Not only will long hours at the range become an important part of your life, but your wardrobe will likely undergo a few changes.
Shirttails need to cover waist holsters, coats need to keep shoulder holsters under wraps, and pant legs better not creep up to reveal an ankle piece when you sit down.
However, one wardrobe accessory that you may not have given much thought to during the permitting process will certainly become a priority as daily carry becomes more and more routine. A two-pound gun hanging from your belt may not seem like a lot but if you are attaching your holster to a normal belt, it will feel like an anvil hanging from your midsection by day’s end. A belt designed to support your firearm is as important an accessory as any picatinny add-on.
CrossBreed produces top of the line belts that are designed to support handguns for both IWB and OWB holsters. Now CrossBreed has teamed with Ares Gear to produce the “Crossover,” a hybrid tactical/casual belt designed for infinite adjustment.
As author Scott W. Wagner explains in his article “CrossBreed Ares Aegis ‘Crossover’ Belt: Tactical/Casual Gun Belt” at USConcealedCarry.com, the Crossover design improves support during carry:
“Any type of belt that relies on buckle holes for adjustment prevents the belt from fitting perfectly since it can’t be ‘infinitely’ adjusted within its range of size. Even at its best fit, the type of belt is either slightly too loose or slightly too tight.” (Read more at USConcealedCarry.com)
A slightly loose or tight belt is ok for keeping your pants around your waist every day, but the rubbing and chafing begins fairly quickly with a 2-pound piece of metal pulling on it. In order to offset that, the Crossbreed Ares Aegis Crossover belt is 1.5 inches wide and ¼ inch thick. The belt is made from hand-picked cowhide that eliminates the normal requirement for a stiffening insert between the layers and also comes in a choice of four colors.
The Aegis buckle adds a tactical component to the belt. Its tension lock design allows the belt to be locked down at any point along the length. The Aegis buckle operates through the use of a tension bar that can be pressed down to hold the belt at a desired location or released to loosen the belt. The stainless steel buckle weighs 4 ounces and is slightly wider than the Crossover belt. The belt/buckle combination gives an overall casual dress style, but with military specs to back it up.
The CrossBreed Ares Aegis Crossover belt is custom-made and therefore, non-returnable. However unsatisfactory reviews on the product are extremely rare and there is usually an availability waiting period for the Crossover. If you can get one, the MSRP is $89.95.