The reason you're told you can leave a belt on your pants and toss them in the wash is because the belt takes 20 minutes to put on or take off. The plastic pieces are wide enough not to fit through "regular" belt loops (as tested on my ExOfficio, Prana, Patagonia, and REI hiking pants). Donning and doffing this strap involves a Tetris game of "hands behind back". It's also very difficult to set up. You'd better buy an unnamed belt at half price.