BTP review: Liger Gun Belt

[Boston]

At SHOT Show 2009, Tim Tang kindly gave me a 1.5" Liger belt to T&E.
After wearing it generally for a couple of years, I can recommend it highly for
inside-waistband (IWB) carry.  It is stylish, rugged, comfortable, and doesn't
scream "Armed!" as do most tactical belts.  Available in several colors, and
1.25" and 1.5" widths, there is a Liger belt to accommodate any taste.  The
Ligerthane™ belt material enjoys an ideal balance of stiffness and flexibility. 
It won't rot or fray, either. 

It is strong enough to carry whatever you hang on it, yet not rawhide-thick.
Mine still looks new, with no stretching, after wearing a multi-tool, taclight, and mag pouch.
It's stylish enough to wear with slacks (no more IWB with a thin dress belt!), yet remains a gun belt.

The buckle is very nicely machined from a solid billet of T6-6061 aircraft aluminum,
including the hook.  At the airport, it has never set off the magnetometer (and I
walk through without any other body or pocket metal). 

My only suggestion would be to imprint the grain also on the belt's inside,
to eliminate easy slipping (most poignant when wearing outside-the-belt holsters).
Tim Tang commented about my suggestion:

Having a smooth inner face actually provides more surface area contact and therefore traction.  So going to a leatherette embossed surface will not provide increased grip.

However, the Liger does not slip with IWB rigs when tightly cinched. 
(For on OWB belt duty carry, I still prefer the Wilderness belt.)

Retailing for $68.99, the Liger Gun Belt is a great CCW value for many years of fine service.
Quality is excellent, and I don't wear leather gun belts any more! 

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=257&idcategory=16#details

Good shooting,
Boston

[Stratispho]

Boston, would you recommend this belt at $69 over a leather belt from somewhere like http://www.thebeltman.net/quick.htm which start at $79?

With the single hook point of attachment, do you find that the belt V's in the front or is there enough extra material to go back up into a loop that it stabilizes that?

Last question (for now), have you noticed that the holes for the hook have stretched out at all in the past year?

[Herk]

I had one of these for a while and liked it.  Last year I went and lost about 3" off of my waist size and so I couldn't wear it anymore.

On the website that I ordered from they suggested adding an inch or two to your waist size for IWB carry but I found this to be excessive.  When I ordered my Liger belt I had a 36" waist and I ordered a 38" Liger belt as per the website's suggestion.  When I got it I had to make an extra hole in the belt to even wear it snugly with an IWB holster.  I suspect that I would have done just fine with a 36" belt even taking the IWB holster into account.

Other than the sizing issue I was very satisfied with mine.  The belt does look rather "dressy" and goes well with a suit.  I very seldom wear a suit but I liked the classy, non-tactical look of the Liger belt.  Extremely durable and comfortable.  I'd buy one again.

[Boston]

I haven't tried that leather belt, so I can't comment.

Boston

[Stratispho]

Boston, Can you comment on the Liger vs. the Wilderness for IWB carry?


Herk, most places want the physical measurement, not the pant size. I made that mistake a few years ago and ordered the wrong belt and it showed up about 4" short. Doh. I wear a 36" pants but I needed to order like a 41" belt or something like that to fit with my holster and gun in place.

[Boston]

Stratispho, I revised my posts and yours to clear up the IWB confusion.
Thanks for the clarification.

The Wilderness belt works fine for IWB, but its buckle screams "gun belt!" to those in the know.
Being nylon, it also absorbs and discolors more than the Ligerthane™ belt material, IMO.
I like the Liger better for IWB, especially if true concealment is important. 

With the single hook point of attachment, do you find that the belt V's in the front or is there enough extra material to go back up into a loop that it stabilizes that?

I haven't seen the belt V'ing in the front. 

Last question (for now), have you noticed that the holes for the hook have stretched out at all in the past year?

Only very slightly, and much less than leather would have stretched.

Boston

[Old Ironsights]

I've had a 1.25" Mitch Rosen for decades.  All brass hardware (no metal detector issues) .25" leather and has carried IWB everything from an SP101 to a G19 with no sagging.  You'd have to REALLY know what you were looking at to know it is a "gun belt".

But the Liger does look interesting.

[LukeFoxtrot]

I like my Liger Belt quite a bit.  It is the best belt I have every had.

I use two other pieces of Maxpedition gear everyday.  The Keeper, and the Maxpeition velcro wallet ( that I have tethered to my Liger belt with double wrapped Paracord).

I had a wilderness belt thing for a while, but really prefer to forget about it.

[Rich]

Well I must say it does look intriguing, I have used Filson
Belts for years, uber High quality Bridle tanned thick leather
and 100% brass buckle... very good looking belt and 1/2 the price
of the liger.... I would like to see it in person at the Jam
however, I could possibly be convinced, maybe.
I did ditch the 1911 for a Glock...soo...

OTH, I still use a horse for cattle and I like real leather.

[LisaIA]

Stratispho, my husband has IWB from the Beltman and he is very happy with it.  He has also lost a lot of weight lately (nearly 70 pounds) but he plans to send the belt in and get it shortened.