High vs Low Quality Belts & How to get 'em cheap!

This video is about my favorite shoe compliment, belts! I use a diagram to show the difference between Full Grain Aniline Leather, Corrected Grain Leather, and Genuine (Split Grain) Leather. I show several low quality belts, and several higher quality belts, then show you how to find a thrift store belt and rejuvenate it and shorten it (since the chances of finding a high quality belt at a thrift store in your exact length are slim). I finish with showing several examples of matching various color belts with shoes.
“Leather Quality Explained: Aniline? Full Grain? Corrected grain?”:
• Leather Quality explai...
This video also has some related info:
“Brogues Explained! J&M Aristocraft vs Optima Full grain Test”:
• Brogues explained! J&M...

[@atsylor5549]

Casual belts are much easier to tell. Because they usually have a flat raw sides. So you can see the cross section of the leather. These dress belts almost always have the sides stitched so you can’t immediately tell if it’s 100% leather or some synthetic crap with a thin leather veneer over it.

[@CobblerBob]

Good point!

[@rameylewis7730]

Thanks for the tips. 14 pairs of dress shoes? At one time in my life I would have said you are crazy and only women collected that many dress shoes. I've got 8 pairs of dress shoes and the collection is growing. I like dressing up and find dress shoes to be the foundation of any outfit. I live in the country and good boots are the standard normal wear. I'm changing things up a bit!!!! Now you got me interested in finding some quality belts to match those shoes :)

[@w9gb]

I save high quality (solid brass) buckles from worn or broken belts. On two occasions, I replaced the buckle on a quality top grain belt when it’s cheap buckle (pot metal) broke. Result, a long life quality belt for business casual usage.

[@TheNunakun]

Thank you for your commitment to helping gentlemen, such as an aspiring one like myself. No one else explains leather goods as simply and honestly like yourself. Cheers!

[@CobblerBob]

TheNunakun 🙏🏼 thank you!!

[@louiscyfer6944]

@@CobblerBob i got 7 allen edmonds belts at christmas. all priced originally at 98-120 dollars, and got them all between 20 and 29 bucks.

[@rickstir7144]

Wipe your nose buddy… I think you got some shit on it…

[@williamnettleton3413]

I wear a 42 belt and can find way longer so now I know what to look for thank you.

[@derred723]

these sorts of videos are super helpful for those of us shopping at discount stores like Marshalls because sometimes you can spot real quality from a lesser name brand that is using really good materials. at the very least i can spot the coatings on cheap belts and know when the price is the same maybe the affordable genuine leather, though the cheapest, is still better than the bonded or the synthetic or the belt with nothing stamped on it. also i can now look to alter it if all they have are long sizes.

[@royster432]

I’m into belts but now you’ve educated me more on the different quality of the leather, buckles and how to make a longer belt to my size, thanks .

[@bkubwa]

Thanks Rob! All your videos are fantastic and very humbling to hear that you show honesty in your opinion...keep them coming

[@CobblerBob]

Zeegar 🙏🏼 thank you!!

[@rockyjaydog6447]

Really great video, now I know why some belts are priced so high and what to look for in value.

[@paulmlemay]

I love your videos. Good tips for restoring items from thrift stores to look good again.

[@troyfarley4225]

Another great video. As always, I watched and learned something. Keep up the great work.

[@alvinprettyman1802]

thanks for posting always learn something from your videos set up my own cobbler shop in the garage

[@sarahangle3046]

Thanks. I will be on the lookout for J&M belts. I just got a container of Saphir Pate de Luxe. Wow!! I ordered 3 more. So thanks for that info. too.

[@ColbyClinePenholders]

I will always regret not buying the matching Burnished Olive belt from Allen Edmonds when I bought my shoes! The store was closing and the belt was only $30. Still haven't found one to match the shoes from AE, but at least I found a synthetic one that matches from Marshalls after many months of looking. If I knew what I know of shoes now my wallet would have been in for a rough time that day.

[@CobblerBob]

LOL! $30 new for an AE belt is a great deal, but there will be other chances. You can keep an eye out on eBay too.

[@mhaas281]

The best way I found to get high quality belts is to go to TJ. Or if you visit or have a friend in Columbia you can get a nice leather Velez belt for good price.

[@Fanakapan222]

Only get belts made from harness leather and that have a plain brass buckle. Avoid any belt thats made from layers with a filling between. There are so many ways to split leather to almost nothing, coat it and still claim its 'Genuine Leather' these days, that anything other than a harness grade of leather is designed to part you with your money for sub standard crapola :)

[@redwoodsquirrel432]

Good content as always, learned something new as well, thanks!

[@stevenwongrealestate]

one thing, corrected grain leathers are actually quite strong, the belts you have are likely not corrected grain, but split grain ie the one @6:00

[@imec00]

Thanks for this video. I was about to ask for a belt video but did a quick search just in case and this popped up. Next wallets!

[@belphegor6603]

Love the vids, Bob! Very educational and just fun to watch. Really digging the walnut Sanfords. I recently saw some on eBay go for under $30 and now I'm regretting not purchasing them.

[@asadb1990]

Costco kirkland has full grain belts for like 25. They periodically go on sale.

[@101jungi]

Hahahahaha. I don't know why i found it so Funny with u marking the belt 36.🤣🤣🤣. Loved ur explanation for it too. Anyway awesome video

[@predoguy]

Great tips!

[@rhymeandreasoning]

I like belts and shoes alot. Your shoes are very nice.

[@renatef.568]

Thanks for this valuable information and money saving tips.

[@HoglyStevenson]

Thanks for the link to this vid Robert!

[@craigslistrro709]

I have a leather worker make my belts, he charges $20.00 and doubles up the leather so they last. My belts have lasted 10 years without them wearing out. Go to a leather worker and you can get them made in custom thickness, colors and widths

[@SplurgeFrugal]

Great tips! Time to step up my belt game!

[@amigoal1254]

Awesome video, very educational

[@RevJamesCostello]

Very good video. 18 minutes went by quickly, which is a sure sign you are doing something right. It would have been nice if you had burned the offcuts from the higher quality belts. :-)

[@styzoom]

Nice work Robert. Maybe you can do a video of shortening a belt? Not an adjustable one but one you have to cut the leather and stitch it again. I have maybe 4 belts lying around that are too long, but never feel like bringing them to a cobbler as he will probably charge quite a bit. I am curious how I can stitch the leather again properly.

[@sireri73]

Thank you so much for your video. Appreciated

[@remonmicheal8753]

Thank you very much for the information God bless

[@ethan6864]

Those look just like the tags at our village thrift store here in Akron.

[@CobblerBob]

Ethan 😉

[@ethan6864]

@@CobblerBob haha, right on. We got the best thrift stores in the world here. I found a pair of AE Boulevards in my size not long ago..

[@williamvelez8131]

Great information. Thank you.

[@SigmaJAD]

Wish I never watched any of this stuff. Was quite happy with stuff before. Education has cost me money 😀👍

[@literoadie3502]

Great video! Thanks

[@andrewh4806]

How much should one spend for a high quality belt?

[@CobblerBob]

As little as possible? LOL, sorry for the vague answer, but my best cheap belts were thrifted for $4 to $8. Thrift stores will usually have no clue about full grain vs corrected grain, so they only mark up the Gucci or Versace belts. I have a really nice one I bought for $50 about 5 years ago that was $100 at Ticknors, a local higher end men's store, but it was a holiday 1/2 off sale time. Allen Edmonds belts I think are about $125 full retail, but you can get them on eBay for half of that give or take.

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

How about genuine faux leather from China?

[@CobblerBob]

alonzo calvillo LOL “Genuine Faux?” There’s an oxymoron. Faux is a French word for fake or false, so that’s plastic.

[@monobgantonina5577]

But the piece you showed of real leather, the one that did not burn, it still had a coating. It was corrected from one side.

[@nmartin5700]

Where'd you learn all this! Awesome information

[@CobblerBob]

Abraham Moses LOL, I love to learn. I’ve been on styleforum.com, I’ve read & watched everything on Allen Edmonds’s website... I enjoy the learning process versus being in it for the result. I’ve watched tons of stuff from shoe makers and leather tanneries and even furniture makers on KZbin too. Plus I have an Engineering background and used to work on cars so I love to figure things out.

[@AleLoy]

What if it says "real leather"?

[@CobblerBob]

Ale Loy - I would assume that means the same thing as “Genuine Leather”. It means it’s not fake, so it’s usually the lowest grade of leather, split grain leather.

[@AleLoy]

@@CobblerBob thank you very much

[@jyc2201]

Just purchased new Allen Edmonds walnut strands from my favorite ebay seller for $150. Should I just pony up the money for the matching Manistee belt or should I shop around?

[@CobblerBob]

tito5581 that is a GREAT question! From my experience belts with broguing on them are very rare at thrift stores, and AE Manistee belts do not seem to be very common on eBay. So if you’re OK with one without broguing, thrift it or buy it from eBay. If you want one with broguing, you may have to spend some money. Sorry for the spelling errors, I must have been half asleep, I corrected them.

[@belphegor6603]

Nordstrom occasionally has the Manistee belt on sale for $75. They recently were selling it for that price during their Labor Day sale. I've seen some used ones go on ebay for $50. Nordstrom also had a Johnston & Murphy perforated belt for around $50 regular price. Nordstrom Rack has a similar belt by Cole Haan for relatively cheap, but I doubt it is full grain leather. I can send you the links for them if you'd like.

[@jyc2201]

@@belphegor6603 for an extra $25, I think I'll stick with the Allen Edmonds during one of their sales. I've have a couple pairs and they are good quality. I am going to check out Johnston and Murphy at Nordstroms though!

[@SPNKr16]

Big W (Woolworths department store) makes a good quality brogue belt, dark brown and black. It's not a complex brogue with alternating sizes of holes but it's nice and lasts a long time if used a couple of times a week. In high school it was my only belt so I wore it down all the way. But now they're even better and since I'm into be stylish the dark brown belt is in my rotation. Now just need an actual dark brown pair of calf leather shoes to team it with. I like thinner belts 30mm or 25mm even. I believe way back in the day 20mm was the norm.

[@kayele]

subbed!

[@JohnnyVichi]

can you please Mr Robert recommend high quality full grain belt brand / online website where we can buy some?

[@CobblerBob]

Johnny Vichi honestly I’m not well-versed in this area, I’ve had my eyes on Allen Edmonds belts for quite a while, but they are not cheap. I want a walnut and oxblood colored Mainstee belt bc they have broguing to match my wingtips and cap toe shoes with broguing. That lighter brown belt in the video was a Johnston & Murphy.

[@Danlikescheesteaks]

Really depends on your price point and style. My favorite higher end exotic belts are from W.Kleinberg. I also have one from Martin Dingman that is great. For thick work belts, I don't think you can get much better than Thirteen50. Their belts are nothing short of indestructible. Other brands of high quality belts include: Tanner Goods, Rancourt & Co., Ashland Leather, J.W. Hulme. There are many others, but this is what I could think of off the top of my head. You posted this a couple months ago, so you might've already found something, but I hope this helps

[@bastantena]

Don’t use shoe polish on leather belt scuffs cause the polish will rub onto your clothes.

[@DavakiDnD]

Leather conditioner is not shoe polish. There's a reason it's called leather conditioner and not shoe conditioner; it's also suggested for things like couches.

[@crisyorke1328]

Made in China is NO NO

[@CobblerBob]

Cris Yorke of course we all know made in USA is MUCH better, but you’re right I didn’t say that in the video. Besides, for $8 sometimes I will compromise if I can’t find one made in the US. Besides, now I can take my time finding a good Burgundy belt to replace the one made in China.

[@TheDobbermn]

That rag grosses me out.....