THE CAGE: BELT UP

THE CAGE:

BELT UP!

WE ALL LOVE OUR “NYLON GEAR” FOR AIRSOFT BUT SOMETIMES THE OLD ADAGE THAT “YOU CAN SPOT THE VETERAN AIRSOFTER WITH JUST AN OLD AK AND BELT KIT” IS TRUER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK! THIS MONTH BILL GOT (VIRTUALLY) TOGETHER WITH THE AA TEAM TO DISCUSS “BATTLE/ SHOOTER BELTS” AND ASKED THEM “DO YOU USE ONE? WHY? …AND IF YOU DO, WHAT DO YOU USE?”

When it comes to “belt-kit” you’d be rightly excused for thinking of “old school” webbing kit that was cheap as chips - and about as durable! Time, along with design and components, moves on though… Not so long ago if you’d spoken to me about “belt-kit” then, undoubtedly I would have nodded sagely and talked to you about “SAS style” hand-tailored pouches suspended from a roller-pin belt. However, technology and design moves ever onward and in more recent times I’ve seen the adoption of the “battle-belt”, sometimes with protective inserts, which made use of the MOLLE system, allowing you to tailor the make-up of your belt to your own specifications, whilst (importantly!) keeping everything firmly in one place.

In the past couple of years though things have moved on even further, with lower profile systems coming to the fore and new technologies being embraced to ensure strength and durability whilst keeping the weight well and truly down. The “two piece shooters belt” seems to be in vogue and having now tried a few different models from a variety of manufacturers, I can understand why this is so.

When I was at IWA a couple of years back I managed to catch up with Scott from UK-based Warrior Assault Systems (WAS) and (after “chewing the fat” for a while) I asked him if WAS intended to follow this growing trend. He simply grinned, went behind the display and handed me their new, at that time yet to be released, LOW PROFILE DIRECT ACTION MK1 SHOOTERS BELT, at which point I rolled my eyes and told him “Yup, of course…”

The setup, which is sold as a complete unit, features the WAS Low Profile MOLLE Belt (LPMB) DA MK 1, which offers a two-stage low profile platform that has been configured for the needs of the modern shooter. Stage One is a reinforced slimline belt that is covered in loop Velcro and is designed to be threaded through your trouser belt loops and acts in the same way that a traditional belt would. Stage Two of the system is made up of a low profile MOLLE belt covered in two rows of Mil

“IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THOUGH THINGS HAVE MOVED ON EVEN FURTHER, WITH LOWER PROFILE SYSTEMS COMING TO THE FORE AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEING EMBRACED TO ENSURE STRENGTH AND DURABILITY WHILST KEEPING THE WEIGHT WELL AND TRULY DOWN. ”

Spec webbing; this belt has a row of hook Velcro on the inside which marries up to first belt, it is then secured by way of a removable belt and composite GT Cobra buckle.

Although it’s marketed as a two-piece system there are, in fact, three components to the system; the inner trouser belt, the outer belt with the GT Cobra and then a MOLLE sleeve which covers that. Overall, this means that you have a versatile and very strong system that will support the weight of multiple pouches and a holstered pistol. And talking about pouches this is, in my mind, where WAS have been thinking ahead, as the system comes complete with a variety of their excellent models, including a Single Pistol Magazine Pouch, two Rifle Magazine pouches, a Slimline Foldable Dump Pouch, IFAK First Aid Pouch, one Small Horizontal Pouch and their incredibly useful Universal Pistol Pouch/Holster (UPH).

Although you can add and subtract from the pouches provided, the Universal Pistol Pouch/Holster is a godsend for me as it saves having to change out my holster when I’m testing different pistols on the range. Also, if I’m attending a real firearms course overseas and don’t know the exact pistol model the trainer will be providing, I can take the UPH confident that it will retain virtually any model safely and securely.

This, I have to say, got me started on the two-piece belt and since then I’ve also come to love the lo-profile Mustang system from Direct Action. The inner belt works simply as a trouser belt and as a stabiliser for both the Mustang and Warhawk outer belts. As it attaches to the inner Velcro loop panels of those belts, it prevents rideup during dynamic movement or when drawing a pistol from a holster. With this belt in place there’s no need to use suspenders or a drop leg panel in order to achieve a secure pistol draw. Made out of proprietary laminate and Velcro this is simply a flat, feather-light accessory to keep your pants up and your working equipment belt where you’d expect it to be. The ultra-thin profile of the trouser belt effectively eliminates “buckle over buckle” discomfort and can be worn all day long.

Made of heavy duty tubular webbing, proprietary laminate and lined with Velcro loop the Mustang Rescue/ Gun belt is bartack-reinforced in stress points, stiffened to carry the weight of holsters and magazine pouches and secures with a certified AustriAlpin Cobra buckle. There’s an anchor point for carabiner/lanyard/tether next to the buckle and this is compatible with FROG buckle or shackles. It’s Velcro-loop lined on the inside so that it mates perfectly with the inner trouser belt, so you can have all your range-ready kit pre-mounted and be good to go within seconds.

I have two of these setups now, one in simple Adaptive Green for training and one in PenCott GreenZone for games. Both are set up identically with a safety tether, two primary magazine pouches, two secondary magazine pouches, a dump pouch, a TQ pouch and an IFAK (all the pouches are DA or Helkion-Tex, and the HTX Modular Individual Med Kit pouch is an absolute gem!). I use holsters from Taig at Kydex Customs with QD belt clips so I can swap out my secondary as desired. I’ve worn my personal setups regularly both at home and abroad and already given them some serious abuse and, thus far, they’ve been nothing but exemplary. In fact, I’m so impressed that I’ve just ordered the slightly wider Direct Action Warhawk outer belt!

WHAT THEY SAID!

So, with this in mind I spoke to the rest of the guys on the AA team and asked them what they were currently using and this is what they had to tell me:

Scott: “I use a belt to hold my jeans up because I can’t do my jeans up as I’m getting fat stuck indoors! I’ve never used belt kit other than in a sniper role years ago; I always find chest rigs easier all round.”

Callum: “I have two go-to belts; my Tactical Tailor belt with Blade Tech Fast Mags for my Mk18, and a Wartech/ ANA mash up for my Russian kit with the 104.”

Jon M: “A very bare bones WAS Shooters belt setup for me; Holster, Dump Pouch, Retention Lanyard, Glove Holder. It’s all I need.”

Stu: “I used them a lot more back in the UK and liked the comfort and convenience of having everything set up on different belts for my various primary guns like my QBZ97 and SVD which had very different mag geometry, as well as running a lot of Five-seveN mags on one. They’re great for weight distribution and carrying stuff on your hips/waist instead of straining your back or shoulders which is an issue for my buggered back at times. More recently I’ve switch to 6094 plate carriers or the JPC 1 since moving to Taiwan, but all my guns run similar mags

“THIS, I HAVE TO SAY, GOT ME STARTED ON THE TWO-PIECE BELT AND SINCE THEN I’VE ALSO COME TO LOVE THE LO-PROFILE MUSTANG SYSTEM FROM DIRECT ACTION. THE INNER BELT WORKS SIMPLY AS A TROUSER BELT AND AS A STABILISER FOR BOTH THE MUSTANG AND WARHAWK OUTER BELTS. ”

STRETCH PANTS

so I can get away with only having a normal belt for my pistols and just attach pouches each game due to running less gear in shorter closer CQB games.”

Christopher JW: “I use FRV Tailoring’s Shooter Belts, they are great! Velcro belt on my trousers then put on whichever belt setup I want in seconds. I have two of them, one for my Mk18 set up and the other for my Mk46.”

Phil: “WAS Low Profile Direct Action Shooters Belt with very minimal kit on it. A double mag pouch for primary and a double for secondary mags, and a WAS universal holster or a Safariland depending if I’m running a Glock or something else. I don’t like loads of weight on a belt.”

Craig: “I used to use a “battle belt” style but found it kept slipping around when running. The two belt systems with the soft velcro on the trouser loops and the hook on the belt itself hold everything in place perfectly for me, and there are many version on the market from FRV Tailoring, Ronin Tactics, TMC and the like. Personally I have the TMC versions, and they’re great for a fraction of the cost!”

Jonathan L: “Mine’s a Ronin Tactics Shooters Belt with just a G17 holster, M4 mag pouches, and a fighting knife!”

Rob: “I run a belt set as my base both for work and for airsoft, a thin padded three-line MOLLE ultralight with built-in belt and belt keepers (I wear thin flat suspenders with belt on my trousers so that I can just take the belt on and off with or without having to remove my armour when it is work issued). Kydex holster with shock cord retention when needed that tucks away, three pistol Taco-style mag

pouches, and two or three rifle Taco pouches that can accept AK or M4 mags (depending on range setup or combat) a folding dump pouch, water bottle pouch, and blow out kit.

“I wear mine in a system, as a base for the range or when working; it goes belt set, armour and/or chest rig, then back bags as needed. Since issue firearms can include AK or AR or even MP5/SMG types I prefer the HSGI Taco pouches which let me just use what I need. I have several belt rigs in formats for range, stealth-protection work, PMC work, airsoft indoor, airsoft outdoor, but my most favourite belt set is 100% HSGI with a custom MOLLE holster for my Glock. On the other hand, my preferred running gear for airsoft is a Russian SMERSH belt and suspender set!” AA