Duty Belt - Plastic buckle question

[Barang]

hey guys, i'm getting ready for inevitable battle against the forces of evil! kidding

i have no experience with this so asking to find out if it's worth buying or go with metal one. i'm cheap so i always start with $24 but if it works and durable enough, then i'm find with it.

and what is inner loop?

https://www.highspeedgear.com/hsgi/31DB-31DB.html

if not, then i'd move on to the next level.

https://www.highspeedgear.com/hsgi/31DBC-31DBC.html

https://www.highspeedgear.com/hsgi/31ID-31ID.html

[Lowemont]

Ive got 2 duty belts with plastic buckles, they hold up well enough for range use. With the second belt you linked, since its adjustable with the velcro loops, you can replace the buckle since its not stitched in. I upgraded an Uncle Mikes duty belt with a metal Cobra buckle when i found them on sale at Mil Spec Monkey.

I beleive the inner belt you mentioned is a simple liner you can lace through your belt loops which has a velcro liner to grab the duty belt inner and prevent sliding.

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

[FeuerFrei]

I've been using a Uncle Mikes duty belt w/plastic buckle for a lot of years now and still snaps closed (very secure) and stays that way. Buckle has the center button lock.

I'm a cheap bastige too. Paid <$20 for it.

[L84CABO]

I didn't see where it said "inner loop," but duty belts are usually a two belt system. The inner belt gets woven through your belt loops like normal and usually has the "loop" side of velcro on it. The outer belt usually has the "hook" side of velcro on it to attach to the inner belt so the system doesn't move and shift.

Are you looking for a true duty belt or are you looking for a general range belt? Duty belts are typically 2 inches wide which means that whatever you're going to hang off of it has to have a two inch belt loop/mount. Sometimes 2 inch mounts can be hard to find...or maybe that's just my luck. But also most EDC belts are 1.5" wide which means your stuff is going to move around a bit if you ever plan to mount, say a holster, onto your regular belt. Personally, I try to stay with a 1.75" range belt as there's less "slop" if I ever want to mount stuff onto a regular belt. But this is all very personal. YMMV.

The other thing about a duty belt like this is that you need some type of "keeper" to keep the stuff you mount to it from sliding along the belt. This could be an actual keeper (a velcro strip that wraps around the belt to prevent stuff from sliding) or velcro on your actual mount to lock into the velcro on the under side of the duty belt (assuming it has velcro).

Do also note that many people are going to the newer style of range/duty belts like the one linked below. If you zoom in on this belt, you will notice that there are two rows of molle type webbing sewn on the outer belt. This enables you to mount gear through the molle so that it stays in place and doesn't shift on you. But this is obviously a much more expensive belt.

https://www.bluealphabelts.com/product/molle-1-75-double-belt-rig/

Lastly, to the issue of the plastic buckle. If this is going to be strictly a range belt, I might be ok with a plastic buckle. But if this is going to be an actual duty belt or a belt that might end up in a SHTF type scenario, I'd want a Cobra buckle over plastic. Good belts with cobra buckles aren't cheap though. But a good one that you take care should last a good five years at least.

[Barang]

thank you all. now i know a little bit more about duty belt.

this is will be for range use only. i'd like to be able to put it on and off with the speed of t a button or tabs. although, the temptation to go with more expensive buckle for shtf is another consideration now that it was brought up. maybe buy two, one of each.

i'm giddy looking at the battle belt stock photos. if i get one (have no use for it now) you think my wife would go gaga! when i put it on?

[hermosabeach]

If you want a solid buckle- get a cobra buckle....

Inner stay with your pants... need to sit down and drop kids off at the pool- the outer belt can be peeled off

[hermosabeach]

here is the cobra- both ears need to be pushed to release the buckle... press one and release it- it locks back in place

https://www.highspeedgear.com/hsgi/31CFV-31CFV.html

[Barang]

^^^ yeah! the urge to get a cobra buckle is getting stronger.

[adamjay]

Bro, buy once, cry once. A good cobra buckle will far outlast plastic, I’d wager. The cobra buckle is much more user friendly/faster and lower profile, in my experience. A couple years down the road, you won’t even remember the extra cost. But you will smile every time it goes “click”.

So worth it. Just an opinion from a casual user.

[Barang]

^^^ okay then, one plastic for the range and cobra for shtf.

thank you all.