I've always been annoyed at how quickly my belts wear out, especially my black belts. Glued/synthetic/plastic straps don't hold up so I started looking for real leather straps. When I received this belt I was pleasantly surprised at its quality. The leather is much thicker and more elastic than other straps I've had - this strap just feels different like it's going to last quite a while. I ordered 2 inches larger than my current waist size and the belt fits perfectly. The price is comparable and maybe even cheaper than the belts you find in a department store, but I doubt it's real leather.