Our beautiful Appalachian mountains are the inspiration and namesakes for our handcrafted, genuine leather nickel free belts! Take a walk with us to discover more about these enduring mountains and our durable hypoallergenic belts!
From the moment our first handmade nickel free belt reached the desk of NoNickel owner Lea Dow, she knew it had to share the name of one of our beloved neighboring mountains. The ancient rounded peaks of these mountains are a testament to their history, having withstood all that nature has bestowed upon them for millions of years. Ms. Dow felt this was a good analogy for those who have persevered through the trials of nickel allergy and overcome those uphill battles through the use of our Certified Nickel Free™ products. Since that "aha moment", much research (including many fun hiking, biking, and skiing expeditions) has gone into the careful naming of our genuine leather belts. We thought that the start of autumn hiking season would be a good time to share these belts' naming history and possibly get you to enjoy all that our region of the country has to offer!
Let's start our trip at Roan Mountain, the name given to one of our cult favorite belts! Around mid-June, this area comes alive with the prolific purple flowers of the native rhododendrons. Hiking, camping, and cross country skiing opportunities abound in this natural wilderness. Whether the mountain name came from the color of Daniel Boone's horse, as he traveled through this area, or from the rustic coloration of fall flora, Roan Mountain is the perfect representation for this belt. The full grain leather strap is so soft, you'll think it is vintage leather. A belt that's made for an active lifestyle: comfort and freedom from nickel allergy rash are guaranteed with the Roan Mountain Nickel Free Belt.
Given the popularity of this belt, we've added several more to the Roan Mountain line including the ultra-popular Roan Mountain Distressed Leather Belt, the Roan Mountain Titanium Belt and the Child's Roan Mountain Nickel Free Belt and Child's Roan Distressed Leather Belts as well! 
Continue south toward Pisgah National Forest where you can scale the imposing Mt. Pisgah in a three-mile excursion. Better known for an arduous 65-mile mountainous bike race, the Mt. Pisgah recreational area can be a place of contradictions- solitude or excitement, relaxing views or extreme competition. Our Mt. Pisgah Distressed Leather Titanium Belt also offers more than meets the eye. The handcrafted leather strap is paired with a nickel free titanium buckle, gaining this belt an entry into the elite Signature Series. Guaranteed for a lifetime, these belts will be repaired or replaced if they should ever break or fail in any manner.
Nearby you'll find the charming town of Black Mountain, where our handcrafted leather belts literally got their start. Known for it's beautiful views and talented artisans, Black Mountain holds a special place in our heart. We named our black on black Black Mountain Belt in honor of the home of our original leather craftsman! The black leather strap is paired with a functional bottle opener buckle in matte black - great looks and zero nickel!
Most readers are well acquainted with the magical Smoky Mountains, but may not be as familiar with our amazing Smoky Mountain Belt Series. Just as the Smoky Mountain Park is the most visited park in the USA, our Smoky Mountain Black Belt continues to be a top seller each and every year. More recently we've added some smokier belts to this line, our Smoky Mountain Distressed Gray Belt and Smoky Mountain Distressed Gray Titanium Belts are made of an incredible soft, smoky gray leather and seem to blend with almost any casual outfit! Nickel free and comfortable, these new belts are sure to become long-time favorites.
Naming our belts for these stalwart mountains in the beautiful Appalachians also spoke to us of our southern heritage. In an area where "our word is as good as our bond" and our responsibility to customers is echoed through the ranks, we want to make a statement to our customers that our products can be trusted! Our genuine leather belts are designed to look and feel good, be durable, and never cause a nickel allergy rash. So, enjoy your fall hiking and your freedom from nickel rash!
