belt weight

[rockblaster]

I am not LEO but have been curious about how much weight the average patrolman carries on his or her waist while on duty. Also have you had back problems from it. Thanks for any responses.

[sealocan]

I grew up with some carpenters and they always said older carpenters walk differently after wearing their belt (hammer, nails and ruler...etc..) their entire life.

so I'm interested also, carpenters wear a belt kind of loose and hanging where patrolman wear them tight.
I wonder if it makes any difference.

[barca101]

My belt ways approx. 20-25 lbs, excluding the vest I wear under the uniform.

[PineStreet231]

Weight in street cloths with off duty pistol is 22 pounds lighter than full gear. I would guess belt is 12-15 pounds.

[Axewound]

Tactical tailor suspenders help a lot.

[Petro6golf]

I wear a tac vest and belt. Not sure the weight but its pretty heavy when you add a straight baton, ammo, paperwork, knife, gun etc. Maybe 30ish lbs.

When I wore only a duty belt my lower back was aching every day. So bad that i would nearly lock up and needed frequent chiropractor trips. Much better now.

[Spyder]

Deadlifts do wonders for my back. I haven't had a single day that it's been aching since getting back in to doing them a few times a week.

I do, if my belt is too tight, get a funny numb-nut, which if I don't do anything about it turns into a really painful swollen left nut. Rearranging taser and TEB have helped that tremendously, as has loosening my belt a quarter inch or so...but now my damn shirt won't stay tucked in, with the belt a little looser.

[fullrearview]

About 30 pounds extra weight, uniform and all.

[WnP]

My neighbors friend is with LAPD and shes out on temp. Disability because of the weight of her belt.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

[uspcompact45]

The previous department I was with allowed outer carriers and it did wonders for me at least in terms of distributing the weight. The current department does not allow outer carriers (for current assignment) and having all that weight on my belt is definately noticeable. I prefer having an outer carrier any day of the week but that is dictated by department policy.

[oddjob]

With vest, radio, gun, ammo & etc and everything I was 25 lbs over. I would guess at least 20 lbs on the belt.

[TRICKSTER]

When I was working, I had problems with muscle spasms in my lower back several times a year. It all stopped a few months after I retired. 3 years and the spasms haven't returned. 3 years of not wearing a duty belt.

[WyattandDoc]

When I was working, I had problems with muscle spasms in my lower back several times a year. It all stopped a few months after I retired. 3 years and the spasms haven't returned. 3 years of not wearing a duty belt.

You better knock on wood!!

Mine is 25 pounds. I work out A TON to avoid the back problems. Been on the street for 24 of my 27 years and have had a few really bad bouts with spasms.

When I start feeling sorry for myself, I just go on YouTube and watch some of the military combat videos.

[not-fishing]

Apples and Oranges.

I was a Carpenter for a couple of decades. My belt ran between 25 to 40 lbs, I did use suspenders after a while.

We wore our belt tight - so it didn't slide off.

Up and down ladders, jumping trenches, walking roofs, walking tops of walls, climbing scaffolding and wall forms.

It wasn't the belt, it was the all bending over to frame, nail roof sheeting, setting forms, drag & finish concrete, lift walls and beams.

Still for LEO I can see it as different and worse in ways. We didn't wear a vest or sit at all.

Now after sitting for a couple of decades at a plans desk & computer my belly is big and back get's me often.

Working as a Carpenter you didn't sit at all and got plenty of exercise.

[Rockit]

Just weighed mine...27.5 lbs
my left foot has a numb spot in it during my work week.