Braces are one of those bits of kit nobody thinks about until they are halfway up a hill hitching their trousers with a rifle on their shoulder. A belt pulls in at the waist, which is exactly where you do not want pressure when you are wearing a rucksack hip belt or lying prone. Braces move the load to the shoulders and leave the waist alone.
Buttons or clips
This is the decision that matters, and it is decided by your trousers, not by preference. Most Harkila, Seeland and SwedTeam hunting trousers carry internal brace buttons — if yours do, button-on braces like the Harkila Carl-August or Carl-Eric sit flatter and will not pop off when you are getting through a fence. If your trousers have no buttons, you need clips: the Deerhunter Combi takes both, which is the sensible buy if you own a mix.
Width and stretch
Broad braces spread the load and are worth it if your trousers are heavy or you are carrying a beast off the hill. Narrow elasticated sets like the Jack Pyke are lighter and fine for a walked-up day. Full-stretch designs such as the Harkila Tech move with you when you mount the gun, which is the point of them — rigid leather braces can drag on the shoulder when you swing.
Also stocked: SwedTeam leather-fastener suspenders in green and Veil camo. For the trousers themselves see hunting and shooting trousers and waterproof trousers; for belts see belts.
