SlideBelts Men's Ratchet Belt - Custom Fit

I am a fat skinny man and trying to hold up my pants is always been a challenge. I generally have to tighten my belt to dig into my loathsome lard enough to hold them up. I liked the fabric belts but they are cheapo and tend to come loose. I am size 36 waist. My wife bought me this one and I really love it! The teeth have about a 1/4 inch granularity which means you can have pretty fine control when tightening your belt. It is so easy to tighten and loosen. If I want to chase my kids, I ratchet the belt so it digs into my fat and I lumber after them. I can then loosen for normal waddling, and loosen for sitting as needed. So far my belt is holding up just fine. It looks brand new after 6 months. I read other reviews and examined my teeth...they look new. I looked at the belt where the teeth are sewed in. I dont see any big rectangle indentation. That would be covered up mostly by the buckle anyways. Buckle looks new all around it. Gunmetal finish is holding up fine so far. A few tips: First, when you cut the belt, you can always cut more, but you cannot un-cut! Err on the side of caution. Second, make a really straight cut. Using a square is helpful. I used a miter saw to ensure 90 degrees. If you can manage the above, shove the belt all the way into the buckle and then HOLD it tightly pushing into the buckle seating while you pull the buckle teeth down to secure the belt. This will ensure the belt lines up with the buckle and is not "off kilter". I am a big fan of this belt. Reading other reviews was disheartening, but I will hope for the best.

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The two belts I ordered, one black and the other brown, arrived quickly. They are exactly what I was looking for in that they will be good with both casual and business attire. The fact that I could adjust them in smaller increments, as advertised, was realized. I soon noticed a problem. The buckles, both in gunmetal grey, were showing visible scratches and areas that the color was wearing off. I called SlideBelt directly based on a phone number on their website. The support person I spoke to told me that the veneer used to create the gunmetal buckle was prone to scratch. She then told me that the silver buckle wouldnt do this and they would be more than happy to send out two new buckles at no charge. They arrived yesterday, five days after I called, and look just fine. And Im back to being a happy camper with this purchase. The issue for me with any company is not that there might not be problems, but how they solve the problems for their customers. This is how it should be done.

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First, as other reviewers here, I am 100% pleased and satisfied with this belt. It is high quality, looks great, works great, plus very nicely packed by the seller, complete with a little "thank you" note upon opening! Now, a note on sizing. I had somewhat pessimistically ordered too large a size. I was on the verge of returning the belt for an exchange, when it dawned on me, due to the way this belt is constructed, it was easy to cut off a few inches of leather and make it the right size. The key to this is: the buckle hardware is independent of the belt, in fact, for the first use, youre expected to attach it yourself, very easy, with a hinged plate with sharp teeth that bite into and secure the leather. That edge of the leather is then hidden inside the buckle hardware, so doesnt need a nice, finished edge. I just carefully cut off a few inches of leather, being sure to keep a nice straight edge, reattached the buckle hardware, and voila! perfect sized belt. I doubt if the manufacturer recommends this... and it will surely void your return privileges [November 2012: please see comment] if you make a mess of it. But, if youre willing to trust your handiwork and find you ordered too large a size, this is an option. It worked well for me. Update: August 2014 The current Amazon listing for this belt now makes it clear that it is intended for self-sizing. In the original Amazon page, it wasnt so stated. Also, as a side note, the belt is still looking and working great after 2+ years, in particular no problems at all with the ratchet mechanism, so very pleased with the longevity at this point.

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Ive only worn the belt twenty times or so, but it is chipping on the belt clasp, creasing in the back (which really shouldnt happen because it certainly isnt worn loose), the "leather" pattern is wearing away in spots, and, perhaps most disappointing, the clasp doesnt set flush and jiggles. It does function as a belt, but one Id hide with a shirt.

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The belt strap itself is nicely done for the most part. Most PU belts lool and feel very rubbery, but this is quite close to the look and feel of leather. On the other hand, mine came with marks along the top edge of the strap that look like paint was scraped along it, and I cant get them off. The real problem, though, is the buckle itself. The rachet system works well, its very sturdy and adjustable, but the finish on the face of the buckle is pathetically fragile. Ive been wearing it to an office for two weeks, and there are already terrible scratches on the face of the buckle that make it look awful. I dont make a habit of leaning against sharp metal sufaces at my desk. Just brushing against a countertop is enough to irreparably scratch the surface. At least, the gunmetal finish. Maybe other colors are different, but this coloration looks almost like its a paint or enamel finish instead of the metal itself, and it simply cant stand up to real world wear. Overall, its a nice concept, but the execution seems cheap and sloppy.

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