Duty Belt setup

[CAL]

This phase of the academy is the 'tactical' phase - handcuffing, ass kicking, etc. As such we are now wearing our duty belts with the trimmings. I'm putting my shit together and it's pissing me the hell off. I am trying to figure out how the hell it is all going to fit and keep my back area clear. Here's what I've got going clockwise from the buckle:

Hinged cuffs/case
OC case
*Keeper*
Holster
*Keeper*
Chained cuffs/case
*Keeper*
***Back Clear***
*Keeper*
Radio holder
Asp/holder
Surefire/holder
*Keeper*
Double mag pouch (vertical)

My shit is jam packed and I'm not even carrying a taser on this rig. Any advice? How do you have your duty belt setup (pics would be awesome)?

[Feet]

I am too lazy to get a photo of mine but our policy changed which made me add my ASP again (I had removed it 2 years ago).
Keep in mind Comrade CAL, you do not even have a Taser mounted on that batbelt!
Welcome to our world.
I feel bad for the skinny guys with less belt to put all their shiznit on.

My dept issued some improved Bianchi Acumold belts now. My Safariland was worn the hell out and I was going to pick up some new shit but I decided to get the free stuff from my dept and give it a try. I am liking it so far.

From buckle clockwise(same as yours):

Keeper (with car key slot which is where I keep my patrol car key)
Gun Holster
26" baton with holder
Double cuff holder (snap top)
Belt keeper (now at the 6 oclock position)
Backup flashlight/holder
Radio holder
X26 Taser with Blade Tech holster
OC with case
Belt keeper
Double mag pouch (I like mine horizontal thanks to too much gut)


My logic for my placement is to TRY to keep stuff away from my spine.
My baton is on my right because I prefer right handed swinging.
My OC is on the left because I can spray left handed and use my right for punch/defense.
My Taser is on the left because of dept policy (opposite of gun side). I can shoot my Taser well even on the run.

Overall it is hard to keep stuff away from your spine. You may try the double mag pouches to see if they are your liking. I never had it until the dept gave it to me and it works well for what I need.
Since I do not work nights anymore, I do not keep my flashlight ring (for the big light) on my belt.
No matter what you do, you gear will be heavy and a pain in the ass. I think it took me about a year until I figured out where I wanted things to minimize the discomfort and pain. I have never met any officer who said the belt never bothered them. It sucks, plain and simple.

In my dept we all carry things a little different, depending on our frame and preferences. There is no one RIGHT way to carry that shit.

[DD78]

You've got at least one too many keepers in your setup. Max 4. Anything more is excess.

Clockwise (my right from the buckle) I have.

OC
Link Cuffs
*keeper* (w/ cuff key hanging from it)
Holster
*keeper*
Thin latex glove pouch
(back clear)
*keeper*
Hinge cuff case
Streamlight holder
Radio
Taser X26 Holster crossdraw (this is where my baton went before the Taser)
*keeper*
Double Mag Pouch vertical

And I still have a little space with a 34" waist. Are you using double wide keepers? The thinner the better. The key to the whole thing is this...

One set of cuffs on each side so I can access a pair with either hand.
Radio is on my non-firing side to keep it clear of shouldered weapons

Shit can touch, that's ok. As long as you can get to it.

[CAL]

I am required to have 5 keepers in the academy and they are the normal size (not double wide).

[Broke Hoss]

I went to the Bianchi Accumold a couple of years ago, after a back injury, for weight reduction (I changed handguns as well) and love it. The only thing is I actually lost a couple of inches space because the way the belt folds back on either side of the buckle.
http://www.texascops.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=4&pictureid=15
Clockwise from the buckle:
MVR mic-not in picture
OC
Silent Key Ring Holder
Blackhawk Holster
Keeper-hides a cuff key-not in pic
ASP
Open top cuff case-Hinged cuffs
about 6" open space
Open top cuff case-Link cuffs
Flashlight-Sreamlight-Stinger
Radio
Keeper-not in pic
Double mag case-Vertical
Cellphone-not in pic

The cellphone & MVR mic actually clip on in the space where the belt is doubled over on either side of the buckle to attach it. They have a Sam Browne style now that I wish I had both for look & function.

& I'm still figgering on where the frags that FEET's giving me will go.

[Reno911]

Since I do not work nights anymore, I do not keep my flashlight ring (for the big light) on my belt.

You gettin soft? Or do you like kissin the Admin in the morning???:WTF:

[DD78]

I am required to have 5 keepers in the academy and they are the normal size (not double wide).

Well that's fucking stupid. You can tell them I said so. :nana:

[Broke Hoss]

Well that's fucking stupid. You can tell them I said so. :nana:



:word:

[Feet]

Since I do not work nights anymore, I do not keep my flashlight ring (for the big light) on my belt.

You gettin soft? Or do you like kissin the Admin in the morning???:WTF:

Fuck that big ring. You nightcrawlers can keep that nonsense. I rarely carry my big light anymore, just my little Surefire Z2 on my belt. If my light runs out I just use the muzzle flash of my .45 ACP to light up a scene.
I figure the 50 rounds I carry will give me a minute or so of good emergency lighting.:freak:

Oh yeah CAL, 5 keepers is regoddamndiculous. If you cannot retain your belt with 3 or 4, you are fucked anyways. I use 3 myself since this new duty belt and uniform belt both have velcro.

[Gil Strickland]

Your entire back does not need to be clear. Most important area is the center of your back. If you were to fall with anything in the middle of your back you would be a hurting puppy. Try to keep all your weapons on the same side as well. Example: OC, gun, baton, ETC. . Radio, flashlight, mags, misc shit on the other. I carry my cuffs in the back, however they are no where near the center of my back.

[CAL]

I still have stuff by my kidneys, I meant my spinal cord area.

[AggiePhil]

If you REALLY need to save space on your belt, there are several ways to do it. I'm currently utilizing some of these ways to streamline my setup. Here are some of them:

• Use a belt with a plastic buckle. The big thing this will do is remove the need to be able to tuck excess belt in under the pouches on one side of your buckle. In short, you'll be able to run pouches right up to each side of the buckle.
• Use a double cuff pouch. Though bulky, if you need the space, you need the space.
• Use the new slimline Safariland magazine pouches. These put 2-3 pistol mags in a "bullets out" orientation, which means that the magazines take up less width on the belt.
• Use the new Safariland combo pistol mag/handcuff pouch. This will eliminate one of your handcuff pouches.
• Use a handcuff strap instead of a handcuff pouch. Though some people dislike em, handcuff straps take up a lot less room on the belt.
• Move items such as your cellphone, multi-tool, MVS mic, and digital voice recorder off your belt. These are not items that need to be immediately accessible 100% of the time (like your weapons), so put them in other places. I carry my cellphone in my shirt pocket, wear my digital voice recorder on a lanyard around my neck, and am considering moving my MVS mic either to my right epaulette or into a custom elastic pouch mounted to the front of my vest (under my shirt).

By doing some of these things, I now have a LOT more room than before and my back is actually almost 100% clear. Once we all get TASERs, I'll move the MVS mic off my belt and will have room for the TASER to the left of my belt buckle (and to the right of my baton).

You can also buy the Hindi Belt System DVD (http://www.batoncap.com), which is a concise, if common sense, approach to laying out your duty belt. Hope that helps!

[Reno911]

I agree with the double cuff pouch. I used to have two singles, but found that I always grab the suspects hands for handcuffing with my left (weak) hand. Keeps my right open for a strike or to grab a tool. After handcufing the first guy I would grab the 2nd with my left (natural tendency) and have to try to reach around my back to get the other pair or switch hands. Since I changed to a double pouch I don't have to think about it and I just go hands on knowing that I'll have the cuffs where I need them.

[DD78]

I agree with the double cuff pouch. I used to have two singles, but found that I always grab the suspects hands for handcuffing with my left (weak) hand. Keeps my right open for a strike or to grab a tool. After handcufing the first guy I would grab the 2nd with my left (natural tendency) and have to try to reach around my back to get the other pair or switch hands. Since I changed to a double pouch I don't have to think about it and I just go hands on knowing that I'll have the cuffs where I need them.

The one thing I don't like about this is that if you get into a situation where you fight and your right hand becomes the control hand...what do you do?

I have a 34 waist and keep a double mag pouch, two single cuff cases, a glove pouch, OC, double magazine, cuff key, portable radio, Taser, and flashlight on my belt. My back is clear with four keepers. What else do you need? I have two jack pockets on my pants for my knife and cell phone.

And I have a traditional silver Sam Browne buckle. The excess belt tucks behind the mag pouch.

[Maverick1701]

From my buckle going to the right (clockwise) also on a 34-36in waist
I have:
OC
cuffs
empty space
keeper
holster
keeper
small flashlight/holder
empty space
keeper
golve holder
keeper
empty space
2nd cuff case
radio
asp keeper
mag holder