A belt provides the foundation of a concealed carry system. A belt must be sufficiently rigid to support your gear and keep it consistently positioned but not so rigid that it’s uncomfortable to wear. Although OWB holsters require a thicker and stiffer belt, most gun belts are too stiff and too rigid for discreet IWB carry. In addition, the buckle on many gun belts can add a lot of bulk to the front of the body which can be an issue with respect to AIWB carry.
The search for the optimal belt for everyday IWB concealed carry can be a struggle. At least it has been for me. I suspect many Spotter Up readers have been in the same boat. There are a lot of great belts out there, but I have found most lacking to some degree or could be improved in one respect or another. I think that i may have found an answer to my search with the Tenicor ZERO Belt™. The ZERO Belt is a minimalist concealed carry belt that came out at the end of 2022. Having heard great things about it, I reached out to the company to see if I could get a belt sent to me for review. A ZERO Belt was quickly on the way.
Tenicor ZERO Belt.
The ZERO Belt is one of the newest products to be released by Tenicor, a company best known for its innovative concealment holsters. The ZERO Belt was in development for over 13 years before its release. As of this writing, I have been wearing a ZERO Belt for nearly five months. It has proven to be an outstanding belt for my needs. I have no complaints whatsoever.
Tenicor was founded by former law enforcement patrol and SWAT officer Jeff Mau, who serves as company Head of Strategy and Development. Jeff wasn’t satisfied with what was available in a low-profile minimalist concealment belt. None of the existing designs met his criteria for what he wanted in a concealed belt. He set out to change that. The ZERO Belt is the result.
The ZERO Belt was built from the ground up to reflect the needs for consistent carry and durability. Tenicor has come out with a very low-profile buckle attachment system with zero excess that they believe is unparalleled. It’s named the ZERO Belt because it’s like you’re not wearing a belt.
The ZERO Belt is definitely not your typical gun belt. It has a unique design that reverses the threading of the belt through the buckle, creating a camming action that prevents the belt from slipping when worn. The buckle itself is made of mil-spec hard anodized 6061-T6 aluminum. It’s exceptionally low profile, so it doesn’t interfere with other gear or print. There’s no need to shift the buckle to the side when carrying AIWB. There isn’t anything protruding to hang up on when clearing your garment. There’s no need for hook and loop or belt loops to secure the tail, as it hides behind the belt itself. The belt adjustment can be precisely tuned to your preference and body type, ensuring a snug and stable fit.
The ZERO Belt is sewn for Tenicor in Arizona by Wilderness Tactical Products, a company that has been making quality tactical products for over 40 years. The belt webbing is a single layer of Wilderness’ proprietary support webbing with a face layer of MIL-W-17337 thin nylon webbing. The tail end of the belt is treated with a polymerized treatment that soaks into the core and permanently prevents fraying, cracking, or deforming.
The ZERO Belt is thinner and more flexible than typical 2-ply nylon gun belts. The 1.5X thickness of the ZERO Belt is designed to provide the perfect balance of flexibility and rigidity for all-day comfort and durability. This dual-layer combination adds support without the bulk of other gun belts. It’s flexible and comfortable, yet rigid enough to support your firearm and accessories.
The ZERO Belt features 4-stitch construction. Stitching reinforcement near the buckle helps to ensure stable mounting of holsters or magazine pouches in that position while maintaining sufficient flexibility for comfort and to conform to the wearer’s body. All stitching is 92-weight bonded polyester thread, heavier than the 69-weight mil-spec industry standard, and more UV resistant. The belt is stitched with 8 to 10 stitches per inch, which makes a stronger seam than the 5 or 6 stitches per inch stitch count average of most competitors.
The ZERO Belt is designed for IWB carry, but it can also work as an under belt for duty or competition belts. Tenicor also offers a purpose-built ZERO Under Belt that has soft VELCRO® Brand loop sewn on the outside for to optimize it as an under belt.. The ZERO Belt and the ZERO Under Belt are both 1.5” wide and compatible with most holsters and magazine pouches.
The ZERO Belt and ZERO Under Belt are available in even sizes from 28” to 44”. Getting the right size is easy. There’s no guessing. No tape measure is needed. Just order your pant waist size. If you wear an odd-numbered size, order the next size up. The belt is sized to provide the additional space necessary for your concealed carry but works equally well alone.
The ZERO Belt comes in black and coyote colorways. The ZERO Under Belt is currently available in black only.
Final Thoughts
The ZERO Belt is one of the best concealment belts I have ever used. It’s simple, effective and durable. It doesn’t add any unnecessary bulk or complexity to my carry system. It works exceptionally well for AIWB carry. It’s well worth the price of $79. The ZERO Under Belt is $89. All Tenicor products are made in the USA and have a lifetime warranty.
If you are looking for a minimalist concealment belt that can handle your gear without compromising your comfort or concealment, I highly recommend the ZERO Belt. You can order it from the Tenicor website.
Source
Tenicor
Tenicor.com
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.