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Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Mar 4, 2013 20:58:14 GMT -5
Just wondering what you guys think the pros and cons are for a battle belt/war belt are. I've been looking at the Infidel War belt and like the concept and the design of this particular one.
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Post by grendal1989 on Mar 8, 2013 13:45:29 GMT -5
I'll bite. No experience with that belt in particular(though the inner belt for retention is intriguing) but do with the concept in general. I am personally a big fan of the battle belt concept. Quick on and off regardless of gear on the body and keeps everything in an intuitive (at least for me) position for reloads. Also it works well if you do things in a layered approach as several guys here have done. There is a thread here(that you've probably seen) with some discussion on the war belt: uwgear.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cetalk&action=display&thread=208As to down sides: -Some people have problems with them just sitting on their waist and moving since they aren't actually attached to your pants(though I haven't had this problem with my HSGI suregrip) -Maybe more difficult to remove mags while prone, depending on location on belt. -I'm sure there is more but I can't think of any at the moment. I'm sure someone will chime in.
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Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Mar 8, 2013 18:28:42 GMT -5
Somehow missed that thread, thanks for the info.
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matt
New Member
Trigger Jerk
Posts: 244
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Post by matt on Mar 13, 2013 13:14:01 GMT -5
After a lot of trial and error, I have been using the same basic battle belt for years now. The whole concept works well for me. This list isn't exhaustive...
Pros: - The waist/hips are made for load bearing - Keeps you cooler in warmer climates - Reloads are quicker from the belt - Reinforces going to the belt for reloads which is true for my CCW gear or full kit - I always wear a belt anyway so I can hang my handgun from it - Keeps shoulders clear for slings, pack straps etc.
Cons - Battle belts don't always play nicely with long jackets (where as a chest rig can be more easily adjusted to wear over a jacket) - You can't (and shouldn't) carry many mags - my limit is 2X primary mags and 2x secondary mags - May not play well with body armor depending on body shape - Does not play well with packs that have hip belts
I look at my battle belt as my base line gear. It is my bare minimum. I can carry spare ammo, a blow out kit, a dump pouch, my handgun, and some other small but important stuff like a GI cleaning rod (in pieces), gun oil, notebook, writing utensil, etc. If I choose to add a chest rig or plate carrier, then my belt still serves as my speed reload location and the chest rig essentially reloads the belt.
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Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Mar 13, 2013 19:57:50 GMT -5
Thanks Matt
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Post by Diz on Mar 18, 2013 18:46:45 GMT -5
After going back and forth on this for some time, I've decided that a CCW beltline just doesn't cut it, when you up-gun to rifle and support gear (chest rig or PC). So for every day wear, I want a good low profile belt, but, for when you have to fight with a rifle, I'm gonna switch up to a full warbelt, time permitting.
The problem with them is that if they aren't anchored to your pants/belt somehow (keepers, etc.) then there can be problemos. I think the best solution right now is a set of low profile suspenders. While it does add another layer of straps, it also keeps your beltline/1st line gear separate from your chest rig/PC 2d line. I'm a big fan of the modular approach here.
When you go up to a warbelt, not only does it hold pistol gear, but now you can add such things as a rifle ready mag or two, and a good dumper, and a good blow-out kit pouch. Not to mention a fixed blade knife or 'hawk.
I like the assault pack which just sits on top of the belt line pouches, sans waist belt. If I'm going to run a full sized ruck, with a waistbelt, then I'll loose the warbelt and go with a more substantial chest rig, like a Swamp Fox with additional pouches on the sides.
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Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Dec 15, 2013 19:32:18 GMT -5
Well, I haven't decided on a battle belt/war belt. I've looked online at three in particular. Vickers Brokos, US Grunt Gear Infidel and the HSGI Suregrip Battle belt. I've read reviews and watched vids to see what some pros and cons are. I want to stick with Made in America and I'm not sure the Vickers is Made in America. I see on the other thread about war belts that many that posted are using the HSGI. I'm hoping that 2014 I'll pull the trigger and get one. Top two in the running are infidel and HSGI.
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Post by panzer0170 on Feb 27, 2014 18:02:23 GMT -5
Just wondering what you guys think the pros and cons are for a battle belt/war belt are. I've been looking at the Infidel War belt and like the concept and the design of this particular one. www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/The_Basics < This is taught, across the board, with the expectation that a smart soldier can tailor his kit to specific roles. Please note this isn't the official text, and is actually worth the read just for the comedy portion Belt kit has been a British thing since before I was born. Recently people started trying MOLLE pouches on their body armour and it's great for mounted troops in vehicles for most of the time, but they found that for tradition LI style (IE walk... everywhere, carry everything) they ended up with a lot of bulk on the front. (our plates are THICK, thicker than the US ones, not sure about protection comparison...) Since then they went to battle belts because it means interoperability, and you can ditch one thing or the other for specific tasks. Just in camp but there is IDF threat? armour with 1 molle mag and medkit attached. Patrol? Everything. close target recce? drop the plates, drop the webbing, one mag on the rifle, one mag in each pocket, and rely on the section to throw the world of ammo at your target if the recce is compromised...) I am a massive fan of webbing battle belts, but I find that to make them work well you need to either have them sewn to the belt (molle is quite loose) OR only have a couple of things on there, and a load of kit in a daysack. Any more questions feel free to ask. Including if there is a translation to English if anyone needs it
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Post by scout5412 on Mar 9, 2014 19:28:06 GMT -5
I have the HSGI battle belt. Just bought it to try out. It's very well built. For more info in battle belts check out Max Velocity Tactical. Max makes pretty regular posts about the battle belt. He's a big fan of the battle belt set up.
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Post by jsbcody on Mar 14, 2014 14:47:45 GMT -5
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Post by USMC0331 on Mar 31, 2014 0:51:26 GMT -5
I've pretty much come full circle on the "warbelt" and have given up on them.
I started with an HSGI belt and suspenders (2 double tacos, two single pistol tacos, HSGI dump pouch, HSGI BOK, Safariland 6280) but sold it because it really didn't fit my needs for a SHTF rig.
I then ran a PC with my EDC belt (pistol mag / 6P carrier, Finn Design paddle holster) for a while but missed having all the goodies you can add to a dedicated belt as well as having a retention holster that sticks out past your jacket for easy re-holstering when transitioning back to the primary.
I then added a TT duty belt with basically the same stuff (Safariland 6280, Condor double AR/pistol mag pouch, HSGI BOK, single taco with 6P) but found working in and around cars sucked with the extra girth. I did like this setup better because it allowed for keepers and did not move like the HSGI warbelt would when getting down/up to/from prone.
My rig is for SHTF, collapsed economy, grid-down scenarios where I'm defending the homestead and still needing to work around it and make trips into town, etc. Basically something to live in but be ready to fight in and have a substantial on-board firepower.
Rethinking what my rig needed to do made me change several items including leaving the warbelt behind.
Priority #1: A low profile setup that is layered. I need to be seen from a distance as a "non-threat" and having a warbelt strapped on does not project that.
Same reason I moved to a thin/light chest harness over my plate carrier setup. Running a BF Tenspeed rig, I have (4)AR mags, (2)G17 mags, (1)BOK, (2)CATTs, (1)Radio all in a light thin package that an over sized open-front shirt conceals very well outside of 25 yards.
If things are hinky, I can wear IIIA underneath in a concealable carrier, substitute or add plates to the same carrier (looking to get AR500s for this, have ceramics already) while remaining relatively "low-pro."
I can leave the ceramics in the the slick Banshee and have another (3)AR mags in the slip pocket for vehicle/post OPs and have the whole setup overt.
I could up-kit with a warbelt on top of this, but I don't really see a need for another few rifle mags and pistol mags and the EDC holster allows for transitions albeit a little slower.
Water, more ammo, another BOK, etc. is all carried in a "Battle Pack" (TT ROP) which is a great piece of gear because it's just large enough to pack the essentials without going over 25#.
Now if you are talking about fighting the revolution like MV is, the load bearing belts make sense.
I think most people are not running load bearing belts, but just adding stuff to their waists because it's the in thing with all the ###### instructors. They make great range setups, but outside of combat, I don't see it as a benefit myself. YMMV
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Post by panzer0170 on Mar 31, 2014 14:32:48 GMT -5
usmc0331 I think it is exactly what it says; a WAR belt. And as an overt method of carrying kit for section/platoon level operations? It's bloody good. I'd stand by the war/battle belt all day, I think they're the bees knees for light infantry ops. For anything else... Needs to be a little lower profile, and, chances are, workable with vehicles, which a fully loaded set of webbing just isn't....
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Post by UnforseenWeather on Mar 31, 2014 15:30:44 GMT -5
usmc0331 I think it is exactly what it says; a WAR belt. And as an overt method of carrying kit for section/platoon level operations? It's bloody good. I'd stand by the war/battle belt all day, I think they're the bees knees for light infantry ops. For anything else... Needs to be a little lower profile, and, chances are, workable with vehicles, which a fully loaded set of webbing just isn't.... Then I could see the Rigger's belt with a very low profile setup on it, IWB holster, etc. working well. Covert vs. overt. I have a couple Battle/War belt options and I'm really looking forward to seeing what UWG comes up with. What I've seen, is impressive and I think they'll sell a lot of them.
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Post by panzer0170 on Mar 31, 2014 16:15:31 GMT -5
@unforseen; Still in the UK, so purely hypothetical and not got hands on the kit myself, yet. But I like the idea of a chest rig (minuteman, 2 mags, 1 bleeder, CAT/TQ & Schermuly (pop flare) all concealable under a jacket. Then take something along the lines of the RCS Moduloader, another 2 mags, 2 pistol mags still riding relatively high but concealable under something like a British issue Smock (nice and loose, you'd never know ANY of it was there, with a properly fitted smock...)
Now the key would be to getting a good smock that's in a nice neutral 'covert' colour, that doesn't scream 'military' etc. You could carry a reasonable battle load (standard warfighting load for an infantryman is 8 mags - 2 of which are for the LSW not personal rifles) loaded at any one time. If you are expecting that level of fight then get a warbelt. If you're just expecting 'trouble' relatively small scale, then you've got 4 mags + 1 on the rifle, you could put extra mags in smock pockets, and you'd be relatively good to fight MOST things.
@anyone: Would be interested to hear thoughts on my thoughts, and any suggestions on improvements or knowledge about RCS moduloader etc, and if they're any good.
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currahee
New Member
"Stands Alone"
Posts: 151
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Post by currahee on Mar 31, 2014 20:14:40 GMT -5
I do not have a war belt. I might wear a riggers belt with some combination of OWB holster, two pistol mags, one AR mag and a BOK OR CCW rig with one IWB pistol (or OWB depending on weather) and one pistol mag plus flashlight. Both work equally well with my light and heavy second line. My "got to war" 1st line
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