Not sure which strap is right for you? →
Studded Belts, Hand-Built in Los Angeles
Full-grain leather. Studs set by hand, one at a time. Solid buckles and reinforced stitching. Red Monkey has been building leather goods in Los Angeles for over 30 years, and the belts are made the same way as everything else here — to order, by hand, to be worn hard.
No mass production. No templates. No two pieces exactly alike.
What Separates a Real Studded Belt
- Full-grain leather — holds a stud under tension. Bonded and faux leather tears out around the post and the studs start dropping.
- Hand-set studs — each prong is folded down against the back of the belt. Machine-pressed studs on a production line work loose.
- Buckle and hardware — solid, not plated pot metal. The buckle is what fails first on a cheap belt.
- Weight — a studded belt carries the weight of its hardware all day. Thin leather sags and curls; ours doesn't.
Choose the Correct Belt Size
Do not use your pant size. Measure a belt you already own that fits well, from where the buckle meets the leather to the center hole you normally use. Order that measurement.
If you are unsure, contact us before ordering. We would rather help you get it right than build the wrong belt.
Studded belts ordered in the wrong size are subject to a 20% restocking fee.
Studded Belt FAQs
Are these real leather?
Yes. Full-grain leather throughout. It will soften, darken and crease with wear rather than cracking or peeling.
Are the studs going to fall out?
The studs are set by hand and the prongs are folded flat against the back of the belt. That is the difference between a belt that keeps its studs and one that doesn't.
Men's or women's?
Both. Sizing is by belt measurement rather than by category, so order the length that fits.
How long does a made-to-order belt take?
Build times vary by design and current workload. Check the individual product page, or contact us if you need it by a particular date.
Can a studded belt be made to order in a custom size or layout?
Often, yes. Custom work is what the shop was built on. Contact us with what you have in mind before ordering.
FAQs
Yes. Red Monkey straps have been worn by touring artists and professional musicians across rock, country, metal, pop, and blues. Most recently, Lady Gaga, Shakira have called on Red Monkey for their tours.
Check out our ARTISTS page for some of our clients.
Red Monkey guitar straps have been hand-built for over 30 years right here in Los Angeles using premium full-grain leather and stage-ready hardware.
Wider straps tend to be preferred for heavier guitars and basses because they spread weight across the shoulder. We use very heavy leathers so a wider strap may actually create more shoulder drag when playing for long periods of time.
Narrow straps are great for lighter guitars and vintage style. Slash and Joe Perry, however, like the SLASHER guitar strap for their heavy Les Pauls.
Leather guitar straps are preferred by many players because they are strong, comfortable, long-lasting, and have a classic stage look. Red Monkey straps are made from 100% full-grain leather for premium durability and feel.
The best guitar straps combine comfort, durability, proper width, reliable hardware, and quality materials. Full-grain leather is one of the strongest choices because it breaks in over time while staying durable for years of playing.
Check our SIZING CHART to get the best results.
Most times, we DO NOT recommend using your current pant sizing or another companies belt sizing.
If you're unsure what size strap you need, email us and we'll help guide you through the process of choosing the best size for your height and weight and where the guitar hangs on your body. You can email: rmonkey@redmonkeydesigns.com
Yes, if you need something longer or shorter, simply put your sizing request into the ORDER NOTES section during checkout and we'll take it from there.
Strap locks are a specialty quick release system that many gigging musicians use. They not only help secure your strap to your guitar, they allow for quick release and changing of guitar straps. Many locking systems (e.g.. Dunlop, Schaller, Grover) have a slightly larger diameter hole for mounting. While our traditional guitar strap mounting hole will allow for mounting, we offer to punch the hole larger to make fitment of strap locks easier.
All our gear is HAND-BUILT to order. We generally ask for about 5-7 build days before shipping. Usually we ship more quickly and other times we need a tad more time. We appreciate your patience during our building process.
Due to the hand-built nature of our gear, we do not except returns for refunds. We want all our clients to be happy with their gear purchase. With that said, hand-built goods take time and extra labor to complete so we ask that you be sure to take extra care when ordering. Should you need to return an item, we gladly offer exchanges and or store credit toward future purchases.
If we've not started building your order, we will gladly cancel your order. Please let us know as quickly as possible after placing your order.