Checking the leather belt quality is not just looking at its surface; you must look for many factors. You should check whether it looks attractive on the outside and know the different leather grades. After learning different leather grades, you can quickly evaluate whether a belt is comfortable, durable, and worth purchasing.
According to manufacturers, the highest quality leather belts are full-grain leather. Remember that full-grain leather comprises the outermost layer of animal hide and comes up with natural markings and imperfections intact.
Best high-quality full-grain leather belt
Full-grain leather belts are made up of high-quality leather and usually come up with impressive features. Let’s discuss these features in detail.
- Full-grain leather retains its shape even after being used for much time.
- This type of leather comprises all-natural leather with beautiful and visible imperfections.
- These leather belts are long-lasting and, with time, develop a rich leather patina.
- These belts come up with solid fibers that are tightly packed together.
- Full-grain leather belts are long-lasting and durable.
Now let’s discuss full-grain leather so that the people who are unaware can know about this.
What is full-grain leather?
Full grain means the most durable and strongest part of the hide of an animal. It is the first layer below the animal hair and has not been snuffed or sanded. So it means that this is the most natural leather with natural characteristics.
The grain surface is coarse before applying the surface coating, so the leather is still so durable and has more fiber strength. With time, it develops a patina on its surface. Remember that full-grain leather typically comes up with an aniline finish, giving it a great look.
However, the natural grain of the leather is still maintained. The excellent finish of the leather allows it to breathe compared to other types of leather.
Characteristics of the best high-quality full-grain leather belt
In this part of the post, we will discuss the features of the high-quality full-grain leather belt.
Ages beautifully
The primary specialty of a real full-grain leather belt is that it ages beautifully. The leather patina process develops when the leather ages and is particular to full-grain leather. This process occurs when the product undergoes continuous folding, scratching, and friction.
The belt looks more stylish and shiny, even after multiple blemishes and scratches. Another great specialty of full-grain leather belts is that, with time, the belt surface becomes darker and glossier after absorbing the natural oils of the animal skin.
Tiny holes on its surface
Another specialty of a full-grain leather belt is that it has tiny holes on its surface when you look very closely at it. These holes are present below the hairs on the animal skin during the tanning process.
You can see these holes when the hairs from the animal are removed. Keep in mind that if these holes are not present on the surface of the leather, then it is not full-grain leather.
The good thing about full-grain leather is that it is more breathable than other kinds, such as split-grain leather. This thing also prevents the growth of mold on the belt.
Full grain leather belt is strong and durable
Another great feature of a full grain leather belt is that its outer layer is the strongest because the fibers are densely packed. Therefore, the outermost layer of the animals is used to make full grain leather belts. So full grain leather always got some of the best compliments because they are long-lasting, strong, and durable.
Visible Imperfections
You can quickly identify the whole-grain leather belt because it has visible imperfections on its surface. This is the main reason this type of leather does not have a uniform look to other grades or synthetics. It is a complete leather with all of its natural markings. So ultimately, you can see minor scratches, scars, and nicks on its surface.
Trademark on the Belts
Usually, manufacturers use a trademark on their belts, which shows that the particular belt belongs to a specific brand. So the manufacturers trademark their belts as real leather.
If genuine or man-made leather is a trademark, it indicates synthetic or low-quality leather. Manufacturers always feel pride in using the full grain leather on their belts. On these types of belts made up of full grain, there are labels named 100% full grain leather or genuine full grain cowhide.
You can also find some leather imitations which disguise themselves as genuine leather. You should quickly identify them by looking for some labels such as:
- Synthetic leather
- Polyurethane leather
- Leatherette
- Faux leather
The grain pattern is different in real full grain leather
You will be surprised that the two hides are not the same when looking at full grain leather belts. Therefore, the hide is different because it is unique in other animals with different markings and patterns.
Therefore, these markings are full grain leather, making every belt unique and different. So if the leather bags are sold with similar grain patterns, they are not made from full grain leather.
Best Leather Belt
-
Steve Madden Men’s Dress Casual Every Day Leather Belt
Steve Madden is a high-quality full-grain leather belt which is a convenient option. This reversible leather belt has black and brown sides. It is highly recommended to order one size larger than your pant size.
Different sizes of this belt are available, from 32 to 45 inches. The good thing about this Steve Madden leather belt is that it is available in multiple colors, so you can choose it according to your liking.
It is considered the ideal belt for any person because it can be worn with dress pants and carried with a jean belt. It is a 100% leather belt available in a variety of shades. Due to multiple color options, you can get the perfect belt to match your style. The amazing specialty of this belt is that it can be worn as a designer, dress, or jean belt.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Available in different colors
- Convertible to dress belt and work belt
- Fashionable and long-lasting
- Good price and high quality
Cons
- It is on the small side.
-
Dickies Men’s Casual Leather Belt
If you want a 100% imported leather belt, this one is just made for you. If we talk about the sizing, then regular, big, and tall sizes are also available, and normally it fits from size 30 to 56 in even.
The manufacturers recommend ordering a size 2 inches larger than your waist size to best fit your waist. So, for example, if your waist size is 32, you should order a belt size of 34.
However, on the other side, we are all well aware of the popularity of the Dickie’s brand as it produces high-quality belts which are tough and built to last. There is also Dickies name imprinted, giving more beauty and aesthetics to the belt. The belt looks more stylish because of the extra stitching done on it.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Two rows of stitches on the edges
- Made up of 100% leather
- Matte finish buckle
Cons
- The belt quality could be improved.
-
Columbia Men’s Trinity Logo Everyday Casual Dress Belt
After giving it the first look, I am impressed by its beautiful brown color and finish. If we talk about its fabric type, it is made up of 40% bonded leather, 40% leather, and 20% polythene.
Don’t machine wash it, as it can only be hand washed. It is a beautiful, stylish, high-quality full-grain leather belt perfect for everyday wearing. You will like its beautiful metal buckle and simple strap with stitching.
So it will be the perfect fit to secure your pants. It may also be possible due to the sturdy strap that gives a new style to your personality. The belt is 1.4 in wide, which ensures that it easily fits in the belt loops of any pair of pants.
Columbia is a popular interested brand for high-quality full-grain leather belts to fit your day-to-day activities. The good thing about this belt is that you can wear it with any dress pants or jeans.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High-quality metal buckle
- Modern and stylish leather belt
- Easy to fasten leather belt
- Comfortable
Cons
- The size might be too big or too small
-
Carhartt Men’s Casual Rugged Belts
Carhartt is also a very renowned brand regarding belts. If you talk about this one, it is a high-quality casual rugged belt made of 100% leather. You can only clean it by hand washing.
It is a beautiful, imported, high-quality full-grain leather belt made of oil-finish leather. So, on the whole, it is a beautiful leather belt with great versatility and finish. Like many leather belts, it is a reversible belt with an oil finish.
So we can say that it comes up with a reversible strap design that is brown on the one side and black on the other. The belt looks more stylish after having the Carhartt logo on a metal loop.
Due to that logo, the belt looks more classy and is still perfect for everyday wear. The width of the belt is one and a half inches which can easily fit in any belt loop of your pants.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Oil finish leather reversible belt
- Nickel finish buckle
- Reversible belt
- Comfortable and waterproof
Cons
- Much lighter in weight
-
Timberland Men’s 35mm Classic Jean Belt
Everyone knows about the timberland brand’s popularity; if we talk about this one, it is very impressive and attractive. Like many full-grain leather belts, it is also made of 100% leather and can only be dry-cleaned.
It comprises 100% genuine leather with a beautiful and antique single-loop buckle. We can also call it a casual belt that will soon become your favorite. You can also call it an everyday leather belt perfect for dress pants and jeans.
It is also called a work belt, giving you a beautiful and stylish look. If we talk about its size, it is 1.25 in width. The manufacturers recommend ordering 1 inch larger than your belt size for the best fit. It is a classic belt by timberland designed for wearing in all seasons.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Single loop finish buckle
- All season wear leather belt
- Smooth to touch
- Rich color belt
Cons
- The color is lighter than expected
-
Dickies Men’s Casual Leather Belt
Dickie’s Men’s Casual Leather Belt comprises 100% leather imported from China. I am impressed by its beautiful and timeless design that gives your jeans or casual pants style. There are also two beautiful rows of stitches on the edges of the belt strap.
It also has a beautiful matte finish harness buckle with a pointed tip. Made from high-quality leather, it gives a nice and clean look to fit any outfit. So it has a very smooth and sleek leather strap that is perfect to finish off any outfit.
In other words, it is already a beautiful designer belt made for your everyday life. It does not matter whether you are in your home or going to work; it perfectly fits your style and gives you a fashionable look.
All sizes of this duty leather belt are available, from regular to big and tall. The sizes are available from 30 inches to 56 in, and it is best to order a size two larger than your waist size.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Two rows of stitches on the edges
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Nice and clean look
Cons
- The size is too small.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tumbled full grain leather?
With the help of tumbling, you can make the leather softer after treatment. The purpose of tumbling is to make the grain of the leather more evident and to smooth out the surface.
How to protect full grain leather?
To protect the full grain leather, leather sealants and leather protectants are available, which protect the top layer of the skin. Most importantly, it also helps stop natural oils from escaping and retains the moisture to keep it supple. However, it is your liking to apply polish on the leather, but it can offer complete protection in the form of additional barriers.
How thick is full grain leather?
The thickness of the full grain leather depends on the weight that has been processed. However, there are two or more sheets of leather, so you should consider the tightness of the fiber’s structure rather than its thickness.
Final Thoughts
Full grain leather means that the hair from the outer skin of the animal is removed, and the hide goes into the tanning process. It is to note that full grain leather is very strong and durable.
In this post, we have discussed the six best high-quality full-grain leather belts in detail. Remember that full grain leather is the most natural option to consider where the leather is not changed during tanning. It is considered the most high-quality leather available in the market.