stay away from this product! Kore Essentials Belts

[dwsintxs]

I recently ordered a belt from Kore Essentials. This belt has a simple but ingenious design in that it allows an almost infinite number of adjustments for size. I like the idea that I could buy a belt that wasn't too long, that could be adjusted to my exact size even if that size was not a size that most belts are made in. In the past I've had belts that were too short and I found myself drilling a new hole towards the end rather than buying a next size up which would prove to be too long and then when cinched up would be either too loose or too tight.

The Kore Essentials belt takes that frustration and guess work out of the whole belt experience.
This belt allows you to pull the end to adjust to your waist size.

You buy the belt, attach the buckle at the correct end, and then try the belt on, and trim the end so that it's not sticking out six or eight inches too far and you're done. When wearing it, you simply pull the end and cinch it until it feels perfect for you, but you're not bound by where the manufacturer decided to place the holes for the buckle mechanism.

So, I got the belt, and it was perfect for about a week, and then I began noticing that it was hard to push the end through the buckle. I only wore it with the gun (tucked into my waistband, and NOT on a holster) for four days.

I finally looked at the end of the belt to try and determine why the end of the belt wasn't going through the buckle, and I noticed that the end of the belt was peeling apart. The outside leather type material had come unglued from the inner layer, and when the end was pushed through the buckle, the loose end was not allowing it to fit through the buckle.

So, I contacted the company, through email, and told them about the problem, and figured they'd just send me a new belt (there's nothing wrong with the buckle) and that would be the end of it. I even made a point of telling them in the email how much I loved the product and that I've been telling several friends about them.

The company responded back that I had bought the wrong belt, and that I had bought a non-gun type belt, what I had was a dress belt and that the 'weight' of the gun was what caused the problem.

I explained that the tip end of the belt had nothing to do with the fact that I was carrying a gun, and that the end shouldn't peel back like that regardless. In fact, I wore the belt 8 days (without carrying) and 4 days while carrying, and as I mentioned, I carried using an IWB that wasn't even attached to the belt at all.

I offered to send pics, (which I did) and was told that they could NOT help me because I was using a 'dress' belt instead of a 'gun' belt and that they would NOT off a replacement or a refund.

Finally, after several emails back and forth, he responded with this:

* * *
Over the past year we've had several people mistakenly purchase fashion belts and use them to carry, despite the fact that our fashion belts are not designed for that. MOST OF THEN CAME APART AT THE TRIMMED END. Trimming the end has nothing to do with it. The fashion belts can't handle the extra weight and pull out of the buckle. It doesn't take much to do this to a soft leather fashion belt. So I'm not buying your rationale. We know belts...

If you use the new fashion belt for carrying - IT WILL COME APART

We will ship one out monday, then please never contact us again.

* * * *

By the way, I added those caps for emphasis. . . just to illustrate that the company is blatantly admitting that their belts will fall apart.

Also, their web site is somewhat confusing as to which belts are fashion and gun belts, and if they've had so many complaints about them falling apart because customers are buying the wrong ones, you'd think they'd put some warnings on their web site.

Final analysis: it seemed like a GREAT product. . .I still wish it was. . .but I cannot and will not waste my money on a company that has such poor customer service and knowingly puts out inferior products, especially after hearing many complaints (according to them) about the problems.

I finally told the guy to keep his belt and NOT send me a replacement. . .because why would I want something that HE says will fall apart?

Then I told him to go ahead and keep my money (even though he NEVER offered a refund) because if he needs money so badly as to rip people off, then he needs that $60 bucks (or whatever it was) more than I do.

Lastly . . I have been wearing belts all my life (as we all have) and gun belt or not, I have NEVER in my life,EVER had a belt come apart like that, even after wearing some of them for six, eight, even ten years!

Right now, I am back to wearing a 'dress' belt that is about six years old, from Target, and it cost about $20 and I am carrying. . .and it is holding up fine. . . but I still want a decent gun belt for when I do wear a holster. Apparently, Kore Essentials, while they had a good idea to begin with, has poor quality products and sucky (at best) customer service.

Avoid them.

[Jusme]

Thanks for the post. I had been considering one of their belts but if it's not warranteed,and they don't want to make it right when their product fails, they won't get my business. I don't think I would have volunteered to let them keep my money, but that's your call. I think I will go with belt man's belt instead.

[rotor]

There are many fine gun belt recommendations on this site. I will not comment on Kore. I purchased a belt from Bigfoot Gunbelts http://gunbelts.com/ and am very happy with it.

[The Wall]

If it doesn't specify in some way it's a gun belt then it probably won't hold up very well regardless of who makes it. I'm sure there are probably not specified belts out there that would be okay, but why take the chance.

[Abraham]

OP: Buy a "Gun Belt" and a "Holster".

Put them together.

Problem: Solved

[FastCarry]

OP: Buy a "Gun Belt" and a "Holster".

Put them together.

Problem: Solved

I dont think the intent was for anyone to solve his issue, but to inform others of his/her experience.

[baldeagle]

The question is, did you buy a gun belt or a fashion belt. The fashion belt clearly says These are NOT edc rated gun belts. The gun belts also specify exactly how they are to be used.

Introducing the X1 & X2 GUN BELTS. Instead of belt holes, these belts use a hidden track with over 40+ size postions, in 1/4" increments. The result - a perfect, secure fit every time you put it on. Featuring high-grade alloy buckles and Reinforced, Top-Grain Leather belts (1.5" wide). These Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) belts are designed for Every Day Carry (EDC) of light to medium weight firearms (3 lbs. max). The only difference is the buckle style. Gun buckles and belts are interchangeable with each other, but NOT with other Fashion style belts.

So if you bought a fashion belt, you were warned, and you have to suffer the consequences. Before you give a product a bad rating, it's important to know if you are using it as the manufacturer recommends or using it for an unrecommended purpose.

[JALLEN]

I took a look at their web pages. There are two categories, fashion belts and gun belts.

In the fashion belts product description, it says, "This is a Fashion belt, NOT designed to support firearms. For EDC belts see our X1 or X2 models. "

In product description under both types, there is language like, "If you don't completely love your new Trakline belt - send it back within 30 days for a Full Refund. And if that wasn't enough, all our products carry a one-year warranty against any defects, or breakage under normal usage. "

You say they would send a replacement, which is what they offered, up to a year. Did you try the 30 day money back guarantee? Maybe since you used it for another purpose they expressly warned against, the guarantee didn't apply.

I'm curious what the difference is between the fashion belts and the gun belts.

[chuck j]

It's actually odd but I came over here just to put up a personal review of this very belt . Said I would a few months ago so to fulfill that obligation and found this thread when I clicked on .
I'm not trying to counter the op . Just reporting my experience with the same belt . I got the gun belt version . It has worked just fine with a compact Range Officer , inside the waist band Alien Gear holster . Full size 1911 outside carry......I don't know , could be a little light . Belt is holding up fine I really like it . I would agree with the op the tongue of the belt shouldn't separate even if it's the dress model . Mine shows no wear or separation at all .
Thank you for reading and good luck to you .

[SigM4]

Maybe I'm just dense, but any belt where I have to trim off excess seems like a bad idea, especially for a gun belt. Part of the strength of most gun belts is the stitching that runs along the exterior edges of the belt. By trimming off the tongue you'd lose this stitching on the end. I don't care how good the bonding is between the front and back pieces the fact that they started separating isn't surprising. Moreover I'd imagine you wouldn't get a very clean cut, or that it would look very unfinished vs. a properly edged belt. Just seems like a bad idea overall.

Not a jab at you OP, just an observation from someone that's had many good (and even more bad) gun belts over the years.

[Right2Carry]

There are many fine gun belt recommendations on this site. I will not comment on Kore. I purchased a belt from Bigfoot Gunbelts http://gunbelts.com/ and am very happy with it.

Just ordered a Bigfoot gunbelt myself as my beltman belt is showing signs of wear. I got the 18oz with steel insert. Looking forward to seeing how it holds up.

[WildBill]

Maybe I'm just dense, but any belt where I have to trim off excess seems like a bad idea, especially for a gun belt. Part of the strength of most gun belts is the stitching that runs along the exterior edges of the belt. By trimming off the tongue you'd lose this stitching on the end. I don't care how good the bonding is between the front and back pieces the fact that they started separating isn't surprising. Moreover I'd imagine you wouldn't get a very clean cut, or that it would look very unfinished vs. a properly edged belt. Just seems like a bad idea overall.

Not a jab at you OP, just an observation from someone that's had many good (and even more bad) gun belts over the years.

The construction of the Kore belts are different than conventional belts.
From my observations, the "core" seems to be plastic and it is covered by thin layers of leather that are bonded together.
The stitching [very thin and weak thread] appears to be more cosmetic than actually holding the belt together.
When I cut the belt to size, the stitching came undone, but the belt seems to hold together fine.
I bought one of their gun belts a few weeks ago and did a short review. http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... r#p1065012

[Kkpsiknl]

It is my understanding that you do not trim the tongue end.
Here is a quick vid by The Yankee Marshal

[WildBill]

It is my understanding that you do not trim the tongue end.
Here is a quick vid by The Yankee Marshal

I completely missed that in the OP.

I couldn't understand why he had problems threading the belt through the buckle.

The end of the belt that you trim is marked in inches to show you how much to trim off.

You DO NOT trim the tongue end.

[SigM4]

Ah ha. Yeah, I get the idea trimming off the opposite end from the tongue, maybe this is where the issue lies.