Lightening the load - battle belts.

[ghostwalker]

For some reason I have this addiction to weighing myself down with 10 tonnes lf crap when playing our favourite game. 

First off it was a full British loadout with osprey armour helmet and the works. 

Then I went dpm with an assault vest and/or plc webbing. That weighed a fair bit combined and I found the vest to be less than ideal in layout.

After that I switched up to a warrior plate carrier. I'm not sure of the model/style, it's an older one and even without pouches it weighs a fair bit. 

 So I got to thinking about lightening the load a bit. Sure there's the jump plate carriers but they seem a fair bit on the pricey side. Then I thought about just webbing which is an option as there's a fair bit of real estate for pouches (I'm a mid cap mag addict and usually prefer between 6-8). 

The final thought was a battle belt. Something like the viper one. The thought being, I could get it in od green and use the pouches off my warrior carrier.

I have never used a battlebelt before so my main concern is the viability of one for a mag addict like me. 

Usually i have on my carrier. 

Radio pouch, 8 single mag pouches double stacked. Utility/medic pouch for spare battery, bb reloads etc, 3 pistol mag pouches, holster, 2 grenade pouches,dump bag and a camelback. 

I figured I could trim down to 6 mag pouches in double stack, drop the pistol onto a leg rig. But not sure about the rest. 

What options would you fine folks recommend for something a bit lighter and more agile. 

 

[Samurai]

A battle belt has surprisingly much space for pouches. I wouldn't go for a dropleg for the pistol, those are very uncomfortable when running or crawling.

You can add a very light chest rig - not molle for low profile that could carry the extra mags. Something like this maybe, not worn as a belly rig as on the photo

 

[Dentonboy]

Battle belts work quite well - or at least, they do for me.

Maybe look at double magazine pouches; same amount of real estate used, but can hold two magazines.

I ran a BFG chest rig, a Safariland drop-leg holster and a battle belt yesterday with a Camebak and I didn't feel at all weighed down.

 

[ghostwalker]

Cheers guys. Might look at the viper belts then. Maybe get something in black to tie in with my olive and black load out. 

A chest rig might be an option though having just seen the tmc tf3 vest as used in transformers.....it might provide a different look in the future.  and should combine well with a belt 

 

[AshOnSnow]

I used to go in with a drop leg holster, 4 pistol mags, chest full of mid caps and flashbangs, helmet, the full works. Now I'm transitioning over to a sniper role, I too have been thinking about how I'm going to lighten up and also make it easier to be prone.

I think the 4 pistol mags will have to remain (2 double mag pouches on the left side), luckily the VSR mags are relatively small, and I'll only have 3 of them, so again, a double pistol mag pouch - one for 2 spare mags, the other for a spare mag and speedloader with 100 extra rounds - I think I'd be lucky to be getting through 190 sniper rounds in one game if I play right. An SMG pouch up a harness strap on one side with a couple of thunderflash grenades in it (although I do hate throwing those things), and my 226 on my belt on the right hand side.

I think that's as light as I'm going to get.

 

[Samurai]

I think that's as light as I'm going to get.

I suggest to add a canteen or a pouch with a half liter bottle of water.

 

[AshOnSnow]

I suggest to add a canteen or a pouch with a half liter bottle of water.

I usually just leave a big bottle at the respawn on skirmishes.

 

[Mike1971]

Get a camelback to carry water, 2litre at most, either clip it to your rig or wear it as a back pack.

i have one on my osprey MK IVA and another behind the side pouch of my Bergen.

 

[ghostwalker]

I have one I use with my warrior system and also a dpm one I use on my old British vest. 

 

[RR01]

If you are going to put a load of gear on a battle belt then add a yolk to it to take the weight off your hips, as too much weight can have the belt slipping down around your legs if you are running.

 

[Aunty Pasty]

I considered a battle belt at one point but ended up getting a lightweight chest rig instead. Also it makes me look slimmer.   I also paired it with a drop leg holster which I hated straight away and ended up sending it back. I now use a Fobus plastic hip holster If you haven't used one before it could be a case of try before you buy.

 

[GemsHD]

I run a simple battlebelt also a midcap madman. I use an MP5 so the mag space I need isn't much compared to an M4 but what I found is running a drop leg holster with 2 pistol mag slots works well and on my other leg I will have a drop leg for 4 MP5 mags, this leaves my belt free for another 4 MP5 Mags, a first aid pouch, a dump pouch, 1 grenade pouch and a smallish utility pouch and I clip my radio pouch onto the suspenders that are on them leaving me nice and light for running around