Samurai jeans belt - how thick would be too thick?

[NamoAmituofo]

I’ve been looking for good belts on Etsy and just ordered a couple to be made from J&FJ tannery 4.5-5mm hides which are supposed to be the Rolls Royce of belt leather in UK. Not too expensive either £59 each belt.

Then for my sins I stumped upon this one - https://www.samurai-jeans.com/en-gb/products/w001-wp-ダブルピンヘビィーカーブベルト-1

And you know what the advertised 6-8mm US steerhide just can’t get out of my head - like the Kylie Minogue song…

Before I even think about spending £220 plus shipping and duty/taxes on a belt - I wondered if there is a point that ‘what thickness would be too thick for a belt’?!

Has anyone worn this Samurai belt and if so what do you like/not like about it?

For reference I had a 15mm weight lifting belt that was made from 4 layers of god knows what leather. It did not break in but it hurt my rib cage so much each time I squatted so eventually I sold it and lifted raw without a belt.

I won’t wear a belt that thickness for good look!

 

[Will Zach]

That is a lovely belt. My thickest belts are 5 mm, and there is absolutely no issue with comfort. 5-8 mm is a pretty wide range; I'd get in touch with them regarding actual thickness before plunking down the cash. 5 mm is about 12-oz; anybody can get that thickness, and it is not worth the money they are asking. 7-8 mm is a bit of a different story.

 

[Bennarion]

This is an excellent belt, it has a cast powerful buckle. The belt width of 4.5 cm is the golden mean. It is well suited for heavy jeans of 21-25 oz in sizes from 34 and above.

 

[Tom71]

Lovely.

I wouldn’t worry about comfort. I have an oxleather belt from a local shop (Kreis Ledernanufaktur in Offenbach for those who care to look) which is 8-10mm.
It’s an absolut monument of a belt, but can be worn without issue.

 

[andyone]

I had one of those some time ago:
https://www.lukes-custom-belts.de/shop/made-by-luke.-guertel/bear/
it was wearable, the workmanship is really nice as is the guy. But I prefer lighter/thinner ones therefore I sold it. Be aware that not all pants/trouser have loops that are designed for such thick leather!

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Thank you very much gents for the informative replies. I’ll see what my 5mm belt wears like once it’s made in a couple of weeks time. I’ll keep an eye out for the Samurai on eBay should one ever surface in my size 34 or 36 if I push it.

Like said I also don’t think this beast of belt would fit into any of my jeans trousers loops - perhaps with the exception of Patagonia iron forge hemp trousers which I need to take out to see how much space is left after a 38mm (1.25 inch) belt is fastened.

I also think from a physics perspective if I ‘stuff’ a thick belt into loops tight - it will break/rip the denim fabric or stitching faster due to Constant force applied especially when bending down.

Do Samurai jeans come with really wide loops?!

 

[Aloysius]

I'm a fan of Samurai but I think this belt is way overpriced for what it is (basically a thick belt blank with a brass buckle). For such a thing, Sugar Cane's version is more realistically priced.

A side note of advice: That Samurai site is probably the worst place to buy their stuff. Everything is at least double the price at other dealers.

 

[Monitor]

I find it that belts that are too thick, as in above 0.5 mm, don't really do anything for keeping your pants in pace as you can't get them to naturally shape around your waist.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

I agree this is overpriced - this is what I ordered https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/841761243/

One 32mm in London tan for summer chinos, and one 38mm in brown for jeans and cargo shorts.

Leather makers with websites will charge close to £100 for J&FJ oak bark tanned butt hide belt, because they need to pay for Google advertising. I like buying from Etsy sellers as some of them are just as skilled and the leather material is identical.

 

[Blackadder]

I had one of those some time ago:
https://www.lukes-custom-belts.de/shop/made-by-luke.-guertel/bear/
it was wearable, the workmanship is really nice as is the guy. But I prefer lighter/thinner ones therefore I sold it. Be aware that not all pants/trouser have loops that are designed for such thick leather! View attachment 615026 View attachment 615027

Exactly. These belts are too thick for the normal belt loop.

 

[cbez]

 

[VansonRider]

I had one of those some time ago:
https://www.lukes-custom-belts.de/shop/made-by-luke.-guertel/bear/
it was wearable, the workmanship is really nice as is the guy. But I prefer lighter/thinner ones therefore I sold it. Be aware that not all pants/trouser have loops that are designed for such thick leather! View attachment 615026 View attachment 615027

Good god! That’s like wearing a steak around your waist!! I think when it’s too thick to fit the tail under the belt loop, it’s going to be too thick for me.

I prefer Texas Ranger style belts, with the thinner strap and buckle stitched to the wider body.

 

[andyone]

Good god! That’s like wearing a steak around your waist!! I think when it’s too thick to fit the tail under the belt loop, it’s going to be too thick for me.

I prefer Texas Ranger style belts, with the thinner strap and buckle stitched to the wider body.

But not a tomahawk steak - rather a flat iron steak…
But yes - it was a biest and I also prefer thinner belts. I got some nice ones from the same guy. Choice of leathers, nice buckles and perfect service…

 

[hardlyworkingman]

Under 5 they are easily wearable. past 5mm they become a utility belt. I have 2 of my belts in this picture, Filson double belt (left - 8 mm), Filson bridle belt (right - 4mm).

8 mm, belt gets used only if i am carrying my ruger alaskan (almost weighs 5 lbs when loaded along with holster), which is pretty rare.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

I succumbed to temptation and bought one nearly new Samurai belt size 36 off eBay - at nearly retail price once I pay custom duties etc. currently enroute from US to UK.

I could have bought one from their UK website but they only have size 32 which I believe is too short for me - I wear 30-32 trousers so 34 belt would be ideal size but I reckon given this is a beast of a belt 36 would be fine for me.

Immediately I now have two new problems:

1) buy some jeans that have belt loops big enough for this beast

2) worry if my aero KoTR jacket can fit over this belt! I ordered 19” hem width and reckon the cutting has probably been done already. Even not, I wouldn’t change it for the sake of fitting over a big belt

That may lead to problem 3) if I can only wear this belt under my size 40 aero HWM, but then this belt is in tan and my HWM is in black - what a miss match…

Still I wouldn’t buy such a belt in black as I’d love to see how the tan color develops over years of usage

The list of problems and paradoxes continues… such is the nature of (my) human stupidity.

Now some of you may be thinking about getting a Samurai belt!

 

[Marc mndt]

if I can only wear this belt under my size 40 aero HWM, but then this belt is in tan and my HWM is in black - what a miss match…

I think matching all the leather colors throughout an outfit looks a bit silly and uninspired. I used to do so myself for years though lol.

An outfit that looks coherent but isn't perfectly color matched looks much more playful imo.

Black jacket, dark brown belt (doesn't show in the pic) chocolate brown suede boots.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

That jacket is a perfect fit for you! I couldn’t tell it’s black more dark brown I’d say - perhaps it’s because of the lighting or brown mutton collar that gives the dark brown impression

 

[hardlyworkingman]

I succumbed to temptation and bought one nearly new Samurai belt size 36 off eBay - at nearly retail price once I pay custom duties etc. currently enroute from US to UK.

I could have bought one from their UK website but they only have size 32 which I believe is too short for me - I wear 30-32 trousers so 34 belt would be ideal size but I reckon given this is a beast of a belt 36 would be fine for me.

Immediately I now have two new problems:

1) buy some jeans that have belt loops big enough for this beast

2) worry if my aero KoTR jacket can fit over this belt! I ordered 19” hem width and reckon the cutting has probably been done already. Even not, I wouldn’t change it for the sake of fitting over a big belt

That may lead to problem 3) if I can only wear this belt under my size 40 aero HWM, but then this belt is in tan and my HWM is in black - what a miss match…

Still I wouldn’t buy such a belt in black as I’d love to see how the tan color develops over years of usage

The list of problems and paradoxes continues… such is the nature of (my) human stupidity.

Now some of you may be thinking about getting a Samurai belt!

That belt looks killer. good luck with it. I thought about getting one, but probably wont be able to wear it as much as i would like, instead i've Been looking for a belt with a fireman buckle and horsehide, found and purchased last night.

Inception Saddle Leather Fireman Belt (Black)

IPSDB-02 5mm thick Tochigi saddle leather Original quick-release brass buckle Metal hardware Five prong holes (2.5cm (0.9") distance between each hole) 3.3cm (1.2") belt width Also available in Brown and Natural Located just north of Tokyo, the saddle leather used for the production of...

www.okayamadenim.com

 

[Aloysius]

I think matching all the leather colors throughout an outfit looks a bit silly and uninspired. I used to do so myself for years though lol.

I think this is where I've benefited from having a very English menswear background lol. Belts are inherently a casual thing to me so when people talk about belt colour matching and such, in my head it's like "if you have to wear a belt, it didn't matter" though of course I do understand that in the US and Europe (and today even Britain) belted suit trousers are a norm.

 

[Tom71]

Exactly. These belts are too thick for the normal belt loop.

It does fit into Iron Heart Belt loops without issue.