I'm a slim female and I'm new to concealed carry, trying to find the right belt.

I've tried the Lightning Tactical belt 1 1/4" from Crosstac and SOE EDC 1 1/2" belt.

The Crosstac belt is great because it's thin and soft, but it doesn't provide much support because it's too thin and soft. If it had some kind of reinforcement in there that would be better perhaps. It sure looks pretty. Fashion and comfort win, function fail.

The SOE EDC belt is great for support and stiffness but it's SO thick the belt prints through every shirt I have, more then the holster and gun even. It's also very 'tactical' looking and uncomfortable. Function win, Fashion and comfort fail.

I've considered going for a leather belt like the one offered from Crossbreed, or this one from Well Armed Woman's site, but I'm not sure if the lack of adjust-ability might be an issue (an advantage of the tactical belts!).

Can anyone recommend some good belt options for a woman?

Cornored Cat

Several YouTube videos out there.

You are probably going to have to dress around then gun some.

I prefer thick leather belts but do like the Ares Ranger belt too.


<--- Not female

I wear a Wilderness Instructor. A 34 for IWB and a 32 for OWB, I'm a size 4 but I wear them low on the hips.

Eta: for a dressier look, I wear any old belt. I carry in a belly band so I don't absolutely need the support of a gun belt if it isn't practical. I do prefer it though, and find that my WI belt doesn't show under untucked dress shirts.

Perhaps a useful concept to consider in fitting the female form:

If the hips are | | then a guys holster high rise wise will work.

If the hips are / \ then a lower rise holster will fit on the slope with out chewing up ribs and without levering the belt outwards.  The lower rise actually helps hold both butt and barrel tighter with less belt tension.  The belt pressure is in the middle of the assembly.

As a practical matter, a Shield can be hidden.  A Glock 19/23, not gonna happen without a jacket.  The armed females of which I know with a Glock 23 wore suits or pursed it.  Sorry.  In that range, gotta try it.

Ares Aegis

Theory about female shape and what should work doesn't actually work out when you try it, IME.

As for Shields, I sold mine because I couldn't conceal it in normal clothing. But I still do carry my 19 with just a baggy T shirt.

Women's bodies are all so different, you have to actually just try stuff out on them.

Having worked day in day out with a number of women, I stick with my basic starting points:

| | use high ride

/ \ use low ride

( ) no hope

Shield is hideable if you want a gun.

Glock 19 size not really hideable on normally proportioned female person and ends up purse gun.

OP made no note of gun size so its a guess.  And I note only asked about a belt.  They do make women's belts cut slightly off straight.

https://www.daltechforce.com/womens-ladies-gun-belt

http://thewellarmedwoman.com/holsters

http://thewellarmedwoman.com/concealed-carry-holsters-for-women

For the truly CCW dedicated to hiding a small pistol:  http://www.flashbangholster.com/

I'lll stick by my assertion that each individual woman has to try stuff on her person.

Yes, try stuff, its obvious.

But you gotta have some sort of guide line just for a place to start.

You got any useful suggestions?

Except your guideline isn't useful.

See my first post, 3rd reply in this thread.

Any of the good belt makers should be able to make you one sized just for you - both in height (so it will still fit through your belt loops) and thickness (for stiffness).  If you need more stiffness, some will sew a layer of kydex between the two layers of leather.

I'm partial to Daltech Force. They make excellent quality belts and have great customer service.
My wife ordered a belt from them for me and didn't gift it to me until 30+ days later, after their return policy period. They understood and exchanged it for the appropriate size without question.

Daltech's belts have a lot of adjustability in them. They have a lot of options, sizes, buckle options, etc. so I have no doubt you can find something there.

Depending on what firearm, what holster, and in what location you plan to carry in.. your belt options will change. If you carry a smaller gun (Shield, Glock 42/43, etc.) in a minimalist holster (single clip, appendix, etc.) you can probably get away with a smaller belt, like the 1.25" you mentioned. If you are using a more "substantial" holster and/or a bigger gun I would definitely lean more towards 1.5"+.

Good luck in your search. Good on you for realizing that a quality gun belt is as important as the gun and holster that you choose.

Stay safe.