For Starters: Which Belt to Get?
In order to make a tactical belt, you'll need a belt base. Let's quickly go over the options:
1. Threaded Belts – Simple and designed to hold up pants. They can carry pouches but tend to shift, and you must reattach gear every time you put them on or take them off.
2. War Belts – Padded for comfort under heavy loads but can be bulky and limit mobility. They can be worn over a jacket without an inner belt but may shift or ride up.
3. Equipment/Battle/Combat Belts – Feature an inner belt that loops through pants and an outer belt that attaches via Velcro. They offer great retention and consistency while maintaining a low profile.
4. "Improved" Equipment/Battle/Combat Belts – Upgraded with PALS slots, now the standard choice for most users.
5. Velcro War Belts – A modern version of war belts using a three-belt system for added stability and comfort with heavy loads.
But before we dig further into this subject if you want quality gear and like our work, please support us by buying over our store!
Some tips for selecting a belt:
- Rigidity – Choose a belt stiff enough to support weight; soft belts cause discomfort.
- Size – Measure your waist where you'll wear the belt. Most belts adjust widely, so avoid cutting too much. If you do, melt the edge to prevent fraying.
- Space – Slimmer users may have less mounting room, but there are ways to maximize it (we’ll cover that later).
- Buckle – Avoid plastic buckles; opt for an AustriAlpin Cobra buckle for durability.
- Ratings – Most belts aren’t rated for rappelling, even with rated Cobra buckles. CTOMS (Canada) is the only known brand making rappel-rated tactical belts.
What Brand to consider?
The USA market is practically saturated with these types of products, but as for European brands you have:
- Direct Action – Our top pick in Europe, offering great quality at a fair price.
- Templar's Gear – Another solid Polish brand.
- 414 Tactical, Frog.Pro & Ginger Tactical Gear – High quality but expensive.
- Black Trident – Overpriced, and some Nylon gear is subpar.
- Tasmanian Tiger & Helikon-Tex – Good value for the price.
- Warrior Assault Systems & Pentagon – We’d avoid these for belts.
- Agilite & Clawgear – Decent, but not our top choice.
Before You Begin: 3 Things You Should Know
There are a couple of things you best know up front:
- Highly Personal – Belt setups vary, even among those in the same field. However, proven concepts can help you start.
- Compromise – No setup is perfect; prioritize what matters most.
- Not Static – Your setup will evolve with experience and new gear, so testing is key.
Setting Up Tactical Gear: The 3 Essential Rules
When setting up tactical gear, we always apply three fundamental rules:
- Easy Access – Everything should be within quick reach.
- Efficiency of Movement – Gear should not hinder your mobility.
- Minimalist Approach – Only carry what you need.
However, for belts, we make an exception. A key lesson we learned from a military CQB instructor is that your hips can comfortably carry more weight than your shoulders. This doesn't mean overloading your belt, but it does mean placing your most-used tools on it—especially if the belt is your primary gear.
Compatibility with Plate Carriers
If you also use a plate carrier, test both setups together. Ensure that drawing your sidearm or accessing gear on your carrier doesn’t interfere with your belt setup.
Essential Gear Categories for Your Belt
Your belt setup should cover four main categories:
- Weapons
- Spare Ammunition
- Medical Equipment
- Tools
If you can't explain why you need a specific pouch or tool, don't add it. And if you're setting up your belt for the first time, don’t immediately secure everything fully—chances are, you’ll need to make adjustments once you've put it on for the first time.
Step 1: Sizing and Positioning Your Belt
Start by adjusting your belt to fit you properly while empty, small adjustments can be made when finished. Decide if you want the buckle centered or offset—some prefer an offset buckle to allow more MOLLE space up front, but we avoid this as it may dig into your stomach and restrict mobility.
Splitting the Belt into Three Sections
- Right Side (3 O’Clock) – Typically where your holster is placed.
- Back (6 O’Clock) – Best suited for a medical pouch.
- Left Side (9 O’Clock) – Primarily for spare magazines.
Step 2: Setting Up the 6 O’Clock (Back Section)
The easiest way to start your setup is with a med pouch at the center of your back, allowing ambidextrous access.
Considerations for Med Pouches:
- Vehicle Use – If you spend long hours in a vehicle, avoid placing anything on your back to prevent discomfort and back issues.
- Low-Profile Design – Use a slim-profile med pouch, like the Direct Action Med Pouch MKIII, which remains flat even when filled and allows for easy removal and reinsertion.
- Avoid Pull-Down Designs – Pulling down on your back is more difficult than it seams, therefore avoid med pouches with this type of design. Especially if they're Velcro-closed this is nearly impossible.
- Tourniquet Carrying – Some med pouches, like the Direct Action Compact Med Pouch, include built-in tourniquet storage.
Quick Tip: Everyone carrying a weapon should carry a tourniquet and know how to use it properly.
Med Pouch Content Essentials:
- Pressure dressings
- Hemostatic bandage
- Chest seals
- Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
- Rescue blanket
- Non-black gloves (to detect fluids)
- Sharpie
- Shears
Quick Tip: Shears often don’t fit in standard med pouches. A great solution is a Velcro-mounted shears pouch attached to the back of your med pouch’s inner pocket.
Step 3: Setting Up the 3 O’Clock (Holster Placement)
For most people, this section holds the holster. Lefties, mirror these instructions.
Choosing a Holster
There are three main holster materials:
- Leather (outdated, not recommended)
- Nylon (decent but lacks retention security)
- Kydex/Thermoplastics (best choice, highest safety)
Most professionals prefer Kydex holsters, which come in two main types:
- Gun-Specific Holsters – Designed for a specific pistol with/without attachments. Safariland is the gold standard here.
- Universal Holsters – Lock onto a specific flashlight but fit multiple gun models. Good examples include the Firefly from Burn Tactical.
Holster Security Levels:
- Level 1 – Retention from friction only (common for universal holsters).
- Level 2+ – Additional security features like hoods or locking mechanisms (preferred for duty use).
Mounting Options:
- Belt Height – Best for concealed carry.
- Mid-Ride – Ideal for fast draws and mobility.
- Low-Ride – Often used in vehicle operations.
- Drop-Leg – Provides clearance but may shift during movement (avoid cheap ones!).
Best Choice: A mid-ride holster with a single strap ensures optimal security and access for most applications.
Quick-Detach Systems
Quick mounting systems allow for easy holster swaps. Popular ones include:
- Safariland QLS (widely used by professionals)
- Blade-Tech Tek Mount (innovative and reliable)
Tourniquet Cases
A tourniquet case can be mounted between your holster and its platform to save space. Good options include Eleven10 Gear and Safariland’s own model.
Step 4: Setting Up the 9 O’Clock (Magazine Placement)
Spare magazines are usually placed here, using open-top pouches for fast reloads.
Types of Mag Pouches:
- Nylon Pouches – Universal fit for various calibers (e.g., Direct Action pouches).
- Kydex Pouches – Gun-specific but allow for canting adjustments.
- Hybrid Pouches – Combine nylon and Kydex (e.g., Esstac, Templars Gear Taco Pouches).
Pro Tip: Avoid elastic pouches unless you need extreme concealment—they don’t hold mags well.
Magazine Orientation:
- Pistol Mags: Most carry rounds facing forward.
- Rifle Mags: Personal preference; we carry rounds facing backward.
For both you can do it with the rounds facing either ways. The only thing that really matters is that it's intuitive for you and that you're effective with it.
Step 5: Adding Additional Gear
Once the essentials are placed, you can consider extra tools:
- Knife
- Taser
- Pepper Spray
- Handheld Flashlight
- Multitool
- Cuffs
- Baton
- Chem Lights
- Radio
- Grenades
- General Utility Pouch
Placement Tips:
- Keep frequently used items easily accessible.
- Avoid stacking gear on top of each other (as much as possible) to reduce snagging risks and maintain mobility is a prone position.
- Use modern stacking solutions for a slicker setup.
Step 6: Testing Your Setup
After you've finished your setup, it is also important to test it. For this you can to the next tests:
- Sprint
- Take a knee
- Go prone
- Sit for an extended period
- Perform burpees
- Conduct dry-fire drills
- Train on the range
Pro Tips From Our Personal Belt Setups
Below are some special takeaways we personally apply to make our setups work:
Direct Action Belt Loops:
- Most Direct Action pouches come with belt loops, allowing them to slide over the belt instead of MOLLE attachment.
- These loops provide a tighter, more consistent hold than regular MOLLE.
- Pouches can be secured using both MOLLE and belt loops, though it's tricky to set up.
- Some operators use zip ties for extra security in extreme conditions.
Direct Action Slick Dump Pouch:
- Mounts on top of another pouch without adding bulk, saving belt space.
- While some question the use of dump pouches on belts (especially in CQB), having the option can be useful.
Professionals can use it for carrying extra items like evidence.
Rear Placement (6 o’clock) & One-Handed Reloads:
- Right-back side setup is inspired by TCCC training.
- One pistol and one rifle mag are placed for easier one-handed reloads in case the support arm is injured.
Direct Action Single Flat Magazine Pouch:
- MOLLE-compatible, can be mounted anywhere.
- Holds an extra magazine, tool or even a grenade without adding bulk.
Hip Panel & Tourniquet Placement:
- Using a Direct Action Hip Panel L allows mounting space underneath the beltline.
- Allows a tourniquet to be carried under mag pouches for example, if the med pouch can't accommodate it.
Direct Action Dump Pouch & Double Usage:
- This dump pouch attaches via MOLLE loops from other pouches, saving valuable belt space.
Final Thoughts
Your belt should be practical, efficient, and tailored to your needs. Test and tweak your setup until it works flawlessly for you. Hopefully, this guide helps you build the most effective tactical belt setup possible!
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