Imagine a nylon belt that retains its looks so well and is so comfortable that you’d want to wear it daily for decades. At a recent event a customer stopped by who was wearing a Siege Belt (formerly Alp Belt) he had bought in 2003. As he said, he wears it every day and travels everywhere with it. He had even written the year “2003” on the back of the buckle, so that he could keep track of the belt’s remarkable longevity.
The 20+year old ballistic nylon still looked good and he had no desire to replace it! However he had been looking for more of the belts in the following years, recognizing their rare and unmatched value. Delighted that we had kept their creator’s legacy alive by continuing to craft these “must-be-with-me” belts, he and his friend ordered more. This is the kind of devotion that is common among Siege Belt owners.
Unparalleled EDC Value of the Siege Nylon Belt
When we encounter Siege belt owners at events, invariably they are wearing their belts, with the uniform refrain “I wear it everywhere / every day”. With flexible custom nylon webbing, the belt is designed to become one with the wearer. We curve the buckle to conform to the body, chamfer all edges and individually round and bullet-nose bolts, prongs and nuts by hand for maximum comfort. The buckle is so solid that its comfort surprises new customers who notice they soon forget they are wearing it.
Considering the typical price of quality EDC items such as pocket knives — even mass-produced ones, these rare, artisan-crafted belts are an incredible value. Unlike many other EDC items, one can travel anywhere with a belt.
The story of Siege Extreme Nylon Belts
SIEGE BELTS are the brainchild of the late outdoor industry pioneer, master craftsman, Navy veteran, and a serial inventor, Ken Young. Among his notable inventions are the trailblazing Alp Sandals, the world’s first sport sandal for river-rafting, hiking and trail running, the Avery-Dennison FlipBack 360 Binder, and the SIEGE Stove universal Cross-Members.
Inspired to create the ultimate EDC nylon belt, Ken experimented to find the perfect weight, size and shape. He crafted each solid, one-piece stainless steel or brass buckle in a 35-step process. He bolted the buckles to ballistic nylon belts with nearly 4 tons of tensile strength, specially woven for ideal comfort and grip. Ken sold these prized nylon belts for several decades until he tapered down his belt output to focus on his other inventions. Recognizing these belts’ unique functionality and incredible durability, we determined to continue to make them available.
Bringing Back the Siege Nylon Belt: A Labor of Love
Under Ken’s mentorship, we learned his belt and buckle making process, which involves using some two dozen jigs and multiple machines with some buckles taking half a day or more to complete. Every buckle requires extensive metalwork including a considerable amount of hammering by hand with a heavy short-handled sledge hammer on hard stainless steel.
These highly coveted nylon belts can now be purchased with the original custom nylon webbing, made according to the original artisanal process and with the same unmatched functionality and durability. However, they will only be available as long as we have Ken’s custom high-density ballistic nylon, and the time to make them. Each belt is a labor of love, taking hours to craft, so we can only make them in very small numbers.
Take a look at all the unique finish styles available!
Given the very small volume that we are able to make and especially that these belts will last a lifetime or more, they are becoming increasingly collectible. At some point it may be necessary to raise prices to keep up with demand. However, we want to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to experience the excellence of Siege Belts, so we continue to price belts with our most popular Gray Man buckle finish at a price lower than many premium leather belts that come with mundane pin buckles. They are a fantastic value for a custom-crafted nylon belt, especially one that will last a lifetime and soon pay for itself in avoided belt replacement costs.
Outlasts Leather and Other Nylon Belts
Leather belts can last for many years, but their appearance begins to degrade within months, with cracks and creases where they warp through conventional pin buckles to stretched, bulging holes. If you want a leather belt to look good, it has to be replaced periodically (we’ve had buyers tell us that they go through two or three leather belts a year). With the price of leather belts these days, replacement costs can add up. A premium leather dress or gun belt can range between $130 and $225, and even more in some cases. These usually have boring pin buckles or tinny and unattractive chrome plated buckles which soon show significant wear.
By contrast, despite over a decade of daily wear, belts we wear show no fraying, and have held their color, with just a small amount of stretching to comfortably conform to the shape of the wearer. The custom webbing is supple enough to be tightly wound up around the hand and the grip is so phenomenal that even one wrap is enough to hold it securely. Conventional nylon belts do not have this combination of flexibility and durability.
Prepare with a Siege Nylon Belt
Your SIEGE Belt will pay for itself many times over and will become your trusty sidekick for life. Once you’ve worn one you will never want to go back to a conventional single-purpose belt. Don’t miss out on the chance to own one of these rare, collectible, heirloom-quality nylon belts. Secure your Siege Belt today, and join the select group of the prepared who enjoy the comfort, craftsmanship, confidence, and longevity that only a Siege Belt can provide.
