Belts
Used MTB belts are a small detail but a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. Fox, Dakine and Race Face make webbing belts with flat buckles that sit flush against your body rather than pressing into you on the bike. Off the bike, MTB brand belts look the part with casual wear too.
Why not just wear a normal belt?
Standard belts with metal buckles dig in during riding and scratch top tubes when the bike is leant against you or carried. A proper riding belt keeps your shorts in place on rough terrain without the pressure points of a conventional belt, which makes it a sensible addition to the rest of your MTB clothing.
Webbing or leather?
Webbing belts are the rider's choice. Nylon or polyester webbing with a flat clamp buckle sits flush against your body — no metal prong digging into your stomach when you're hunched over the bars. Fox and Dakine make the most popular MTB webbing belts; they're infinitely adjustable with no fixed holes, and cut-to-length. Leather belts from MTB brands are more about lifestyle, with Santa Cruz and Chromag making casual leather belts with branded buckles that work better off the bike than on it.
Which buckle type works best?
Clamp buckles, like a seatbelt mechanism, are the standard for riding belts — flat, secure and easy to release one-handed. Slide buckles use friction to hold the webbing and are even lower profile. Avoid magnetic buckles for actual riding, as they can release under impact. Metal frame buckles are fine for casual MTB brand belts but uncomfortable for riding. The best riding belts use buckles that distribute pressure across the full width of the webbing.
What should I check buying used?
Belts are essentially indestructible and one of the simplest used buys — even easier than picking up t-shirts and vests second-hand. Check the buckle mechanism still locks and releases cleanly, and inspect the webbing for fraying at the cut end and where it feeds through the buckle. Leather belts should be checked for cracking, since dried-out leather that's been stored poorly can snap at the buckle hole. Webbing belts in good condition are functionally identical to new.