I changed my dad’s golf game.
I didn’t give him any useful tips or tricks.
I didn’t give him a new set of clubs or a fancy new driver.
I just got him a new golf bag. When he replaced his cruddy old bag (it was 75% duct tape) with something more stylish, it seemed like he immediately lowered his score by a few shots.
So there’s some deep truth to the phrase: the clothes maketh the man.
If boosting your style can boost your game, then I’m all in. After hours of research and trying many golf belts for myself, I’ve finally found the best golf belts a guy can get.
My Recommendations
I’ve tried a ton of golf belts in my day. You’ll find a lot of different styles on the course, so I wanted to pick the best of a few different categories so you can get a scope of your options.
Best Overall: Druh Belts
Druh Belts are flashy and they don’t care who knows it. If you’re looking to make a statement on the course, you can follow the lead of Lee Westwood, Sung Hyun Park, and John Daly in rocking a Druh.
These belts are made with fine full grain leather and come in a variety of patterns and colors. Choose between crocodile, ostrich, lizard, and snake stamped leather—you get the look of an exotic leather without the prohibitive price.
Plus, Druh has a huge selection of unique belt buckles (get one for your wife while you’re at it) that balance style and showmanship.
What’s really cool about Druh is that each of their belt buckles are interchangeable. You can pick up a few of their leathers, a few buckles, and mix and match.
In the pictures above, you can see that’s what I do. I have the grey alligator and blue alligator leather belts. Depending on my mood, I’ll swap one buckle for the other to the perfect style I’m going after.
What I Like
Considering the quality of the leather and the exotic stamps, Druh’s belts are very reasonably priced.
Their selection of belt buckles ensures you’ll find something that fits your style and personality, whether you want to go classic or be a little loud.
The packaging makes for an excellent gift.
What I Don’t Like
Their site doesn’t readily show all the colors of belts they have—you have to do a bit of poking around.
What Other Reviewers Say
If they’re good enough for dozens of professional golfers, then they’re good enough for me (though I still suspect I could out-do a few pros on the 19th hole).
Looking through the dozens of professional Druh Belts reviews, it seems like reviewers are fans of the unique styles Druh offers.
The Verdict
Druh Belts have a unique and flashy look to them. If you can get behind the style, you’ll be impressed with the quality of the leather and buckle.
Overall, I haven’t found a belt that matches the quality at the price Druh offers. These are my top golf belts.
For golf belts, I haven’t found a brand that matches the quality at the price Druh offers. If you can get behind their unique and flashy style, you’ll be very impressed with the quality of the leather and buckle.
Best Woven: Hyde Belt Company
Guys love woven belts for a few reasons, but the biggest is because they usually have a decent amount of stretch to them.
This is particularly helpful if you love a turkey club sandwich and a beer at the end of your round like I do. A man can expand with a lunch like that. It helps when your belt does, too.
My favorite woven belt is from Hyde Belt Company. After a few years of wearing it (often), it still retains its shape and color. I’ve never had an issue with the elastic wearing out, and it’s such a classy look, I find myself wearing this belt on date nights, too.
What I Like
All color options are fairly neutral, but not boring.
The elastic in the belt has a long life—this is a durable belt.
The leather accents patina and age well.
What I Don’t Like
I wish there was a greater variety of styles and color options.
What Other Reviewers Say
Hyde Belt Company gets high marks from reviewers. In fact, I reviewed Hyde a while back and love their leather belts, too.
Reviewers on their site often seemed to not get one, but two or three belts from Hyde—because their prices are lower, it’s easy to pick up a few.
The Verdict
If you’re after a woven belt with a little stretch, nobody does it better than Hyde Belt Company.
While they don’t have a huge variety of woven belt styles (they have 5 at the time of writing), the quality is outstanding. I’ve been wearing mine for a few years (multiple times per week) and the elastic feels as good as new.
Hyde Belts are an excellent option for you if you’re looking for a workhorse belt to get you through the week. You can pick up one high-quality piece of leather and match it with a few different buckles---a dress buckle for the workweek, and a casual buckle for the weekend.
Best Leather: Roger Ximenez
Roger Ximenez belts are all cut and sewn by hand—if you have an eye for quality, you’ll have no trouble finding subtle details that speak to the craftsmanship of these fine belts.
Because they’re handmade, you have the option of customizing your belt: choose the leather, stitching color, the size, and the width you want and the artisans at Roger Ximenez will put together exactly what you want.
The only downside is that, unlike Druh, you’re stuck with the buckle you choose. There’s no interchangeability, which can be a bummer if you like to customize your outfits.
What I Like
The leather quality is phenomenal. If you’re knowledgeable about leather, you’ll geek out on their site.
There are true exotic leathers available.
These belts age and patina beautifully.
What I Don’t Like
The designs are fairly conservative, which is great if you don’t want your belt to stand out, but there’s not a ton of variety for the more adventurous.
What Other Reviewers Say
You can read my detailed review on Roger Ximenez here, but of the crowdsourced reviews, I saw some positive signs. Many reviewers seem to be coming back for their second or third belt from Roger Ximenez—even though they’re on the pricey side, those that buy one belt appear to see the value.
The Verdict
If you’re the kind of person who only chooses the best, then Roger Ximenez belts are the way to go. While these belts cost a pretty-penny, the leather is exceptional and the hand-crafted quality is stunning.
If you ever hit the links with your business contacts, a belt like this may be the best choice for you.
Roger Ximenez belts feature no loose grain or imperfections, but there's still plenty of character in the stitching and craftsmanship. These belts are heirloom level pieces you'll want to pass down.
Best Canvas: Puma
Canvas belts are great for the course because they’re durable and you don’t have to worry much about scuffing or damaging them. They’re typically inexpensive and you can pick up multiple colors if you like to color coordinate your outfits.
Truthfully, there isn’t much difference between one canvas belt and another—the key is to get one with a solid buckle because that’s where buying cheap can become a problem.
The best play for a canvas golfing belt is Puma—like their Reversible Single Size. It’s nothing stunning, but it gets the job done and Puma’s buckles hold their tension for years.
What I Like
There’s a wide variety of colors available.
Relatively inexpensive so you can buy multiple and more precisely match your belt and shirt.
There are a few stretch versions on offer, which can make for a more comfortable experience.
What I Don’t Like
There’s a distinct Puma logo on the buckle, which may not be desirable for everyone.
What Other Reviewers Say
Reviewers sing a lot of praise for this belt, as many prefer canvas to leather because it doesn’t dig into their hips when sitting.
If you’ve ever found traditional belts uncomfortable, give canvas a shot. Many also report their buckles still going strong after several years.
The Verdict
Canvas belts are an excellent affordable and comfortable alternative to leather belts, but if you buy the cheapest possible option, you might end up with a lemon. That’s why I recommend the Puma canvas golf belt: the sturdy buckle ensures that you’ll have this piece for several years.
Canvas belts are an excellent affordable and comfortable alternative to leather belts, but if you buy the cheapest possible option, you might end up with a lemon. That’s why I recommend the Puma canvas golf belt: the sturdy buckle ensures that you’ll have this piece for several years.
Best Ratchet: Fairwin
Ratchet belts are so sturdy, they almost have a second function as a survival tool. Hey, if you go fishing for that ball in the lake one more time, you may need to bring some safety gear with you.
Jokes aside, nylon ratchet belts are fully adjustable so you’re never caught in between belt notches—you can always ensure you’re getting the perfect amount of support around your waist.
These ratchet belts from Fairwin are our reliable go-to.
What I Like
Nylon webbing is practically indestructible.
The ratcheting system makes it simple to get the perfect fit.
There are several neutral colors available.
What I Don’t Like
The tail end of the belt loops on the inside, which looks sleeker but can make it more difficult to adjust or take off.
What Other Reviewers Say
Reviews seem to enjoy the balance of tactical style and comfort. Several reviewers say that they had a few issues taking the belt off or adjusting it because the tail end of the belt runs on the inside.
This has its pros and cons: on the positive side, you’ll never have that tail bit of belt hanging from the front of your trousers: this belt always looks sleek. On the negative side, it can be difficult to adjust the belt or take it off.
The Verdict
There’s a little learning curve to the Fairwin Ratchet Belt, but once you learn how to adjust it, you’re set with a durable and reliable belt you can depend on for all 18 holes.
Many guys like this belt because, while it’s excellent for golf, it’s a solid belt for everyday wear, especially if you have a collection of everyday carry (EDC) tools like a pocket knife, etc.
There’s a little learning curve to this ratchet belt, but once you learn how to adjust it, you’re set with a durable and reliable belt you can depend on for all 18 holes. Many guys like this belt because, while it’s excellent for golf, it’s a solid belt for everyday wear, especially if you have a collection of everyday carry (EDC) tools like a pocket knife, etc.
How to Match Your Golf Belt
There are a few schools of thought when it comes to matching your golf belt with the rest of your outfit:
If you’re wearing a loud belt, like one of the bodacious pieces from Druh, then it’s best to keep the rest of your colors fairly neutral. A simple non-patterned polo, a solid pair of slacks, and a bright, bold belt will make an impression.
Some guys like to wear brighter colors and more unique patterns on their shirts—if that’s the case for you, then you’ll want a neutral belt.
If you can, match the color of your belt to your shoes. Brown is the most versatile option. I’d steer away from black as those accents tend to be more formal and black shoes can make your feet sweaty in a hurry.
You’re on the course to relax, so more casual colors are best. If you’re going to wear a white belt, you ought to have a pair of white shoes, too. A white belt is a power play, but you have to back it up with the matching shoes.
As a general rule of thumb: the crazier your belt, the more simple the rest of your outfit should be. Golfers are having fun with their style, but it’s all about balance.
When’s Tee Time?
Are you a man who’s unafraid to stand out and make a statement? If so, I recommend Druh Belts.
For golf belts, I haven’t found a brand that matches the quality at the price Druh offers. If you can get behind their unique and flashy style, you’ll be very impressed with the quality of the leather and buckle.
Or if you’re a little more classic, you can try Hyde or Roger Ximenez. And of course, if you’re looking for a solid belt that won’t put much of a dent in your bank account, you can try Puma and Fairwin belts.
But once you’ve got your new belt, you know it’s time to get back out there and start working on bringing that score down. I know you’ve got this.
FAQs
Do golfers still wear white belts?
Yes, seeing a white belt on a golfer is still common. The key to wearing a white golf belt is to match with pure white golf shoes.
Are golf belts different?
There’s no significant difference between a “golf belt” and a regular belt. However, golfers typically proudly display some of the most interesting and unique designs. If you’re looking for a unique belt, a golf brand is a great place to start.
Where should a belt sit?
Your belt should rest at the top of your hips. This is especially important in golf and you shouldn’t have any hip-restriction that will disrupt your swing. So long as your belt isn’t sliding down your hips or riding too high on your lower torso as you twist for a swing, your belt is in a good position.
