A men’s belt, “tasma” or “ni”, is an important element of the Nenets men’s costume. It supports clothes and can be used to adjust their length. It can also add a kind of pocket at the top of the malitsa shirt. In extremely cold or windy weather, a man can take his arms out of the wide sleeves and do some small tasks without taking off the coat.

A belt is made of strong rawhide. It is decorated with cloth, fur, copper buckles, chains, buttons, and plaques of various shapes. Metal pendants are considered sacred and serve as an amulet since their ringing is believed to ward off evil spirits. The number of pendants should be odd.

A belt gives the wearer a sense of composure. If a man has put on a belt, he is ready for any work and will work until the end of the day. The most necessary possessions can be suspended on the belt — in this way, a belt replaces bags and pockets.

The main tool, suspended on the belt using leather straps or metal chains, is a utility knife in a sheath. In the center of the belt, a man can display the tusks of the animals he had killed, and on the back, he can carry a bear’s fang, the most precious amulet. It is believed to prevent back pain and bring good luck in hunting. A wolf’s tusk is supposed to protect the domestic reindeer herd from predators and disease.

Sometimes, Nenets men sew a bone awl to the belt. It is used to prepare the harness and is essential to untying knots, especially in wet and frosty weather. A belt can also be equipped with a wooden stick with notches — a kind of notebook. Such sticks come in various shapes, and each notch corresponds to a newly born calf. To start counting from zero, the notches are cut using a knife.

On the right side, a belt features a whetstone for sharpening the knife, hidden in an elegant leather pouch. It should always be on hand because men need to keep their knives sharp. This pouch is also believed to represent the man’s spleen and is supposed to be full at all times, otherwise, the owner may fall ill.

There is also a place for a pouch that holds a pipe with a flint. In the past, a powder pouch was also attached to the belt. The belt is fastened at the front with a heavy copper buckle with a slotted pattern, consisting of two identical halves.