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payodpanda
958
Jun 25, 2017
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW
I've had the belt for around a month now, I think. I have worn them every time I've worn a jeans in this time. This review will be my personal opinions and some photos.
So when I got this belt, I looked at the color and I was like YES. I LOVE lighter color leather goods which are meant to be worn and worn and worn, cause they age beautifully and show a lot of contrast over time. So, that was a big plus. Then I touched the belt and it went SQUEAAAAK. I got the feeling that you get when you scratch your nails on the chalkboard. Who even uses chalkboards any more? Man I used to love sketching on chalkboards as a kid.
SO. The leather definitely had that new leather squeak, which has gone down over time but is still there (when I move the buckle around the metal against leather goes squeakety hell). While this is definitely not unheard of (my Common Projects sneakers squeaked like it was being tortured for about two months on tiled floors. I had to wear it at home to break it in), it can get annoying when you're putting it on. Thankfully you don't really have joints on your waist so you won't be moving your belt much while worn.
The buckle seems to be substantial and good quality. The top and the bottom of the buckle are separate, and the roller is a third piece of metal that connects them. Let me see if I can create a diagram of sorts to show this (probably later). But it definitely feels hefty and nicely finished.
It is sewn onto the belt, which is imo a little inconvenient. I feel that they should definitely have gone with Chicago screws on this belt since this is DEFINITELY not an ideal belt for more formal occasions--definitely limited to jeans and maybe chinos. The buckle really shouldn't come apart, but really the option of changing the buckle just in case something happens would've been nice. And the whole argument of "this is hand-stitched, it's more expensive than Chicago screws" is an argument AGAINST the decision--if Chicago screws are cheaper, and more suited to this belt application, then why not use Chicago screws and offer the belt at maybe $2 cheaper? Stitching made sense on the previous BBC collab belt, and I understand the reasoning there, but not for this one. :)
Alright. The leather itself seems to be fine. The belt is pretty raw and has an unfinished aesthetic. No burnishing etc. Unfinished edges. This goes with the overall idea of the belt, which is nice. Leaving the edges unfinished also exposes the leather to the elements and will help it age. I will upload some photos of the belt after a month of usage (but only a few days in that month), and you can see how it's going.
I like that it's not super thick nor super wide. Yes, thicker leather will probably last longer, but honestly I'm just a regular guy who wears belts for aesthetic purposes, not functional. Most of my time is spent sitting in a chair using keyboards and pointing devices, not guns or horse reins. Thick big belts can be overkill for my use case.
So overall, I am happy with this belt. At this price point, I think this is a good value. It is a good choice for the more casual days and if you want something that will age nicely with time. I Can not speak to the durability because I've only had it for a month but honestly I feel this should hold up just fine. Just condition the leather from time to time (maybe once a year or something if you're really hard on it ie going hiking or biking all the time wearing your jeans and sweating the hell out of your waist). I wish the leather didn't squeak, but that'll solve itself in a month or two. I do really wish that it had Chicago screws or snaps rather than a sewn in buckle, but I can live with this.
Photos with no wear: Front:
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Back:
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Random details:
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On my jeans, I think this was after 2 wears or something:
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After ~10 wears I think, sorry not in natural light: General scuffs, nothing too obvious yet:
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Clearly I'm not good at taking my phone out of my pocket:
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You can see where the belt touches the belt loops on my jeans. Leaving the edges unfinished lets the indigo dye the leather which is nice.
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