Belt for Royal Robbins or BDUs

[ReconTech]

Whats a good belt to wear with these "tactical" pants? How about rescue belts? Web belts, currently I just wear basketweave leather, but was looking for a rescue belt of some sort, any nice ones out there other than the regular ones we see in surplus type catalogs?

[cookhj]

blackhawk makes some nice tactical rigger's belts. there thick nylon and will basically last forever. plus they have a metal ring on there that you can use as an emergency rappelling hook-up.

[Skunkabilly]

The Wilderness "Instructor's Belt" is the NBADI (no boubt a doubt it) tactical poser belt! Other than making you look like a Hardcore Individual they are pretty sturdy, adjustable so you don't have too much belt when you aren't carrying IWB, and vice versa. They also come in 1.5", but the standard is 1.75. I have the 1.5 for logistical reasons but I should have gotten the 1.75.

The only disadvantage to the belt other than it not being suitable to wear to work, unlike most gunbelts (which average nicer than the average joe's belt) is the clang-clang-cling-clang noise when it's not being worn. This is if you leave your pants next to your bed and get dressed before your roommate or SO wakes up. It's silent and very tactical when being worn, not like my squeeky leather gear.

http://www.thewilderness.com/Media/instructor_175bk.gif

[ReconTech]

Ok, so what is a good source for this belt? Also, while I'm at it, skunkman, what other "tactical poser" items do you use or recommend? :evil:

[Kevlarman]

The Blackhawk is basically the same, but it has a nice velcro strip that keeps the carabiner end fron going "cland-clang-clang."
:D

It's what I'm wearing right now.

[Skunkabilly]

Recontech, I ordered straight from them. Other places carry them, so if you're in Arizona, order from out of state and save yourself a buck or two on sales tax.

As for other tactical poser gear: anything from Oakley. I heard their new boots are excellent, but if you can't afford them, Danners will do just fine.

Gun-themed clothing is too overt but fine for the range, so I only wear my Benelli Tactical hat and HK polo when shooting. Photo vests are too 'gun writer' and not 'tactical' enough. Firemen shirts and cop-themed t-shirts are somewhat tactical, but if you're a clean looking White guy and fairly in shape you run the chance of something thinking you're a cop.

The most tactical people I know just wear a regular t-shirt, Royal Robbins pants or Levi's :barf:, those the instructors belts, either Danner or Oakley boots, carry a Strider or Emerson knife (where legal). Don't forget the Camelbak. I prefer the Motherlode as its the largest size you can carry on an airline, and the NON-ALICE one as the military style packs are too tactical looking and stand out too much. But you can have all your tacticality and functionality in the non-ALICE packs.

The nice thing about Oakley is even though they have tactical stuff like
http://a1497.g.akamai.net/f/1497/14/1d/www.oakley.com/media/product/spring_03_mens_combat/black.jpg
you can blend in among trendy suburban guys that like to snowboard (at least in my neck of the woods), but you may stick out too much in your area. The advantage of being a tactical poser in my area is that people wear stuff like this who aren't even tactical. The HSLD Oakley stuff is trendy right now, and Camelbaks and the rigger belts don't raise too many hairs since people like doing stuff like rockclimbing.

[Erick Gelhaus]

Stick with the belt from The Wilderness www.thewilderness.com It is sewn here in the US as opposed to off-shore. I've got several belts & slings, along with a couple mag pouches from them none have blown out or failed.

For BDU's & generally the RR trousers, the 1.5" belt seems to be a better fit. However, the 1.75" will work with the RR trousers & it's great with jeans.

fwiw, mine are the 5 stitch version, rather than the one with the liner.

[Lightfighter]

I wear the SOE rigger's belt with my 511 pants every day.

[ReconTech]

I like SOE equipment, just need to find a local store that carries their stuff...

[Skunkabilly]

SOE r00Lz...w00t!!!!

[ReconTech]

Well, what I like about them is that they aren't super flashy like blackhawk, but both are nice. I also like Eagle..

My new Microtech UMS auto came with the optional SOE holster versus the sheath that says microtech on it..Its awesome...

I finally ended up at a army navy discount center (store near me) just buying this $22 nylon belt that is just like a rescue belt (the one above) but it is missing the extra triangular piece for the carabiner, but big enough to get one...

[Kobun]

I wear a Blackhawk Riggers belt almost daily.
I sometimes wear it at competitions, having a mag pouch and a Safariland 560 paddle holster on it. This is a very solid setup.
SOE also has a riggers belt that is even stiffer, and I would probably have chosen this today. Lightfighter (http://www.lightfighter.com) carries them and a lot of other stuff.
The CamoCo vest that I have conseal a handgun very well.
http://www.campco.com/new/5-6-02/tan-front_small.jpg

As for the RR 5.11, in some enviroments, they will make you as a cop. A friend has told me that in Stockholm, Sweden, almost all the plainclothes cops wear RR 5.11 khaki, so he is made as a cop all the time, although he isn't one... :rolleyes:

[Fly320s]

I have a Wilson belt for range and competition work but it is too thick and uncomfortable for normal use.

My standard leather dress belts are not wide or stiff enough to support the gun weight, so...

I bought a $10 Wal-mart special. I don't remember the correct name, but it has a black and yellow tag on it. The belt perfectly fits the loops of my Milt Sparks VM2 IWB and is stiff enough to support the weight of the gun and mag pouch.

Obviously, I don't qualify for the Skunkabilly Fraternal Order of Tactical Posers, but I get the job done.

[VaughnT]

I just got my Wilderness belt in the mail (thanks Dillon Precision) and it is awesome. I feel cool X 10 when I put it on and I'm sure I can leap a small building in three or less bounds. Very well put together and sure to last for years. $44 well spent.

The HP1 earmuffs are also very neat. I can't wait to try them out.

[Skunkabilly]

$44 well spent.

You got the CSM? How is the comfort? And what's your waist size? Do you IWB?

[Bruce626]

Ahem... I have a WIB and like it (just like Skunk's picture) but I have to say it is sloooooooowwwwww to come off... as in a "battle emergency dump" scenario or a "liberty hot mamma" situation. I guess if I'm just going to climb mountains and need to hang by my belt, I'd certainly pick this WIB belt... most other times, probably not.

[Skunkabilly]

Whats a liberty hot mama, after a few burritos, chili and cabbage? :confused:

[jthuang]

Yeah but what belt do y'all use when you're wearing brown boots (e.g. hiking)? I suppose I could use my Kramer belt but it's beat up enough as is, hate to abuse a $98 belt even more than it already is ....

[Let's assume I don't want to wear my black Danner Patrol boots for hiking ... I know it's more tactical but they're not designed for hiking like my Danner Explorers.]

TIA.

Justin

[Bruce626]

Justin... yeah, you never know when the fashion police will ambush you on the trail and bust you for not having your belt match the color of your boots... I hate when that happens.

[Skunkabilly]

Justin,

http://www.thewilderness.com/Media/instructor_1_5_kh2.gif

:D

[Captain]

Well you should probably wear a "tactical" belt to go along with the "tactical" pants that are made from "tactical" canvas. That's what it says in their literature....tactical canvas! If I throw on my 511 vest then I must be a really tactical person now! All in fun here folks!!

[Skunkabilly]

"tactical" canvas

Is that the stuff that Dick Kramer paints on?

[jthuang]

Thanks, Skunk. I didn't know that they made the belt in desert.

Now to find a similar color watchband to replace the black nylon fast-strap on my Timex digital compass watch. :D

[Kevlarman]

There are NATO watchbands that come in desert.

[jthuang]

Thanks Kevlarman. Now the fashion police will have nothing on me when I go trooping through the woods this summer. :)

(also gives me an excuse to buy more gear)

[stevelyn]

http://www.uscavalry.com

http://www.actiongear.com

[DrDremel]

This is one of the best threads I have read in a while. I have some shirts from shooting in benefits for families of police officers killed in the line of duty twice a year called MICOPS. I wear the t-shirts since they come with the registration fee and I am too cheap to buy other clothes. My wife buys me shirts when she gets tired of seeing them. I get made as a cop all the time. I am not trying to be tactical. I liked to carry a knife and wear pants with lots of pockets before being tactical was cool. I have a belt made from a parachute strap with a buckle like the WIB my mom made for me back in 1975 from one of my dads parachutes. I it weren’t red, white and blue striped, I’d wear it still. With that in mind here are some recommendations.

As for the “Emergency Battle Dump” or “”Liberty Hot-Mamma” scenarios, These are usually referred to as SHTF. This stands for Sh&% Hits The Floor. In these circumstances you are supposed to pull out your Benchmade and slice the belt with your serrated edge Titanium alloy blade. If this happens at night, your knife should have a picatinny rail with a Surefire light attached. Of coarse this is where the Royal Robbins pants come in handy. The strap over the back pocket along with the side pockets are now filled with the Holster, Flashlight belt sheath, spare ammo holder, and ASP baton belt holder that will fall now that your belt has been sliced. Of course, with the emergency sewing kit you have in your swiss army knife pouch, you can sew the belt together. This or come OD “100 mile an hour tape” and you are good to go.

As for shirts, anything HK is Uber-Tactical. Glock shirts are a close second. The most ultimate tactical boot is those ninja ones with the toe split thingy. I don’t know what they are called as I am not trained in the way of the modern tactical ninja. Runner up shirts are “Don’t run, you’ll only die tired”, “Own the night”, “Kill em all, let god sort them out”, or a skull with crossed M4 Carbines. These are the signs of a true dedicated tactical poser. A jacket with flip down POLICE, FBI, ATF, SHERIFF, US MARSHALL, BORDER PATROL, all add to the mystique.

At the range, There are a few tactical poser rules of etiquette. WEAR YOUR ASSAULT VEST! Not once or twice, but every time. This is important. This lets people know you are ready. The thigh holster will also help in case you need to transfer to a side arm. How this training helps non-LEO shooters in real life situations I don’t know. You must get two of the same handgun, preferably a 9mm with high capacity mags. They must both be drawn from the small of the back at the same time and shot “John Woo” style. Jumping while doing this makes you more tactical. Handguns that are acceptable: HK USP (Tactical if possible), SIG 220, 226, 228, Glock-any model, Beretta 92 variant, or in some cases a 1911 variant but only if it cost more than a grand or has a tactial rail. A Surefire flashlight adds tacticality.

Your sidearm of choice is a semi-auto M4 carbine. It must have a rail handguard and flat top upper. Attached to anything closely resembling a weaver rail, (Oops, the tactical word is picatinny) is any and everything that can possibly be purchased. A rule of thumb is to weigh the M4 empty. If it is under 14 pounds, add more stuff. All shooting is done at 25-50 yards as fast as the trigger can be pulled. Remember to quote the 25 yard sight in and how you are then set out to 250 yards. Of course this is all theory on your part as 50 yards is the most you have ever fired.

There is one weapon that is more tactical than an M4. That is an HK 91, 93 or 94. The holy grail being a PSG-1. If you have a 91, you must make it look as close to a PSG-1 as possible. If you have less than $5000 in the set-up you need to buy more stuff. These rifles are treated differently. They are babied. If they are scratched, they must be refinished, The trigger housing must be the Navy polymer if available. A PSG-1 style with adjustable palm rest is also acceptable.

Full auto is also a good indicator that you are a Tactical Terminator. This only applies if you always empty the mag in one burst and never hit anything. Acceptable substitutes are Hellfire, Tactical triggers, or Tri-Burst activators.

The truly Tactical will look down on anyone at the range using a non-tactical firearm, especially if it has wood on it. You must interrupt the other shooters to introduce them to the way of the truly tactical. Point out how your tactical sling will let your weapon hang. Make sure they understand that your M4 with TAP rounds is actually safer indoors than a 9mm because it fragments. Again this is theory as the only ammo you have ever fired is surplus SS109 and Wolf ammo. Explain to them why you have the last 3 rounds in a mag full of tracers that you paid $1.50 each at a gunshow, to inform you in combat that you need to do a tactical reload. Under no circumstances are you to ever own touch or even say revolver. If someone else is shooting one, you must snicker and laugh, teasing and pointing with your tactical team. Remember that you can tease them and make fun of them all you want, because you are wearing a ballistic vest with ceramic inserts. If you are persistent, you may actually get to see if it works.

Remember to use the Tactical terms you learned through gun magazines and video games. Phrases like “Tango Down” earn points towards your badge of ultimate tacticality. Your watch must be a model worn by SEAL team member, or at that is what the ad says.

Remember, the road to true tactical wisdom is filled with tangos.

Disclaimer: This is a joke if you don’t already know.

[Skunkabilly]

Remember, the road to true tactical wisdom is filled with tangos.

Thanks Doc I was ROFL the whole time! :)

[Cliff]

:D :D :D

[VaughnT]

"You got the CSM? How is the comfort? And what's your waist size? Do you IWB?"

Skunk, Yup, I'm now on the way to out-tacticalling you! The comfort of the belt is superb. I think this has a lot to do with the 1.750" width of the webbing; it fills the belt loops and distributes the load over more surface area.

I'm not IWB'ing at the this time due to a severe case of Dunlap disease. Of course, as a trouser belt supporting my duty belt, the WIB has proven to be the best I've tried to date.

Waist size: 44"-46"

That buckle is very nice, but I don't see rappeling in my near future. Dangling might be a possibility.....


"Liberty Hot Mama" = good looking woman of ill-repute often encountered while on liberty. Degree of Hotness depends on lenght of time aboard ship and amount of alcohol consumed once shoreside.

"Battlefied Emergency Dump" = aka 'Trench Trots', 'Camp Runs', 'Skid Makers'. Medically knowns as diareaha. Often caused by taking the Liberty Hot Mama out to dinner. Very common in foreign ports.

While the LHM isn't a likely encounter, I could escape the WIB should one appear.

The BED.....well, I've seen that elephant! Very, very difficult to extract oneself from a buckle designed to keep you in. Emergency blade should be kept handy to prevent an embarrasing failure-to-extract.