Battle Belts

let's talk about Battle Belt setups and why thicc belts are superior to all others.

Because I like them, that's why. 

I've been meaning to do this for a while, so I apologize. The battle belt, duty belt, or gun belt is a belt that carries things, to reduce it down to its simplest form. Aesthetics and functionality are the only thing that have changed since the leather gun belts of the Wild West (not the shitty Will Smith movie). Now, we feel the need to carry more shit on our waists than we would actually use. Personally, I will never understand the reasoning to carry a knife, especially a large one, on your belt. 

Let's start with battle belt sizes. You can find them as tall belts or "lite" (reduced height) belts, in either padded or unpadded thiccnesses. They come in all shapes and sizes. I personally prefer tall and heavily padded belts like the 5.11 VTAC belt, and I have a few of them. They have rows of MOLLE webbing, you can thread your inner belt through, and it fits like a deadlifting belt if you cinch it down tight enough. This works well for me because I've had some back surgeries and probably another one or two on the horizon. If this is what sounds good to you, there are more than the VTAC, that's just my preferred belt and I can fit a ton of stuff on it even with a slimmer waist. I typically use these when I attend classes.

I have lower profile semi-padded belts, like the 5.11 Sierra Bravo, that I use as my duty belts. I don't like these types of belts and only have them so I dont get ridiculed for wearing a VTAC to work. I'll probably end up replacing it with a 5.11 Maverick.

"Lite" belts, like the 5.11 Maverick, have a very low profile and no padding. I have a few of these belts also. I have an AXL Eclipse belt that I use as my instructor belt. I only use these type of belts for low-weight applications when I only need to carry two pistol mags, 1 rifle mag, a dump pouch, pistol holster, and an IFAK.

Large, padded belts have gone out of favor and have been replaced with thinner and more low-profile belts. If you want to look cool for internet points, join a facebook gear page and ask for some advice. You'll get some great suggestions like Crye Precision, Ferro Concepts, High Speed Gear, Grey Ghost, and even Agilite. If you want something that fits like a deadlifting belt and don't care about internet points, I like the 5.11 VTAC belt or the Viking Tactics Padded Battle Belt.

I would just suggest going through what you need on your belt and what you don't, then making a decision on the type of belt. If you always wear a plate carrier or LBV (load bearing vest), put as much weight on your vest instead of your waist... just please don't mount an axe or large knife to that either...

you just look like a LARP'er with Down's Syndrome.