KORE vs HANKS: Gun Belt Showdown
May the best belt win.
Quality gun belts was such a highly sought after google trend in 2023, that it lead to more guys grabbing new belts for an upgraded look, feel, and ultimate EDC overhaul. Enter two brands who took over the gun belt game in 2023- aiming to keep guys locked and loaded: Kore Essentials and Hanks Belts.
Our crew over the years has tested both brands. With so many people asking us which brand we would choose over the other, we thought we’d do the ultimate Gun Belt Showdown. Is it us, or when we say Gun Belt Showdown, we think of old school wild west shootouts? Just us? Ok…we digress. Our crew put each brand side by side to see what belt brand took home the best belt for your buck trophy this year.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Since both brands offer a wide selection of belts (and to some degree other quality goods) we decided it best to highlight a few of the most popular item features on each site- broken down by brand:
Kore Essentials
Kore offers a wide range of EDC and Gun Belts on their website along with other items including ballistic sunglasses, slim wallets, watches, backpacks and other accessories. In fact, Kore is not only an online shop, they also are stocked in hundreds of gun stores in the US and worldwide. Each item is constructed with a variety of fabric specs, come in standard sizes from Small to XXL.
BRAND SPECS:
EDC and Gun Belts
Ballistic Sunglasses
Slim Wallets
Watches (soon)
Backpacks (soon)
other upcoming EDC accessories
Kore features a wide range of products to fit a vast majority of guys out there. With the ever evolving lineup of leather and nylon belts, as well as their accessories and EDC game offerings, Kore really does feature quite the lineup of essentials for any man out there.
PRICE POINT: $59.95 Gun Belt
-VS-
Hanks Belts is known for some of the thickest, stiffest belts on the planet as well as a nice lineup of wallets. The Hanks brand does not ship out of the USA and is only sold online direct to customers. They also offer a 100 year warranty on the belt (not going to lie this would be quite the return if you actually cashed that in). Overall their brand is synonymous with gun belts and EDC belts.
BRAND SPECS:
Leather Gun Belts and EDC Belts
Key fobs and other Accessories
Apple Watch Bands
Wallets
Leather Folio’s
Dog Accessories
If its made from or consists of leather, chances are Hanks Belts can or does make it. From their thick AF belts to their wallets and other leather accessories, Hanks offers a lot of you’re into leather.
PRICE POINT: $99 Gun Belt
TESTING IT OUT
Now the fun part- Testing out the brands’ lineup of gun belts. Our crew grabbed hold of the following items from each brand:
Kore Essentials
Power-Core Reinforced Leather Gun Belt
Hanks Belts
Steel Core Reinforced Leather Gun Belt
We tested each belt like any normal human would- out to meetings, on the gun-range, casual outings, and while out on the town. We then rated each on the following:
The Fit
Comfort
Durability
…as a added element: the Grab Factor (which one we go for when choosing one when sitting side by side).
THE OUTCOME
The Fit
The belts both offer a similar style fit in the sense that each belt is constructed by 2 full length pieces of leather. Kore uses Top-Grain Leather where Hanks goes with Full-Grain. Kores’s has a Reinforced Power-Core center that is stiff, yet flexible when you move (and its unbreakable). Hanks is a 20oz leather weight with a steel core center. Unfortunately with repetitive flexing or folding, steel core belts can snap and break.
When it comes to the fit on one’s waist and body, Kore comes out on top. Kore belts come in one size, that you custom trim to fit your size range. Then from there a hidden track system gives you Forty - 1/4" micro size positions to choose from. This unique method means you get a precise fit. There leather belts fits 24” to 54” while their tactical fits 24” to 72” in waist width. Hanks uses the traditional belt holes system. That means 6 belt holes about 1" apart and you choose the closest hole. Their belts range from 32” to 60” in length.
Overall, Kore has a better fit for the belt on waist design, while Hanks seems to be the go to for those who are not yet fans of the ratchet belt design and prefer a traditional fit with buckle and belt holes.
The Edge: Kore for the best fit and range of lengths
Fit & Comfort
When you wear a belt- even one to hold your IWB or OWB carry, the comfort of the belt is just as crucial as its durability and construction. The Kore has a power-core center that is stiff enough to hold most any gun setup and yet we found flexible so you can walk, sit and stand all day in comfort. On the other hand Hanks belts offer great quality leather construction and are definitely a little stiffer than the kore to accommodate any setup. But we found the steel core does not flex or move and this can cause some discomfort when it comes to all day wear.
Kore’s Spring-Loaded ratchet buckle locks at precise size by squeezing tab under buckle. Hanks is more of the traditional buckle with post fed thru belt. To adjust you must undue the buckle, tighten/loosen then re-insert the buckle post. For some the cinch-fit is too tight and or close to the body, and prefer a traditional hole belt with pre-set sizing increments. Comfort does come in the form of confidence the belt will stay in place when drawing a firearm.
Kore’s belts come in widths of 1.5" and 1.75" while Hanks offers belt widths in 1.25", 1.5", 1.75", and 2" sizes. The comfort of the fit through the belt loops is a factor that some consider a selling point.
The Edge: Hanks wins for the variety of belt widths offered, but Kore wins for overall comfort and flexibility for all day wear.
Construction & Durability
For this portion of the review, we wore each belt out and about with both weapon in holster, and just as a casual belt for a night out and day-to-day around the office. When it comes to durability, we looked at not only the belt, but the buckle itself.
Kore buckles feature Black Powder-Coated Alloy, Alloy, or Stainless Steel choices, while Hanks offers Alloy & Stainless Steel in traditional buckles with posts. Kore’s belts are chrome tanned to best retain color and prevent fading- this was noticeable after several uses and exposure to hot and wet conditions. Hanks belts are vegetable tanned which is supposed to be more environmentally friendly but tends to fade a bit over time.
Both Kore and Hanks Belts offer a 30 day money back guarantee, and Hanks Belts offers that 100 year warranty we mentioned earlier in the review- Kore offers a 1 year warranty. Hanks also states their buckles are American made, yet most of the buckles are “imported.”
The Edge: Tie
The Grab Factor
While we throughly enjoy both brands, the grab factor was hard to quantify. When we think of which belt to “grab” before heading out or loading up, we honestly were at a loss. Kore features the more modern ratchet design with more sizing options for overall fit, while Hanks has more to offer in the traditional sense as well as belt widths (some belt loops can’t handle the bigger and thicker belts). Both belts feel and wear durable, and are by no means soft or flemsy (in the sense of their ability to hold a side piece).
In terms of aesthetics and overall presentation factor, both belts offer around 16 buckle combinations while Kore does highlight more range in the solid, traditional, tactical & western buckle designs with various finishes. The grab factor really boils down to style preference of holes vs ratchet belt design.
The Edge: The Edge: Kore for the custom perfect fit and comfort, Hanks for the durable thick leather belt with holes design and warranty
THE WINNER
This is tough- Considering all the features and options by both brands, we can honestly say the winner is not one over the other- rather it’s a winner of aspects of each belt over the other.
Kore: Winner of Overall Fit/Wearability
Hanks Belts: Winner of Belt Width Options and Traditional Design
Both Kore and Hanks Belts offer a 30 day money back guarantee, and Hanks Belts offers that 100 year warranty!! That's amazing. Although we're not sure anyone would want to wear a belt for 20 years, let alone 100. Kore has a basic 1 year warranty.
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