I bought this when I was learning to play the guitar and wanted to avoid that horrible rash. I love the fact that the belt is so discreet it works just as well on short cargos as it does on pants. I think that now I can only buy this type of belt. I see that the company offers this with velcro as well, but I don't use velcro because I have animals and their fur and all sorts of lint that gets caught in the hooks. For my money this is the best belt I have ever had and if they come back in a medium size I might buy another. Simplicity just works for me. I found the hooks too long - 5 minutes with the bastard file and they no longer dig into my stomach when wearing skinny shorts. Ideal. Sizing: These are for your ACTUAL waist size (not the US plus size jeans tags), so when in doubt, order LARGER.