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Belts have come a long ways over the past decade! Leather belts with holes may still be popular, but their market share is sliding in favor of a new generation of belts without holes that rely on compression, stretchiness and friction to keep them up, rather than holes that are unsightly, and do not allow for infinite adjustability.
I have been using these types of belts since they were low-end and low-quality belts long ago, all the way to today, where there is a fantastic crop of high-quality options from brands like Groove Life and Arcade.
If you are shopping for a belt like this, I would recommend you purchase an Arcade Stretch Belt. It will do just about everything you need out of a belt, is easy to use, reasonably priced, and stands the test of time. However, if you bend over a lot and prefer not to let people see your backside, the Groove Life Groove Belt Ultra is going to be your best bet.
Quick Note: Both the Groove Belt Ultra and the Arcade Stretch Belt were gifted to me by the brand. However, all opinions are my own.
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1. Arcade Salient Stretch Belt
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- Most comfortable belt I've ever tried
- It's easy to buckle
- It's very durable
- No hole designs are the best
- I really like the way it looks
- It has a bit too much stretch
- Buckle gets stuck on belt loops
I have had this belt for nearly two years, and it has stood out as being the best belt I have ever had. When I first was gifted this belt by the brand, I was a bit underwhelmed; however, after finding myself two years later, having not given up on it, my tune had changed.
It is such an incredibly comfortable belt, with its elastic (stretchy) material having plenty of give to move with you throughout the day. It contorts with you when you sit, yet is still tight enough to keep your pants up with no problem when you are standing.
As for quality, it has lasted me two years without any breakdowns or issues and looks nearly new to this day.
When it comes to usability, the belt buckle and belt end function flawlessly and have no learning curve when you first get it.
Major downsides? Even though the belt’s stretchiness is a selling point, I have found it to be a drawback when bending over, as it allows my pants to show a bit more of my backside than I would prefer.
The only other concern I have had is that its belt end tends to get caught in my belt loops when I take the belt off, resulting in quite a few moments being taken to get it through every belt loop (rather than just pulling it through like most belts).
Regardless of its downsides, it stands out as being my favorite option right now! Even up against larger, more well-known brands. If you are interested in learning a bit more about this belt, I have a complete review here!
2. Groove Life Groove Belt Ultra
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- Easy latch mechanism
- Strong belt buckle
- Doesn't have too much stretch
- Slimmer profile
- No moving parts
- Looks great
- Not TSA approved
- Trimming is a weird process
I haven’t had the Groove Belt Ultra in my collection nearly as long as the Arcade Belt (as the brand recently gifted it to me). However, it has easily won a spot on this list of best belts without holes.
The Groove Belt Ultra does a considerably better job at keeping my pants up than the Arcade when bending over, and I would say it looks a bit nicer than the alternative as well.
Rather than a car belt style of mechanism like above, Groove Life relies on magnets and hooks to latch the belt buckle, meaning you don’t even have to touch the buckle itself to latch, and unlatch the belt buckle (if you want to see it in action, watch my full review here).
Groove’s option is also easier to take on and off, as it doesn’t have a hook-like belt end, and it is slightly shorter than the alternative.
Now, even though it excels in so many ways over the Arcade, I have found that it is not nearly as comfortable as the competitor, giving it the second spot on this list.
The Groove is considerably less pliable, meaning it doesn’t have as much give when sitting (it keeps its form), and the belt sometimes digs into my skin when I am standing (loosening it causes other issues).
What do you need out of a hole-less belt?
1. Does it keep its length?
One of the biggest issues most people have with this type of belt is that they lose their adjustment. When you forgo the holes, you have to utilize friction to keep the belt from getting loose again, which many of these types of belts have suffered from in the past.
Even though the original Groove Belt did suffer from this concern, the Ultra does not! That means that all of the belts on this list can be counted on to keep their length throughout the day.
2. How stretchy is it?
One of the defining characteristics of many of these types of belts is the fact that they stretch. This helps with being able to move easily throughout the day but also plays a big role in not having to have holes (as you can stretch the belt into place).
3. How much does it cost?
A good belt isn’t cheap, and the ones on this list are no different! To have a belt that you can count on throughout the day, that last long enough to be worth its price, and looks good as well, means you might have to pay a decent amount.
I have found that these belts are well worth their price, but you will have to figure that out for yourself as well.
4. Does it have a warranty?
Warranties are an incredibly important part of any purchase, as they allow you to get a replacement if you have any form of issue down the road. Pay attention to the length and what is needed to have your warranty honored as well.
