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Thread: Purchase Report: MasterMind Belt

  1. #1

    Purchase Report: MasterMind Belt

    Selection Criteria:
    Web sites and previous P-F posts were studied and belts from four different vendors considered. One had a zero negative and 3” positive adjustment range. The buckle on another too large to easily pass beneath belt loops. The third appeared to lack adequate vertical support. In contrast, the MasterMind offered suitable support, a de minimis (non-metallic) buckle, and a larger adjustment range (minus 2” to plus 3”). Additionally, it was favorably priced.

    Purchase Timeline:

    The MasterMind was ordered on Thursday, 11 June. Shipping notice received Sunday, 14 June and the belt was received Wednesday, 17 June.

    Receipt

    Size was measured per the MasterMind website and is ideal. The construction of the belt resists roll-over (vertically stiff) and fits closely to the body (horizontally flexible). The small non-metallic buckle works well: the belt can be rotated about the body after being fastened. The minus 2” to +3” adjustment range allows for year around wear and permits carrying both an appendix and spleen holster simultaneously, if desired. “Why, shucks Phred, that’s just the way I carry my spare magazine. Don’t you do that, too?"

    Overview
    The MasterMind belt is thoughtfully designed, well constructed, promptly delivered, and priced at a "Friends 'n Family" level.

  2. #2
    Four String Fumbler Joe in PNG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Papua New Guinea; formerly Florida
    I got one a couple of years back, and love it.
    "You win 100% of the fights you avoid. If you're not there when it happens, you don't lose." - William Aprill
    "I've owned a guitar for 31 years and that sure hasn't made me a musician, let alone an expert. It's made me a guy who owns a guitar."- BBI

  3. #3
    Great review- I’ve lost 4.5 inches around my waist and need to get a new belt. Think this post has pushed me to the Mastermind.
    This country needs an enema- Blues approved sig line

  4. #4
    Member Mack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    USA
    Quote Originally Posted by Duces Tecum View Post
    Selection Criteria:
    Web sites and previous P-F posts were studied and belts from four different vendors considered. One had a zero negative and 3” positive adjustment range. The buckle on another too large to easily pass beneath belt loops. The third appeared to lack adequate vertical support. In contrast, the MasterMind offered suitable support, a de minimis (non-metallic) buckle, and a larger adjustment range (minus 2” to plus 3”). Additionally, it was favorably priced.

    Purchase Timeline:

    The MasterMind was ordered on Thursday, 11 June. Shipping notice received Sunday, 14 June and the belt was received Wednesday, 17 June.

    Receipt

    Size was measured per the MasterMind website and is ideal. The construction of the belt resists roll-over (vertically stiff) and fits closely to the body (horizontally flexible). The small non-metallic buckle works well: the belt can be rotated about the body after being fastened. The minus 2” to +3” adjustment range allows for year around wear and permits carrying both an appendix and spleen holster simultaneously, if desired. “Why, shucks Phred, that’s just the way I carry my spare magazine. Don’t you do that, too?"

    Overview
    The MasterMind belt is thoughtfully designed, well constructed, promptly delivered, and priced at a "Friends 'n Family" level.
    Thanks for the support and for taking time out of your day to share your impressions of the Specialist. We are very happy to hear that it is working for you!

  5. #5
    Site Supporter
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    the Deep South
    The only belt I would buy to replace my old Specialist is one of the new Specialists from MasterMind Tactics. It sure would be nice to have another run of the black+orange PF Specialist belts to replace the one I undergrew.

  6. #6
    I'm going to be the contrarian here and say that the mastermind belt sucks and is one of the worst belts I've ever owned. The flaw is the shitty stamped steel buckle. It is a PITA to tighten or loosen because there is too much friction on the sharp edges and the slots are too thin. It is my understanding that the previous iteration made by graith was much better and had a better finished rounded buckle. I purchased it based on the high praise for the graith and was severely dissapointed.

    I don't see how this thing is any better than the dozens of other iterations of riggers belts out there.

  7. #7
    Member Mack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    USA
    Quote Originally Posted by sickeness View Post
    I'm going to be the contrarian here and say that the mastermind belt sucks and is one of the worst belts I've ever owned. The flaw is the shitty stamped steel buckle. It is a PITA to tighten or loosen because there is too much friction on the sharp edges and the slots are too thin. It is my understanding that the previous iteration made by graith was much better and had a better finished rounded buckle. I purchased it based on the high praise for the graith and was severely dissapointed.

    I don't see how this thing is any better than the dozens of other iterations of riggers belts out there.

    Thanks for feedback; I will say it was one of the more humorous Specialist reviews I have seen in a while so thanks for the laugh.

    I am sorry to hear that you are not liking your Specialist, I do wish you would have contacted us when you took delivery of the belt and we would have happily returned the belt for a refund or exchanged it for an AIR. I am not sure when you ordered your belt but if it is within the return/exchange policy listed on our site we can do either of the former.

    In regard to the difficulty experienced when threading the tail through the buckle and over the center bar; this is by design that it is not easy. The Specialist Pro was designed as the name states for professional use and the number one piece of feedback that we have had over the years is that more active retention of the tail was desired (over the previous Graith Specialist with cast brass buckle). The Specialist Pro is one of the most if not the most secure hook and loop closure low profile belts around and is really nothing like a riggers belt.

    The buckle on the PRO was selected for a number of reasons, the number one reason outside of being small is the narrow interior dimensions and the sharp angular corners, this makes for a buckle that interacts with the tail in the desired manner which is giving it the absolute most retention possible. Additionally mil-spec webbing believe it or not is not very consistent from lot to lot, from mill to mill, or even color to color, so this buckle allows for the variation in material width but also the turn of cloth when dealing with varying thicknesses of webbing all while providing the the most active retention possible.

    If you wish to have a belt that is easier and quicker to put on and take off I would suggest looking into an AIR, they are the same belt with the exception of the buckle. The buckle on the AIR is a very strong polymer and for how it will be used in a belt is just as durable as the steel but it is easier to thread on and off because of the reduction of friction both because of the material but also because it features rounded surfaces on the interior of the buckle and slightly larger interior dimensions. There are also friction ridges molded onto each bar of the buckle which allow the buckle to retain the webbing, and when combined with the construction of the Specialist tail offers a high amount of retention, not as much as the PRO but a lot more than most any other low profile buckles out there.

    One thing that may help is to hold the buckle securely while feeding the tail section through, once enough of the tail has passed through it should be fairly easy to grab the little loop the tail has formed and then slide the remainder of the tail through the buckle. If you do not hold onto the buckle itself it will be pretty challenging to quickly remove the tail and remove the belt. Holding the buckle securely will also make adjusting the belt easier.

    Although we do not recommend it for anyone that decides they do not need active retention of the tail you can skip threading the tail over the center bar on either belt, it is much easier but this means that you are relying on the hook and loop closure only.

  8. #8
    Bought one last week the Specialist Pro, I need it to ship quick,it came on time.
    Had a few day tactical course this week used this belt with AIWB and OWB holsters mags pouches and other equipment.
    The belt preformed well,did not shift or moved.
    I'm happy, good quality for very good price,I really like how slim the buckle is,belt is stiff enough in the right place.

    Simong.

  9. #9
    Member wvincent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    The 605
    I've been using my PF special black with orange thread since it arrived in the mail.
    Through that time I have discovered that it is the absolute heat for aiwb.
    In fact, I'm so happy that I ordered one in foliage green today, can't wait to get it.
    "And for a regular dude I’m maybe okay...but what I learned is if there’s a door, I’m going out it not in it"-Duke
    "Just because a girl sleeps with her brother doesn't mean she's easy..."-Blues

  10. #10
    I used a Graith Specialist for about two years before upgrading to the newer MMT Specialist, the limited run in grey they did recently. They're excellent AIWB belts. I can't say I've ever had an issue threading the belt on either.

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