Esstac Belt Loop Upgrades?

[Whiskey_Bravo]

Hoping you guys here may have some advice.

I am a big fan of the Esstac Kywi belt-mounted magazine pouches. I currently run one of their double pistol mag/single rifle mag hybrid pouches on my belt rig. I use their 1.75" blastic belt loops as opposed to the webbing and they keep breaking on me. It has happened often enough, and the replacement loops are expensive enough that I really am getting fed up. I tried using heavy duty zipties to reinforce the attachment, but it has not worked properly.

I am contemplating switching over to HSGI Taco belt mounted pouches, but I really like the slim profile of the Esstac and the rigid kydex inserts as opposed to the less secure Tacos. Is anyone here familiar with any possible upgraded belt loop options or other alternatives?

[theJanitor]

how are they breaking. I'm using the same and they're pretty sturdy, but it's only been a few months

[littlejerry]

One option may be to use malice clips or Velcro onewrap

[rcbusmc24]

One option may be to use malice clips or Velcro onewrap

Plus one to both of the above recommendations, I use Malice clips on any ESSTAC pouches attached to MOLLE webbing and I use one wrap if I am mounting the pouch to a inner/ outer belt that is not MOLLE compatible. The only time I use the 1.75 clips anymore is if I am direct mounting the pouch to my pants belt, and even then Malice clips would work as well.

[SmokeJumper]

I run the Esstac mag pouches on my Vest and Lead Devil USA belt. I have broken about 5 plastic belt loops over the last 6-8 months at work and training. Esstac recommended the Velcro one-wrap and I read online where someone said they use the Maxpedition Tac-Ties. I can't locate the thread or page where I read about the use of the tac-ties and I haven't tried them yet. The one-wrap is not bad, but the mag pouches will not move once in place.

For reference:
https://www.maxpedition.com/collections/hardware/products/3-tactie-pack-of-4?variant=12191274205255

[Whiskey_Bravo]

how are they breaking. I'm using the same and they're pretty sturdy, but it's only been a few months

Mine keep breaking along the top edge that sits over the top of the belt. The first couple of times it was the clips for the pistol magazines. This time it was the rifle magazine. It probably doesn't help that I am jamming Glock 21 magazines in there and then yanking them out. My gear is getting beat up between training and constantly rotating from gear bag to one vehicle or another.


I run the Esstac mag pouches on my Vest and Lead Devil USA belt. I have broken about 5 plastic belt loops over the last 6-8 months at work and training. Esstac recommended the Velcro one-wrap and I read online where someone said they use the Maxpedition Tac-Ties. I can't locate the thread or page where I read about the use of the tac-ties and I haven't tried them yet. The one-wrap is not bad, but the mag pouches will not move once in place.

For reference:
https://www.maxpedition.com/collections/hardware/products/3-tactie-pack-of-4?variant=12191274205255

The Velcro one-wrap is a great idea. I never thought of that. I have had great success with that style of attachment on my Blue Force Gear belt-mounted stuff. The lack of adjustability isn't ideal with the Velcro, but I can live with that. Plus the Velcro would interfere less with attachment to the velcro under-belt.

[JMS]

Kinda like Tactical Tailor Malice Clips, only with a lesser profile, greater flexibility, nearly toolless (all of which makes them easier to mount/dismount), known to Esstac.

https://www.wtfidea.com/whiskey-two-four-wtfix-attachment-system-straps/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZl4crRhK1D/

I've replaced every Malice Clip (and analogues) with these things, across the board. Absolute tits.

[Hot Cereal]

Kinda like Tactical Tailor Malice Clips, only with a lesser profile, greater flexibility, nearly toolless (all of which makes them easier to mount/dismount), known to Esstac.

https://www.wtfidea.com/whiskey-two-four-wtfix-attachment-system-straps/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZl4crRhK1D/

I've replaced every Malice Clip (and analogues) with these things, across the board. Absolute tits.

I have a couple kywi pouches I have to mouth to my LBV. I have the wtfix straps for it, and maybe I'm just a dumbass, but I can't decipher how to secure them.

As I was. Just youtube-fu'd this and found a video.

[Sig_Fiend]

I have a couple kywi pouches I have to mouth to my LBV. I have the wtfix straps for it, and maybe I'm just a dumbass, but I can't decipher how to secure them.

As I was. Just youtube-fu'd this and found a video.

In case it helps anyone else, this is the video I found most helpful in figuring out how to install with the WTFix straps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZOYj8eHkfc

So far, I've really liked these WTFix straps compared to other methods I've used in the past. Obviously they have a bit more give compared to malice clips or other rigid clips, but I haven't seen any tears in them yet. What I would love to see is something similar made out of Blue Force Gear's ULTRAcomp material. Now that would be bomb proof!

With some mags, sometimes the tension seems pretty damn high on Esstac pouches. If it's taking significant force to pull a mag, definitely consider heating the insert and bending it just a bit (or put a mag in) to reduce the tension. With some of mine, the tension has been so high with certain mags I could see the potential that, if it drags and depending how you have it mounted, you might end up pulling the pouch at an angle. Basically putting a sheer load on a potential weak spot of a belt clip. I'd be willing to bet that's what happening, but just a guess.

Here's some of mine on a Blue Alpha MOLLE belt for reference:

63323

63324

Just for fun, I took this 4 mag pouch and used my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge to see if I could get an idea on tension. With loaded P30 9mm mags as well as loaded HK45 mags, on average I was seeing between 3.5-4 pounds of pull. I didn't have Glock mags with a significant enough lip handy, but I tried by hand and G17 mags felt like they might be between .25-.5lb lighter pull. I also tested this on an Esstac 556 3 mag placard, just by hand with gen 2 PMAGs since I didn't have any AR mags with a significant lip. Not sure what the pull was, but definitely heavier and probably more like 5-6lbs. This does make me wonder if, based on thickness and rigidity of the attachment method, if that might also increase tension on the mags.

[JMS]

Esstac has a how-to on adjusting tension via heat: https://esstac.com/blog/remolding-modifying-kywi-inserts/

If you're at all leery about lightening tension on the KYWIs using heat, you can also cut one of the vertical legs of a KYWI, make it narrower. Less surface area in contact with the mag = less friction = lighter pull.

It worked nicely when I did it to an AR kangaroo pouch (I hate the shock-cord/pull-tab retention those commonly use, though I'd keep that if there was ever a snowball's chance I'd ever do airborne/waterborne stuff), with the biggest concern being whether or not the KYWI would stay in the pouch when a mag was pulled. They did, and it wasn't even an Esstac pouch; if they stayed in a Mayflower pouch, I think cut KYWIs staying in a made-for-them pouch is a pretty good bet.

[Whiskey_Bravo]

Here is the current configuration of my belt mounted gear. The Kywi is worn on the left side with 11-10 TQ holder and Blue Force Gear dump pouch.
63381

Here is the recurring issue I have been having with the Esstac clips breaking.
63382

The velcro wrap straps arrived yesterday and I mounted them today. They remove a ton of bulk from the waistband and will allow better contact with the inner belt.
63383

I also chose to upgrade to the hybrid Kywi GAP model. This version gives a generous amount of space between the pistol magazine pouches. The larger Glock 21 magazines are much easier to remove and insert.
63384

Thank you all for the feedback and recomendations.

[CWE]

Here is the current configuration of my belt mounted gear. The Kywi is worn on the left side with 11-10 TQ holder and Blue Force Gear dump pouch.
63381

Here is the recurring issue I have been having with the Esstac clips breaking.
63382

The velcro wrap straps arrived yesterday and I mounted them today. They remove a ton of bulk from the waistband and will allow better contact with the inner belt.
63383

I also chose to upgrade to the hybrid Kywi GAP model. This version gives a generous amount of space between the pistol magazine pouches. The larger Glock 21 magazines are much easier to remove and insert.
63384

Thank you all for the feedback and recomendations.

This is a great idea. I use the Esstac double pistol pouch on my duty belt with G21 mags and Im not a big fan of the clips. Can you provide a link to the Velcro one wrap you used?
Thanks!

[Whiskey_Bravo]

This is a great idea. I use the Esstac double pistol pouch on my duty belt with G21 mags and I'm not a big fan of the clips. Can you provide a link to the Velcro one wrap you used?
Thanks!

I can't take credit for the idea it was littlejerry and SmokeJumper who gave me the idea for the one-wrap. I purchased directly from Esstac here (https://esstac.com/one-wrap-velcro/). They made the trip from Washington state to Connecticut in less than three days.

[SmokeJumper]

I can't take credit for the idea it was littlejerry and SmokeJumper who gave me the idea for the one-wrap. I purchased directly from Esstac here (https://esstac.com/one-wrap-velcro/). They made the trip from Washington state to Connecticut in less than three days.

So the Velcro one-wrap idea came from the owner of EssTac when we communicated via email on my second order of belt loops, he sent me some one-wrap to try.
My broken loops look exactly like yours on the top section on top leading edge of my belt. Possibly being caused by my vest when sitting in my vehicle or getting in/out of the vehicle with extra pressure from the bottom edge of my vest pushing on it. I’m not a big guy, but I’m in/out of the truck a lot when we’re working lately. Either way EssTac is good to go and they stand behind their gear. Just my .02 thus far