Mens Leather Belts And What You Should Know Before You Buy

Trousers, jeans, chinos adrenaline rush obstacle course inflatable and even smart shorts all look better with a belt - somehow, empty belt loops just don’t look right. So, adding a smart belt completes the image? Well, not for long…
Today’s modern belts are often made of different and usually man-made layers glued together with a thin layer of leather. The technical term is bonded leather.
But what about the words "real leather" on the belt! Yes, some belts do have those words (or the leather symbol) stamped on the inside. So that thin layer might well be real leather. But what about the rest of the belt?
After a while, the other layers make their appearance. The glue that kept them together begins to fail. The belt splits into layers as body heat, tension and pressure do their work. Examine the pieces closely and you may find a thin layer of cloth or webbing, a strip of padding and maybe a vinyl top layer.
Most footwear have symbols to explain their construction – a leather upper, man-made sole etc. Without this same information on a belt, when the words "real leather" are seen on one side, the assumption is that the whole of it is leather. The manufacturers of this type of poorly labelled belt are doing nothing to set the record straight. Shame on them.
So, apart from the "passing off" of a belt as all leather, shouldn’t it be ok to wear?
Well, man-made materials should be long lasting, so how long do these belts last? A few months? A year? More? Well that depends on the use they get. Anecdotal evidence varies and it is often not good. Paying more for a bonded leather belt with a designer label doesn't necessarily improve matters either. The same thing can happen. The belt is worn for a while then it starts to break apart.
Where do they break? At the pressure points. Where the prong fits through the strap. There’s a lot of tension on that little metal stick and the belt area around it. The other main failure point is round the back where the belt pulls against the belt loops when the wearer sits down.
After a while, some of these bonded belts are no longer a smart accessory as they’ve begun to disintegrate. Maybe not all bonded leather belts and maybe not all the time, but enough for those who know to be a bit more careful when they are buying their next belt.
So what’s a better choice?
Choose solid leather belts. Rather than split, it will give. Being solid leather it can’t break into layers, it stays in one piece. (Unless you let the dog chew on it). After years of wear, when it gets a bit tired, it can be relegated to second best and worn during diy jobs or when gardening or working on the car, rather than thrown in the bin. These long lasting belts are often handmade in tourist and craft areas and maybe expertly tooled with patterns or images (native American Indian craftwork, for example). An overly busy pattern might not be right for a suit or for workwear, so a plain finish is probably more the thing to go for.
So how do you tell what a belt is made of?
At the buckle end of the belt, look for the cut edge. Examine the cross-section and it will be obvious. Multiple layers of different shades and thicknesses tell you what is in the belt. If the cut edge has been sealed then again it is probably synthetic.
Ultimately of course it is a matter of personal choice. Buy mens leather belts made of solid leather or buy bonded leather belts. Either will look great in the shop. Just take care to see what the belt is made of and think of the use the belt is going to be put to (infrequent or every day, formal or informal). Then make that informed decision.