For many years, people have been using battle belts as a way to carry their tactical gear with them.
They not only provide storage for your tactical gear and pouches but they can also be used to carry your weapons. For that reason alone, it is important that you find the right one for you.
Choosing a battle belt can be difficult. There are many different styles, colors, and sizes to choose from! This article will help you make the best decision by covering the key aspects of choosing your new battle belt.
By following these 7 steps you will have no problem finding a perfect battle belt that fits all of your needs!
Battle belts – What are they?
So, before we start looking at how to choose a battle belt, let’s start from the absolute basics and go through what battle belts are and why you should use them.
The simplest way to put it is that battle belts are load-bearing belts that provide a means of carrying different kinds of tactical equipment such as pouches, magazines, knives, and weapons.
They are super popular amongst military and law enforcement personnel, survivalists, airsoft players, and hunters because they provide a great platform for your critical and essential pieces of gear, allow for quick access to that equipment, and offer a lot more mobility than other load-bearing rigs.
There are many benefits of using a battle belt:
- Quick access to your critical gear – All of your essential and critical gear is within easy reach so you can get to it quickly.
- Allows for quick removal of equipment – You can also quickly remove your belt without having to take off all of your gear.
- Offer a lot of mobility – Compared to other tactical load-bearing equipment, battle belts offer you a lot more mobility and flexibility.
- Customization – Another benefit of using a battle belt is customization. You can customize it to meet your needs and requirements
- Great platform to carry more gear – It is also a great platform to carry more gear.
How to choose a battle belt?
There are many different features that make certain belts better than others like their durability, type, design, width, and so on. Which makes choosing the best battle belt quite a tough challenge.
There’s no perfect battle belt but there are quite a few factors you should think about when you are looking for a new one! So let’s take a closer look at the most important aspects of choosing a battle belt!
1. What do you need the belt for?
Now when it comes to choosing the best battle belt for yourself the first thing your think about is what you are going to use the belt for. This is the most important but often overlooked aspect of choosing a battle belt.
What you use the belt for will determine pretty much every other aspect of the belt. It will determine how much space the belt has to have, how wide it should be, how durable, what type, and even the color and price.
For example, if you need a battle belt for airsoft or hunting you might not need to look for the most expensive belt on the market. But if you are looking at a war belt for real combat use or as a law enforcement duty belt, then you will need a higher quality and durable high-end battle belt.
So start by defining what you need the battle belt for and what will be its purpose.
2. Type of the battle belt.
Another thing to consider when looking for the best belt is the actual type of the battle belt. Battle belts can be categorized into two different types.
First, we have the one-piece battle belts. These are basically your “classic battle belts” that consist of a single belt with MOLLE webbing attached to it.
And then there are two-piece battle belts or sleeve-type battle belts.
Two-piece battle belts – These kinds of belt systems are made of an inner and an outer belt. The inner belt is usually padded and is meant for comfort and the outer belt is covered with a MOLLE webbing. The two belts are usually attached to each other with velcro.
Sleeve-type battle belts – These are basically heavy-duty molle sleeves that you can mount on any kind of belt. They are made to be worn with a separate belt that you weave through the sleeve. The sleeve is usually quite wide and is covered with MOLLE webbing.
The two-piece and sleeve type belt offers you a lot more customizing options than the one-piece. With these types of belts, you could in theory have a few different battle belt setups that you could easily and quickly switch between.
3. Design of the belt
The design of the battle belt is crucial for both comfort and the way you are going to wear it. Overall there are three different battle belt designs.
- Low profile – Low profile battle belts hang lower down on your hips and don’t extend too much upwards. They are often slimmer as well. These are great when you are wearing a plate carrier or any other body armor.
- High profile – These types of battle belts are more centered and they extend a lot more upwards from your waist than the low profile ones. They are usually wider as well and are great for carrying larger pouches and offer more space.
- Wider back – These battle belts are wider in the back part and slimmer at the front. This offers extra comfort and increases overall space on the belt.
4. The Material of the belt
The fabric of your combat gear is crucial for both comfort and durability. You should opt for 100% nylon webbing if you want something durable and heavy-duty but it may not offer as much flexibility as other materials do.
Also, an important thing to consider is the material of the belt buckle. You can either opt for a plastic or a metal buckle.
5 The width of the battle belt
What is the width of your battle belt? This will depend on your body type and personal preference. If you are someone who likes to carry a lot of gear on your waist, then it is better to get a wider war belt but if not, then you can get a narrower or a medium-width one.
A battle belt that is too narrow won’t be able to fit all of your gear. On the other hand, a wide battle belt might have more space for your gear but it will get a lot bulkier.
Also, a narrower belt makes it easier to add different kinds of holsters and it even allows you to use the belt for concealed carrying.
6. The length of the belt
The length of the belt is also an important factor. You want to get a battle belt that fits you just right. A wrong-sized battle belt can cause a lot of discomfort and problems.
For example, if the belt is too small you won’t be able to wear it (or it will be quite difficult) with jackets and other bulkier clothing. Also, it might hinder your mobility and start to dig into your waist, and cause discomfort.
A too-large battle belt on the other hand will start to move and pounce around your body. It will also start to slip down and hinder your mobility. Also, it can interfere with accessing your gear. How? Well for example, when you want to pull out a magazine the belt might move along with it and the magazine can get stuck in the pouch.
7. Other things to consider
There are some other not as major things to keep in mind including color, grip, comfortability, type of the molle webbing, and of course the price.
- Color of the belt – It is important to have a color – that is suitable for you and your needs.
- Grip – You want a belt that has a good grip and wouldn’t slip down your body when loaded up.
- Comfortability – You want the belt to be as comfortable as possible. Depending on your needs, you might even want to look for a belt with added extra padding.
- Type of molle webbing – When choosing your battle belt, the type of the MOLLE webbing is another important thing to keep in mind. There are a few different types, including the classic MOLLE webbing and the laser-cut version.
- Price – Another thing you should consider when choosing your battle belt is its price. Battle belt prices can range from 25 dollars all the way to 250 and even more. Usually, the cheaper belts are geared more towards “leisure activities” like airsoft or hunting. And the pricier options are meant for real GI joes (real-life tactical situations).
In conclusion
We hope you found this article on how to choose a battle belt to be informative and helpful so that you can make an informed decision when choosing your own battle belt. If you have any more questions about battle belts, please feel free to contact us!
