I have bought leather belts but have had some short life belts recently. I hate the lack of adjustability with a standard die-cut strap, and my braided straps wear out quickly where the buckle intrudes most often. I liked this design because I can go through the sally port scanner without removing the strap (no metal) and I can easily adjust to any tension level without wearing out the strap. It's not trendy, but what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in practicality.