Belts
Our military belts cover every job a belt does, from holding up combat trousers to carrying a full duty rig. Browse four groups:
- Riggers belts – including the Rothco AR 670-1 Compliant Military Riggers Belt, a reversible black/coyote airport friendly riggers belt, BDU belts and quick release pistol belts.
- Duty belts – triple retention duty belts, SWAT belts, a hook and loop inner duty belt and a modular duty belt rig for police, corrections and security work.
- Web and leather belts – GI web belts in 44 to 74 inch lengths, open face and flip buckle web belts, D-ring belts, cowhide and bonded leather garrison belts and the Rothco AGSU belt.
- Belt accessories – web belt buckles and tips, belt keepers, belt webbing, shirt stays, suspenders and blousing garters.
Most of these belts are nylon or cotton webbing, which stays light, dries fast and holds its shape. Many web belts are cut long so you can trim them to length and seal the end, and several riggers and BDU belts use plastic buckles that are easier to wear through airport security.
A note for service members: DA PAM 670-1 makes the tan 499 rigger belt with a black open-face buckle part of the Army combat uniform, and the AGSU takes its own heritage walnut belt. Commercial belts need to match the issued item's spec, and your unit can set stricter rules. The guide below covers which belt goes with which uniform.
How to Choose Military Belts
Ask one question first: does the belt hold up your trousers, or does it carry gear? The answer sorts almost every belt in this section.
Trouser Belts: Riggers, BDU and Web Belts
A trouser belt threads through your belt loops and stays there all day. Riggers belts and BDU belts use stiff nylon webbing with a cam, cobra-style or plastic buckle that cinches tight and releases quickly. Classic GI web belts with open face or flip buckles are thinner, cut long and trimmed to fit, and they are the traditional choice for older uniforms and casual wear.
Load-Bearing Belts: Pistol, Range and Duty Belts
When the belt carries a holster, magazine pouches or a radio, it needs more stiffness. Quick release pistol belts and range belts are wide outer belts for field and range days. Duty belts go further, with padded or molded construction and triple retention buckles for officers who wear a full load for a whole shift.
Dress and Everyday Military Belts
Leather garrison belts, D-ring belts and solid web belts suit everyday clothes and dress outfits. For the Army Green Service Uniform, the Rothco AGSU belt is designed to match.
Sizing Military Belts
Size by the belt itself, not your jeans. Many riggers and duty belts are sold by waist range, so measure around your trousers where the belt will sit, with any gear you wear under it. Plain web belts are sold by total length: choose one longer than you need, cut it, and seal the end with heat or a metal tip. If you wear a duty belt over an inner belt, size both together with your uniform on.
Military Belts and Uniform Regulations
Army Combat Uniform Belt
DA PAM 670-1, paragraph 4-2, lists "Belt, rigger, tan 499" as part of the Army combat uniform. Paragraph 20-3a describes it as tan 499 cotton web or woven elastic, 2 inches wide, worn with a black open-face buckle, with the tipped end passing to the wearer's left and extending no more than 2 inches past the buckle. All personnel wear the rigger belt with utility uniforms that have belt loops. The Air Force and Space Force wear OCP under DAFI 36-2903 and set their own accessory rules.
Service and Dress Uniform Belts
Paragraph 20-3 also describes the heritage walnut 567 web belt for the AGSU, worn only with the open-face buckle, and the optional black web belt with brass tip and brass buckle for the Army Service Uniform.
Buying Commercial Belts
AR 670-1 paragraph 2-10 says commercial items worn in place of issue items must meet the baseline spec of the issued item. Where Rothco labels a belt AR 670-1 compliant, the name says so; other belts here, such as camo reversible, Jolly Roger and BDU belts, are for field, airsoft and casual wear. Duty belts follow your department's policy rather than AR 670-1. Your chain of command can always set a stricter standard.
Military Belts Beyond the Uniform
Airsoft players, hunters, mechanics and travelers wear these belts for the same reasons troops do: they are tough, adjustable and inexpensive to replace. Keep a riggers belt for field days and a leather belt for everything else, and add keepers or a spare buckle from the accessories section.