So... How strong is that riggers belt you're wearing?

[SamuelBLong]

I know most of us choose "tactical" nylon type belts to simply hold our pants up, support our pistol and support gear.... but how strong is that riggers / CQB / Instructor belt you're wearing?

Most of these belts are often touted as being able to be used in an emergency situation to rappel with. The question is - Would you actually bet your life on it? Do you really trust it to hold? Granted, this is going to be a rare circumstance for anyone even in LE / MIL / Fire Department duties, but wouldn't it be nice to have some confirmation of faith in the materials and craftsmanship?

For those that don't know me - While shooting is a wonderful thing to occupy my minimal amount of free time, my real passion is emergency and remote medicine. Being part of the Austere and Mountain Medicine program here at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine has its advantages... like being allowed to freely test various ropes, knots and materials for their efficiencies, strengths and weaknesses for use in remote rescue settings using a hydraulic ram :o Many of my classmates as well as myself wear riggers belts as either a backup to our climbing harnesses during search and rescue operations, or use them as a safety point of connection to a rope while approaching a cliff edge, or riding on our National Guard UH-60L Blackhawks.

I shot the following pull test today of a Blackhawk CQB belt after finishing some other research projects. I chose it because it was the least expensive belt I had in my collection, almost brand new (I hardly ever wore it), and recently it became too big for me. Also, having a reputation for not being the best quality or attention to detail helps prove proof of concept.

Please keep in mind that these are designed only for emergency use situations, and that if you are actually going to use it, much like handling firearms, you need to seek professional training to understand the risks involved.

If anything, its just fun to watch things break, pop and explode.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqC8bvQckQA

[RoyGBiv]

2.5 tons. And the failure point was the friction of the material through the buckle, not the belt itself.
Not too shabby.

[cvann]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing....

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Byron]

Fascinating. Thank you very much for sharing!

[peterb]

Thanks!

I spent some time with a hydraulic pull-test rig for a project on cargo restraints. 3" nylon webbing can store a LOT of energy... :)

One thing it brought home was the value of having components that fail slowly under increasing loads. Hardware that deforms before failure gives you more warning than something that looks fine until it breaks.

[TGS]

That's pretty cool.

So if you're down to your riggers belt, what happens to your patient triage/treatment protocols? Take them using the riggers belt alone, or no?

[SamuelBLong]

That's pretty cool.

So if you're down to your riggers belt, what happens to your patient triage/treatment protocols? Take them using the riggers belt alone, or no?

I'd hope I'd have some 1" webbing left to tie an improvised seat to add to the belt cause hey, adding another 160-250lbs onto the pressure of your pelvis isn't going to feel nice.

But I'd be ok putting someone on an assisted rappel if that's all I got left (again this is the last choice of the last choice) and I can maximize friction in my decending device (it's risky cause you're now risking your backup system getting you and them stuck with no way to escape). But then again it's me and I've got enough experience to probably pull it off safely... But the materials will and design will hold with a big safety margin.

[EricP]

Webbing can be super strong. We have some 4" wide 4 ply slings at work that have a working load limit of 39,000 pounds (basket). I can't imagine what it would take to break one. What does your test rig go up to?

[Odin Bravo One]

I use a Rigger's belt as a stand alone egress/emergency descent device from rooftops. It is not nearly as comfortable as a harness, but is much more comfortable than staying a rooftop after circumstances dictate you should not.

I also sew my own belts, using proper stitching, wax coated nylon thread where applicable, and top end hardware. I just don't trust the commercial offerings to not outsource all of a sudden to Taiwan, and start using pot metal buckles. I am not worried in the least about the belt failing. And I have not actually ever seen one that was properly worn fail, even if I do harbor an un-justified fear of poor components and assembly. What I have seen fail is belt loops on the pants........especially the cheaper made (often outsourced) "tactical" clothing lines. I inspect and/or re-sew the belt loops on work pants before I trust them to hold up to a rapid rooftop descent on a single line w/o a Figure 8, and only a hook as an anchor.

[TCinVA]

What I have seen fail is belt loops on the pants........especially the cheaper made (often outsourced) "tactical" clothing lines. I inspect and/or re-sew the belt loops on work pants before I trust them to hold up to a rapid rooftop descent on a single line w/o a Figure 8, and only a hook as an anchor.

Until this moment I've never even pondered the potential strength of the belt loops on my pants. The phrase "You don't know what you don't know" comes to mind...

[MDS]

I also sew my own belts, using proper stitching, wax coated nylon thread where applicable, and top end hardware. I just don't trust the commercial offerings to not outsource all of a sudden to Taiwan, and start using pot metal buckles. I am not worried in the least about the belt failing. And I have not actually ever seen one that was properly worn fail, even if I do harbor an un-justified fear of poor components and assembly. What I have seen fail is belt loops on the pants........especially the cheaper made (often outsourced) "tactical" clothing lines. I inspect and/or re-sew the belt loops on work pants before I trust them to hold up to a rapid rooftop descent on a single line w/o a Figure 8, and only a hook as an anchor.

I bet you made your own lightsaber, too. ;-)

Cool video, op...

[Odin Bravo One]

That Sir, is my Holy Grail of my weapons collection.............if I could get a fully functional lightsaber............I would stop buying guns altogether.

[JAD]

That Sir, is my Holy Grail of my weapons collection.............if I could get a fully functional lightsaber............I would stop buying guns altogether.

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.


JD
KC

[Odin Bravo One]

Well played, Sir. Well played.

[orionz06]

That Sir, is my Holy Grail of my weapons collection.............if I could get a fully functional lightsaber............I would stop buying guns altogether.

Until one is produced I will not consider electrical engineers to be real engineers.

[SeriousStudent]

That Sir, is my Holy Grail of my weapons collection.............if I could get a fully functional lightsaber............I would stop buying guns altogether.

Jeff builds interesting toys.

http://www.parksabers.com/

[Odin Bravo One]

A neat toy for grown up geeks to be sure. But alas, it is still a non-functioning replica. I'm talking about one that will melt through blast doors, block/deflect incoming rounds, and lop off heads. It has to do more than light up and make movie noises for me to quit buying guns.

[Sparks2112]

A neat toy for grown up geeks to be sure. But alas, it is still a non-functioning replica. I'm talking about one that will melt through blast doors, block/deflect incoming rounds, and lop off heads. It has to do more than light up and make movie noises for me to quit buying guns.

Whenever the "If you had three wishes what would you wish for?" game is played I blurt out Light Saber so fast the words have gone plaid by the time they get past my lips.

A Light Saber seems like a good idea until the thugs get them too....

NSFW

http://youtu.be/XDg5fGSTR7Q

[SeriousStudent]

Sean M, I will forward your requirements, and inform you of any progress made.

It would definitely make for an interesting new set of drills.

[Odin Bravo One]

I'm ready to cash in the kid's college fund.......if that helps the 100 pound heads to feel secure that there will be a market for it........he can park cars and eat at a soup kitchen for all I care, if I get a working lightsaber.

[Odin Bravo One]

A Light Saber seems like a good idea until the thugs get them too....

NSFW

http://youtu.be/XDg5fGSTR7Q

Oh, I am sure they will be promptly banned..............for the children's sake.

[Sparks2112]

I'm ready to cash in the kid's college fund.......if that helps the 100 pound heads to feel secure that there will be a market for it........he can park cars and eat at a soup kitchen for all I care, if I get a working lightsaber.

Wonder how long it'd take me to accidentally dismember myself if I got a real one. Hmmm.

[MDS]

Wonder how long it'd take me to accidentally dismember myself if I got a real one. Hmmm.

Totally. I've got an SME on order, but I won't carry it AIWB until the gadget comes out for it.

[Slavex]

I've always wanted to see how a lightsabre would deal with projectile weapons vs energy weapons.

back to the OP, are you planning on testing any other belts or buckles and posting the vids? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see more tests.

[TGS]

I think it'd be interesting to see those gigantic Cobra buckles used on the Volund Atlas.

[Byron]

back to the OP, are you planning on testing any other belts or buckles and posting the vids? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see more tests.
I would love to see a Wilderness (or Wilderness style) rigger belt tested where the buckle itself is the clip point, since the BH belt eventually failed from slippage. Since the Wilderness increases friction as the buckle is pulled on, it could theoretically stand up to more of this.

Of course, I'm also thinking about how you could replicate this feature without having something "fill out" the belt. After all, pulling on the buckle when flat (as would be the case in this test), doesn't apply the same direction/type of force.


I think it'd be interesting to see those gigantic Cobra buckles used on the Volund Atlas.
On the one hand, I am fascinated by destructive testing and would therefore support any such test.

On the other hand, the Atlas isn't really a rigger's belt, is it? Cobra buckles don't have actual attach points for a carabiner, right? I'm just wondering aloud what the test would accomplish... unless you're wondering how fast and with what level of force the wearer could put on weight, increasing his waist size to the point of belt failure :o