A normal belt has about six holes and adjusts in one-inch increments. Unfortunately, I don’t. Whether it’s the difference between a Beretta Nano, GLOCK 19, or crushing a chicken fried steak at Dahlia’s, it’s easy to find oneself “between holes.” Kore Essential’s Trakline belt has no holes, instead adjusting in 1/4-inch increments on a ratchet-like track . . .
Kore sells three swappable gun belt buckles and leather gun belts in brown or black, plus slick little hangers that the buckle ratchet latches right onto for hanging the belt(s) vertically in your closet.
The belt comes really long — 54+ inches.
And you simply trim it to size — the general rule is adding 4 inches to your pant size. Obviously I’d recommend erring on the “too long” side at first, as you can always trim off more but can’t add length back on.
Inside Kore’s gun belt, sandwiched between two layers of leather, is a poly-core. Basically, it’s a plastic strip that adds stiffness and torsion resistance to the belt, helping it better stand up to the weight of a pistol and other EDC gear.
Once cut to length, it’s a simple matter to add one of Kore’s buckles. The buckle in this review is the X3 style. Flip the lever down to drive seven sharp teeth into the belt, locking it very securely in place. The back side of the buckle is actually designed to work as a bottle opener, too.
The real trick, of course, is the track system. Instead of holes, the spring-loaded buckle “tooth” ratchets into the Trakline track at quarter-inch increments. There are 40 steps, giving you a good six times more adjustment options than a typical belt. Not only that, but there’s about 10 inches of adjustment between loosest and tightest, which is a lot more than a holey belt, too.
To loosen the belt, simply squeeze the tab on the bottom of the buckle. This lifts the tooth and allows the belt to slip right out or, if you’ve just had that Texas-sized breakfast, loosen up by a notch or two. It’s really easy and fast.
The end result is a great belt for everyday concealed carry purposes. Or, heck, for nicer occasions — gun or no gun — as it’s very nice looking rather than giving off that more gruff and tough tactical or utilitarian feel of most gun belts. 
The Kore Gun Belt also works great for OWB carry and competition use. It’s more than stiff enough both vertically (doesn’t sag) and torsionally to hold the weight of a gun plus a bunch of spare magazines without having to wear it uncomfortably tight.
After seven months of use, the two biggest standouts with the Kore Essentials Trakline Gun Belt are the granular adjustability and the surprising stiffness and load carrying ability given the “dress belt” look. I’ve very much appreciated the quarter-inch adjustments. So much so, in fact, that I punched an extra hole in one of my other belts between the two factory holes that I used to bounce back and forth between, having never found that Goldilocks zone in either.
If I could change anything about this belt, it would be additional flexibility in the “wrap-around” direction. This isn’t unique to the Kore Gun Belt, but when carrying IWB with a comfortable amount of snugness, there’s a gap in front of and behind the holster. That is, a gap between the belt and me. A floppier belt does a better job of conforming around the shape of the holster, which I find comfortable and even more “concealy,” but then again a floppier belt usually necessitates a tighter fit to support the weight of a gun.
On balance, I find that running a stiff belt like this one, adjusted looser, is more comfortable. The exception is with a relatively lightweight gun and a well-broken-in, floppier belt that has molded itself to the gun lump.
At $59.95 for a belt plus buckle and $25 for an additional belt, I’d definitely recommend the Kore Gun Belt here to anyone in need of an everyday carry belt that doesn’t scream “tactical.”
Heck, it’s at home from casual wear to business suit, yet despite the Kore’s refined looks it does the job as well as most of the significantly thicker, heavier gun belts. All while providing far more adjustment options, swappable buckles and belts, and size-it-yourself convenience that alleviates concerns of mail ordering the wrong size.
Specifications: Kore Essentials Trakline Gun Belt
Material: Genuine leather with polymer core for additional stiffness. High-grade zinc nickel alloy buckle.
Width: 1.5 inches
Thickness: 5.5 mm
Size: Trim to size; fits waists from 24 inches to 54 inches
Adjustment: 40 adjustment points in 1/4-inch increments
Warranty: 1-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee
Origin: Designed and headquartered in San Diego. Manufactured in Asia (belt in China, buckle not specified).
MSRP: $59.95 for a belt plus buckle package. $25 for an additional belt. $29.95 for additional buckles.
Coupon Code: Enter “TTAG”‘ for 10% off; no expiration.
Disclaimer: Neither TTAG nor any of its writers receive any compensation whatsoever based on orders or anything else related to these belts. Knowing the review was pending, Kore asked if I’d like to include a coupon code for our readers. I almost said “no,” but figured I’d just add this sort of disclaimer as an assurance that there’s no conflict here and go ahead and take the offer to save any armed intelligentsia belt buyers a few bucks.
Ratings (out of five stars):
Comfort * * * * *
Quarter-inch adjustments are just awesome. The belt is also stiff enough that it can carry weight on its own, alleviating the need to hold your gun and gear up via the tight squeeze method.
Utility * * * *
Designed to support up to four pounds of guns, mags, and gear. Which it does. And it looks classy and unassuming while doing so. Plus, the belt buckle — easily swappable, mind you, for other buckles or onto other belts — is a bottle opener. And again, quarter-inch adjustments allow it to fit properly around all of the guns and holsters in your collection, both before and after Thanksgiving dinner.
Quality * * * *
The finish quality and materials quality of the buckle is very nice. It feels solid and operates smoothly, has no burrs or finishing marks, no mold lines, etc., and it has the appearance of quality as well. It’s a nice piece. The belt is also very nice but maybe not quite as nice. Fit and [very even] finish, edge detail, stitching, and quality of the “track” are all way up there. The leather is real leather, which is excellent, but it’s of average quality.
Overall * * * *
The Core Essentials Trakline Gun Belt is a really great belt and, at under $60, is also a strong value. I’ve heard advertisements for this style of track-adjustable belt on the radio for many years but basically blew it off as a gimmick. It isn’t. The adjustment is extremely fast and easy, highly secure, and the comfort difference between quarter-inch and one-inch adjustments is very easy to appreciate in practice.