Best Hiking Belt For Outdoor Adventures In 2023

Spending the duration of your hike hauling your pants up because of an ill-performing belt is no fun at all. Nor is enduring hour after hour of chafing, digging in, and general discomfort that can be caused by wearing a belt that’s better suited to a day in the office than a day on the trails.

To help you keep your hips happy and hands-free during your trail time, read on to discover the top belts out there for adventurers of all shapes and sizes.

Top Choices by Category

Budget: Propper Tactical Duty Belt, JASGOOD Military & Tactical Nylon Belt, and Hoanan Tactical Hiking Belt 2-Pack
Lightweight: Arc’teryx Conveyor Belt and Black Diamond Diamond Mine
Tactical/Military: JASGOOD Military & Tactical Nylon Belt, Klik Belts Tactical, and Propper Tactical Duty Belt

Best Hiking Belt Reviews: Our Top 8 Picks

Features To Look For In A Hiking Belt

Although hiking belts are relatively straightforward accessories, there are some features to consider before you make the purchase. Below, we’ve included the most important: 

Buckle Style

There are two parts to each hiking belt, the fabric of the band and the buckle. There are multiple buckle styles, some of which work better than others. If you are looking for specific functionality, the buckle should be your focus.

Tongue Buckles

Tongue buckles are the most common kind of closure for casual belts. 

This buckle type is attached by threading the fabric through the frame and poking the “tongue” or bar through a grommet in the fabric. Tongue buckles are easy to adjust but often lack durability owing to the inclusion of that moving—and, hence, breakable—part, the tongue. 

Hooked Buckles

Hooked buckles, as the name suggests, use a hook that attaches to set holes or webbing loops. 

These have started appearing on more and more hiking belts in recent years but, in our experience, don’t offer as secure a fastening as other styles. Having a (potentially) loose hook dangling around your midriff/groin/genitalia also feels like a risk that’s better avoided.

Clamping Buckles

Clamping buckles, or clamp closure buckles, work by threading the fabric through the clamp and then locking the latch in place over the material to provide a reliable hold.

Clamp closure buckles are excellent for hiking belts because they are both durable and secure. Because they don’t chew on the fabric with prongs or teeth, they cause less damage to the cloth each time you use them, meaning they’re also less likely to fray over time.

Flip-Closure Buckle

Flip-closure buckles are similar to clamp closures. Instead of clamping down onto the fabric, though, they use teeth to bite into the material and provide a secure hold. While these are also a good choice for hiking belts, the serrated teeth on the underside cause additional wear and tear on the canvas with repeated use.

Sliding Latch Buckles

Sliding latch buckles work similarly to a ratchet strap. They have a larger buckle on the front and allow you to “slide” the fabric through as you ratchet it tighter and tighter. While durable, this buckle style is usually a touch heavier and a fraction trickier to get on and off. 

Clip-on / Quick-release Buckles

If ease of use is your primary concern, this buckle style might just be your bag. 

Clip-on or quick-release buckles work in the same way as a seatbelt. Each end has a piece of the buckle, with one end snapping into the other. The two ends click together to create a reliable hold but are quickly undone by either pushing a button or pinching the sides of the closure, allowing it to snap open quickly.

These belts are marvels of convenience but need to be made from more durable materials to deal with the wear and tear caused by repeated pressure and release. If opting for this style, look for a model made with acetal homopolymer plastic or polycarbonate, both of which have high tensile strength. 

Materials

As with all hiking gear, long-term durability in belts requires high-quality materials. In this case, the webbing fabric and buckle materials are most consequential as regards long-term performance.

Fabric

Outdoor belts are generally made from nylon or polyester, but you can also find them made from leather or even canvas.

Leather belts provide outstanding longevity and ruggedness. However, they’re also usually far heavier than synthetic alternatives and take an age to dry when wet. Flexibility and mobility are also key concerns for most hikers, so some leathers might be just a little too stiff to allow the freedom of movement you desire. 

Synthetics like nylon and polyester make up the majority of belts in the niche of hiking pant holders. This is because they’re quick-drying, lightweight, flexible, and, for most, much more comfortable. On the downside, these belts occasionally lack longevity and can dig in at the hips if the material is too rigid or the webbing is too thin. 

Buckle

Belt buckles are typically made from either some kind of metal or plastic or sometimes even carbon fiber. 

Metal buckles made with titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum are strong and the most durable options. Steel models, however, are often a little on the heavy side and not ideal for those who don’t like feeling at all encumbered by their clothing. Plastics and carbon fiber, of course, weigh less and won’t set off the metal detectors at the airport, however, plastic is far easier to break.

Length & Weight

Weight is the most significant difference between casual or luxury belts and those meant for outdoor use. Ideally, your belt should weigh less than 10 ounces. Most outdoor adventurers agree, however, that the lighter the belt, the better—as long as it doesn’t compromise on durability and ruggedness.

Ideally, hiking belts should also have a low profile, especially if you anticipate wearing them under a mountaineering harness. Also, compact and flat buckles won’t be felt under your backpack’s hip strap and are less likely to get caught in your shirt or straps.

Belt length is another important consideration, and this essentially comes down to ensuring your pick is fully adjustable or can be cut to size. To do the latter, you simply remove the buckle, cut the fabric to the desired length, heat seal the fabric with a lighter to prevent fraying, and then replace the buckle.

Durability

The best belt for backpacking or hiking needs to be able to deal with the rough and tumble of the trail. While hard to gauge when buying online, we recommend reading user reviews from months down the line to get a handle on how any model performs in the longer term. 

Other tell-tale signs of durability include high-denier fabrics and one-piece buckles that don’t have any easily breakable components. Finally, machine-washable fabrics are also never a bad thing. Even if you don’t plan on washing your belt all too often, this capacity usually indicates the ability to deal with repeated soaking and rough treatment in the wash. 

Best Belts for Hiking or Backpacking: The Verdict

Just in case you’re still undecided, let’s have a little recap to help you out.

Our favorite hiking belt is the Arc’teryx Conveyor. The Conveyor is ultralight, comfortable, tough, and boasts a low profile that makes it less likely to snag or get in the way than most belts on our list. 

If the Conveyor’s a little too pricey for your budget, we recommend the Propper Tactical Duty, which boasts more or less the same design as the Conveyor and the Black Diamond Diamond Mine Belt but uses slightly lower-quality materials – and costs a fraction of the price.

So, how did you like our article? If we missed anything or you have any questions, let us know! And if you’d like to share this post with your friends, please do!