Basic Battle Belt Setup

[@KyleHooten2]

Belts work great for direct action raids (shooting at cardboard) in my battlespace (backyard). My whole unit (groupchat) runs them!

[@ustinates335]

This is the win right here... 🙂

[@blacklotusgym]

We’d be friends IRL

[@oathtaker2768]

😳😂👍

[@jhutch1470]

@@blacklotusgym You would just use him for his battlespace. LOL

[@I12beinu]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@norcaldude707]

"and I know that it's really hard to find the actual Safariland holster that you're looking for because their website is a thing of Grecian tragedy, but that being said, if you just bought a Glock like a normal person..." Our man Hop is a got dang poet.

[@TheDkb427]

Dude safari land website is shit!!! Lol. Unless you know the codes. So many codes!! Haha

[@thekraken1909]

CZ gang for life.

[@TheMclaujo]

I’m a carpenter so a padded war belt is intuitive for me. Used to reaching for my hammer and other tools at my waste. And the belt is always worn overtly, over my work clothes year round.

[@IFarmBugs]

Roofers in the same boat

[@cadebrown3069]

Also a carpenter. Same story here

[@tehmediasource]

Roofer bro, harness and battle belt is my go to

[@ThePatriotParadox]

I feel ya, am so used to wearing a tool belt, that a scaled down padded belt to hold my holster and mag's)med etc. Seems like the way to go for me. Plus don't have to worry about if I'm wearing winter or summer clothing

[@danman976]

Garage door installer here, I personally use an eagle industries gun belt as a host for my tool pouches and impact holster. I hate belt stacking and the Velcro solves that.

[@josephkerking8638]

Hey Hop, did you know you can put adhesive Velcro strips on the back of plastic attachments to get back some of the Velcro engagement? I didn't watch the video nor read the comments but I'm sure this is an original thought that you haven't figured out or had anyone already tell you.. You're welcome!

[@deskgamesix]

As a police officer I developed severe lower back problems due to the gunbelt and all the Bat toys we had to wear on it. I was only 27 at the time. At 58, getting out of bed can be tough. Be careful what you wear and just make sure there is a reason for the gear you choose. If you can get away from the battle belt concept altogether it may be better for you in the long run.

[@JL-pj6kk]

Did you ever use a suspenders system?

[@eric_brooks]

If your were on patrol, prob had just as much to you with you sitting for extended periods of time.

[@Matt-xc6sp]

How many dogs you kill?

[@Tattlebot]

@@eric_brooks 1 in 6 people have a low grade spine deformity.

[@Tattlebot]

@@eric_brooks Oh and be careful on what you put on the rear and sides. You have to be able to fall on it with force without causing paralyzation.

[@The_trees_have_ears]

The warbelt/stand alone style is great for cold weather, just put it on over the warming layers

[@lordofthepigs888]

HPG prairie belt is a great standalone option that interfaces with their rucksacks as a lumbar belt

[@breckfreeride]

Brokenfridge Colorado especially

[@The_trees_have_ears]

I’ve been enjoying the Trex Orion

[@breckfreeride]

@@The_trees_have_ears yep my current favorite

[@ZomCon7.62x39]

I've been using a 'Nam era alice belt/suspender set up over my cold weather hunting layers/clothes for years. It's not the most high speed tacticool gear, but it's for hunting in the Maine woods, it doesn't need to carry plates and a hundred AR mags. But it's functional, comfortable and fits well over cold weather gear&layers👍

[@robnaugle4149]

HSGI makes a gel-padded Velcro inner belt that turns conventional battle belts into a low-profile "war belt". Can be worn over clothing. It's handy to have to open up different ways of wearing a battle belt, basically when you need to wear oversized warm gear.

[@Kfgk14]

Very useful tip thank you!

[@dakotahayden6937]

I agree. I bought the HSGI gel-padded inner belt for this purpose. It works fantastic for me.

[@yzhou05]

I also used and did like the HSGI padded belt liner, but recently switched over to Qore Icevents pads, and have found them to be lighter and more comfortable. It is more of a permanent warbelt setup (not really just onewrap but is not as easy to apply as the HSGI pad), but that’s my preference 95% of the time anyway. I usually don’t wear belts on a daily basis (Phlster Enigma convert), so it makes sense as something to throw on over my clothes.

[@ryanweiss1721]

I also own one. It is a great addition.

[@daiji_]

I have something similar and it does help alot, also using a shell jacket that can sinch at the waist helped with making sure my jacket didn't catch on my holster or get in the way of magazine re indexing.

[@oskar6661]

While not an "ideal" solution, when I was a LEO (wearing a full LEO belt, obviously, similar to a modern battle belt), during cold weather I had a nice tactical jacket from Germany which had the holster access side-zip function. A zipper stemming from the bottom of the side of the jacket, which allowed for easy holster access. I then wore my plate carrier overtop the jacket with additional handgun magazines. So even during "coldish" weather I was able to access my handgun and had expedient magazines. This was in the desert though so I didn't need to address rain as an issue.

[@model1613]

5/11 makes a rain jacket with holster access zippers

[@georgerafa5041]

If you're in a situation where you need your gun and mags, you'll just live with a few minutes of cold rain getting through and warm up later. Obviously

[@hawkeyescorner2559]

I use a battle belt exclusively when walking my two dogs. It keeps their leashes, a climber's chalk bag full of treats, bear spray in a holster, and a Safariland ALS. I'm way out in the woods so it may be smarter to have a rifle for bears and mountain lions.

[@aetius9]

I'll also add a specific point on why you would get a battle belt: there are training facilities (Sig Academy among others) that won't let you run IWB holsters for many of the early classes because they view concealed carry as an advanced skill. Training is pretty much the only reason I have a battle belt, but it definitely simplifies things on the range.

[@Valorius]

The ultimate in larping fasion...the battlebelt. :D I have one for the homestead. But I honestly almost never wear it.

[@stevemc6010]

Looks a bit more civilian than a vest tbh

[@jimmybronco5336]

War belt style (as you said in the video) is great if you’re constantly getting in and out of trucks, or want to walk around your FOB, camp, etc. From an infantryman’s perspective, this is why I switched from a Battle belt to a war belt while on deployment l. Just my experience with that.

[@TALIZ0RAH]

I like taking all that fat that you would have on your kit and moving it to the belt. Easier on the shoulders and very convenient when working with vehicles.

[@adamdebt7389]

Additionally the first/second/third line gear is layed out for firstline- bare essentials to live another day. Secondline- the main harness that executes the fight. Thirdline= heavy sustainment for longterm living. I have a war belt style for similar purposes aka the EDC of warfighting and never being without a "force protection" loadout.

[@olshamus]

Yup, the war belt is very applicable in the real world. The average infantry GWOT loadout doesn’t fit well on a plate carrier and creates issues when firing from prone, leaving your cheeks sticking up in the air and greatly reducing accuracy. Moving items to a belt spreads it out more evenly, and takes some weight off your shoulders. I can understand the average larper probably doesn’t benefit from it as much though.

[@taylormartin4346]

I have the Mech belt too and I love it. I came to the same conclusion that molle on belts is just too much of an annoying compromise and I've velcroed everything. Thanks for the content man

[@Token_Black_Guy]

I already have a trex Orion so I'm good on belts

[@zippy545]

OneWrap Gang in the comments

[@possumpatrol45]

Next time I go to the range I'm going to wear a battle belt. And nothing else.

[@Hoplopfheil]

Gutsy move

[@spehhhsssmarineer8961]

Damn bro, got room for two?

[@possumpatrol45]

@@spehhhsssmarineer8961 As long as there's no eye contact!

[@scarbarber2129]

@@possumpatrol45Count me in too!

[@parzavaal5335]

@possumpatrol45 I know where I'm looking

[@docternoblex]

I’ve always seen a battle belt as useful for backpacking in the mountains, especially if you’re using it for other things, along with the magazines and medical supplies, I carry a climbing axe, bear spray, jet lighter, and a pair of drink coozies in case I get thirsty

[@civicsr2cool]

Chest rig works waymobetta with a backpack 👍

[@Danefrak]

All my backpacks have belts

[@prototype3a]

I've wanted to see a "tool belt" that was built more like a 2 piece belt. I know it likely could not use velcro the same way as it just wouldn't last very long being worn 5days/week.

[@duskmean]

I was thinking about trying to get into a jungle belt for hunting. Those look perfect for short jonts in the woods during turkey season.

[@ivankrylov6270]

Belt and chest rig takes a lot of crap out of you backpack Snacks, lights, and nav are all also nice to have on hand

[@juliancuevas6728]

I personally prefer a jungle type webbing system over a battle belt. The ease of putting it on and taking it off while also having the extra support from the harness was nice. I also like to run slick carriers. I even used to run a smersh and partizan harness for a while.

[@chilescross9205]

I've used a two piece belt for a while in competition, but it led to ridiculous lower back pain. I swapped using the velcro inner belt for a very thin inner belt pad, and it was an absolute game changer.

[@Schultz344]

What inner pad? I've been looking for one of a while.

[@chilescross9205]

@@Schultz344 This one. Really like how small it is compared to other padded belts.

[@SwaAusch]

@@chilescross9205 KZbin replies dont allow links

[@chilescross9205]

@@Schultz344 Its one from the company Wilder Tactical.

[@brandonschwertley2723]

Good points all around. I believe the battle belt concept has merits, but is overused in general because it's what all the competition/influencer shooters are using. They only need one maybe two spare rifle mags, and their handgun equipment. Fundamentally your belt is a good spot to attach items. Until you overload it with too much weight and your pants start to sag like a those 2000's era emo kids did. Then you need to help support the weight with suspenders or tighten your belt and give yourself a hernia. From my own experience I usually default to a "Jungle Belt" style that's attached to a chest rig or goes over a plate carrier with suspenders. My main experience comes from physical competition shooting like the desert brutality events and other similar matches. Where you need sustainment AND a handgun. So I usually put some load on my belt with water, medical, rifle ammo, handgun stuff, etc. I think the jungle belt idea is underrated but I also see why. People view it as a replacement or stand in for a chest rig/kitted out plate carrier. When I believe it's an additional source of sustainment, for those. It's especially good when you need to carry a handgun with your full kit, because you need a belt anyways why not use it for other gear. Then you can also separate your handgun belt from your armor system/chest rig if you are at a more relaxed posture.

[@jo232409]

Being real, the only reason "jungle belts" are out is because of Hollywood and videogames. Plenty of folks are on KZbin and competition circle are fully kitted up, and no where on their system is a rain jacket, sleeping system, etool, gas mask, nods, hide, binoculars, or sustainment. There's lots of equipment that a specific job might require, and Hollywood just doesn't make that fashionable.

[@nightnday6675]

Umm law enforcement and military?

[@neildees1761]

I was a machine gunner in the Marines, and I absolutely love gun-belts/battle-belts. I would often carry an M4 and an M240B, and I hated the double mag pouches on my PC because it made it difficult to get low behind the gun. I went to a gun belt and ran single mag pouches on my PC, and tried to keep everything as slick as possible while maintaining maximum ammunition. You really try to lower the risks of snagging gear when you're carrying a big ass machine gun. Nutnfancy always kind of annoyed me, but his POU and weight savings made a lot more sense when I started carrying 120lbs of shit through the swamp. Great video, thanks.

[@CDOES]

This is why I support you. You are leaps and bounds better than most

[@bobbertbobberson6725]

I had success mixing the two by violating the current tactical instagram trends. Basic-ass flap magazine pouches often (but not always) ride lower than open tops do, as they cover up the entire magazine. So I put flap pouches on my belt, so they barely protrude above the belt line, and I put singles on my kit, so they barely protrude below the cummerbund. Also as far as you mentioning civilian vs military context with the 1-2-3 line setup, that's an interesting topic. In the field I'm never going to have a belt with no vest. But I'm very often vest with no belt. Especially if my mission will be mostly truck based with little, if any at all, dismount work, in which case I'll store my belt under my seat and sit a bit more comfortably. So I had to use my belt to augment my vest. The majority of my combat load, plus IFAK, plus admin shit, is on my vest. On my belt are just pistol mags, 2 rifle mags, dump pouch (I can use cargo pockets if I don't have my belt, if I really need to), and a 3rd TQ because why not. I also have my pistol mounted to my inner belt on a Safariland QLS. This lets me carry my pistol on base without having to wear my whole-ass battle belt just to get chow. It also lets me keep my pistol on me, mounted or dismounted, without my belt on. The QLS, besides giving some standoff for the belt and a jacket, also let me take it off while I'm in a place I don't need a pistol on my hip (ie. in my sleeping tent)

[@The_Lundy]

I use the HSP D3 belt and really like it. It's big selling point is the 2" belt, so it actually works properly with MOLLE.

[@Minuteman_Medic]

I agree with your concept of why you might want a belt. For me, it's always been the same idea. I'll throw on a belt if I'm in a scenario where I'm doing shit that's not necessarily shooting, but I may end up needing to shoot. I've always thought that two layer belts were kind of a meme as well, I live in New England where for a pretty solid chunk of the year I'm wearing some sort of layers. Being able to throw my belt on over that just makes life a ton easier as opposed to fucking around by trying to tuck in a coat, or fit the coat over my jacket. In my head, I've always liked the idea of wearing a war belt with a plate carrier to more evenly spread my load. However, I usually end up just outright ditching the belt when I'm wearing a plate carrier. It's funny how much time I've put in to trying to buy different belts and set them up as opposed to the amount of time I've actually worn one.

[@artimla492]

I'm really digging the dump pouch from Flat Line Fiber Co. as it mimics the DM system by having the dump pouch located underneath mag pouches so it frees up the real estate on the battle belt. They have varying sizes so hopefully one will have the large opening you are looking for.

[@Hoplopfheil]

I have one on my other plate carrier actually

[@KirkFickert]

First time I saw a war belt or battle belt or whatever was at a competition about 8 - 9 years ago now. HSGI and the guy loved the fact he could take it off/on between stages and have everything right there, didn't move on him, and was comfortable. So I bought one and 7ish years later really haven't changed it. I've got two kangaroo tacos weak side, douche pouch, canteen/water bottle pouch, HSGI blowout pouch, and then a Bianchi drop leg kit for the M12/84/92 military holster. I'm sure not high speed enough for guys these days, but it works.

[@dancoursey5447]

Same.

[@fixedG]

I like your civilian variation of the "line" concept, but I think the battle belt is actually second line of urgency or need. Running a velcro inner belt and lining up nice and straight with an outer belt that has your pouches and stuff is a lot slower than throwing on a chest rig or plate carrier that has the magazines and medical you'd use with the ultimately more useful tool, your rifle. The faster donning gear that supports the more useful tool comes first to me. Adding a battle belt is something that comes to mind at times when you have time to be prepared and plan and think to add a full sized sidearm, dump pouch, etc. But I guess in a sustained state of high, overt danger and readiness, the battle belt represents your dangerous-time EDC.

[@KateHikes1933]

If I were working on the farm in a situation where I thought there was an escalated possibility of violence, I'd choose to wear a battle belt all day rather than a plate carrier or chest rig. To me, those are better to stash in the car or house, but the belt can be worn during normal activities.

[@ETuss713]

A battle belt has been a great choice for me when eradicating hogs and yokes, checking fences, checking feeders, and being out on my land. It allows me to carry my pistol, 2 spare ar mag, medical, work gloves, and a dump pouch that holds the tools, batteries, water, or whatever I need at the time.

[@PonyFoot123]

This is my EXACT purpose for the belt im building

[@ghymps9423]

@@PonyFoot123i’m a little late to the party but i’m building out a belt just for this. how are you liking so far?

[@Bob-ex7rd]

The monotone sarcasm that you season your videos is what keeps me coming back

[@donh1572]

Hop is the most grumpy and negative guntuber on KZbin. Yet, I love it!!!

[@Mandalore6311]

I went with the Defense Mechanisms MEPC for my plate carrier, and I love it. Glad to hear good things about the belt, I’ll have to get one.

[@getitdone2361]

He gives great advice for someone that's never done this in the military.

[@ryanweiss1721]

I have the Blue Alpha molle belt and found a fix to the problem of mag pouches and a Safariland holster sliding up and down that is relatively cheap and easy. You can actually take small zip ties and loop through the top molle loop of the mag and wrap it around the entire belt, cinching the mag/holster in to place. To give credit where it is due, I learned that trick feom Kinetic Consulting on one of his battle belt setups.

[@vtecfed420]

Great video. This is one of the first “battle belt” videos I’ve watched, and I have mine set up exactly in the same position as your. Diff stuff obviously, but in the same spots. It just kind of happened that way just from trying diff things in diff places. Thanks Hop.

[@sodajones2576]

I recently picked up a Nixieworks LFR and I'm in love. No more battle belt for me and it can go over my jacket no problem and has everything I need to be out for 2-3 days.

[@danman976]

What do you carry in your LFR?

[@sodajones2576]

@@danman976 6 mags, two canteens, a radio, ifak, binos, and a light sleeping bag with bivy + a gore-tex top + high density snacks to hold me over for a couple days.

[@martebeard6133]

Bro the timing on this video is insane. Exactly the stage I’m in with setting up my loadout

[@CWHolleman]

You sound like you're talking about CoD..

[@jeshowls]

Nuanced+informative w/ some solid advice, nice

[@zippy545]

I JUST BOUGHT THE MECH THE OTHER DAY It looks so dope. No molle, full Tegris, overlap. Seems to be like a hybrid Axl and Esstac Enhanced all in one. Very excited to get mine.

[@klausb1758]

Glad you gave a shout-out to G-Code Scorpion pouches with paddles. These things are awesome! Very handy piece of kit. I have these in my edc bag, and in my truck. Very nice to throw on for an unplanned shoot with friends, or for quick additional edc gear. Although, I love my multiple belt systems, especially for 2-gun matches, I do agree with you. Chest rig is probably the #1 piece of gear to acquire. Easier to run, sit, hold rifle mags, and if needed, hold a pistol. Plate carriers (with plates) on the other hand, eh. Mine has literally been sitting in my closet for years. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, I guess.

[@Terron35]

I just picked up a belt. I went with the AWS SMU, HSGI double pistol mag taco, HSGI single rifle mag taco. Got a True North Concepts holster adapter with thigh strap, tourniquet w/holder, and I found a custom holster for my Sig X-Ten. I don't always want to carry a rifle when I go out in the woods so I got the X-Ten. I then built the belt around the idea of carrying only the X-Ten and occasionally a rifle. Plan on getting an ifak pouch and I already have the supplies to go in it.

[@tacticalpickle7]

I don't know if anyone has taken the time to say thank you. My system has been refined significantly or vindicated all in part because of you and all KZbin influences that have gone down the rabbit hole of new gimmicks and " innovation. "... to find that all that shit does not work 😒...in some instances you have help to solidify why I did not choose to go one way or the other...either way I appreciate all your videos the effort put in to them even if you might not notice moves mountains... THANK YOU. you and Brass fact have a no BS straight to the point attitude that is needed to get through the crap.👍🇺🇲

[@briannguyen5725]

great video, very affirming, much validation. 90% agree w/ that train of thought/philosophy. I’d also add multitool instead of dumpy on the padded war belt, 1 pistol mag/pouch at 1 o’clock, 3 pistol mags/pouches at 9:30-11 o’clock. Full but slick as possible IFAK at 6. I also add a long heavy duty zip tie that runs the length of the belt in the gap between the two half MOLLE rows

[@McPatrick14]

Before you cast battle belts to the wind, I'd love to see your take on the Haley belt. Actual correct Molle spacing is making it the most tempting for me currently, mostly as a range accessory when I'm not in the mood for full kit.

[@user-te3qq1rb7u]

The legit Molle spacing is cool and all, but when one wrap works perfectly well on a lower profile, lighter belt then I just don’t really see the need for it anymore.

[@Cluster-orchestrator]

I’ve been rocking my LBT 1961-AR. Much more comfortable to wear and quicker to put on than a battle belt. These days I just use my battle belt for pistol training sessions.

[@Brix7-08]

I know it’s fallen out of fashion on the gram lately but I still prefer a padded “war belt” for a couple reasons: 1 - throw it on over whatever I’m wearing. Gym shorts, sweatpants, regular jeans, hell I could jump out of bed bare ass naked and still wear it effectively. Doesn’t need a pair of “tactical pants” or jeans with belt loops for the inner belt system. Cold weather or hot, just takes a quick adjustment and it can go over whatever layers I’m wearing. 2 - set it and forget it. Haven’t changed the setup in 5 years so not too worried about having to fuss with the MOLLE. 2x pistol mags, 1 rifle mag, dump pouch, med kit, TQ, handgun and holster. Done.

[@muskaos]

I run the same war belt I built in 2010, VTAC Brokos belt with Eagle Industries and USGI taco mag pouches, a dump pouch, an IFAK, and a leatherman. I use a Safariland drop mount for the 6004 ALS holster I use for my M&P. I have VTAC suspenders, too, so I don't have to cinch the belt down onto my waist so it stays put. I can wear it over cold weather or rain gear, which is what I usually do. I also am tall, with enough torso length that this belt setup doesn't interfere with a plate carrier when I put one on.

[@bfish9700]

I have a front and rear dump pouch, shotgun cards fit in rifle mag pouches and loose shells in the front pouch isnt terrible. Also really like the true north hanger with rti wheel. Super rigid, plenty of spots to put the drop wherever you want.

[@thomasstewart1380]

Looking at the way you have you belts setup and the way you described what you believe to the proper use case for it, battle belts sound like a great supplement to a compact go-bag. Depending on how heavily you set up your go-bag, you could easily secure a set up battle belt to the outside of the bag so whenever you need to snatch the bag and go, you have a light gear set ready. Would also potentially free up space inside the bag since you won't need a gun and mags inside the bag anymore. I might try to build a set-up with that idea in mind sometime.

[@CCOOKE88]

Love my battle belt. Deployed infantry team lead and having the belt to free up the sides of my carrier was great. I never had a major layering interference but syria only ever got down to 30 degrees. I think these are the kinds of trade offs people need to consider. I also never wore more outer layers than a Hoodie and my windbreaker. In a rainy or arctic environment, I could see a larger conflict.

[@EliteElk221]

I personally have a pretty darn slick battle belt, at least compared to some I've seen. All of the layering constraints is a legitimate concern and should be properly addressed. When it comes to vehicles I've never really had a problem as long as I don't shove too much to the back of the belt. I prefer them to war belts most days because I live in an area where I'm not really layering all that much. As much as it sucks to say, this kind of stuff is always going to be mission dependent. I'm glad we got your insights, it very much helps when thinking about improving gear!

[@prestonhines5395]

Going to a kydex mag carrier system, with something like a tek-lok will give you a space between your belt and equipment on your belt. Your garment can sit in the space without interfering with getting to the gear. Also, this system would allow you to cant your pistol mags so that when you draw them, it won’t be pulling straight up. Just some considerations.

[@CWHolleman]

After using a Ronin Senshi for years, I still love it and it does what I need it to do. It holds nearly everything I need at the ready while at the range. I use either a padded inner belt for wearing on top of clothes/gear or a thinner "belt loop friendly" inner belt. The belt space is pretty well utilized (starting from the left hip 2:30-3 O'clock)..I run either 1 or 2 HSG Double Decker Tacos (usually 1), Maxpedition Rollypoly dump pouch, Coyote STOMP med pouch, Leatherman Raptor, holster and a fixed blade knife. Any setup could likely be further optimized but I have practiced long enough with this rig that it feels very natural smooth to work with.

[@KidCorporate]

The PDP SD Pro is such a sweet pistol but finding a holster for it has been a huge PITA, especially with a closed emitter optics that I'm not sure an active retention strap could get over, eventually went with a T. Rex Arms.

[@riskyflash6812]

According to the Walther subreddit, Safariland P320 holsters work with the PDP.

[@gator7082]

Battle belts are more or less range toys for most. They are mission specific, just like plate carriers. For the average joe just trying to be prepared for whatever, the warbelt or an LBV is a better choice, so in reality the 2 week instagram jungle kit makes more sense for general purpose things. In my time in the Corps I always stuck with the warbelt. You put it on, you take it off, it's grab and go, very simple and is multi season.

[@CaptainHat12]

The placement of a battle belt when you've got layers on drove me nuts too. I've got a belt pad from Wilder Tactical that has velcro loop on one side and a grippy rubbery surface on the other side, which makes it nice and stable to throw the belt on over something like a jacket or coat, it seems to be a solution for now. I hope you'll wax eloquent on the subject of suspenders at some point, even if it means delving into the dark realms of hypebeast belt kits.

[@Underbottom.Sandydown]

I've always just called it a pistol belt, throw it on over whatever and go for a ride. More comfy than anything else I've found so far. Looks pretty cool too

[@Space_Racer]

If I want to put my belt on over layers I use a padded innerbelt that AWS gear sells. Works like a smaller war belt in a pinch.

[@alexduke5402]

Believe it or not I've had a really good experience with my Condor belt. It has a real cobra buckle. It's laser cut with a .5, a full 1, and a .5 so you can attach molle with a full loop of it. It has a grippy material on the back so you can put it over your layers. Overall it's a really nice belt and had served my well the last 2 years

[@luked4857]

Best solution I’ve found to wearing my belt with layers is the Wilder Tactical “Urban Assault Belt Pad”. It turns your two piece belt into a one piece. It’s a pad that attaches to the Velcro of your outer belt. This allows you to comfortably and relatively securely wear your belt while wearing layers without utilizing your belt loops so the bottom of an outer layer or mid layer can go under the belt without needing to be tucked into your pants. Then if your clothing allows you can the pad off and wear your belt normally by utilizing the inner belt in your belt loops. Keeps you from needing two belts for different seasons. Works well.

[@panzerabwerkanone]

My battle belts are Vietnam era jungle belts, UM84 holster. I prefer just to carry everything on a battle vest which incorporates the belt. Thanks for the ideas for an upgrade!

[@michaelnasser8697]

Thank you for taking the time to break that all down and explain it and options, I do appreciate it.

[@homerj109]

Hope you do a review of your Dara holster. I have level 2s one for a PPQ/tlr and a G19/aplc that have held up so far and are one of the few level 2 options out there for some guns and light combos. I went in blind with never even hearing of the brand before.

[@Osprey1994]

I mean the materials are good, just don't have a ton of info on them.

[@goobertoober95]

I like running the battle belt with a war belt inner pad as a backup. That way you can run the same belt two ways. As with any compromise it's not perfect. If you need to layer you just rip off the belt, throw on the war belt pad, and run the belt over layers.

[@alanbryant8245]

Good video! Was in Marine Security Forces in the Seventies the military had long understood the pistol belt/vehicle/aircraft problems and had issued us the old WWII M7 Leather Shoulder Holsters for our 1911s, while not ideal they worked, I used some pistol belts in infantry roles with Rhodesian style & AK 47 chest rigs and never had an issue …..just different body types /different preferences? ⚓️😎🇺🇸

[@michaellucas8927]

This video couldn't have come along at a better time. Been trying to decide on what kind I want to get. It was very informative. Thank you.

[@jacobspadt2567]

Not really sure how to fit this in, but I wanted to say something about the jungle belt/ALICE concept: If you look at guys in Vietnam with their M56 gear, they shed stuff off their "jungle belts" as time went on". They went in with all their gear on their belt/harness, and as the war went on there was a shift to minimize what went on the belt. When the war peaked in '68-69, It was very common for guys to have dropped their suspenders, and gone down to just a mag pouch and a canteen on their "war belt". They would carry extra ammo in claymore bags stuffed with mags and used as satchels, or on bandoleers. As the war went into the 70's, some soldiers wore no belt at all, and carried everything either in the ruck or on bandoleers/satchels. It's not a perfect parallel to the modern day, because we now have chest rigs/plate carriers/modern hydration and so there are more options now, and what became most popular then might not be the best now. TLDR: Vietnam saw soldiers go from jungle belt to war belt to no belt.

[@Burton3375]

Lol okay tell that to the Army for 40 years it was the LBE you would not drop your suspenders as a holds up your gear

[@jacobspadt2567]

@@Burton3375 what? Are you saying it's impossible to wear an ALICE/M56 belt without suspenders? Guys did it all the time in nam.

[@HotelBravo556]

I agree with you that belt should not be the first overt gear invested in. The objectively correct order of civilian fighting gear investment should be: CCW > chest rig > slick(ish) plate carrier for concealment or under chest rig > range/assaulter belt.

[@cyphre]

The recent MOLLE belt offerings have been interesting, but good to see it in action. Definitely only useful in the 'war belt' scenario you originally brought up. Padded with enough width for actual MOLLE loops.

[@JimYeats]

“Jungle belts were popular on Instagram for about two weeks” Paul Harrell has entered the chat.

[@The_combat_trucker]

@shawconcepts used to make the “Double Decker”. It would allow you to drop pouches on your belt for shorter people so that things don’t interfere with with your plate carrier for short people.

[@chrisdjernaes9658]

BEST Summary Ever. Thanks for explaining the System(s), Elements and pros vs cons. Cheers 🍻

[@SoundChemist]

Battle belts are great for home defense as well, fast attachment everything on your hip.

[@ek7404]

Wilder Tactical makes a belt pad that turns your standard 2 piece belt into a “war” belt. Worth looking into. I’m a big fan of mine.

[@othernamesweretaken1871]

Overall war belt with a low pro harness you can wear under a carrier and a leg strap on your holster is the ultimate for an overt non-jungle style rig. No Velcro to wear out or get packed with mud or snow, you don’t have to wear a Velcro inner belt like a toddler, doesn’t even request pants, adjusting the belt tighter or looser for extra layers or as you lose weight through a week of movements and go black on water on the fly is easier than with a 2 piece, and you usually have plenty of actual webbing real estate. Understand that what keeps your belt in place is now your harness, leg strap, and how snug you run the belt itself. That may or may not be a comfortable as a 2 piece. Comfort will be a personal preference thing but I used the same SFLCS padded war belt or whatever it’s called as a teenager for dove hunting, Gatorade , little med, some shells, and my license and shit. As an infantry dude with all kinds of bullshit on it. And now as a free man hiking and camping. And aside from my next point it’s been pretty dope. The 3 point harness system on that belt is dog water but I never got around to rigging up a 4 point. Final note, if you need to whiz during a short halt, you just hit that belt buckle and let loose. You don’t have to try to hold the belt and your pants around your waist. You’ve got a harness. Also yes I know the video is about 2 different 2 piece belts. These are just some free insights to consider if the 2 piece system doesn’t really appeal to you.

[@wollsmoth69]

Why would you have to unclip your belt to piss? I don't have to teach you what your zipper and hole in ya drawers is for do I?

[@HotelBravo556]

Hop, Soil Eater and Esstac both make nice horizontal tourniquet sleeves that fit nicely in front of the pistol on the belt. Best solution I’ve found.

[@levet1797]

DefMech is a fantastic company. They even managed to make the plate carrier back panel not suck for the average person by giving it a strap kit. I love watching people try to justify extra cargo space that requires you remove your armor to access it .

[@flavortown3781]

here in appaliacha the jungle belt is ideal as a chest rig and assault pack replacement, it is alot more breathable as it sits on me on places that dont tend to sweat, if you are doing rural patrol in the mountains as a 24hr rig it is really more of a patrol pack thats quite easy to fight out of rather than a gunfighters belt,

[@kalashnikovdevil]

Especially with my background I just can't see myself moving away from a war belt. It's a far more comfortable and flexible piece of 'light' kit, to support a pistol, some ammo, medical and another essential tool or two. Thanks for the details Hop. Plate carrier 101 and where you're at on your PC next?

[@Rltvader1]

I also have a Walther PDP for my belt. If you are looking for a Safariland ALS holster for the Walther PDP look at the SIG P320 variants of holsters. I have a 4.5" PDP with TLR1 and Trijicon sRO in a Safariland 6390RDS 4502, which is a P320 with a 4.7" barrel holster.

[@wafflebunny123]

war belt , battle belt whatever you call it , is basically what a chest rig is to a rifle ,but for a handgun. I think the overall best use is for classes and the extremely rare occasion where you ran out of space on your upper body and back.

[@0dayExploit]

+1 to the arbor arms swivel leg strap. Like you, short torso, long legs, mid ride UBL. Their strap is in the perfect spot for me

[@chipoc4917]

When you re-index magazines, put empties and partials back in follower side up. That way you can tell by sight or feel which are full, partial, and empty.

[@loganbrowne713]

As a fellow tall/ short torso person, tuck the front part of your rain jacket under the front buckle of the belt (so between the pants and cobra buckle). This allows for easy on and off of the jacket and gets rid of the slack crowding the tops of your pouches.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

LBE/ Battle Jacket Systems with good waist and shoulder padding are optimal, the SADF Pattern/ Type 83 LBE is nearly optimal (and is easy to use with a Slick Vest, yes)- nearly, just needs some Pouch reconfiguration for better use, being stitched is the most bomb-proof (yet easy enough to repair at low cost) and reduces weight compared to MOLLE/ PALS stuff and ALICE Clip systems. Modularity and all the options therein are nice, but with an optimized and standardized layout for a simple system it reduces a lot of headache and saves money while being able to easily adapt to such a system. Having used Duty and Battle Belts day in and day out for long hours over years, I can say Belt specific systems are awful on the body for that kind of use. They're great for the range, relatively short shooting competitions, and rapid short-lived operations/ raids where you're in an out, but not for extended duty or combat use, you need the support of your back/ shoulders/ chassis of the body in tandem with your hips to stay comfortable and distribute the weight more adequately for better use and performance.

[@Burton3375]

Boom! This is the way!

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

@@Burton3375 🍻🤘

[@allthecommonsense]

This is a fantastic video with loads of pragmatic insight. Nicely done.

[@user-ij9sh1tf9d]

As far as mounting pouches goes, some companies like Haley Strategic are now making pouches that have half-inch MOLLE cuts that are designed to properly interface with belts that have mini MOLLE sections instead of full-size MOLLE sections. I use a Haley rifle mag pouch on a Ferro Bison belt and can confirm that it works very well, no slop or movement of the pouch on the belt.

[@rookshaw4974]

In theory, you can avoid draw problems between the belt and plate carrier, by getting a drop leg holster, but that will require extra training to get used to it. I like drop leg holsters, but a lot of people don't for the exact reason you've mentioned. A drop leg panel can also delete the ability to use use hip pockets and cargo pockets, if you have them.

[@osker4738]

Thanks again Hop for perfectly explaining my thought process when KZbin makes me second guess my way of doing things 👍

[@DmacAlmigjty093]

Look into “Ike” cut jackets when it comes to wearing a jacket with a belt. They’re designed to stop short so they don’t interfere with belts.

[@indra_works9392]

I just love your warbelt setup video i've watch the last belt video and fell in love with it , keep up the great work hop 🔥

[@RavenZ27]

Laser-cut 2-piece belts are a thing of beauty. I agree that goofy sewn-on sub molle-sized stuff doesn't make sense from a molle/pals webbing standpoint, but the laser-cut stuff (in my experience) has a true molle gap between them, and as long as you do a proper molle weave, the 1/2 sized top and bottom sections don't result in sloppy pouches. However, you do need to make sure that your laser-cut webbing is reinforced so that it won't stretch and tight to the belt.

[@ImmaSaveUFromMe]

Don't worry there may be a 2023 2.0 and will definitely be a 2024 version One thing that changes with the wind is plate carrier and battle belt setups on the internet.

[@ethan5.56]

I bought a padded battle belt from SORD and replaced the belt with a cobra buckle belt and just used the pad with molle on it. Currently running high speed gear taco mag carriers on it. Great video as always

[@Forests0fFantasy]

I personally used a battlebelt on my last deployment. I definitely agree with what you said about belts sometimes not playing well with plate carriers. I have found that I have to run my belt opposite of how I run my plate carrier. So when I run my slick carrier that is pretty sparse for personal shooting and competition, I run a lot of gear on my belt, that way I have everything I need for a range trip on the belt and I don't have to put the carrier on. My duty plate carrier has a lot more going on, so I run the bare minimum (m17 holster, 2 pistol mags, 1 rifle mag) and I also use the slick Blue Alpha Belt. Blue Alpha has some of the best costumer service, and the belt does the job very well

[@kobeh6185]

I've run Molle pouches on battle belts for years in airsoft and I gotta say, MARS carriers or some sort of hard attacking system is really the way to go. They just bear the weight better and draw cleaner without any sliding. Comp style pouches really make a lot more sense on these types of thin belts

[@HeavilyArmed]

Down here in the south where I only have to wear a jacket or hoodie like 15 days out of the year, a battle belt works well for a light set up. For example I have a padded MOLLE belt with a pistol holster, HSG mag pouches for pistol and rifle mags, IFAK, milsurp canteen and pouch, and admin pouch. The rest of my kit with this load out is in a 5.11 MOAB 6. I guess you could say it’s somewhat of a patrol kit in terms of where it would be compared to an assault kit, 72hr pack, bug out bag etc.

[@hamlaser]

I have an old 2010 TAD Ranger Hoodie that stops just short of my belt. Keeps me cozy in the cold.

[@rybaneightsix5085]

On the layering issue with battle belts: I always wear a 511 1.75" gun belt, forget what it's called, as part of my daily attire. If I'm not wearing that belt, then I'm not wearing pants at all. So I set my battle belt up to ride on to of my every day belt. Inner belt still loops through the belt loops on my pants, outter rides on top line normal. But that leaves it with enough slack that if needed I can just wear the inner/outter together on top of everything.

[@iamsethhasting8911]

I got a really thick molle battle belt with the harness to help support it, then I threw some 6×8 side armor plates on it. Its very heavy and difficult to sit in, but it offers protection to my lower abdomen and it would be useful in a short engagement, like clearing a house.

[@orianhullinger7999]

I haven't done either yet, but I thought that a war-style belt would be good to have on a nightstand. Something goes bump in the night, and you strap a belt with a handgun, light, first aid kit, and tourniquet over your bathrobe and you're ready to rock. As I have been more exposed to body armor, I realize that you could slip a plate carrier on with those same items and have the added protection.

[@brickbeefchest5606]

I recommend war belts if that's something anyone figures they have use for. You can slap one on quickly, and depending on the make, it can be quite cozy for hours on end. That said, I've found that at least one leg drop is outright necessary to make the bigger feel nice and sturdy. Makes it better for mating with a plate carrier, though, to have a leg drop holster. Especially if you have a certain factor that extends your draw motion and makes your gun sound more pleasant.