Battle Belt for uniform patrol

[frankepc]

Is anyone on here running a battle belt for uniform patrol type duties? If so which one would you recommend and what brand handcuff and radio holders are you using? Pics are always welcome..
Please redirect me if this topic has already been discussed.

[SGT_Calle]

I am not a police officer but I'll chime in, in hopes of getting the ball rolling. I am a security officer for a pharmaceutical company so I carry a bit of stuff daily, but nothing compared to you guys.
That being said, if I did, I would probably buy a TYR tactical gunfighter belt.
http://www.tyrtactical.com/products/details/tactical-belts/tyr-tactical-gunfighter-belt/
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/20/ju6yqusu.jpg
I imagine it would be considerably more comfortable than the big 2+" nylon duty belts. No idea on the specific accessory pouches you asked about.
I've read some about it on the lightfighter forum and I like the looks of it. http://www.lightfighter.net/forums may be a good place to look as well. It takes a few days to get all registered and whatnot but great resource with a lot of dudes who use cool stuff in real life.

[frankepc]

I've seen tons of different set ups but nothing that would realistically transfer to regular duty use, that's why I'm asking. I like the idea of the way that the load is spread and definitely see the benefits, but I have yet to see something that actually works with basic law enforcement pouches/equipment.

[frankepc]

I don't think that particular belt will work with my safariland stuff.

[frankepc]

Disregard, I just got an email back it will accept the safariland stuff, thanks dude.

[saints75]

I went to a training class and one of the BP guys had a 5.11 Brocos Belt. He was running a ALS holster. He had it set up pretty cool.

[Chuck Haggard]

We don't have anyone using a battle belt, but we do have several guys running something like this with a regualr cop nylon duty belt se-up; http://www.lapolicegear.com/tact-beltpad.html

Seems to offer the same comfort due to the load being padded, but a guy can use a regualr cop belt and holster/pouches instead of having to use MOLLE stuff.

[Erick Gelhaus]

I had considered the battle belt concept for a duty belt, even started a proof-of-concept rig but ended up not going that route.

For a couple years now I have been using this:
https://www.tdlabsadmin.com/Belt-Products/Professional-Comfort-System-p8.html

I really recommend it for duty use. Really.

[SGT_Calle]

Disregard, I just got an email back it will accept the safariland stuff, thanks dude.

You're welcome!
I'm glad my gear-nerdiness and folder full of bookmarks I'll probably never actually buy helped, lol.

[NorthernHeat]

I had considered the battle belt concept for a duty belt, even started a proof-of-concept rig but ended up not going that route.

For a couple years now I have been using this:
https://www.tdlabsadmin.com/Belt-Products/Professional-Comfort-System-p8.html

I really recommend it for duty use. Really.

Angus,

I have never seen this before and it looks very interesting... mainly because it can be had in "Plain leather" which is required for our duty gear.

Do you have any pics of the system being worn in uniform?

Does it look too different from normal Safariland duty gear/belt?

Im assuming sense it comes with a 2.25'' belt all Safariland standard duty pouches work like normal?

I have shown a couple guys at the dept your link and they are very interested:cool:...

Thanks

[Erick Gelhaus]

Sorry, no photos available. It looks like any other belt in that style, no difference in visual appearance so it doesn't attract adverse attention. Safariland UBL fit fine; other pouches were standard versions from Blade-Tech, Safariland, SureFire and I had no issues with fit.

[NorthernHeat]

Sorry, no photos available. It looks like any other belt in that style, no difference in visual appearance so it doesn't attract adverse attention. Safariland UBL fit fine; other pouches were standard versions from Blade-Tech, Safariland, SureFire and I had no issues with fit.

Ok perfect.

I was really wondering if the padded area really stood out and made it obvious that you had something different going on with your duty belt, or if it looked similar enough that people really would not notice...

[rathos]

Not Angus but my department bought them right around when I started 5 years ago. We use the ballistic nylon ones so the inner padded belt seems to blend in a little better. With the leather versions the padded part might show through a bit more towards the front and back, especially if you wear anything other then black for pants or shirts. You can also find just he padded parts if you order factory direct, so that might save you a little cash over buying a whole new belt if you wanted to try it out first. I bought another padded inner belt for my range setup even though it does not carry the full monty.

[secondstoryguy]

Thanks for the link to that belt-pad thing. I've just gotten back into LEO (patrol) after a 7 year break so I'm having to start over with regards to my belt rig. I'm currently running an Ares gear LEO duty belt http://www.aresgear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=33_71 over a Volund Gear nylon belt and I've found it to be very comfortable but that pad might be a worthwhile addition. I also have a Jones Tactical duty belt that I'm playing with and it also seems really nice. I was thinking about posting a list of all the things I've tried and what works with regards to my belt rig but I haven't had time.

[NorthernHeat]

Thanks for the link to that belt-pad thing. I've just gotten back into LEO (patrol) after a 7 year break so I'm having to start over with regards to my belt rig. I'm currently running an Ares gear LEO duty belt http://www.aresgear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=33_71 over a Volund Gear nylon belt and I've found it to be very comfortable but that pad might be a worthwhile addition. I also have a Jones Tactical duty belt that I'm playing with and it also seems really nice. I was thinking about posting a list of all the things I've tried and what works with regards to my belt rig but I haven't had time.

I wish Ares gear would make that LEO duty belt with plain leather on the outside of the scuba webbing so I could use it on duty...

I for one would be very interested in seeing the posting about the list of things, in reguards to the duty belt and gear, that have worked and not worked for you...

[Maple Syrup Actual]

See the Velocity Systems OUB on a lot of the local ERT types. It's a bit of an in-between option.

[KevinB]

Velocity belt does very well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Gear010_zpsc7fc4543.jpg

I don't have a current pic - and its in my gear bag, but you can weave accessories/pouches thru the belt.

[secondstoryguy]

Will a standard 2" or 2.25" duty belt fit in the velocity belt?

[TheNewbie]

NM.....misunderstood OP.

[Elkhitman]

The best radio holder I've found is the Maxpedition radio holder, the thing is solid.

[Up1911Fan]

The best radio holder I've found is the Maxpedition radio holder, the thing is solid.

Same, I've used mine going on two years and its still solid.

[KevinB]

Will a standard 2" or 2.25" duty belt fit in the velocity belt?

Sorry I missed this earlier:
A 2.25" will fit inside - but not able to weave from what it looks like to me. A 2" will work fine.

[frankepc]

Well since posting I’ve tried one of the belts with the pad and in all honesty other than being able to take it off and on easier and a small level of increased comfort I don’t really see any major benefits. Because of the belt width I can’t use keepers and the belt does slide up during most activities. I’ve also tried a duty belt with a cobra buckle and once again no true benefit and it adds weight to your overall gear.
Back to the traditional duty belt for now. In the future I may go in a completely different direction and possibly try the micro cobra belt or the remora quick belt from Razor Six. I’ve heard from other forums that the thinner belts are very comfortable and allows a greater level of mobility. Although I have yet to see anyone try them with a full patrol load.

[secondstoryguy]

Having broken several of the plastic buckles and seen others break I think the aluminum Cobra buckles are worth their weight.

[frankepc]

Not sure really if that has anything to do with the brand, I’ve personally never seen one fail as an LEO or in the Military. I’m pretty rough on my gear and so far I’ve had excellent results with the Duraflex brand. Then again a little added security never hurt anyone.

[Bill Biggs]

Whoa, late to the party.

I've used a CTOMS X belt for about a year. No keepers, but it doesn't move around on me as long as I wear it properly snug. It weighs a little more than a standard 2" or 2.5" nylon duty belt, but marginally so. It carries everything quite nicely, although it took me a while to figure out how to affix everything to my liking. Smaller and lighter is generally better, but if you end up having to carry a lot of crap based on your departments policies, or mags for a patrol rifle on top of your sidearm, then this could be a good option for you. I haven't gotten any heat from the brass, in black it looks pretty much like a normal belt.

Couple poor quality pics:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/101267981@N04/13831208614/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/101267981@N04/13831219754/

I can do up some descriptions on brands and styles if anyone is interested on the pouch configuration.

[secondstoryguy]

How wide is the ctoms x belt?

[pablo]

I've used the Atlas Tac plates for the last 3 years and they are great. 5.11 is supposed to reintroduce them later this year as the Zero-G plates.

They don't have any padding but do a good job at weight distribution. The Atlas doesn't interface well with Teklok buckles and the price tag was steep at $180.

Hopefully the 5.11 plates are a little more friendly on the wallet.

[KevinB]

I have one of the first X belt prototypes from CTOMS - I got in from Chris (the fellow Canadian hookup) when I was in Iraq.
It's a great belt - I still have mine I wear when running around in non Black Gear.

With the Velocity belt - I prefer some options it offered for a patrol belt.



If you run an "inner" pant belt - the Velocity belt has a strip of hook to mesh well with a loop inner belt - negating the use of keepers. Like the CTOMS belt, I have not seen it riding up or moving unless I moved it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Kev066_zps3354c06c.jpg

[Bill Biggs]

How wide is the ctoms x belt?

It's 3 rows of Molle (3.5") with a 1.75" riggers belt inside. It's not as slick as a "brokos" style belt, where you can weave your inner belt in and out of the Molle to attach non-molle accessories. However, unlike any brokos style I've tried, it doesn't move around. I haven't really analyzed why, but I believe it has to do with the way the padding is set up in three different sections. It hugs my hips and "wants" to sit in the right spot. Finding accessories for all molle was a pain, but this seemed to be the best type of "battle" belt for uniform patrol duty. My holster fit under the molle through the 1.75" inner belt (the molle flips up and down with fasteners, very low pro) and works fine with a safari land 1.5" drop shank (I wear the same belt for patrol and swat duty to avoid training on two belts, so I was using a drop shank anyway to allow clearance for my plates. Way faster and better when running (for me) than a drop holster).

The belts with the inner velcro that KevinB mentioned work very well in my experience, and being LE you may have tried them. I ran one prior to the CTOMS, but with the amount of gear on it I had no interior space with any significant amount of velcro to stick the belts together, so I ended up going back to keepers and a small leather inner belt. Some guys either gain weight to have more room, or have velcro sewn onto the inside belt loop of some of the pouches, which seems to work quite well. However, I'm guessing with the Velocity belt, if it's the weave style, you would have uninterrupted velcro regardless of how much crap you had to carry. The advantage of the keepers being you can make slight adjustments through the shift, as you sit in cars, walk around, or ride shotgun instead of driving for a bit (passenger side on a crown vic or a burb always pushes at me different than the drivers side), etc. Whereas the velcro is stuck, and is a trial and error to adjust. But if you don't need to move your belt around, the velcro sits solid.

[KevinB]

CTOMS Belt
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Iraq/Iraq024.jpg
Back when it was new
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Gear/MegandKev049.jpg

[Bill Biggs]

CTOMS Belt
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Iraq/Iraq024.jpg
Back when it was new
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Gear/MegandKev049.jpg

Nice setup. That one has seen some use.