What Is the Best Battle Belt Setup?

Battle belts are the topic of today's tactical gear discussion. Some of you may ask, "What is a Battle Belt?" and "Why do I need one?" We will discuss how to optimize your Battle Belt and the best ways to configure one in this article. They are sometimes called war belts. Battle belts will be used in this article.

Battle belts are no different from tactical vests. It is impossible to have a "magic" set-up that works for everything. Not all gear is required. Certain missions may require gear which is only needed occasionally. This is to create a baseline, or optimal setup that works for you most of the time.

These are the basic considerations for most civilians who are responsibly armed. The basic requirements and needs of military units and law-enforcement departments are based on the mission and operating procedures.

Everything is dependent on the mission.

Each battle belt is designed to do the same thing: create holes and plug them. This is the foundation for everyone, including civilians, military personnel, and law enforcement.

What causes holes? What makes holes? Guns and bullets. What plugs a hole? First aid items such as bandages and tourniquets. It is important that each battle belt has a holster or pouch for your pistol/secondary as well as a first aid kit. Mag pouches will at least include pistol pouches. It is not uncommon to see rifle mag pouches included.

First aid kits or what is now called Individual First Aid Kits (IFAK) are vital. An IFAK should be used for YOU, not someone else. If you come across a friend who is injured, you would use his IFAK, and not yours, in combat. So, everyone has the minimum amount of first aid items to fix their own wounds. If I use my first-aid items on someone else and then get injured later, it becomes much harder to plug holes in me.

A minimum of one tourniquet should be included in an IFAK. I always have two tourniquets attached to my battle belt. Is it excessive? This is not excessive. Your IFAK must also include a bandage or field dressing, as well as tape, chest seals and any small items that help stop bleeding. You decide how big your IFAK should be. Remember, there are always trade-offs. More gear, bigger pouches, and more things in your way equals more weight and bulk.

You can adapt or customize everything else to suit your needs. You can be creative or minimalistic. Both are acceptable.

Try out different configurations and see which one works best for you. You may need to try out several versions of the battle belt before you find what works for you. Minor adjustments are normal after that.

Other utility items or tools may also be included in a battle belt. Knifes, flashlights, and multi-tools are all common items that have a place. They are small and can be easily fitted on the belt. You won't have to sacrifice too much space. Add a Nalgene water bottle or a canteen to the battle belt. Also, dump pouches are used to dispose of magazines and other items. You decide how many mag pouches you want. Remember that these items can quickly take up a lot of space. Trade-offs. Always make trade-offs.

To see what a (very) full battle belt looks like, check out the most common setup.I have numbered this image to show what each of these items is:

1. Small knife;
2. 5.11 belt, with Cobra buckle (this is the inner belt that runs through the larger, padded belt that everything else attaches to);
3. Three pistol magazines;
4. Triple mag pouch;
5. Two rifle mags (5.56mm);
6. Scorpion rifle mag pouches (you might choose to run only one - This opt for two, to save space on plate carrier, or, add more weight on the waist rather than my chest);
7. Expandable dump pouch from High Speed Gear (HSGI);
8. IFAK;
9. Drop-leg attachment for the pistol holster (this option is a mid-drop, which is a good compromise between having a holster directly on the belt, which tends to be too high with body armor, and not having a low-riding drop-leg holster on your thigh that tends to be awkward and too low);
10. G-Code holster;
11. Multi-tool;
12. This is the actual battle belt, a padded belt option from High Speed Gear (HSGI). This battle belt is pretty much my favorite option and one I'd easily recommend. It fits right over whatever else you are wearing, and then you are good to go;
13. Tourniquet.

At this stage, one important tip would be to keep most of your belt slick or empty near its front buckle. Avoid placing too much stuff or anything protruding near its edge that could potentially prevent you from reaching as low as possible on the floor when hitching up or hitting the deck. Doing this allows you to be as low to the ground as possible when necessary.

As I previously noted, when squatting or crouching low, mag pouches placed too far forward will get in your way and limit mobility. They physically impede your ability to crouch low - the first time this happens may come as a shock! A flat front also helps this process along; when viewing my photos you will notice I place the pistol mag on my hip rather than more in front like you may see among competitive shooters or police.

Keep it tight.

Maintain a secure fit. Your battle belt must fit snugly, without anything dangling loosely or falling off. Take time to test out and adjust as necessary; losing items in training or missions is no fun at all! It happens all too frequently!

Make sure the belt fits comfortably. If your attempt at creating a cool Batman utility belt turns into something heavy or cumbersome that you simply can't adapt to, it has served no useful purpose; in fact it has turned into more of a burden than an asset - which defeats its whole purpose!

Many civilians often ask me this question and there are two answers I can give: One being, it will protect the belt if your excrement makes contact, while two being it would damage it otherwise.

Doing damage on the range requires knowing how to punch holes safely and conveniently, and wearing a battle belt makes this easier and safer. A battle belt makes carrying and controlling firearms much simpler for yourself and other users, and being responsible means less gun accidents occurring during outdoor range sessions if someone gets hurt - something which should not happen, because guns can be such thrilling sports; safety must always come first! Firearms offer wonderful sport, yet any holes created must also be filled immediately and safely.

As someone living in South Florida where hurricanes are frequent occurrences, things could quickly turn chaotic during an emergency or disaster situation. Police may find it hard to reach you quickly so a battle belt can help protect yourself and your family in such situations if necessary; just check local laws regarding open carrying and gun ownership before carrying it publicly; perpetuating myths about hunting being protected under the Second Amendment should not be perpetuated by carrying this gear as this isn't what a battle belt's purpose should be used for; just use it should an emergency situation arises that calls for it - don't just hope so much!

Although there may be numerous options, the fundamentals do not change.