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I have a belt in my closet that I’m pretty sure I wore in high school, which tells you about how much attention I had been paying to belts. I also had one I kept mostly because I could swap my Western buckles onto it, even though it was so big that the extra leather wrapped halfway back around my hips.
For years, belts were something I wore because an outfit needed one, not something I gave much thought to on their own. Meanwhile, I had gotten considerably pickier about my jeans, boots, sweaters, jewelry, and the other pieces I wear all the time. Eventually, the collection of old, poorly fitting belts felt a little ridiculous next to the rest of my closet.
That was what sent me looking at Zilker. I wanted a couple of well-made belts I could keep for years, but I also wanted them to have enough personality that I would actually enjoy wearing them. I chose the Drewski because the colorful woven pattern looked completely different from anything I already owned. Then I added the Rancho as the more neutral option. The brown leather and Western stitching felt closer to the clothes and boots I already wear, and I liked that I could use my own buckles with it.
Once I started wearing them, I found myself reaching for the Rancho more often, while the Drewski surprised me by being much easier to style than I expected. More than anything, both made me realize how long I had been settling for belts that technically did the job without adding much else.
My verdict after wearing two Zilker belts
I would buy another Zilker belt. The price made more sense once I had the belts in my hands. Leather is one of those things I have a hard time judging from a product page because so much of the difference comes down to how substantial it feels, how the hardware is finished, and whether the stitching looks like something that will hold up to regular use. Both Zilker belts felt much more convincing in person than they did on a screen.
Pros
- Thick, substantial leather and hardware
- Distinctive stitching and patterns that add personality
- Both styles fit through my women’s jean loops
- Removable buckles that allow for customization
Cons
- $125 is a lot if you only need a functional belt
- Changing the buckles requires unscrewing the hardware
- The Drewski can be harder to pair with an outfit that already has a lot going on
Zilker sizing was easier than I expected
I normally wear a women’s size 2 or 4, usually in mid-rise or high-rise jeans, and my measurement where I actually wear a belt is about 28 inches. I ordered both belts in a size 30, and that ended up being a good fit.
The numerical sizing itself did not give me much trouble. Zilker’s size guide was straightforward enough that I felt comfortable ordering the 30. What made me hesitate was the width.
I kept looking at the Ramblerita because it is Zilker’s skinny women’s belt, and for a minute I felt like that was probably the safer choice simply because I am a woman. Men’s and unisex belts can run wider and bulkier, and I did not want to spend this much money on a belt only to find out it would not fit through the loops on my jeans.
That almost made the rest of the site feel off-limits to me, which would have been unfortunate because the Drewski and Rancho were the styles I actually liked. I am glad I ordered them anyway.
Both slide through the belt loops on the women’s jeans I have worn them with, and neither looks oversized once I have it on. The size 30 usually puts me around the middle or second hole, depending on the rise of the pants, and I have enough tail left after the buckle that the proportions look right.
I could probably wear a 32 as well because I enjoy having a little more tail rather than fastening a belt right at the first or second hole, but I would order the 30 again. Not every Zilker belt will work with every pair of women’s pants because belt-loop widths vary. I also would not think the Ramblerita is the only option simply because it is the women’s style.
I do wish Zilker showed more of its standard-width belts on women. A few additional fit photos would have saved me quite a bit of second-guessing.
The construction is much easier to appreciate in person
Both belts felt fairly stiff when I first took them out, which is what I expect from thick new leather. They also had that new-leather smell that I happen to love.
The Rancho is built on full-grain leather with an embroidered pattern, while the Drewski uses Argentine fabric backed by Argentine leather. Both have removable buckles secured with a screw. The Rancho feels like a more traditional leather belt, while the Drewski has a softer surface because of the fabric.
On the Drewski, I can see a little movement and wrinkling in the fabric when I lay the belt flat. Once I curve it around my waist, those wrinkles smooth out. I do not mind that at all because it makes the construction feel more visible rather than trying to disguise the fact that fabric is layered over leather.
The stitching is probably what I noticed most on both belts. It is beautifully done, but it does not have that sterile, perfectly repeated appearance you sometimes get from machine-made decorative stitching. On the inside, there are a couple of spots where I can see where a thread ended or changed over. They are hidden once the belt is on, and I actually prefer seeing those little signs of handwork to having everything look completely uniform. I have not found loose threads, rough edges, scratches, or anything else I would call a flaw.
Both belts have started to soften with wear, and I am seeing a little creasing around the holes I use and where the leather bends through the buckle. I actually prefer them slightly broken in because they sit more naturally around my waist.
I have not noticed curling at the ends, pulled stitching, or obvious fraying. I am especially curious to see how the Drewski’s fabric holds up over time since that gives it another surface that could show wear. So far, though, both still look good.
The Drewski is easier to wear than it looks online
I picked the Drewski because I wanted something colorful, but I also knew going in that it might be the more difficult of the two to style. The product photos make the colors look pretty bold. In person, they are softer and less flashy, which means I do not feel like I have to build the entire outfit around the belt every time I wear it.
One of the easiest ways I have found to style it is to pull one color out of the pattern and repeat that somewhere else in the outfit. There is a really nice denim blue running through it, so I have worn it with Wrangler jeans and a chambray Wrangler pearl-snap shirt.
Yes, that is basically a Canadian tuxedo, and I am completely fine with that. The other colors in the belt help break up all the denim. I have also worn it with khaki-colored jeans, which pick up some of the warmer tones in the pattern.
Where the Drewski gets a little trickier is if the rest of the outfit already has a strong print or several competing colors. In that situation, I am more likely to reach for the Rancho.
The Rancho fits the way I already dress
The Rancho worked its way into my normal rotation faster because it feels very natural with the rest of my wardrobe.
The brown leather works especially well with my Tecovas, which have a similar leather tone and Western feel, and I like pairing the belt with turquoise jewelry or one of my Southwest-style sweaters. It has enough Western character to look good with my boots without making the whole outfit feel like a costume.
I already owned several belt buckles, including a turquoise one I really like, and the ability to use them was one reason I had kept my old oversized belt for so long. With the Rancho, I can finally wear those buckles on something that actually fits.
I spend a fair amount of time around horses and the polo community, so the belt fits naturally into the clothes I already wear there. I have gotten compliments on it, especially when I wear it with the turquoise buckle.
I have not been wearing either belt for dirty ranch work, though. They are too nice for me to wear casually while I am cleaning stalls or hauling feed. I also do not need to find out what happens when a goat decides a $125 belt looks edible.
I like the removable buckle, but I wish it used snaps
The removable buckle is one reason I like the Rancho so much, but the way it changes is probably the one thing I would alter. The buckle is held in place with a screw, so swapping it out means actually stopping to unscrew the hardware and put it back together with the new buckle.
It is not difficult, and once the buckle is in place, it feels secure. The issue is mostly how I get dressed. My outfit planning tends to happen a few minutes later than it should. If I decide at the last second that I want my turquoise buckle instead of the standard one, I am much more likely to change belts than stop and get a screwdriver.
If Zilker used snaps instead, I would probably change the buckle constantly. I would also like to see more of their collection available with removable buckles because I would happily buy another design if I knew I could use the buckles I already own.
Are Zilker belts worth $125?
For me, yes. I had spent nowhere near $125 on a belt before this, so I hesitated at the price. One of mine was from high school and another did not even fit correctly, so I am not exactly coming into this with a drawer full of expensive leather belts.
I would not spend $125 if I just needed the cheapest possible brown belt to hold up a pair of jeans. There are plenty of less expensive belts that can do that job. What made these worth buying was finding designs I liked enough to wear regularly, with materials and construction that felt good once I handled them.
The Rancho has probably been the better purchase for my wardrobe because it works with so many things I already own. If I were only buying one, that would be my choice. The Drewski is more of a fun addition, but I have worn it enough that I am glad I did not talk myself out of the colorful option.
I also think these could make a nice gift if you know someone’s style well. Zilker has quite a few distinctive patterns, so you could choose something that reflects their interests instead of going with a plain leather belt. I would just make sure you have their actual belt measurement first, especially at this price.
Other belts I would look at
I can’t speak to how any of these hold up with regular use, as I don’t own any of them, but if you’re looking for a belt with a similar aesthetic, here are some alternatives.
If the Argentine influence and colorful design are what first pulled you toward Zilker, La Matera is probably the closest I would look at. It sells Argentine-inspired woven and leather belts. I would compare the patterns from both brands because that is likely to be the deciding factor if you are shopping for this particular style.
Smathers & Branson goes in a different direction with needlepoint belts. Its designs often feature schools, sports, hobbies, and other specific interests, so I would look there if you wanted a belt with a particular theme. The needlepoint appearance is quite different from the leather embroidery on the Rancho or the woven fabric on the Drewski.
Hanks Belts would be my alternative if I cared less about decorative details and mostly wanted a traditional leather belt. Its selection is more focused on straightforward leather styles, so it makes sense to compare if construction and everyday function are your priorities.
Who should buy a Zilker belt?
I think Zilker makes the most sense for someone who already enjoys putting thought into their accessories. If you wear cowboy boots, turquoise jewelry, or Western-inspired clothing, the Rancho is an easy fit. It also makes sense if you have interchangeable buckles sitting in a drawer that you would like to wear again.
The Drewski would be my pick for someone who wears a lot of denim, solid colors, or fairly simple outfits and wants a little more color. I was surprised by how often I could work it into my wardrobe without feeling overdressed.
There are also plenty of designs beyond the two I tried, including styles that lean more toward golf, sports, and other interests. You do not need to dress Western to find something you like.
I would probably skip Zilker if I needed a basic work belt that was going to get scraped up, soaked, or covered in dirt regularly. That is not how I use mine, and I would have a hard time treating a $125 embroidered belt as something disposable.
I started this whole process with one belt from high school and another that barely fit. Now I have two that I actually look forward to wearing, which is a pretty big change for an accessory I used to give almost no thought to. The Rancho is the one I reach for most, but I am glad I bought the Drewski too. It turns out I did not need another plain brown belt nearly as much as I thought.