I have a 34 inch waist and these belts fit me about a foot wider. This excess is easy to trim and reattach, but I think the 42" waist size is conservative. Two packs of belts are great. In my case I got a black and a silver belt. I know the description is gray but given the shine of the material I think it looks more like a silver. I prefer silver so I choose it. The buckles are plastic but still work well. The mechanism for attaching the belt to the buckle is the same as metal buckles. The difference is that for normal use the buckle needs to be "bent" a little from the attachment point and then the free end inserted. I described it poorly here, but it's not difficult. This is probably the best approach when it comes to plastic buckles as you don't need springs or levers. I usually test these straps under load, but in this case I won't destroy the plastic buckle for no reason. The product description says these straps are durable and I agree with that statement. I wouldn't tow a truck with it because of the plastic parts. The straps come in a plastic bag and it's probably best to repackage them if you're giving them away as gifts.