Arcade Momentum Belt Review

The Momentum belt is another iteration of Arcade’s travel belt series. The stretchy materials make them comfortable to wear all day long, and the plastic buckle ensures you don’t have to remove them at airport security. Is the Momentum something new, or just a cosmetic change from the popular Atlas Belt? Let’s dive in and find out!

The Rundown

The biggest selling point of the Arcade Momentum belt, and most Arcade belts, is the metal-free buckle. They’re crafted from plastic, so in theory, you don’t have to take them off at airport security. Sometimes, you still may be asked to, but we’ve had dozens of trips through the airport where we didn’t have to remove an Arcade Belt because it didn’t register as metal on the machines.

We’ve typically found that if security officers can see the travel belt, they’ll ask you to remove it. If they can’t, you’re all set!

The buckle on the Momentum belt is matte and sleek in appearance. Most of the plastic belts we’ve tested have shiny buckles, which look fine, but we prefer the subtlety of this model.

The female end of the buckle has two buttons—one on either side. You pinch both to open the clasp. Both need to be engaged for it to open, so you won’t accidentally open it if you overeat and your belly hangs over the top one, or you accidentally knock the bottom side while adjusting the fit.

The male side of the buckle is V-shaped, making it easy to slide it into the other side. Older versions were a rectangle, which was easy enough, but we appreciate this change.

The belt’s body is crafted from 85% post-consumer recycled REPREVE polyester and 15% rubber. It feels durable, but it has some stretch to it. We appreciate the flex when traveling, as you never know when you’ll need some extra motion control when a walk turns into a hike or you have to run to catch the bus.

There’s an elastic strap keeper, which ensures that the belt stays neat-looking. There are small holes in the design, which we dig. It adds a textured look to the belt without being too loud.

In testing, we wore this belt everywhere: cycling, hiking, to a formal event, on a walk downtown, and to work every day. It performed well and held up the pants, as promised. The only thing it might not be able to handle is formal events if you’re particular or wearing something special, such as a suit.

Packability

The belt is 1.5 inches wide (3.81 centimeters) and is suitable for pants with waist sizes ranging from 30 to 40 inches (76.2 to 101.6 centimeters). Others come in other sizes, but that isn’t the case for the Momentum belt, at least at the time of writing. Since that is the size of a standard men’s belt, it’s more suitable for masculine body types and pants.

There are a few colorways available, which we appreciate. In addition to selling the belts individually, you can also purchase a multi-pack with various colors. There are Black, Cloud, Oat, Charcoal, and Navy options, so you can get one that matches the vibes you’re looking for, or opt for a combo pack that suits all your needs.

The belt isn’t crazy packable, which some might see as a knock. That said, its versatility enables it to be the only belt you need to bring on vacation, so you don’t have to pack a belt for different occasions.

Quick Comparison

Picking favorites is wrong, but the Arcade Atlas belt is our top choice from Arcade. These belts are very similar, but there are a few main differences.

The Arcade Belt is available in multiple widths and lengths, making it a better option for those seeking a skinnier or longer belt. The design on the belt features vertical lines running across it, which is neither better nor worse. We think that the texture on the Momentum is more stylish, making for a better choice for an all-around belt, whereas the Atlas looks a little more travel-like.

The materials are the same on both belts, but the holes in the design on the Momentum make it feel a bit stretchier. It’s a double-edged sword, though, because we worry that the holes will make it less durable over time.

The Momentum has fewer colorway options at the time of writing, too, which is a bummer. Still, it hasn’t been out as long, so we may see more added.

You can’t go wrong with either belt; however, the Momentum feels better suited for those who do standard travel with occasional dress-up days or evenings, whereas the Arcade is a more durable, all-around choice.

If neither of these belts is durable enough for you and you don’t need the plastic buckle, consider Arcade’s Hardware Alu Belt!