When I first received the Kore Essentials Trakline belt, I kind of discounted it because it was so thin. Gun belts are traditionally made out of these thick layers of leather, steel, or polymer-woven cores. The Kore Essentials Trakline Belt appeared to be two soft layers of leather with some sort of core embedded in the middle.
But then I equipped it and my usual holster configuration (Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0). Carrying a heavier compact CZ-75D PCR, I figured this would surely put it through the test. I was looking for the leather to deform or sway in a matter of weeks. It’s been my daily carry gun belt for going on two months and, as you’ll see from the product review video, the belt is just as straight as the day I got it out of the box.
Out of the box, the Kore Essentials Trakline belt needed to be cut down significantly. The folks over at Kore Essentials did this because different people will need different lengths. It’s default length is 54″ and it’s 1.4″ wide. Because my CZ-75D PCR with AGH 3.0 IWB adds an extra 2 inches to my waistline, I cut it down to a few inches more than I was expecting to need. This is what Kore Essentials recommends and it works.
One of the big features I liked was its latch mechanism for the belt buckle. Instead of using a hole buckle like most traditional belts, this one has a series of tracks. Each track is a quarter inch from the next, allowing for a very custom fit. If you’ve ever been stuck between tightening a belt uncomfortably or leaving it too loose — the Kore Essentials Trakline belt takes the guesswork out of the equation.
These tracks, when inserted into the buckle, keep the belt secure. I never experienced the belt give way. In fact, when I first put it on I got scared that I couldn’t take it off because I didn’t understand how the release switch worked. “Oh great. I hope I like this belt because it’s stuck for good.”
The good news, once you figure out the latch (it’s really easy), the belt comes off flawlessly.
The Kore Essentials Trakline Belt isn’t bulky but it does everything a solid gun belt ought to do. It doesn’t lose its shape, come undone, and it’s highly adjustable. The belt buckle selection from the website seems geared more for a business professional crowd. That’s exactly where the Kore Essentials Trakline Belt falls into play for me — if I’m going to a social occasion or don’t anticipate I’ll be rolling around in the mud.
Features of the Trakline Belt:
- Extremely comfortable
- Custom-fit to waistline
- Thin yet resilient
- Reinforced leather
- Swappable belt buckles
When wearing a business suit, wearing a thick steel-reinforced leather belt can be cumbersome and it can also present an extended silhouette that looks like I either have a tumor growing out from my hip or, more correctly, a concealed carry firearm stowed in an inside the waistband holster. Because the Trakline belt is so thin, it doesn’t press up on the material of any covering layers and prevents any obvious printing.
Final Rating: Kore Essentials Trakline Belt (24″ to 44″ Black)
MSRP: $59.95 — basic model with added features like reversible belt leather for an additional $25.
All rankings in each category are out of 5.0 possible points.
- Conceal: 5.0
- Comfort: 5.0
- Presentation: 5.0
- Durability: 4.4
- Value: 4.5
Grade: 4.8/5.0 (A+; Honor Roll)
Out of all the equipment I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, the Kore Essentials Trakline belt definitely makes the Honor Roll. It meets all my needs as a concealed carrier and is perfect for formal or business occasions. I would safely recommend it to anyone looking for a very well designed belt good for all occasions.