Bison Designs  Stealth Belt

I was looking for lightweight durable belt for hiking, and this Bison product was the best choice among the items available at my local REI store. The height of 1-1/4" is just right for the belt loops of my hiking pants (1-1/2" wouldn't fit) and I selected the metal buckle instead of plastic to avoid failure in the field. I'm not crazy about the pattern, but it's not a fashion show out there (at least for me). I had a $20 REI coupon to spend, and that was the list price for this belt. So far I've worn it for three short day hikes. When pulling the belt through the buckle there is noticeable friction, which for me is a good thing because the position is held in place while threading it through the 2nd part of the buckle. I knocked off one star because the square edge makes it a little bit (not very) difficult in getting it started. This feature could be improved by tapering that edge, at least slightly. The corner (as seen in the pic) now has a loose thread, which is easily fixed with a moment of flame.

Buckle holds well, doesn't slip throughout use. Easy to adjust. Light, but it's still wide enough that it doesn't cut into your gut/waist. Some complain that the square cut end is difficult to thread through belt loops, I needed to trim the extra length off anyway (31" waist), so when I did, I cut a "tapered" end, and now it threads fine. You could easily do this without shortening much of the total length. You will need to burn/melt the end, otherwise it will fray.

I had an earlier, wider version of this belt that lasted me many, many years. When it finally wore out, I happily bought this one. But the new one wore out in less than a year!

15 years and counting using this belt almost every day. Almost like new. Buy it

I love the simplicity of the nylon and buckle. Buckle is easy to lock down and tighten to various lengths quickly. I would recommend buying a size up if you are unsure of your waist size as you can cut the nylon and then burn it to fit. Have not attempted carrying anything on the belt such as a knife, bear spray, holster. The belt does have a narrow width so this may limit its carry weight but it does make the belt feel as if its not there.

Very stiff, doesn't hold, constantly retightening, no good

Perfect belt for what I was looking for. Good design, small buckle, reasonable price.

This Stealth belt is similar to other Bison belts i own except the buckle is slightly smaller. My only complaint is the smaller buckle makes it harder for me to get it tight above my hips. I'm not overweight but have a small butt so my pants end up slipping down more than I like! I'm keeping it regardless of this because as the belt brakes in, the buckle might work better.

I like the overall look of the belt. Irish mist has a nice subtle coloring. The band material is very sturdy but pretty stiff, hopefully it will soften up with wear. The stiffness of the band combined with the compact design of the buckle does lead to a pretty obvious bump if your shirt isn’t tucked in.

This belt looks great, and it works great. The quality of the fabric and buckle is of high quality. It`s light weight making it feel as if you're not wearing a belt. Price point is also a reason to purchase this belt. Happy Trails!