Hunter Constantine vs. Kore Essentials – Which is the Better EDC Belt?
There are several gun belt options to choose from, but there’s only one belt that’s right for you. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of testing a variety of gun belts, which has allowed us to build a deep understanding for what we like and what we believe makes a gun belt worth having. Leading up to summer, we decided to run a poll with the team to see what gun belt they’d like for us to cover, and the two names that popped up the most were Kore Essentials and Hunter Constantine. Kore Essentials is a staple name in the firearms industry and it’s what most of us wear here in the office, so we were all pretty excited to experiment with something new. What follows is a breakdown of our experiences with the Hunter Constantine belt and how we believe it compares to the Kore Essentials gun belt. We’ll be comparing several categories, which include comfort, firearm support, appearance, and value.
Let’s dive in!
Comfort – Hunter Constantine vs. Kore Essentials
The first belt we’re going to look at is the Hunter Constantine. The belt in question is their Constantine Concealed Carry Belt, which is advertised as “The concealed carry belt built for AIWB, EDC, and real clothes.” Strange wording, but straight to the point. For the purpose of the review, I was carrying a Glock 19 with an X300 light, RMR optic and a sidecar (extra mag) in the appendix position. Overall, I’d give this belt a 6/10 for comfort. The stretch for this belt is the main selling point, making it fairly comfortable when you’re bending over or reaching for things, especially for appendix carry. That said, the G-Hook that Hunter Constantine uses in their EDC belt is annoying and difficult to use. Taking off the Hunter Constantine belt or even putting it on is not smooth at all, and adjusting it is even worse. Tightening it means hopping the hook over the previous loop, and the extra material underneath just gets in the way. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely something you notice every day.
As far as Kore Essentials goes, I’ve always found their gun belts to be the most comfortable in the industry. Testing the Hunter Constantine belt has only reinforced that belief. Kore gun belts use a very cool ratcheting track system that basically works like a zip tie. You can instantly tighten or loosen your belt without having to undo the buckle, like you do with the Hunter Constantine belt. This is huge for carrying a firearm because it means you get a consistent fit and you can get it as tight or as loose as you need to be, while still keeping that firearm safe. When it comes to a matter of comfort, Kore Essentials is the most comfortable gun belt available.
Firearm Support – Hunter Constantine vs. Kore Essentials
Functionally, the Hunter Constantine belt is clearly optimized for AIWB, and in that role, it works fine. Outside of appendix, the limitations show up fast. If you want to carry at 3 or 4 o’clock or run mags on your support side, you’re mounting to the elastic section, which just isn’t a great foundation. Since appendix is basically the only setup that makes sense, the elastic ends up at the back of your waist, where it takes the most pressure and will probably collapse over time. Although I typically carry appendix, I worry for people who don’t. The only support that the Hunter Constantine belt has is a steel bar sewn into the front portion of the belt. The rest of their belt is elastic. For appendix carry, the Hunter Constantine belt shines, but for anything else, I would not recommend it.
Kore Essentials on the other hand really shines here. The buckle we tested was the X12 buckle, which they market as being designed for appendix carry, and let me tell you, it’s perfect. Kore gun belts are reinforced with their proprietary inner Power-Core center, which is a synthetic material. The entire belt is reinforced with this material, so no matter if you’re carrying your firearm appendix, strongside or otherwise, the Kore Essentials belt will perfectly support your firearm. I have always felt confident and comfortable carrying my firearm with the Kore Essentials belt, and I’d recommend it ten times over the Hunter Constantine belt.
Appearance – Hunter Constantine vs. Kore Essentials
Both companies offer a wide selection of styles that you can choose from when it comes to their EDC belts. Hunter Constantine has just one type of EDC belt, with 10 different colors to choose from and two buckles. That’s roughly 20 different belt and buckle combos that you can pick. In all honesty, though, none of these options are much to look at. The aesthetic of the Hunter Constantine belt is definitely its weakest point. The material looked worn out when it got it, and it screams tactical. It doesn’t look like a traditional belt and it’s not something that I’d ever wear even if I wasn’t carrying a firearm. It’s clear that their thought process for this design was to provide a gun belt that would work for appendix carry, without offering much more. After two weeks of wearing the belt, it was pretty worn out, and the scruffiness of the belt was not something that I was looking for or expecting. If you are someone who cares about your style and how your belt looks, I would not recommend the Hunter Constantine belt.
Kore Essentials on the other hand, has a massive selection of belt straps and buckles that you can choose from. They have leather and nylon gun belt options, with a variety of colors and finishes. Kore Essentials also has over 12 different buckle options that you can choose from, giving you nearly endless possibilities for customizing your gun belt. I have had a Kore gun belt for over four years and it’s barely showing any wear or tear. For the purpose of this review, I purchased their X12 buckle and just swapped it out with my old buckle. My old buckle is still good, but I’m happy that if I wanted to try a different buckle, I can just purchase a new one without buying a new belt. That is a huge benefit of Kore Essentials, that I don’t think any other company offers. As far as appearance goes, Kore Essentials is the best-looking gun belt by a mile.
Value – Hunter Constantine vs. Kore Essentials
This is probably the category where there is the most stark difference between the two gun belts. The Hunter Constantine gun belt is priced at a staggering $115 for standard colors and $125 for camo colors. I’m honestly not sure what you’re paying for here other than the Hunter Constantine name (which is stamped on the buckle so it’s impossible to avoid). At $115 for a standard EDC belt, I could not recommend this belt to anyone. On the other hand, Kore Essentials EDC belts start at $59.95. For the quality, the comfort, the support, and the variety of styles offered by Kore Essentials, I’d recommend their belt time and time again.
Final Thoughts – Hunter Constantine vs. Kore Essentials
Overall, I had a lot of fun testing out these different belts. I’ve worn the Kore Essentials gun belt for several years and I’ve loved every second of it. Even still, I’m always open to trying something new and seeing what direction the industry is going. When it comes to the Huner Constantine belt, the concept makes sense but the execution really falls short. I found the Hunter Constantine belt to be lackluster at best. It was very pricey and really only excelled in the appendix carry position. When it comes to choosing the right gun belt for you, I have to recommend Kore Essentials.
Kore Essentials simply has the best selection of gun belts available, and every one is premium quality. From comfort to firearm support to value, Kore Essentials knocks it out of the park. If you are interested in either the Hunter Constantine belt or the Kore Essentials belt, I have to recommend the Kore Essentials belt. For all things firearms-related, Carry Hard is your source for news and reviews. Thank you for reading and following along for more!
