This is a detailed review for Anson Belt & Buckle, maker of holeless, micro-adjustable belts for men.
I love product reviews, and I do a lot of them. Usually, a company will get in touch, send over some products to try out, and if it's a good fit (pun intended), we move forward with the review.
But every now and then I get to publish a review for a brand I already know and love, like Anson Belt & Buckle.
Note: Big thanks to Anson Belt & Buckle for making this review possible. Anson is a family owned company with a great product, and I'm thrilled to write this review after wearing their belts for months. Visit their online shop to shop the whole collection.I've been wearing Anson micro-adjustable belts almost every day since I met co-founder David Ferree at StyleCon 2016.
These belts are awesome! I'll go into more detail below, but here are four reasons why I'm loving them:
- Never too tight or too loose (micro-adjustable)
- Super durable (because you don't have to bend them every time you put them on)
- Versatile (interchangeable buckles)
- Fits every waist (easy to shorten to your exact size)
As you can see, I'm a fan. Before I get into the Anson belt review, let's talk about holeless belts.
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, which makes them micro-adjustable (compared to traditional belts).
To loosen or unbuckle a slide 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, which causes even the strongest leather to crease and tear over time.
There's really no downside to holeless belts, and to be honest, I'm surprised they're not more popular.
I think that most men simply haven't tried wearing a slide belt, because once you go holeless, you probably won't ‘go back.
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 every 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)
In this video, I'll unbox a brand new Anson belt, shorten it down to my size and attach a buckle.
(If you don't like video, you can skip it and read the rest of the post.)
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.
You could buy two straps (black and brown) and two buckles (gold and silver), and you'd have a belt for almost any outfit.
In terms of quality, I've been wearing two of my Anson belts regularly for a few months, and they aren't showing any signs of wear and tear.
I only have one small gripe about Anson's current collection: I wish they carried a slimmer option. 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, their 1.25″ leather straps have edge stitching that helps them feel a little slimmer and dressier.
I've talked to David about this, so maybe they'll offer a slimmer belt in the future (fingers crossed).
How to Shorten a Micro-Adjustable Belt
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.
Conclusion
I haven't worn a traditional belt with holes for months, and I'm not planning on going back anytime soon.
When it comes to holeless belts, Anson Belt & Buckle is my brand of choice.
Do you wear slide belts? Leave a comment below!
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.
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.
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
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).
Great review Brock! I love my Anson belts and that is all I wear anymore 😉
Brock, great review and thanks. I brought 3 of them and they are great.
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!
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?
The Anson belt is really a game changer and makes me not miss using a traditional belt with holes. Great review.