calicojack
06-04-09, 18:32
Well fellas, they are finally here. I picked up some of OSOE's (johnwillis) Cobra Belts. Got one in khaki and one in black (one for fun,one for work). After talking to john at length, and after watching their video on TRG's site, I pulled the trigger.
According to TRG's website:
Sizing: The Original S.O.E. Gear Duty Belt is sized specifically to each end-user and can be manufactured in any size..
after talking to john, i determined that even though my wieght fluctuates from time to time, I needed to order the size according to the pants i was currently wearing.
We generally do them even sizes. They will go out a couple of inches but won’t go in any[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']. So I ordered a size 34. boy was john right. it can be expanded to fit a couple more inches should i need it to.
[span style='color: rgb(255, 0, 0);']http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020110.jpg[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']
The belt is constructed from 1.75 type 7 webbing, with MULTIPLE sewing points. There are upwards of 10 "x" stitching going around the belt. John has constructed this belt to be used either in the belt loops of your pants, or on the outside of them. He has tacked a 1.5" wide piece of velcro loops (not the hook side) on the interior of the belt so that if you choose to use it as an outter duty belt, it can be attached easily to your velcro inner belt. [span style='color: rgb(255, 0, 0);']http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020107.jpg
[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']the buckle on this thing is monsterous. It's not <heavy> per say, but you can tell from the feel that it's pretty damned rugged. <ETA> I have now read that the buckle is rated to withstand 3790 pounds of load capacity.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020106.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020108.jpg
The buckle however is the main problem when using it with every day pants, hell even BDU's for that matter. <[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 205);']note: i have no tried this on acu cut pants yet>[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']. The buckle is the widest part of the belt. In order to thread the belt through regular pants (i wear wrangler cargos for work, and a variety of jeans) you have to tilt the male end at an angle and push it through the belt loops. [span style='color: rgb(255, 0, 0);']http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020111.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020113.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020114.jpg
So far I have not managed to figure out a way of doing while wearing the pants. On all three types of pants shown in this "review", I had to thread the belt onto the pants prior to mounting the clothing.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020120.jpg
Guys, this is only an initial review, but so far i'm impressed. I just recieved them from john, via priority mail, this afternoon. give me till the end of the week, wearing one to work every day, and i'll give you a comfort/break in review. I also plan to break one of the two belt buckles, if i can. i'll let you know how that goes, and whether or not i'm successful or not.
According to TRG's website:
Sizing: The Original S.O.E. Gear Duty Belt is sized specifically to each end-user and can be manufactured in any size..
after talking to john, i determined that even though my wieght fluctuates from time to time, I needed to order the size according to the pants i was currently wearing.
We generally do them even sizes. They will go out a couple of inches but won’t go in any[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']. So I ordered a size 34. boy was john right. it can be expanded to fit a couple more inches should i need it to.
[span style='color: rgb(255, 0, 0);']http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020110.jpg[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']
The belt is constructed from 1.75 type 7 webbing, with MULTIPLE sewing points. There are upwards of 10 "x" stitching going around the belt. John has constructed this belt to be used either in the belt loops of your pants, or on the outside of them. He has tacked a 1.5" wide piece of velcro loops (not the hook side) on the interior of the belt so that if you choose to use it as an outter duty belt, it can be attached easily to your velcro inner belt. [span style='color: rgb(255, 0, 0);']http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020107.jpg
[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']the buckle on this thing is monsterous. It's not <heavy> per say, but you can tell from the feel that it's pretty damned rugged. <ETA> I have now read that the buckle is rated to withstand 3790 pounds of load capacity.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020106.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020108.jpg
The buckle however is the main problem when using it with every day pants, hell even BDU's for that matter. <[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 205);']note: i have no tried this on acu cut pants yet>[span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 0);']. The buckle is the widest part of the belt. In order to thread the belt through regular pants (i wear wrangler cargos for work, and a variety of jeans) you have to tilt the male end at an angle and push it through the belt loops. [span style='color: rgb(255, 0, 0);']http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020111.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020113.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020114.jpg
So far I have not managed to figure out a way of doing while wearing the pants. On all three types of pants shown in this "review", I had to thread the belt onto the pants prior to mounting the clothing.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/P1020120.jpg
Guys, this is only an initial review, but so far i'm impressed. I just recieved them from john, via priority mail, this afternoon. give me till the end of the week, wearing one to work every day, and i'll give you a comfort/break in review. I also plan to break one of the two belt buckles, if i can. i'll let you know how that goes, and whether or not i'm successful or not.