I bought my first belt over a year ago and bought another shortly after. Before purchasing I read several reviews and noticed that some people find the buckle difficult to unbuckle. After the first two times it was actually very easy - just loosen the tension on the buckle and insert the release button into the bottom of the buckle. I was concerned about wear on the ratchets and so far there has been no noticeable wear. Don't worry about the strap being too long (like I did) - it's very easy to cut to the right length and it's very easy to insert the strap into the buckle. Just make sure you have a sharp cutting tool. I particularly like the slight adjustment you can make with the ratchet knobs (about 1/4 inch), which makes for a very comfortable fit. This was my introduction to the ratchet strap and believe me I will never go back to ratchet straps. In terms of quality, the leather shows no signs of wear, is very supple and feels durable. The buckle has scratches and still looks like new. I'm sure there are other belts like the Hampton on the market but I think it would be difficult to find a belt of the same quality for the price of a belt. I am very happy with both bands.