Missing a trick with belts?

[Oliver G]

I've finally worn out my day to day belt and figured it's time to get another one. I ordered a rolson belt from Amazon for a whole £8, turns out I misread the sizing and it was far to big for my normal belt loops. Rather than faffing about returning it I figured I'll use it for it's intended purpose as a tool belt while out and about, it fits the ETH cover nicely for my water bottle and my first aid kit along with all the necessary danglers.

So now to the actual point of the post. After looking around the internet at other bushcraft belts they're selling for about £70-£100. Is there something I'm missing that makes those belts so much more expensive or is it just someone throwing the word bushcraft on a product and an additional 0 on the price?

 

[Herman30]

What makes a belt a bushcraft belt?

 

[Broch]

I had no idea a 'Bushcraft Belt' existed! A good quality, hand made, stitched, leather belt is going to be £60 plus TBH. If it's lined (soft leather on the inside for example) it will be more than that. But, for camping or working in the woods, I do not see the point of paying over the top for something that keeps your trousers up or keeps your tools in place. OK, my tool belt is a hand stitched leather belt but I made it myself

 

[Oliver G]

What makes a belt a bushcraft belt?

The person wearing it? But yes, that's part of the question, is it just people calling the belts bushcraft belts that drives the price up or is it something else?

 

[Herman30]

This is one of Varustelekas own brand belts (just the belt, not what is hanging from the belt). Is this a bushcraft belt or a military belt or just a plain sturdy leather belt?
Only cost 40 euros.

 

[Oliver G]

Well mine certainly doesn't look that swish but it is comfy and carries all I need, I ended up making the danglers out of an old leather handbag my wife was getting rid of, (dead useful for brass fittings)

I think a lot of these expensive ones are just for people who like to do the campfire cat-walk.

 

[The puffin squire]

Be bushcraft underpants next.
Maybe as the saying goes like men a belt can't multi task

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[Mowmow]

I got a swiss army belt, its not a wide load carrying one but excellent quality, cost me all of about £7

Worn everyday for the last 7 years. Still going strong.

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[Lean'n'mean]

Gone are the days when you just had a sheath knife hanging from your trouser belt.

 

[TeeDee]

What makes a belt a bushcraft belt?

The Kerr-Ching !! Sound you get to hear when paying for it ?

 

[Toddy]

Well mine certainly doesn't look that swish but it is comfy and carries all I need, I ended up making the danglers out of an old leather handbag my wife was getting rid of, (dead useful for brass fittings)

I think a lot of these expensive ones are just for people who like to do the campfire cat-walk.

"campfire cat-walk", Brilliant

 

[Dogoak]

If you want to go down the DIY, more resonable cost route, some of the leather suppliers do 'blanks' or pre cut straps in various sizes and thicknesses, I think LePrevo used to?
Grab yourself a buckle when you order and your almost there!

 

[Broch]

To add to Dogoak's comment, you don't even have to do any sewing if you don't fancy it; just use leather rivets and/or poppers.

For my tool belt I like a quick release buckle; take all your tools off your waist in a second before you go do what you need to do

 

[henchy3rd]

Just buy a scaffolders belt for around £20.00 Or a bit more for a really decent one.
Double buckled & good leather.
There built to last.
Thats all I use.

 

[demographic]

Belts are an absolute doddle to make, just have a go. Use copper rivets and I just fire a hole every inch. The buckles with two..err...pin things to go through the belt are pretty good. Just slightly harder to do twice as many holes in the belt.
I personally can't stand the ornate ones with loads of tooling on the leather but it's a personal choice and do what you want. I much prefer em plain.
I also bought a couple of Stihl (the chainsaw brand) leather belts a while ago but the ones I've seen more recently have been listed as leather composite and I'm a bit wary of them. Think they were about a tenner or so each.

 

[Toddy]

@leon-1 did a tutorial a while back on making a Ranger Belt.
Very practical I thought, gave access to remove the danglers without having to take the belt off your trousers. Handy these days when carrying a knife can be not quite the done thing in some situations.

Edit; Sorry, I did find the thread, but the photos have gone into the ether

 

[TeeDee]

What makes a belt a bushcraft belt?

I think maybe "Bushcraft" and " Wedding " sound the same audio gold to those selling stuff or services.



Me " I'd like a large Cake please "
Them " That will be £50 "

Me " I'd like a Large Wedding Cake please "
Them " That will be £500 "

Me " I'd like to hire a photographer for 3/4 hours "
Them " That will be £150 "

Me "I'd like to hire a Wedding Photographer for 3/4 hours "
Them " That will be £600 "

 

[Toddy]

@TeeDee

I liked your post, but there's a caveat. Often bushcraft kit is really, really good quality stuff.

We know we can manage with stuff from the poundstore, but when some spend a couple of hundred quid on 'fashionable' trainers, why shouldn't folks spend that on a decent pair of boots ?
Or in my case, a 'label' handbag can easily cost £400, I'd rather have a decent rucksack

 

[TeeDee]

@TeeDee

I liked your post, but there's a caveat. Often bushcraft kit is really, really good quality stuff.

We know we can manage with stuff from the poundstore, but when some spend a couple of hundred quid on 'fashionable' trainers, why shouldn't folks spend that on a decent pair of boots ?
Or in my case, a 'label' handbag can easily cost £400, I'd rather have a decent rucksack

True.

I've only worn the wedding dress the once.

 

[TeeDee]

@TeeDee

I liked your post, but there's a caveat. Often bushcraft kit is really, really good quality stuff.

We know we can manage with stuff from the poundstore, but when some spend a couple of hundred quid on 'fashionable' trainers, why shouldn't folks spend that on a decent pair of boots ?
Or in my case, a 'label' handbag can easily cost £400, I'd rather have a decent rucksack

Sensible answer - I think its like anything - Golf - Photography - Cars - Audio Equipment , The more one gets 'into' a hobby the more one can justify large amounts of money for quality kit.

The rest of the world outside that bubble looks inwards and looks at you as you try to convince them of the various merits which they can't fathom.