EDC Gun Belt Showdown

It's the battle of the Everyday Carry (EDC) Gun Belt! Crossbreed vs KORE Essentials, who will come out on top? These are two of the most popular EDC Gun belts the market, but which one is best for you? Are you an avid gun-guy who needs a belt that can handle the weight of your CCW, or are you an Everyday Carry fanatic and need a belt that can handle the wear and tear of the daily grind? Our crew went hands on with these top ranking gun belts (both tactical and leather-style) to see which features the most bang for your buck, can withstand the carry, and tackle an adventure above and below the waist. Continue reading to find out the highlights of each and which EDC gun belt-Style reins supreme in 2022.

EDC Gun Belt Overview

What exactly is a EDC Style Gun Belt anyhow? Glad you asked, because knowing what the design, functions, and features of a ratchet belt and a traditional belt with holes is a great first step in understanding this high ranking belt must have!

A EDC Gun Belt is…

An EDC belt, or Every Day Carry belt, is a type of belt that is designed to be worn on a daily basis-hence the “everyday” phrasing while still providing comfort and flexibility. It is a cross between a dress belt and a gun belt, giving you flexibility to wear on the daily, and carry too. The best EDC belts are made from high-quality materials that can withstand everyday wear and tear. Some EDC Belts feature holes to tighten the belt against your waist, whereas with a Ratchet style belt, the system is entirely different. These belts feature a ratchet mechanism that allows for easy adjustment. This is essential for getting the perfect fit, no matter what you're wearing.

What is the difference between Ratchet Belts and Traditional “Hole” belts?

Gun belts come in a variety of styles, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Traditional belts have belt holes spaced evenly along their length, which allows them to be adjusted to fit a variety of waist sizes. Ratchet belts have a series of teeth on the inside of the belt that mesh with a ratcheting mechanism, allowing the belt to be tightened or loosened without the need for belt holes. This makes ratchet belts more versatile, as they can be easily adjusted to fit changing waist sizes and provide a more user-specific fit. Traditional belts with holes of course have their place in the conversation because of their long standing use in the industry. However, ratchet belts are often seen as being more versatile and practical, making them a good choice for tactical applications.

CROSSBREED vs. KORE ESSENTIALS

When it comes to EDC Gun belts, two brands stand out above the rest and are often the most Googled comparison for gun belts in 2022: Crossbreed and Kore. Both companies make high-quality, durable belts that are designed to be used in a variety of situations. Each belt is made of materials designed for heavy wear and tear.

Kore Essentials is a leading manufacturer of EDC ratchet style gun belts. Kore's belts are made from high-quality materials and are designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use. Kore's belts are also very comfortable to wear and provide excellent support with the perfect sizing fit every-time.

Crossbreed’s belts are also made from high-quality materials and are designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use. Crossbreed belts are also very comfortable to wear and provide excellent support as well.

So, which is the better option? Crossbreed or Kore? Both companies make great products, so it really depends on your individual needs. Let’s dive in!

Kore Essentials

KORE is the OG of strong, durable, and long-lasting Ratchet Belts in this genre of EDC belts. So we will kick off this belt-battle with the brand who defined the ratchet belt. “What makes the best the best, is that they are always getting better.”-In 2013 KORE set out to redefine men's accessories beginning with men's belts. The philosophy was simple > blend innovation with superior materials to create unique, more exciting products that exceed expectations. Since the inception of the belt thousands of years ago, traditional belts never seem to fit correctly. Armed with a passion for product design, KORE set out to create a new men's belt that not only functioned better, but included superior materials, and of course, great styling. Why? Because to them, that’s what a man's belt should be – great fitting, high-quality and stylish. Kore belts range from full grain leather to top grain leather and also consist of nylon webbing, multicam web fabrics, and carbon fiber options.

From KORE:

Brand Specs:

• 1.5" edc gun belt, 1.75" range belts and 1.75" battle belts

• All Kore 1.5" belts and buckles are interchangeable

• Kore buckles us a spring-loaded mechanism

• Proprietary Power-Core center that is virtually unbreakable

• Introduced the FIRST reinforced ratchet belts designed to carry a gun

vs.

Crossbreed Holsters

Under the direction and ingenuity of Mark Craighead, CrossBreed Holsters LLC was born in 2005. Mark was an avid shooter, re-loader and concealed carry permit holder who was introduced to firearms at a young age by his father. With a strong interest in firearms — particularly handguns — Mark grew his knowledge of the firearms industry. And with his experience, Mark became familiar with holsters, learning what worked and what did not. Within a couple of years, Mark’s hybrid holster design had achieved such popularity that his company, CrossBreed Holsters, gained national recognition as a leading manufacturer of some of the best and most functional concealment holsters available on the market today. Each holster is handmade by craftsmen personally trained by Mark.

Crossbreed gun belts are quickly gaining popularity for their comfort and functionality. CrossBreed offers a variety of belts to fit any occasion. Yes, crossbreed did launch a no-holes ratchet belt, however they are known for the classic hole belts in their lineup. No matter what kind of EDC setup you go with, Crossbreed has a belt to match.

From CROSSBREED:

Brand Specs:

• Features belts made of both leather and nylon

• Classic Gun Belt now has a woven nylon webbing strap as a liner

• Each belt is hand leveled to ensure an even 7 oz thickness

• Belts are available in 1.25” and 1.5” widths

• Seven holes spaced 1” apart allows a large range adjustment

TESTING IT OUT

Now the fun part- Testing out the brands’ lineup of EDC Gun Belts. Our crew grabbed hold of a comparable belt to each other (so we can do as best of a side by side as we can):

CROSSBREED

KORE Essentials

We tested each EDC Gun Belt like any normal human would- at work, to and fro, casual outings, and while out exploring the outdoors. We then rated each on the following:

• Belt Construction

• Functionality/Comfort

• Durability

…as an added element: the Grab Factor (which one we go for when choosing one when sitting side by side).

THE OUTCOME

• Belt Construction

The Crossbreed Executive Gun Belt now has a woven nylon webbing strap as a liner to our already tough, sturdy belts. This nylon core increases the support of the belt, making it stiffer, and keeps the belt from stretching long term. This liner is set in place with industrial adhesive between the layers of top-grain leather, and as always, the belts are recessed stitched to keep a smooth look and provide for longer, fray free wear.

CrossBreed has redesigned its best-selling belt, the Executive Gun Belt to now feature a custom buckle with a gunmetal finish in your choice of matte or gloss or their Founder's Buckle and leather that has been individually hand-oiled for a custom look. The Executive Gun Belt starts with hides specifically tanned to the specifications of Crossbreed. Once these hides are in-house they are cut into the desired width of belt strips and hand leveled to ensure an even 7 oz thickness. Each strip is matched cross grain with a premium 7 oz leather liner using industrial adhesive and now incorporates a ¾” woven nylon webbing strap. Each belt is beveled, burnished, and joined by recessed stitching using 277 thread. These belts will be approximate ¼” thick resulting in a strong belt with superior support for your carry needs, while still offering flexibility for comfortable everyday wear. Belts are available in 1.25” and 1.5” widths. Seven holes spaced 1” apart allows for extensive adjustment area. This belt is available with optional hook and loop lining for use with a V-Clip package.

The Kore Essentials belt is also made of a variety of materials. Kore EDC gun belts feature a 10” virtually indestructible, hidden track with 40+ size positions to adjust with. This construction gives you the ability to precisely adjust your gun belt in small 1/4” increments for a perfect fit. It's the ultimate concealed carry belt for work, play, the range, or even out on the town. All Kore Belts (leather & tactical) feature their Proprietary Reinforced Power-Core™ center. This unique blend makes Kore belts sturdy and stiff enough to support your firearm and gear without any sag, yet flexible enough to sit, walk, or move in all day. It's the most secure ratchet designed, gun belt you will ever wear. 

EDC Leather & Tactical Gun Belts are 1.5" wide and 5 mm thick, and designed for IWB, OWB and Appendix carry situations. EDC Belts come in regular sizes (24" to 54") and XL sizes to fit waist up to 72". Leather gun belts are constructed using 2 full-length pieces of Full Grain Buffalo leather or Top Grain leather and designed to support loads up to a maximum of 6 lbs. for Full Grain and 4lbs. for Top Grain (that's total gear weight). These belts are not designed to serve as tactical or duty belts, but rather EDC belts for work, play, dress, casual.  All of Kore’s ratchet belts use a patented, spring-loaded mechanism. It's durable, reliable and rock solid when it comes to holding your belt in place. As a result they hold a total of 8 U.S. patents and 4 Trademarks.

Overall, Kore has more sizing options and can fit a wider waist, yet Crossbreed now has a woven nylon webbing strap as a liner to their already tough, sturdy belt. Both belts have unreal strength, both are stiff constructed, and come with differing buckle options (however Kore does let you swap buckles out at any time). Kore features the proprietary and more durable construction with more sizing options. For that, we have to go with Kore for construction.

The Edge: KORE for the proprietary construction and added sizing points

• Functionality/Comfort

The Crossbreed gun belt is the perfect design for everyday carry (EDC) comfort and functionality. The gun belt is made with a comfortable yet durable material that is ideal for both function and comfort. The Founder's Series Belts feature an 7oz outer layer made of a 100% vegetable tanned leather using no dyes or lacquers. The hides then have natural oils and tallows applied under pressure giving each piece of hide a unique and distinctive appearance. The leather pieces range from a dark chocolate brown to a lighter tan with contrasting grain. The natural oils accent the grain and structure of each piece, resulting in a beautiful holster or belt that will withstand moisture, sweat, and environmental conditions. These oils also aid the leather in forming to your body when worn, resulting in a very quick break in period.

KORE X3 EDC Belt is the perfect belt for those who want both comfort and functionality. The KORE X3 EDC Belt is made with a comfortable, rigid yet flexible material that conforms to your body and allows you to move freely-even when carrying. The buckle is not too bulky, allowing for a smooth front print and no matter how you move, the buckle and belt don’t loosen unless you want it to. And with the ability to swap out a buckle at any time, gives more functionality to these belts than most!

Both belts feature similar gun support and comfort while wearing with our without a holster. The belt doesn’t move when you go from sitting or standing, and both feature thick belt designs for support. The thickness of each belt is slightly different from each other but not entirely noticeable. Kore EDC belts are 1.5 inches, where Crossbreeds has 2 different sizing thicknesses.

The Edge: Crossbreed for the 2 thickness options under their EDC Belt lineup-adding flexibility to sizing in belt loops

• Durability

Crossbreed’s durability is dependent upon how it is worn and used. The Executive as mentioned before features a tanning and natural process to the leather, where each belt will show wear and use from the holster and the owner. Over time these marks will accent the rustic feel and look of the Founder's Series. Each Founder's Series Belt will come with a care kit containing a bottle of dark saddlers oil specially formulated to bring back the original rustic look and feel. You do not have to go with the tanned leather with the EDC belts, but should you choose that be aware of the changing coloring and feel of the leather overtime.

Kore belts are also tougher than most things on this planet and their inner design of the ratchet system might be the best we have seen. These belts over time hold-up and do not show much, if any, signs of wear and tear. In fact, our first belt review of Kore we did in 2019 still looks the same today as it did then. Minimal if any wear and no shedding. In addition-all of their unique ratchet belts use a patented, spring-loaded mechanism. It's durable, reliable and rock solid when it comes to holding the belt in place.

Overall both belts are made from strong, long lasting materials that are built for the daily grind, wear and tear, and outdoors. Drop ‘em, drive over ‘em, toss them around your waist and load up in confidence. Both offer a form of warranty so you can trust it won’t leave you in the dark.

The Edge: KORE for the belt durability, buckle patents, and overall construction throughout the belt

• Grab Factor

Truth be told- both Crossbreed and KORE have a grab factor that makes you want to find more things to wear just to put the belts on. The sound of the buckle as each notch is getting activated is one of the coolest sounds that feels like you are putting on the best when we wear Kore! However, the Founder’s Series by Crossbreed features the worn-in and almost custom tanned look in a gun belt. For those traditionalists, this is one of the best out there. No matter which one you go with, both rank high in the “Grab Factor” book. We are honestly torn here.

Both feature durable and rigid construction, come with a limited warranty, adjust to your body, come with size guides, buckle options, color options and great customer reviews. Either one is a solid find in our book and are so close, it is too close to call.

The Edge: Crossbreed for the tanned leather and rustic “worn-in” look, KORE for the vast amount of buckle swapping options and proprietary materials in each belt.

CONCLUSION: VERDIT

This is tough and almost too close to call. If you're looking for the most versatile option with buckles and changeability, KORE is probably your best bet. If you're looking for something a little more specialized for the everyday, a bit more traditional with belt holes, and a thinner EDC thickness for specific pant loops- Crossbreed might be the way to go. Whichever brand you choose, you're sure to end up with a great product that will serve you well for many years to come.

CROSSBREED: Winner of “Worn-in” feel and rustic look

KORE: Winner of Materials and variety

OVERALL duuude crew Verdict:

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