Belt Sizing & Fit Guide

 

Measuring Your Belt Size or Length

The best way to find your size is to measure a belt you have been wearing. A belt's size is measured not from end to end, but from where the leather folds over the buckle to the most used hole. Please refer to our video for instructions on how to measure your belt. We are also happy to assist you in this process over the phone.

Our belts are even-sized (30, 32, etc.). However, we do take special orders for custom belt sizes at no additional charge (29, 31, etc.). As a rule of thumb, your belt size is two inches larger than your pant's waist size. For example, if you wear size 36 pants, you will probably do well with a size 38 belt.

Selecting A Belt                

The leather and style of belt you choose can go a long way in showcasing your buckle and expressing your personal style. We're happy to help assist you in finding the belt that is a perfect fit for your needs.

Belt Width

The process of choosing a belt begins with the buckle. The width of the buckle will determine the width belt you need to showcase your statement piece. Buckles come in four widths (sizes):

3/4 inches wide

1 inch wide

1 1/4 inches wide

1 1/2 inches wide

Belts are either straight or tapered. Most single piece buckles look best on a straight belt. Tapered belts allow for a smaller buckle set to work with a wider belt. For men, our most common belt configuration is a 1 1/4 inch belt tapered to 1 inch (1 1/4” x 1”) with a 1 inch buckle set.  

Most men prefer a wider belt, 1 1/4 inch or 1 1/2 inch. Both widths work fine with jeans or khakis. However, a 1 1/2 inch belt is too wide for most dress pants. Women choose belt widths for the style or look that they are going for. We take special orders for any belt width. One of Walt Doran’s sash buckles on 3 inch wide belt is stunning worn outside clothing.

We also take special orders for ranger belts, in which a narrower billet is actually sewn onto the length of the belt. Ranger belts are a good way to showcase a really small buckle set on a much wider belt. For instance, a 1 1/2 inch belt tapered to 3/4 inch looks odd, but a 1 1/2 inch ranger belt tapered to 3/4 inch showcases a 3/4 inch buckle set nicely.

Please see the following illustration for examples of straight, tapered, and ranger style belts.

 

No one knows more about the art of leather than craftsman Alex Trachter. Here, he explains all that goes into crafting a high-end belt.

TT: How did you begin working with leather?

TRACHTER: I am third generation exotic skin tanner. When I moved to El Paso from Argentina I started a small belt shop in my garage with 2 local workers. I guess it grew from there to a large factory with 24 workers.

TT: What drew you to this craft?

TRACHTER: I always had a love for exotic skins and leather products. It is in my blood.

TT: What is the process you go through in creating a belt?

TRACHTER: It is almost too long to explain. It takes really over 25 steps to make a belt

TT: About how long does it take you?

TRACHTER: This is also a little bit difficult to time also. If I tell you it takes 2-3 weeks to make custom belts it does not mean that a single belt takes 2 weeks from start to finish. We don’t start the orders the same day we get them as we have many orders ahead. What I can say is that a custom belt maker makes average 8-10 belts in a single day.

TT: What makes your work unique?

TRACHTER: The 32 years’ experience I have and our skilled artisans that have been with me for decades. We make so many belts using so many types of skins in finishes and colors, and after making belts for so many years we have acquired the expertise to make fabulous products.

No belt company in the world, I could say, has over 60,000 skins in stock , in 15 different species, many in 20-30 colors and several finishes.

We also have our own finishing plant where we can do custom colors

TT: Where do you get your materials?

TRACHTER: All over the world: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Italy , France and the USA.

TT: Where do you find inspiration?

TRACHTER: Belts are my passion and I always look at fashion trends and design belts to compliment what is hot today.

TT: What motivates you?

TRACHTER: I never stop thinking about new projects. My personality keeps me on the go all the time; making new styles, new finishes and colors on skins and finding the perfect buckle for each style.

Our customers love that we come up constantly with new ideas. Belts are my life and now my son will join our company, so he will be the fourth generation in the business.