In this detailed, hands-on Anson Belt review, we’ll talk about our experience with holeless belts and let you know if Anson belts are worth buying.
Quick note: This review was originally published in July 2016. It’s been updated to reflect Anson Belt’s more recent product offerings, and to include additional thoughts after wearing these belts for a few years.
Anson Belts are now available to purchase on their website or from Amazon.
Many men are making the switch from traditional belts to holeless belts (often called slide belts).
Why, you ask? Here are four reasons you might prefer a belt without holes:
- Micro-adjustable (never too tight or loose)
- More durable (no need to bend the belt when putting on and taking off)
- Versatile (interchangeable buckles)
- Fits every waist (easy to shorten to your exact size)
If this is a new concept for you (as it was for me when I first discovered Anson Belt & Buckle), you’re probably wondering how these belts actually work.
Let’s dive into it…
Belts With No Holes
Sometimes called slide belts or ratchet belts, holeless belts are – you guessed it – belts with no holes.
These no hole belts have grooved tracks that run along the inside of the belt strap.
The belt buckles have ratchets that slide along the track and snap into the grooves.
Most ratchet belts have 1/4″ grooves, while traditional belt holes are 1″ apart. This means that slide belts are 4x more adjustable than traditional belts.
To loosen or unbuckle a holeless belt, you just press a little release lever on the back of the buckle.
You don’t have to yank back the end of the belt to loose or unbuckle it, which is what causes even the strongest leather to crease, crack and tear over time.
The only drawback to this sort of belt is how thick the buckle is. While these buckles are available in an endless variety of colors and styles, they’re all a bit thicker than traditional belt buckles.
You know how a belt buckle will sometimes protrude underneath a very thin shirt, like an extrafine merino wool sweater?
This effect will be eve more obvious with a thicker buckle. And, in my opinion, this inherent bulk makes holeless belts more casual and harder to wear with suits.
That said, most men who give slide belts a try really love them, mostly for the micro-adjustability. So if you haven’t tried one on, you might want to give Anson a shot!
About Anson Belt & Buckle
The company was founded by Frank Ferree, a man who was sick of punching new holes in all of his belts to get that perfect fit.
After discovering a holeless belt while traveling overseas, he decided to perfect the design and start manufacturing them himself.
His son, David Ferree, helped him launch the company in 2009, and they’ve been growing steadily ever since.
These days, there is more competition in the ratchet belt arena, but Anson takes pride in making what they believe to be the highest quality holeless belts on the market.
To back this up, they offer a lifetime guarantee on all of their belts.
The Belts (and Buckles)
Back when I originally wrote this review, I also partnered with Anson Belt on an unboxing video.
If you want to watch me unbox some brand new belts and shorten them down to size, here ya go:
Or, read on for more details about these innovative belts.
Interchangeable Buckles
Unlike most traditional belts, Anson belts have detachable buckles. This means you can mix and match buckles and straps to create different looks.
So if you have five straps and four buckles, that’s 20 different belts!
I’m not saying you’re going to swap buckles every time you put on a belt, but the interchangeability is very practical.
During the day, you can be out on a boat with a flip-closure styled buckle paired with a nylon strap.
Later that evening, pivot to a chrome buckle and black strap for that fancy dinner.
In between, mix and match the casual buckle with a brown belt for your chinos, and coordinate the colors to match your other accessories.
Anson Belt Quality
In terms of quality, I wore two of my Anson belts religiously for about a year, and they held up nicely.
The only wear and tear I noticed was on the black buckle. Some of the black finish (paint?) wore off at the corners and edges of the buckle, resulting in a sort of patina.
Otherwise, these belts and buckles have held up wonderfully over the months and years.
Anson Belt Sizing
Anson belts fit any waist up to 50″, and they can be cut down to your size. Don’t worry, it’s very easy and almost impossible to mess up.
I show you how to do this at the beginning of the Anson belt review video (see above or click the link).
The only thing you have to remember is to cut off the unfinished end of the belt.
Room for Improvement
I only have one small gripe about Anson’s current collection: I wish they carried a slimmer belt.
Right now, they sell 1.25″ and 1.5″ straps. I’d love to see a 1″ option as well, especially for dress belts.
To be fair, though, some of their 1.25″ full grain leather straps have edge stitching that helps them feel a little slimmer and dressier.
But if I’m suiting up or even wearing a nice jacket and trousers, I prefer a lower profile, dressier belt strap and buckle.
Final Recommendation
Anson Belt hits that sweet spot between function and form, and their belts are reasonably priced for the quality.
Anson’s customer service and passion for helping people is top notch. They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee which makes taking the leap all the easier.
Lastly, their boxed sets make excellent gifts at the right price point for friends and family.
When it comes to no hole belts, Anson Belt & Buckle is TMM’s brand of choice. Check them out on ansonbelt.com or on Amazon.
Do you wear holeless belts? Leave a comment below!
I have been wearing Slidebelt for the last few years and really like the concept however I have had to replace the buckles several times. It dropped on a tile floor they break very easily. Also, the pins fall out after a few months. Wondering about the durability on the Anson products??
I never had durability problems with Anson buckles. Only problem was some paint wearing off on the black buckles, but no mechanical issues.
I have had my belt a few months now extremely happy with it, will review again towards the end of the year!
Finally making the switch! I read this article when it first came out back in 2016. I loved it but didn’t really think much about it after that. Yet here I am 4 years later, just threw away another worn belt with traditional holes and thought to myself “there has to be better way”. Lo and behold this article popped into my mind again. Thank you Brock! Really stoked for my Anson Gift Box!
The Anson belt is really a game changer and makes me not miss using a traditional belt with holes. Great review.
How do you see the buckle/strap detaching mechanism holding up? Is it something you’d only want to do every once and a while or would it hold up to everyday interchanging?
I have been wearing my new belt for a couple of months now and I REALLY like them, but recently my black belt does not seem to latch most of the time. There is no clicking or latching…what do I do?
I would let them know, they have a guarantee and should switch it out for you no problem!
Brock, great review and thanks. I brought 3 of them and they are great.
Great review Brock! I love my Anson belts and that is all I wear anymore 😉
I’m a Mission Belt guy. Check them out a http://missionbelt.com/ (You might remember them from Shark Tank.) They seem to have an identical product at a better price point.
Haven’t tried them yet. Looks similar, although I’m always a little wary of “genuine leather” (it usually means bonded or low quality).
I have used these belts for a few months now, and like Brock I am never going back to holes.Perfect fit, and look every time, even if my waist expanded a bit after a heavy meal. lol
Go for the gift box! It gives you two belts and three buckles or three belts and two buckles. I bought two gift boxes for myself, and now I have five complete belts for $200. Black, burgundy, light brown and dark brown, plus a more casual navy.
Apparently I have to go thru the process of “building” a belt to get the price. When the cost information comes last, I know it’s going to be a shocker & I’m going to feel sucked in. If a seller won’t tell me this up front, I’m suspicious of them.
No, you build the belt and then see the price. You can delete it from your cart before any CC information is given. I just did it. Besides, it looks like all the belts are the same price: $49.
Good feedback for them. For what it’s worth, I think the belts (and buckles) are priced very reasonably.