Most guys tend not to think too hard about their belt, picking one solely for its ability to keep pants from falling down. But like any accessory, the best men’s belts have the potential to enhance your everyday outfits. The truth is that different belts work in different settings, so investing in a few options is a good idea. Thin leather belts are great for dress pants, while nylon webbing belts are ideal for wearing with a pair of utilitarian cargo pants.
After all, a belt sits right in the middle of your outfit. Picking the wrong one can throw your whole look off. You can use a few old-school rules to help you choose a belt. One way is to match your belt to your shoes. This mainly applies to business attire, but it’s helpful in other situations, too. If you’re wearing jeans with brown suede boots, finding a belt in a similar shade can help tie your look together. Likewise, it’s a good idea to match the buckle material to the other metals you’re wearing, such as jewelry and watches. Of course, these old-school rules don’t always apply in the anything-goes era of style we’re in, and you’ll see that fact reflected in our picks below, which include webbing belts with dancing bears and belts inspired by roller coaster buckles.
Like other accessories, belts can vary pretty widely in price. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best belts for men, ranked from least to most expensive. That means we’ve got you covered, whether you want a practical belt to keep your pants up or a designer flex.
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1. Steve Madden Men’s Dress Belt
Every man needs a brown belt or two, and this affordable accessory from Steve Madden is the perfect option. Unfortunately, it’s not a great option for big and tall men, but it also comes in a range of colors and materials if you want options.
2. Gap Webbed Belt
This belt is comfortable, affordable and simple. There’s not much more you need from a belt than that. It has a woven fabric that allows you to buckle the belt in many different places, making for a more comfortable and versatile option.
3. Columbia Men’s Leather Belt
You don’t need to pay $50-$100 for a work-appropriate leather belt. Just head to Amazon, where you can buy this Columbia leather belt for as little as $17.98. This belt has thousands of 5-star reviews from satisfied Amazon customers and comes in two shades of brown or black. And at this point, why not order all three?
4. Bison Designs Elliptagon Belt
Bison Design’s Elliptagon belt is available in a range of patterns and colors, but I’m partial to these dancing bears. The sliding buckle makes it easy to adjust the fit. The belt is made in the USA from sturdy nylon, while the buckle is made of plastic. That means you (probably) won’t have to take it off when heading through airport security.
5. Levi’s Utility Web Belt
Keep your 501s up with this rugged belt from Levi’s. Its webbing fabric and metal carabiner buckle have a utilitarian look. The buckle hooks onto loops stitched along the belt’s outside. It comes in black, but if you want something more eye-catching, you can also pick it up in bright yellow.
6. Uniqlo Braided Leather Belt
Braided belts might not be everyone’s personal favorite, but they make for a great second or even third option if you already have a variety of options in your rotation. We love how the caramel color pairs with the buckle on this Uniqlo selection, creating a sleek option.
7. Bonobos Striped Webbing Belt
Like all the best preppy clothes, this belt from Bonobos is equal parts dressy and playful. It has an eye-catching striped fabric and a traditional brown leather buckle. The elastic of this belt means that it’ll be comfortable the first time you put it on, without the need for a lengthy break-in period.
8. Banana Republic Distressed Leather Belt
This belt from Banana Republic combines the formality of a leather belt with the comfort and versatility of a D-ring belt. The problem with most belts is that the holes are never exactly where you want them. This belt is infinitely adjustable, making it a more comfortable option. Plus, the burnished gold-tone buckle and distressed leather add a rugged appeal.
9. J. Crew Classic Leather Belt
J. Crew’s classic-style leather belt feels vintage-y while still being brand new. The slide-style buckle pairs well with everything and ensures you’ll be able to hold to and wear it for a long, long time.
10. Tiger of Sweden Brown Bute Belt
This belt is as simple and stylish as they come. It’s finished in a versatile cognac color and is made in Italy by Tiger of Sweden, a clothing brand founded in 1903. The belt has neutral, silver-tone hardware that wears well with any other accessories and comes in various sizes.
11. Western Silver Belt Toffee Brown
Westernwear has been a surprisingly big trend for the past few years, but if you’re unsure how to incorporate it into your everyday wardrobe, it’s a good idea to start small. This belt from Nudie Jeans has a western-inspired buckle and is made from premium vegetable-tanned full-grain leather.
12. Polo Ralph Lauren Distressed Leather Belt
There’s something about a suede belt that adds a rugged touch to any outfit, despite suede being a delicate material. In any case, this stylish belt has a slight western edge while being understated enough for dressier outfits. The D-ring design makes it easy to adjust without worrying about finding the right belt hole.
13. Maximum Henry Wide Oval Belt
The beauty of Maximum Henry is variety. Sizes run from XS-XL, and you can choose everything from belt width to color to buckle material. This belt is 1.5″ wide and has an oval-shaped buckle that sets it apart from the average belt buckle. The belts are made in New York from premium vegetable-tanned leather.
14. Anderson’s Leather-Trimmed Woven Elastic Belt
Woven belts are some of the most comfortable options, and fabric woven belts are even more comfortable than leather belts. This belt from Anderson’s is made from a stretch elastic material with leather detailing and a silver buckle.
15. Magnanni Carbon Leather Belt
Magnanni’s Carbon Leather Belt is taking your look to a whole new level. Seriously, guys, it doesn’t get more dapper than this. This striking hand-burnished belt has a timeless look to surely become a family hand-me-down to all the dudes in younger generations. It’s made for the kind of guy that knows his sense of style like the back of his hand. Look like the biggest stud at the bar or wear it to work for glances from everyone in the office.
16. Shinola Reversible Leather Belt
REVERSIBLE
Shinola is a leather goods company based in Detroit, Michigan, and we’re huge fans of the brand’s watches, accessories and overall ethos. The Shinola 1.5″ leather belt also has a unique feature. One side of this finely crafted leather belt is tan, while the other is black. And because the metal buckle can be reversed, this durable and finely made belt is a true 2-in-1.
17. 1017 ALYX 9SM Black Classic Rollercoaster Belt
1017 ALYX 9SM makes streetwear, including shirts, pants and jackets, but they’re arguably best known for their accessories. Specifically, this belt is inspired by utilitarian functions like safety belts. The belt clips in the middle and features a strap for adjusting it, making it a more comfortable option than traditional leather belts.
18. Gucci 4cm Full-Grain Leather Belt
Many designer belts are pretty tacky, but Gucci’s simple leather belt incorporates the logo right into the buckle, making for a surprisingly low-key alternative to repeating monograms seen on many belts. This belt is made from full-grain leather, while the buckle is made from burnished gold.
19. Salvatore Ferragamo Reversible Leather Belt
So many of Salvatore Ferragamo’s designs exude quality. The same can be said of this leather belt; the black leather and silver accents feel opulent while providing some sleek textures to show off. Pair it with black jeans and a killer moto jacket to show off your badass side. Or, flip it around for a brown-belted look since this puppy is completely reversible.
Read More: The Best Designer Belts for Men of 2022