I absolutely love my Groove Belt. I'm a fairly heavyset guy and I wear belts with shorts most of the time, so a belt has to be comfortable or I notice it all day long. For years I wore the metal belts where you pull a little tubular bar that presses down on the strap to hold it in place. They do hold, but they have very sharp corners, and that makes them really uncomfortable to wear. I had been looking for a better solution for a while, and that's how I found the Groove Belt.

The magnetic buckle is the star
The belt is super easy to put on thanks to its neodymium magnetic lock. The two halves of the buckle pull together and snap into place with a satisfying click, and there are no buttons to squeeze or moving parts to wear out. The buckle is made from aluminum alloy and the edges are smoothed over, which is a night and day difference from the sharp corners I was used to. It's also slim enough to slide right through your belt loops, so you don't have to take anything apart to get it threaded.

Set it once and forget it
One of my favorite things is that you set the length once and never have to readjust it. There are no holes, so instead of settling for the closest notch, you can dial in exactly the fit you want. Getting it set the first time takes a minute or two since the strap fits snugly into the buckle, but after that it's done. The belt also has a little bit of flex to it, so it's very comfortable, yet it's strong enough to keep your pants right where they belong. That bit of give is also nice when your waistline changes throughout the day, like after a big meal.

Style and buckle choices
The one I have is the standard black on black, and it pretty much matches with anything. If you want something with a little more personality, there are plenty of buckle styles to choose from. I'm planning to grab the black one with the US flag on it next, because I think it looks super nice and patriotic.

Sizing, especially if you're a bigger guy
Groove Life makes these in sizes from small up through XXL, with the XL fitting 41 to 50 inch waists and the XXL fitting 51 to 60 inch waists. They recommend ordering the size that matches your pant waist size, and the belt includes a few extra inches of slack to fine tune the fit. If you land between sizes, going up a size is the safer move.

What it costs
The standard black on black Groove Belt runs about $64.95 on Groove Life's own site, and the price on Amazon can move around a bit. It's definitely more than a basic belt, but it also comes with what Groove Life calls the Groove Guarantee, which covers replacements for life if the belt ever slips.

A few things to know before you buy
Those magnets are strong, and that comes with a couple of caveats. Groove Life says to skip this belt if you have a pacemaker or any other implanted medical device. The original Groove Belt can also set off metal detectors, so if you travel a lot, they make a different model called the Ultra that is designed to be TSA friendly.

The Good
- Magnetic buckle is quick, easy, and works with one hand
- Smooth, slim buckle without the sharp corners of the clamp style metal belts
- No holes, so you can dial in your exact fit once and leave it alone
- A little flex for comfort, but still strong enough to hold your pants up
- Buckle slides through belt loops so there is nothing to take apart
- Sizes go up to XXL for waists up to 60 inches
- Lifetime Groove Guarantee
- Lots of buckle styles to choose from, including a US flag option


The Bad
- At around $65, it costs quite a bit more than a basic belt
- The strong magnets are not for anyone with a pacemaker or implanted medical device
- The original model can trigger metal detectors, so travelers may prefer the Ultra
- Setting the length the first time is a little fiddly, even though it's a one time job
- The stretch webbing has a casual look, so for the most formal occasions you may want their leather version


If you've been fighting with uncomfortable metal belts like I was, the Groove Belt is well worth a look.