These two materials are not competing for the same job. Owning one of each covers almost everything.
Leather earns its place in the wardrobe
Leather takes a crease, holds a shape, and smartens as it ages. It is the right call for tailoring, for leather shoes, and for anywhere the belt is visible under a jacket.
Canvas is built for movement
Webbing does not stretch out of shape, does not mind rain, and adjusts anywhere along its length rather than at fixed holes. That makes it the better travel and outdoor belt.
The one rule worth keeping
Match leather to leather. A canvas belt with dress shoes reads as a mismatch far more than most people expect.
