photo from reddit Clothing
Thomas Bates Dakota Paracord Belt
by Thomas Bates
62
2 endorsements on r/BuyItForLife first recommended in Jun 2025
A paracord-braided belt with a slide buckle from Thomas Bates Accessories, a small American belt maker founded in 1989 that originally sold through REI and now sells directly to outdoor shops and online.
Added Jul 5, 2026, Updated Jul 5, 2026
Why it's buy-it-for-life
A customer's original Thomas Bates belt bought at REI lasted over 30 years of daily wear, from 6th grade to age 42, before finally wearing out; the company confirmed the same braid design continues today as the Dakota Paracord belt, now with an aluminum slide.
What redditors say
Recommended on reddit as recently as June 2025
Tags
paracord aluminum-buckle made-in-usa small-business
I've worn this belt every day since 6th grade. I'm 42 years old. The end is nigh though... Got it at REI, brand was like the name of a person.
my husband and I started our company, Thomas Bates Accessories in 1989 and REI was one of our first customers... The Dakota Paracord is the same braid as you have in your REI belt, but with an aluminum slide now