r/tacticalgear • u/LeatherLeast4062 • 1d ago
Help with battle belt
I'm looking for a belt for work. I did some research and they recommended Blue Alpha Gear. I'd like to know which models they recommend and the differences between the battle belt and duty belt, and which models you recommend. I edited my question now. I carry a holster, handcuffs, pistol magazine holders, and an IFak on my belt. I really need a belt with the Molle system. What other belt models do you recommend?
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u/ImpressiveAlarm3992 1d ago
Belt for work? If you are trying to min max belt set ups for work that would depend on what type of work right? Security? Police? Military?
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u/LeatherLeast4062 1d ago
Police in Brazil
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u/ImpressiveAlarm3992 1d ago
Duty Belts are usually the 2'' - 2.25'' standard. Battle Belts are usually the 1.75'' standard. Duty Belts usually use the Fastex type of buckle which is like on backpacks and are just a type of plastic. Battle Belts usually use Cobra buckles.
I've worked as an armed guard and used the Kore Essentials Battle Belt that is 1.75''. The only things I had on my belt were holster, 2 magazines and carriers, push dagger and small of back ifak (large). The major appeal to the Kore belts is that they are ratchet adjustment and you could make small controlled adjustments to the fit of the belt throughout your day to make it more comfortable. I ran this belt as a converted 1 piece with pads and a thigh stabilizer on the holster.
I would assume as a Police Officer you are required to carry significantly more weight than what I had which essentially means I would run any belt as a two piece belt and wear an inner belt. Or if you could spread the weight out a bit on your body armor carrier then you could run a 1 piece belt I think.
In my experience the 1 piece belts are more comfortable but they are less stable depending on the tightness of the belt. Also if they are more convenient considering diffrerent weather. If you have to take off layers you could do this easily with a one piece belt and run the 1 piece belt over a coat and still have ready access to whatever is on the belt. If you run a two piece belt then the coat is going to make it more difficult to get to whatever is on the belt.
Considering Police are going to be dealing far more often with people on the ground to make an arrest it seems like it would make more sense to recommend a piece piece and just put up with being less comfortable and less convenient for the sake of being more secure and more stable in order to carry more weight and make it slightly more difficult for someone to strip you of your duty belt.
Looking at costs between the two they are about the same in USD so I don't know how much shipping and if you could get either belt cheaper or faster.
If your department encourages TEKLoks both belts can easily use those. And both belts are offered in molle. I have only known 2 people who have owned BA belts but both of them absolutely swear to that company as being reliable (one as a simple EDC belt (retired U.S. Marine) and the other as his battle belt (Civ)).
I do love my Kore belt as you could find more comfort when sitting down, after eating by simply adjusting the belt to better fit you throughout a 9-15 hour shift depending on the day. I also had no need for belt keepers as I also used velcro material to secure the tekloks or any other appropriate item to the belt and inner belt pad.
Looking at the release mechanism one would have to hit both releases on the Cobra to try to strip your belt your off of you assuming you didn't use belt keepers and rip the belt off the velcro (2 piece). With the Kore they have to continually hold down on the release that is partially hidden and pull the opposite side of the belt in order to free again and again assuming you aren't using belt keepers (and as a 1 piece). Seems like it would be harder to do remove the belt if it was the Kore belt because they continually have to press the release and guide the belt out back through the mechanism.
Hopefully this makes easier to decide.
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u/BlueAlphaBelts Verified Industry Account 1d ago
Hey! Based on your situation, I'd recommmend our 2" MOLLE Duty Belt Lite. Our 1.75" Battle Belt Lite would also work though.
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u/Polish_AK_Alfa 1d ago
Every time I’ve replaced a blue alpha belt I end up going back to them. Their EDC belts are good too. Highly recommend