Marino AvenueMarino Dress Belt with Ratchet Automatic Buckle

Update Jan 10, 2017I'm downgrading my star rating from 5 to 4 because the release mechanism does not always work. I have to fuss with it to convince it to release the ratchet while I suck gut. Sometimes it releases quickly. Other times it is stubborn. However, I would rather put up with this stubborn release button than go back to a conventional belt with holes in it. If you want a ratchet belt with a better release mechanism check out the Comfort Click belt. I prefer the look of the Marino buckle but I miss the smooth release of the Comfort Click belt buckle.Original Post:After trying ratchet style belts I won't wear any other kind.Before you stand up you can easily tighten the belt without being too obvious. When you sit down you can easily loosen the belt.Pros:Great design.Buckle ratchet works well and is pretty quiet.More settings than a conventional belt.Buckle looks attractive yet simple.Belt can be cut more than one time to gradually custom fit it to your body.Quality flexible leather which is more comfortable than thick leather on the spine.Reasonable price.This belt will probably look better longer than a belt with holes in it where the leather cracks over time due to bending the belt back to buckle it.Great solution for men with big round guts like mine who refuse to wear suspenders and are tortured by conventional belts.Cons:Slight concern:I wonder if the ratchet and leather will continue to grip well over time.Suggestion for cutting the belt to size:First sit down with your pants and belt on. Adjust the belt to your biggest, loosest comfortable setting. See how much excess leather extends past the buckle and pant loop where the belt excess ends up. Measure how much to cut off. Make sure you leave enough leather to grab onto when you stand up and want to tighten the belt. This may seem obvious but I will mention it anyway: cut the excess leather from the end that inserts into the belt teeth. Don't cut off the tapered end. I went conservative the first time and only cut off a little bit. After wearing the belt for a half hour plus standing and sitting it became obvious how much more I needed to cut off. Fortunately, the belt design makes it easy to cut the belt more than once until you get it to your optimum length.As a means of comparison I also bought a Comfort Click belt on Amazon. I think the Marino leather is slightly better quality but I prefer the function of the Comfort Click buckle because it is slightly easier to loosen than the Marino. On the other hand, the ratchet on the Marino is a little quieter. They are both good belts. I would buy either one again.

**At first glance, the design elegance bespeaks poetry of understatements and subtlety. Upon handling, an ethereal sense of high quality material overwhelms your thoughts. Then comes the width, a definite individual character of distinction from the competing herds. It is 30mm wide, and not 35mm. This is probably the source of its elegant understatement.Worn on an Italian Super Worsted Gabardine, or super 160 Italian Marino, this belt will speak volumes of highly developed sense of elegance. It will translate a European statement of high fashion into a simple American lexicon of cool, confidence and trendiness.So much so, will it take your sense of what mens fashionable accessories should be like, that you won't hesitate to gubble up all the different colors and textures for a complete wardrobe of leather accessories.Mind you, while this is definitely a real man's belt, I sometimes find one or two of mine in my girlfriend's closet. She likes the boyish look on her, wearing them on a pair of girly Italian slacks. ,,,,,, I don't mind, I just wish she would ask me to buy her a couple and leave mine alone. They reek of feminine perfume when she wears them.**

Ok, the first one lasted a bit over two years of mostly everyday use.. The ratchet buckle is still going strong.. The leather design on the other hand.. let me say the first six months I could wear it with anything and be fine.. after that.. totally half hidden next 6 months due to wrinkle leather look and than just funky wear with work pants and shorts.. basicly the last year it really was worn out but worked for me using it to hold up my shorts around the house and yard lol.. the leather has worn and torn outer shell in places.. but to me, has out shined its 20 dollar price tag in usage... it is not like a strap leather belt that "may" last a lifetime.. but the ratchet system is just so much easier than my other old fashion belts.. I would buy again.. oh wait.. I did... I will probably buy another color soon as well.. and I will hold on to the old buckle because it still looks new and works fine.. just in case I need it.. I'm cheap like that..lol

Some of us men have inflatable midsections, at times expanding until they strain our belts, and at other times shrinking until our belts flap loosely. Just as I was checking various sizes of my collection of belts, getting ready for a change of seasons, I read about Marino ratchet click belts for men. They were described as “men’s comfort genuine leather” belts, and I ordered one. I’m in my 90’s and slower than I used to be, but I had no trouble attaching the ratchet buckle. The first time I put it on I forgot how to release the ratchet and wondered how it would feel if I had to sleep in it, but I looked at the brief instructions and instantly unbuckled. My belt is brown, and I’ll order another in black.

Very disappointed, open fastening but releasing the buckle jams , scratch mark on belt , when trying to release . Not the first time took over 20 minutes to remove . Might be unlucky but works perfect when not wearing .

Nice leather belt

First ratchet belt I've owned. I'm so impressed I have another one on the way in black.

best belt I ever bought

Great looking and an excellent mechanism. Looks and feels quality.