I've been using fabric belts with buckles for a long time. I never cared about how the skin would eventually tear, and the idea of wearing a dead animal's skin around my waist never really worked for me. The buckles are also quicker and easier to use than traditional belts with holes, not to mention they're versatile when trying to shed weight and transitioning between pant sizes. You might run out of holes with a traditional strap, but that's not a problem with tension straps. I really had no experience with ratchet straps before getting these. But since my weight loss was going well, I decided to look for something more fashionable when I need to tuck my shirts in. While canvas belts are practical, they tend to look shapeless and unkempt. The leather belts had all the interesting buckles, but my old issues with them didn't go away. I finally found this nylon belt. I only intended to use it for special occasions but it has completely replaced all my other belts. My god, that's GOOD. As you pull the buckle into place, this belt's buckle has a manual ratchet closure, where you slide the belt into the desired position and it locks into place. More importantly, THIS BELT is tough. It has a very strong shape, so forms a strong "belt shape" like a good leather belt. Unlike canvas bibs which are soft and will cause your pants to sag, this strap provides real support to keep your pants up and the material will never tear. The buckle is matte and plain. The ratchet closure feels like it could last a lifetime. In short, it outperforms every other belt I know of and looks fantastic. The only thing to note is that there are limited resizing options. Only the waistband has a little more material, so if I gain a lot of weight I need the next size up. In that sense, it's closer to a leather belt than a canvas belt, and doesn't appear to be adjustable as is usually the case with a canvas belt (where excess material can easily be trimmed off on the next size up). This isn't a problem for me and certainly gives a cleaner look when no excess material is causing the bulge (and excess tape fits snugly under the rest of the tape). However, this must be taken into account. Overall the band looks very sharp and performs like a dream. I could wear it with almost anything. This is the perfect everyday and dress belt. It's also durable and if I don't gain a lot of weight on the go it could probably last a lifetime. Due to the materials it is also vegan and not abused for anyone who cares. In short, get this belt. This is a game changer. UPDATE: A year has passed and this belt is still valid. The only thing to note is that the buckle is held together with a small Phillips head screw, which sometimes comes loose and needs to be screwed back on. Luckily the buckle stays on a bit even when you loosen the screw, so that's not the case. was a big problem. This happens to me every 3 months or so. The best thing about the belt lately is that I'm losing weight and changing belt size almost effortlessly if I just pull a little more than I used to. This belt continues to pay off and is one of my best Revain purchases to date.