I have never owned a belt of this kind  ratchet style  so I didn't really know what to expect. For starters, cutting this belt to size and learning how to use the ratchet closure took about six seconds. It's remarkably easy. The belt is made of high-quality materials, seems very solid. The ratchet concept was a revelation to me. Instead of holes spaced about an inch apart on a traditional belt, the ratchets are spaced very close together so the belt literally delivers a fit perfectly customized to your body. If you gain a pound or two, or lose a pound of two, the belt instantly adjusts  so you're not feeling a) constricted, or b) like your pants are always falling down. I am now a believer. Good company, good belt, great concept.