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Opinion
John reviews the NexBelt EDC Bond Gun Belt with an assortment of carry guns.
NexBelt EDC Bond Gun Belt
U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- A while back I reviewed the Slide Belt which is a ratchet style belt for AmmoLand News. I liked how the ratchet system worked to make the belt fit perfectly.
NexBelt contacted me and wanted to know if I would like to try out their version of a ratchet belt. I am always on the lookout for good gun belts to add to my daily wardrobe, and I liked the ratchet system on the Slidebelt, so I wanted to give their belt a go.
I went with the EDC Bond Gun Belt in black. I chose this belt because I wanted a belt that that didn’t scream, “OMG! he is carrying a gun!”
NexBelt offers some other flashy belt buckles that feature things like the Gadsden or says, “2nd Amendment.” I am just not that flashy of a person. Plus, I wanted a belt that I could wear with a suit, and the EDC Bond Gun Belt can easily pass as a dress belt.
NexBelt shipped it out and reached my doorstep a few days later. The belt itself comes with a new camo travel bag. That is a great little touch in NexBelt's presentation of the EDC Bond Gun Belt. I don't see the need for a travel bag for a belt myself, but I do have a friend who is a sales manager for a major tech company, and he claims that they do prevent damage to belts.
NexBelt Camo Travel Bag
The belt is a one size fits all belt (up to size 50″). The wearer cuts the belt strap down to size using the size markings on the inside of the belt and then attaches to the buckle. The belt clamps down and then the wearer screws in two set screws to hold the strap in place. The belt buckle is very securely to the strap.
NexBelt recommends people who plan on carrying a gun inside the waistband cut the belt strap at least four sizes bigger than their waist size. They also suggest that you leave a little wiggle room with the size to make sure it isn’t cut too small.
That is precisely what I did. I cut the belt strap four sizes bigger than my waist, attached the buckle to the belt, and inserted the set screws. I tried on the belt, and it was a tad too big for me. Not a problem, though. Just remove the screws and cut the strap a little more, or so I thought.
No matter how hard I tried, the screws just wouldn't come out. I made sure not to over tighten them when I screwed them in thinking that I would have to cut the strap down more, but all they would do is just turn when I tried removing them from the belt. I am not sure if I stripped the set screws or if the I stripped the threads in the holes themselves. So, I would be testing a slightly bigger belt than I would usually wear.
NexBelt Stainless Pins
One thing I do like is that NexBelt didn't use the standard pins that most companies use in the design of their belt buckles. The EDC Bond Gun Belt uses Allen head stainless steel screws. NexBelt claims that it makes the buckle more reliable, but I believe it does just that.
The EDC Bond Gun Belt does look good. The leather is high quality and has an expensive feel to it. The Slidebelt was rubber so you can say this is the fancier belt of the two belts. NexBelt made the back of the EDC Bond Black Gun Belt out of robust red nylon that held up well over the eight weeks I have used it.
The buckle has a brushed metal finish that looks better in real life than pictures can show. It is quite durable. After two months of wearing the belt, it doesn't show any signs of wearing. My biggest complaint with the Slidebelt is that its buckle scratched easily.
NexBelt Buckle Up CLoseNexBelt EDC Bond Gun Belt
The other thing that I didn't like about the NexBelt EDC Bond Gun Belt was the buckle release. The wearer must pull a little lever to release the strap. I had issues releasing the lever on the buckle at first, but over time, I was able to get used to it.
The big question in my mind was how well it would hold a firearm. I primarily used a Glock 19 with the NexBelt. I did also carry a Glock 43 on days when I couldn't carry a larger gun. To mix it up I also wore a Sig P320 on the outside of the waistband.
The NexBelt EDC Bond Gun Belt held up reasonably well. It was snug against my waist and didn't sag due to the weight of the guns. If you never wore a purpose made gun belt, then you don't know what you are missing. There is a big difference in a $70 belt designed for firearms and a $15 Walmart belt.
The belt had a high comfort level. A big problem with some gun belts is that they are very stiff. With non-gun belts, wearers could run into the exact opposite issue. The EDC Bond Gun Belt found the sweet spot in stiffness for me.
NexBelt retails their EDC Bond Gun Belts for $69.99. That isn't too bad of a price when it comes to belts that the company designed for use with firearms. Also, I can use this belt with suits or casual clothes alike, which means I don't have to buy multiple belts.
Is this the NexBelt EDC Bond Gun Belt a perfect belt? No, but what belt is perfect? The set screw issue is the biggest deal, but if I cut it to the correct size, to begin with, I wouldn't have even noticed the problem, or I could have made sure I had the right size before inserting the screws.
I also hope to see NexBelt use another release lever design in their next generation of the belt. Some people might like the release system, but I am not a huge fan.
In addition to black, NexBelt sells the EDC Bond Gun Belt carbon black and brown.
Readers can find out more information and purchase the EDC Bond Gun Belt at the NexBelt website located at www.nexbelt.com.
About John Crump
John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot-News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement, including 3%'ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.
I had the same problem with the set screws on mine. I don’t know whether the screws were too soft, or whether the screws or Allen wrench were not the same size.
NexBelt was happy to send me replacement screws & an Allen wrench–which I haven’t used, since I got the screws in enough for my needs. And I found the clamp on my buckle plenty secure with or without the screws.
It appears that NexBelt does have a quality control issue with their screws, which I hope they’ll address.
I have had a nexbelt for the last two years. I recently replaced it with a magpul “el original”. The nexbelt is a good belt, but does have its limits. I’m rough on things and I carry a a colt combat commander. The belt is great for its ability to quickly change sizes when the need arises. The buckle was the weakest point as I have purchased two through the two years of using the belt, the last iteration rectified the issues with it and that buckle held up well till the end. If you’re not loading up (like an… Read more »
Guest
DaveW
My belt BigFoot gunbelt is two layers of cowhide with a metal strip sewn in between the two layers. It’s rigid enough to carry equipment, but not so rigid that it doesn’t flex when you move. Best belt I have ever purchased.
Guest
Casca
I paid over 90.00 for a “Gun Belt” at the store owned by the Baretts. It is heavy lined belt and supposedly with Kidex lining to stiffen it. It sags terribly. There is one on the market with a steel liner….but it is hot and humid, especially this year in the southeast and normal body sweat will cause serious deteroiation in short order, to say nothing of the huge price. If they are going to sell a “Gun Belt’ then they need to have Users design it instead of buying Chinese, Taiwan, India etc and Importers, price point belts, that… Read more »
Guest
USA
Webbing.
It helps.
Guest
USA
20 bucks at Army/Navy surplus get a better one without that fancy stitching that frays but you’ll have to shop along side Jihadis because they need stuff too.
I had the same problem with the set screws on mine. I don’t know whether the screws were too soft, or whether the screws or Allen wrench were not the same size.
NexBelt was happy to send me replacement screws & an Allen wrench–which I haven’t used, since I got the screws in enough for my needs. And I found the clamp on my buckle plenty secure with or without the screws.
It appears that NexBelt does have a quality control issue with their screws, which I hope they’ll address.
(My review is within “2019 USCCA Expo” at https://drgo.us/2019-united-states-concealed-carry-association-expo/).
I have had a nexbelt for the last two years. I recently replaced it with a magpul “el original”. The nexbelt is a good belt, but does have its limits. I’m rough on things and I carry a a colt combat commander. The belt is great for its ability to quickly change sizes when the need arises. The buckle was the weakest point as I have purchased two through the two years of using the belt, the last iteration rectified the issues with it and that buckle held up well till the end. If you’re not loading up (like an… Read more »
My belt BigFoot gunbelt is two layers of cowhide with a metal strip sewn in between the two layers. It’s rigid enough to carry equipment, but not so rigid that it doesn’t flex when you move. Best belt I have ever purchased.
I paid over 90.00 for a “Gun Belt” at the store owned by the Baretts. It is heavy lined belt and supposedly with Kidex lining to stiffen it. It sags terribly. There is one on the market with a steel liner….but it is hot and humid, especially this year in the southeast and normal body sweat will cause serious deteroiation in short order, to say nothing of the huge price. If they are going to sell a “Gun Belt’ then they need to have Users design it instead of buying Chinese, Taiwan, India etc and Importers, price point belts, that… Read more »
Webbing.
It helps.
20 bucks at Army/Navy surplus get a better one without that fancy stitching that frays but you’ll have to shop along side Jihadis because they need stuff too.