First line belts

[tpdavis89]

Finally got the bat belt set up the way I want and qualified wearing it this week.

[South]

...............

[TehLlama]

Nice setup davis, is that the BFG Ten speed dump pouch? If so, how do you like it?

I realize that question wasn't directed at me, but I run that same dump pouch.

It's not super huge, and doesn't swallow every empty thing thrown at it like the bulkier units do, but it stows away super small which more than makes up for it if it's a part-time stowed item. I really like mine, but I think it'll wind up on some different kit that better uses it's compactness when folded, and run an older style dump pouch on my belt just because of how I use mine. I did really enjoy being able to keep it out of the way of other stuff, but on my setup I can get away with running a much bulkier one at 6'oclock and accomplish everything else with that belt - for a side mount setup the BFG10S one shines; I just clogged that space with more mag pouches.

[Alpha-17]

I just made the switch to an HSGI belt.



HSGI Battle Belt
CrossTac D Belt II
Pouches, L to R
HSGI TACO Pistol/Rifle pouches
ATS Dump Pouch
ATS tear-away IFAK
Blackhawk! Water bottle/Nalgene Pouch
Safariland 6005 SLS holster w/SIG Scorpion
Blackhawk! Dual pistol mag pouc w/Leatherman multitool and pistol mag

For the longest time, I thought that battle belts/war belts were for airsofters and "class chasers". Kit for play soldiers and the one way range only. However, after experiences on my last deployment, and being able to test the limitations of a plate carrier set up, I began to look at them in a new light. A Marine EOD team we worked with used them in conjunction with their plate carriers, and I started to appreciate the versatility of having a "Batman utility belt" as I jokingly referred to it as. My first belt, after coming back to the States, was a cheap(er) Blackhawk! belt. It was a good "proof of concept" belt, and I used it for hunting, and while playing OPFOR at Ft. Polk Louisiana. It was in CB, and I ended up buying another Blackhawk! belt in MultiCam for use with my new plate carrier, but as I started using the new belt more, it's limitations started to become obvious. It was too padded, and the combined weight of three magazines had a tendency to drag the belt down, even when tightened. At best, it would "roll" over the inner belt, and sag badly. After reading several threads I decided to go with the HSGI belt, and from the get go, I can tell it is a much better made belt. Thinner, by far and much more rigid. I didn't do much with it at first, beside a couple mile walk in the park in the morning, fully loaded, showed that it stayed one remarkably well, and didn't sag, roll, or cause any problems in general. I finally got a chance to use it last week for a nice little "suck fest" that my unit decided to do. Half a mile walking/swimming down a creek, with the belt submerged the majority of the time, with various underwater exercises thrown in. The belt stayed in place very well, and made carrying the mags and Nalgene bottle very easy, and was a far better method of load bearing equipment than the issued FLC (no surprise there). Now if I can just get the belt to dry out!


First line belt with the personally purchased/used plate carrier.

[Cuda444]

Been lurking in this thread for quite some time now and wondering if it's time to pull the trigger on one of the HSGI belts. My main hangup is that we are running the ProTac Titan Assault Enhanced vests (Seen here: Titan AE) which is an "enhanced coverage" vest... meaning there's a large amount of soft armor in addition to plates which makes it quite a bit bulkier than a standalone plate carrier.

My question is, does anyone have any experience running a vest similar to what I'm using with a belt? Is it feasible to run mags on the belt? Would they bind up with the armor? I'd probably be running my IFAK and drop pouch on the belt as well, but I'm not as concerned with those getting in the way.

My main rationale behind running a belt would be to forgo the drop leg holster completely and run a G-Code belt drop... but that's a lot of scratch to throw down just to belt-mount a holster.

Any experiences and thoughts welcomed. Thanks.

[blackbox]

HSGI makes some DAMN good products!

[t1tan]

Tyr Tactical Gunfighter
BFG Ten-Speed Pistol and AR
BFG Ten-Speed Ultralight Dump Pouch
Safariland UBL + QLS
Safariland 6378 - HK45c, until Safariland has solutions for VP9

TCI DEHP w/ Gel Seals and OC Tatical HP2

I added some Velcro one-wrap sandwiched between the tail and wrapped around itself to keep it from being separated. Also have some shock-cord girth-hitched through the hole on the UBL, looped around where the MOLLE is tacked and tied off to keep the holster in place.

[sparkman]

Doc (or anyone ring in)..How does the padding of the HSGI BatBelt compare to the BFG SOC /?
Thanks
WD

[docsherm]

Doc (or anyone ring in)..How does the padding of the HSGI BatBelt compare to the BFG SOC /?
Thanks
WD

I have never used the BFG belt. I use the ATS one but I am considering switching to the HSGI one. I like what I have seen of it. Not too much padding to make it cumbersome.

[sparkman]

Thanks Steve,
I have the BFG....A little too much padding...very supportive and comfy though..

WD