Additionally, these belts are helpful to attach knives and cameras for quick and easy access on the go.
We have shortlisted and reviewed the best hiking belts based on our field testing, in-depth research, and fellow hiker’s feedback.
Best Overall Hiking Belt
1. GRIP6 Nylon Belt
This nylon belt comes from the GRIP6, one of the most trusted manufacturers when it comes to hiking belts.
GRIP6 nylon belt is the best men’s accessories you can invest in this year. It could be your military-style tactical belt, a carry belt, an everyday classy belt, or a hiking belt. It will satisfy you in aesthetics, looks, strength, and function.
This nylon belt is not just nylon by name. It has been proven to be 100 percent nylon. This fabric is highly conducive for ventilation, is damage-resistant, and offers exceptional tensile strength!
The buckle and strap system is convenient and easy, without any holes or complicated ratchet system. At the same time, when you choose to use this belt as your military tactical belt, it can pull over 2000 pounds like butter.
That said, it’s comfortable and won’t pull you down while trekking or hiking. It does not even rub against the skin if it gets stretched. However, for the price($39), it’s an expensive option considering the versatility of this belt. And if you are overweight, then this might not fit properly.
Besides, it has a two-buckle system to interchange straps and buckles. You can make four combinations if you have bought two different GRIP6 belts, which is nice to change style, but it only matters a little while you are on the trail.
Best Tactical Option
2. JUKMO Tactical Belt
JUMKO Tactical belt is another quality belt for hiking and trekking due to its excellent design, quality, and durability. This belt uses a buckle, so forget the holes and the dilemma of choice between two successive belt holes.
The heavy-duty buckle not only adds a tactical, masculine aesthetic to the belt but also adds to its longevity and durability. It has been made using aluminum alloy, shiny, beautiful, and sturdy.
If you purchase your right size, or even smaller than your standard pant size, you will still find 6 to 7 inches of strap left behind.
The nylon material used for the strap is stretchable, which helps provide a secure yet comfortable belt experience. The stretch allows you to move freely under challenging positions like bending, stretching, downhill trekking, and hikes on rugged terrains. We attach the knife to this belt, and it works well.
Every JUMKO belt comes with a gift box. You cannot wipe clean this belt, though. It needs dry cleaning. It’s also thin, lightweight, solid, and durable, so it is easy to carry while backpacking.
Best Versatile Option
3. FAIRWIN Ratchet Belts
Farwin Ratchet belt has been designed and loved as a golf belt, but the truth is, this is a very versatile belt. It goes well with jeans, hiker pants, and casuals, too. This belt uses a tight-woven, breathable fabric instead of nylon and is only a few millimeters thick. Despite this, it can pull 500 pounds without breaking.
The ratchet system is an innovation. Whether you need to loosen or tighten the belt, it’s as simple as pushing or pulling the buckle, giving you an impeccable fit every time. The automatic buckle works seamlessly, securely locking the belt in place with a satisfying click.
The buckle design also lets you wrap the loose end of the belt inwards, which adds sophistication, as there will be nothing hanging out from the side.
FAIRWIN ratchet belt is a fair value for money that brings innovation, style, and strength under the same roof. But this belt will not be suitable for tactical military or concealed carry. Also, the buckle paint fades away with time, which results in a bad look. Having said that, this belt fits well for a heavy person equally.
Best For The Budget
4. JASGOOD Nylon Military Tactical Belt
If you are looking for affordable belts for hiking and backpacking, then JASGOOD tactical belts are a great option. JASGOOD military tactical belt is 1.5 inches thick in the strap and 1.8 inches wide in the buckle. Uniquely enough, this belt uses a plastic buckle without compromising on sturdiness and durability.
Since it is a military tactical belt, it can easily be used for hiking, trekking, and mountain climbing since it has been made highly lightweight, thin, breathable, and low-maintenance. It has a canvas texture, making it aesthetic and nice to look at.
The plastic buckle is nickel-free, actually completely metal-free, so those with metal allergies should go with this. Plus, unlike the metal buckles, this plastic buckle won’t press on the stomach while you trek or hike.
It can easily pull 500 kg of weight without pulling. On top of everything, JASGOOD military tactical belts also offer great value for money.
Best of The Rest
5. BULLIANT Men Belt 2 Pack
BULLIANT is known for its strong, heavy-duty, yet beautiful, full-metal buckles, which attach and detach with a single click. The solid and sturdy nylon strap can facilitate all your military tactics and outdoor excursions, such as trekking and hiking, and can also be used as a concealed carry.
It has been built in such a way that you would not have to unbuckle, adjust, and then buckle it back again while you hike, climb, or move. Also, if you want to vary the strap length, you can remove the buckle, cut the end, and then put the buckle back on again.
Besides, it is stretchable enough. So, forget all your sizing worries! Despite being lightweight, metallic, flexible, and strong, this belt looks ever elegant and chic. There is nothing to lose with this purchase.
BULLIANT Tactical web rigger belt may not be the cheapest, but it also isn’t the most expensive. It offers a fair value for your money as well.
6. GRIP6 Canvas Belt
This canvas belt features a traditional rectangular ratchet design, with the same quick fix put on and take off design. The strap material has been tightly woven and made into a compact belt, which slides through the ratchet effortlessly.
GRIP6 canvas belts can be simply wiped clean, so you can forget about the dry cleaning costs. This belt belongs to the ultralight series, which is lightweight with only 12 grams gross weight and offers maximum strength and functionality.
The 100% nylon strap has a breaking strength of more than 2500 pounds. Besides, it is stiff and resistant to abrasion and chemicals.
You can always trust the quality, durability, and longevity of GRIP6 belts, but there are some other angles with this product as well. The cons with this one include that it is a bit expensive for a casual belt and does not offer much choice in design and color.
How to Choose a Hiking Belt
Here is what you need to consider before you go belt shopping:
Material
on, and polyester have now taken leather’s place as they are lighter and breathable.
Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester offer better strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness than leather materials and demand much less maintenance.
Nylon and polyester are highly heat- and chemicals-resistant and stay protected against abrasions and marks. So that no matter how long you use your high-quality synthetic material belt, it will not look cheap and old.
Similarly, when it comes to the buckle, a strong metal construction ensures durability, style, and a secure belt fitting. Aluminum alloy is the most popular right now for its shine and strength.
There are also plastic buckles to cut the weight and make it more suitable for the ounce counter backpackers. To be honest, some of them are great and not flimsy as many people think.
Buckle Style
A ratchet buckle takes nothing more than a click to lock away at the right spot, making it super easy and convenient to use. If you want to add a bit of style and chicness, anchor buckles do just fine. They use one hole in the strap and are detachable.
Clamp closures and pin buckles have become obsolete, as they do not usually offer the exact secure fit.
The new double-ring buckles are also a great way to replace those leather holes and use two D-rings to get a secure fit.
We prefer buckles that quickly tighten and loosen the belt, even during hiking or trekking. Opting for a quick adjusting buckle style of belt will surely boost your performance on the trail as you do not have to stop to change.
Weight and Packability
Some brands offer a longer strap for extra length and style for every standard size. This may add a bit of style to the particular brand, but it also adds extra weight. In fact, most of the time, the end of the strap hanging loose only looks shaggy and oversized.
Also, if you travel a lot, you should only prefer the standard size and length. This allows so much better packability. However, there is also a plus point if you get an extra belt strap size, as you can easily cut the unused and make it a proper fit for your size.
Some brands like to offer heavier, bulkier buckles and claim that the buckle is sturdy, strong, and durable. That is not necessarily true. A smaller buckle, made from polished aluminum alloy, makes the whole belt lighter, sturdy, and more durable, considering the quality of the material.
Size
Choose the right size for your belt. Take the exact size of your waist and hip, depending on where you will wear the belt. Because both will give different dimensions, and the belt size will vary for both.
Belts larger than your size will look unkempt and cheap and be extra heavy on your body because of the unnecessary strap left behind.
Belts smaller than your size will not provide the comfort and class that should come with wearing a classy belt. But, as I mentioned, it is always nice to have an extra strap instead of a smaller one, as you can easily cut the extra strap.
Breathability
Nylon and polyester belts offer more moisture absorption and breathability than traditional leather belts. Especially if you are hiking and trekking a lot, you need a comfortable belt with moisture resistance, sufficient flexibility, and breathability. And leather cannot provide that.
Always use nylon and polyester for that. They are easy to clean. If you have been in extreme heat with that belt, you can just put it in the sun, and all the odor, sweat, and bacteria will go away.
For stains and other marks, you can simply wipe it clean. This is how convenient it is to use nylon belts over the leather ones.
Type and Style
You need to figure out what style and type of belt you are looking for and for what purpose. You cannot wear a cowboy, canvas texture, plastic buckle hiking belt to a classy dinner.
To look chic in casuals, you will need a shiny, polished, lightweight metal buckle and a nylon strap that perfectly fits your waist and your hip.
On the flip side, for hiking, trekking, and military tactics, you will need a strong belt that can also be used as a concealed carry. So, you should look for a belt that promises to pull over 2,500 pounds of weight without breaking.
Summary
The best hiking belt keeps your pants and shorts secure while hiking and trekking. You can attach a knife and camera with these belts for quick access. We reviewed some of the best belts that are lightweight, breathable, and sturdy. GRIP6 Nylon Belt and JUKMO Tactical Belt took the top position on our list due to their excellent design and quality material.