I have a lot of rubber weight belts. For myself, and for students.
My order of preference:
1.) Rob Allen.
2.) Beuchat
tied with
2.) Mares......Wider than the old style Mako. I prefer the wider one; it fits the slot in lead bricks perfectly.
3.) Mako (their old style)......it's very similar to the Mares and Beuchat, except the Mako belt was narrower. *
4.) IST. It looks similar to the Rob Allen, but doesn't stretch nearly as much. I don't like these that much. I wouldn't buy these again.
5.) Mako (their current style) I don't know WTF they were thinking......why copy the IST?? Not a good belt. (see no.#4) The Original Mako belt was awesome.
I have two Mako belts, and love them. I ordered another and it was the same belt as the IST ones I bought while on a trip. They should go back to their older style instead of going with the cheap ones they sell now.
*The original Mako is narrow. All other belts are the same width.
Mares and Beauchat are pretty much the same. Mares is easier to find.
I was going to order five more belts from Mako, but after receiving the current one.....I bought 5 Mares ones instead.
Hope that helps.
-Mitch