Best Survival Belts for EDC, Stashes, & Loadouts
Whether you’re an outdoorsman, a prepper, or simply someone who values preparedness, a reliable survival belt can be an essential tool in your everyday arsenal. Designed to offer functionality beyond a typical belt, the best survival belts combine durability, versatility, and innovative features to assist you in various survival scenarios. There are thousands of belts on the market with different strengths, features, and limitations.
This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best survival belts, tested them, and now the results are in: the overall best, a cache option, and a tactical upgrade option. If you need a belt geared for survival, one of our picks will hold up its end of the deal.
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In this latest update of the best survival belts, prices have been updated, and additional recommendations and pictures have been added. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»
Best Survival Belt
5.11 TDU Belt
Simple, Effective, and Versatile
A well-executed basic webbing belt can be the best survival option for most people.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
In the military, we’re all familiar with web belts. This one is a slight upgrade over the standard issue belts with higher tensile strength (vs 4,000-pound) and the molded buckle tab. There are plenty of belts with bells and whistles (and we’ll get to a few), but keeping it simple also works well. It turns out that high-tensile webbing can do just that, giving you a great option for survival with the price tag of a typical belt.
Specifications
- Size Options: S-4XL (order two sizes up from pant size)
- Color Options: Black (tested), Kangaroo, Ranger Green
- Materials: 100% Nylon Webbing
- Tensile Strength: 5,100 pounds
- Width: 1.5″
- Weight: 4+ ounces (depending on size)
While there isn’t anything fancy going on with this belt from 5.11, that’s exactly why we like it. It is strong, versatile, and low-profile- making it ideal for everyday use. One of the few drawbacks is that the buckle can stick out slightly
With a great price and simple durability, it’s easy to see why the 5.11 TDU Belt is the best.
Hidden Cache Belt
Wazoo Cache Belt
Anti-Theft, Comfortable, and High Quality
What started as a Kickstarter project is now a proven EDC commodity that has generated a whole gear lineup.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
If you are at the point in your EDC journey where you are looking to stash more gear or have the option to hide cash easily while you travel, this is the belt for you.
Specifications
- Size Options: S-XL, 24-52 pant size (Medium tested)
- Color Options: Black (tested), Coyote, MultiCam, Wolf Grey
- Materials: Milspec webbing, Cerakote 304 stainless buckle
- Width: 1.5″
- Weight: 4+ ounces (depending on size)
- Manufactured: United States
Wazoo has come a long way since their Kickstarter in 2017 introduced the first iteration of their cache belt. Now they are a full-fledged survival EDC gear company specializing in cache clothing and gear that you can easily stash inside.
Unlike the cheap imitations, the belt holds up. A hook and loop closure spans the inside of the main belt webbing material, letting you hide whatever will fit inside the belt. There are also two paracord loops that you can pop out to hang gear from, and the buckle itself has a compartment inside.
Its versatility is perfect for EDC enthusiasts since you can fit plenty of gear inside, but it also works well for travelers looking for a discreet place to hide cash.
If you are looking for a discrete solution that will hold everything you throw at it, the Wazoo Cache Belt is what you need.
Best Bushcraft Belt
Hults Bruk Leather
Thick, Repairable, and High Quality
The best axe maker also makes high-quality accessories that’ll help you carry axes and more.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Hults Bruk has designed a simple but thick leather belt meant to carry bushcraft gear with you into the woods.
Specifications
- Size Options: 95cm, 115cm (37.5″ or 45″)
- Color Options: Tanned leather
- Materials: Leather
- Width: 40mm (1.5″)
- Weight: 4+ ounces (depending on size)
- Manufactured: Sweden
The belt only comes in two sizes, but you should be able to shorten it for an exact fit. The belt is designed for customization, with plenty of accessories and holders that attach and a buckle assembly that is easily removable with a flat head screw.
Unscrew the buckle from the strap to shorten the belt to your desired length by trimming the side that attaches to the buckle. Loop an axe holster or whatever else you need in the woods to the belt, and it’ll keep up.
If you are looking for the best bushcraft belt, the Hults Bruk Leather Belt is what you need.
Upgrade Tactical Survival Belt
5.11 Maverick Assaulters Belt
Comfortable, Secure, and Strong
Whether rappelling from a building or just holding your pants up, this is the ultimate tactical belt for everyday.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
If you are looking for an everyday battle belt, this masterpiece from 5.11 is the best option. With a ridiculous tensile strength and the integrated belaying loop, plus the quick-release AustriAlpin buckle, this belt is top-notch all around.
Specifications
- Size Options: S-4XL (order one size up from pant size), Large tested)
- Color Options: Black (tested), Kangaroo
- Materials: 100% Nylon Webbing
- Tensile Strength: 7,000 pounds
- Width: 1.75″ Wide (check your pant loops)
- Weight: 5+ ounces (depending on size)
Because of the belay loop, you thread this belt through your loops opposite, so that may take some getting used to. Other than that, having a battle belt small enough to loop through your pants makes it the top tactical option for everyday use.
If you are looking for the best of the best, get the 5.11 Maverick Assaulters Belt.
Comparison Table
| Survival Belt | Recommendation | Price* | Material | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.11 TDU | Best Overall | $25 | Nylon webbing | Tensile strength |
| Wazoo Cache | Best for EDC Caches | $75 | Nylon webbing | Integrated stash pocket |
| Hults Bruk Leather | Best for Bushcrafting | $27 | Leather | Quality materials |
| 5.11 Maverick Assaulter | Best for Tactical Use | $100 | Nylon webbing | AustriAlpin buckle |
The Belts We Compared
Our research narrowed the field down to several types and brands of belts that we compared: 5.11, Propper, Wazoo, Relentless Tactical, Tacticon, Condor, CQR, Wolf Tactical, and more.
You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.
We considered a wide range of belts with survival in mind. Web belts, leather CCW, battle belts, and paracord belts were all considered. For everyday use, many of the load-bearing equipment (LBE) belts were impractical. We found the paracord belts (typical paracord stretches over 30%) to be underwhelming in holding pants in place, despite giving us yards of paracord if needed.
Besides wearing the belts and testing the practical functionality, I also used the crane scale and ratchet straps to test the stretch and tensile strength of the belts. All of our top picks easily topped out the 500lb limit of the crane scale and outclassed ‘typical’ belts in durability quickly in that regard.
We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have a belt that you swear by, let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually so we can try to get it in the next roundup and see if it will beat out our top picks.
What to Look For
The best survival belts have several important features to look for:
- Value
- Strength
- Versatility
- Durability
- Quality
When you get the right blend of these, you can find a belt that you can rely on in any survival situation and every day. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the belts that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like a belt shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. There are some great but high-priced belts out there that may not be a great choice if you. Follow your budget and get what makes the most sense for you.
You never want to spend too much money on one thing when it comes to gear. It’s better to diversify your EDC gear and survival clothes to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Strength
Most belts are strong, but some belts are a step above. Paracord itself typically has a 550-lb test (with class IV coming in at 750-pound tensile strength), and then braided belts increase that by the multiple of the strands used.
Webbing boasts very high tensile strengths, ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 pounds in tensile strength in belt widths. This makes it a popular pick for tactical belts, as well as safety harnesses and rescue equipment.
Leather strength can vary by a lot of factors, even on the same model of belts. High-quality leather resists tearing and can provide good tensile strength, but not at the level of a web belt. Still, leather belts are preferred by weight lifters for a reason- they are supportive, strong, and comfortable all at the same time.
Versatility
The versatility of belts is all over the map. Much of the versatility has been put into the belt buckle over the years, but those can be disappointing for practical use. Using a bottle opener attached to your belt buckle is not exactly ideal.
We’ve historically not been fans when reviewing gimmicky ‘combine stuff because we can’ products and look for gear that performs well. While hidden compartments, paracord weave, and multi-tool belt buckles all add versatility, we found the trade-off of making the belt worse too high for lower-priced options.
We give an exception to the rule in our cache belt pick because they use a hook and loop closure attached to high-strength webbing, rather than an inferior canvas material.
Durability
Durability is related to strength, but there are other factors to include, too. The buckle, stitch points, rivets, and screws are all places where a belt is more likely to fail than the textile it uses.
This is where products that have been used for years can prove themselves and stand above newer imported products or gear using cheaper materials. When done right, a survival belt isn’t something you will need to replace.
Quality
Quality affects durability, functionality, and comfort- plenty of the points we’ve covered already and more. Consistency from the manufacturer is key, as well as support if there is anything wrong on arrival, like the wrong size.
Brands that cut costs by sacrificing quality aren’t in the survival mindset and aren’t making products you’ll want to come to rely on.
How to Use a Belt for Survival
When we considered all of the different belts out there for survival, we found that they all have their strengths and weaknesses.
Paracord survival belts have a huge variety of uses that align with paracord, since you can unbraid them for huge lengths of paracord (up to 100 feet!) The downside is that paracord has inherent stretch, making these not very good belts. Which is important if you’re using it as a belt. I’ll stick to having paracord hanks handy and pass on the belts.
Tactical web belts are the preferred option by most, and offer a ton of uses:
- Securing Gear: Use the web belt as a strap or tie-down to secure gear to your backpack or body. This can help distribute weight and keep essential items within reach.
- Emergency Tourniquet: In the event of a severe injury with uncontrolled bleeding, a web belt can be used as an emergency tourniquet. Wrap the belt tightly around the limb above the wound, between the wound and the heart. Secure it with a sturdy knot or buckle, and seek medical help as soon as possible.
- Improvised Sling: If you or someone in your group suffers from a broken arm or shoulder injury, a web belt can be used as an improvised sling. Wrap the belt around the injured arm and tie it securely at the neck to support the arm.
- Shelter Building: A web belt can be used as a guy line for setting up a tarp or makeshift shelter. Attach one end of the belt to a sturdy anchor point, such as a tree, and use the other end to secure the shelter.
- Emergency Strap: If a backpack strap or piece of equipment breaks, a web belt can serve as a temporary replacement strap. Thread the belt through the appropriate attachment points and fasten it securely.
- Repelling or Ascending: In certain situations, a web belt can be used as part of a makeshift rope system for repelling down steep slopes or ascending difficult terrain. This should only be attempted if you have proper knowledge and experience in rope work and climbing techniques.
Leather belts are timeless, practical, and blend in. Sensible Prepper does a good job of breaking down the many uses for your traditional leather belt:
Who Needs a Survival Belt?
Most people wear belts. When you have a CCW, you need a strong belt to hold the holster in place. If you are just keeping your pants up, it doesn’t hurt to have one of the best belts on the market for survival versatility.
For this reason, we consider them a versatile piece of clothing that anyone could use every day.
Belts are essential for your:
If you’re not wearing pants with belt loops often, you may need a different solution- like an LBE battle belt or just a simple EDC bag.
How We Review Products: We research thoroughly before selecting the best products to review. We have vast prepping and survival experience and bring in outside experts when needed. Hours on end are spent testing gear in stressful conditions and using specialized testing gear to verify claims. We assign performance criteria and impartially rate each tested item. Learn more about how we test.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best belt for survival is useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Bequette, B., et al. (2017). Belts Evaluated as Limb Tourniquets: BELT Study Comparing Trouser Supporters Used as Medical Devices in a Manikin Model of Wound Bleeding. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. Volume 28. Issue 2. Pages 84 – 93. (Source)
Maher, S., et al. (2020). Trunk Flexion/Extension Excursion, Forces at the Feet and Gait Timing in Tactical Belt and Gear Vest Load Carriage. California State University, Kinesiology. (Source)
Thomas, M., et al. (2018). Effect of Load Carriage on Tactical Performance in Special Weapons and Tactics Operators. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Volume 32. Issue 2. Pages 554 – 564. (Source)
Conclusion
Survival belts can do much more than just hold your pants in place. A belt can be a versatile tool in emergencies and an important part of your EDC loadout. Since you’re wearing one anyway, why not make sure it is dependable and versatile?
Here are a few other reads our subscribers have also found helpful:
- The Best Gray Man Pants for Prepping and Survival
- Best Hats for Prepping and Survival
- Everyday Carry List | 25 EDC Essentials
See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.
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