Stainless vs Brass: Picking Belt Hardware for Saltwater (Brass Coming Soon)

We get this question every time someone's ordering a Sportsman Biothane Belt for fishing or duck hunting: should I go stainless or brass?

Both are safe to swim in saltwater with. Neither will rust through on you. But they age differently, look different, and feel different on the belt. Here's how to decide.

Short version

• Pick stainless if you want zero maintenance, zero patina, and a modern tactical look. Also our only in-stock saltwater option today.
• Pick brass (when it launches) if you want the warmer leather-era look, don't mind rinsing after salt days, and like the way brass ages. Coming soon.

The stainless option (available now)

Our current Sportsman Belt ships with a stainless steel buckle option (with an orange keeper for high-vis). It's the right pick if:

• You wade a lot. The belt gets fully submerged often and you don't want to think about it.
• You hate maintenance. Stainless doesn't patina, doesn't need polish, doesn't require a freshwater rinse.
• You want the belt to look exactly the same in year five as it did in year one.
• You're mixing it with modern technical gear — waders, kayak PFDs, dry bags. Stainless matches.

Downsides: it won't age. Some people love the way brass develops a patina; stainless just stays stainless. If you want character, that's a point against.

The brass option (coming soon)

We're adding a marine-brass buckle option soon — same Italian brass stock we use on our Jaeger quick-release snaps, built for a 1.5" belt. It's the right pick if:

• You like the way brass pairs with Biothane, leather kit bags, or classic duck/upland gear.
• You want the belt to look like a story over time — the dark warm patina from salt and sun is part of the charm.
• You don't mind a quick freshwater rinse after a hard salt day (optional, not required).
• You've already got brass hardware on your Jaeger lead or Belt Accessory Loop and want everything to match.

Downsides: brass develops a patina you may or may not like. A quick wipe with Brasso brings it back if you want it bright. We think the patina is the best part, but it's a personal thing.

Both will take saltwater

This is the main point: there is no "wrong" hardware for salt. Marine-grade stainless and solid brass are both corrosion-resistant. We've seen both go years in brackish and salt environments without failing. It's a style and maintenance call, not a durability one.

What's not safe in saltwater: cheap chrome plating (flakes), zinc die-cast (powders out), or raw steel (rusts fast). None of that goes on any Sole Oak Supply gear.

Where the belt itself fits

Both hardware options sit on the same Biothane Super Heavy Beta belt — waterproof, won't mildew, won't absorb sweat, and stays flexible in cold. Three colors (Blaze Orange, Electric Green, Dark Brown). For a deeper dive on why the belt itself is saltwater-safe, read our Saltwater-Safe Biothane Belt post.

Want the brass option when it drops?

We're rolling marine brass buckles out shortly. If you want a heads-up when it's available, send us a note or follow us on Instagram — we announce new hardware there first.

In the meantime, the Sportsman Biothane Belt in stainless is the belt we'd grab for a Keys trip tomorrow.