Really great belt. It's thick and strong, but not so heavy that it pulls your pants down. It flexes a little but doesn't stretch so much that it becomes too tight after you close it. Works great with loops. I am allergic to metal and chose this belt because it has a stainless steel buckle and that seems to be an accurate description of the product and I have no itching or rash! As far as I can tell, there is no nickel here. My only complaint is that it's listed as 50" long, but I have a 44" waist and once I tighten it up, I only have about an inch or less left. My guess is that not all straps are the same length due to the tying and tying process used to make a rope strap. I don't do many outdoor adventures or adventures so I doubt I'll ever have to find out, but you never know!