Ready to use. Great belt. Not the best leather quality was my first impression. The first month was great. But after that I didn't notice any cracks in the belt holes I used. This will get worse over time. Great belt if you don't wear it very often. But for everyday use wears out quickly. I was hoping for the best after reading some of the reviews but mine is showing major cracks after 40 days of daily wear. I love that they included a hole punch to make the strap smaller if needed. Leather quality counts!