PMCI - February 2017

pmcimagazine.com
TAC GEAR - BATTLE BELTS
BATTLE BELTS
In our Special report this issue we look at the "Soldiers Load"; many readers will have grown up
with humble webbing or LBE, and "belt kit" is still a fundamental part of what we all carry. Andy
takes a look at options we have today in the form of the "Battle Belt".
No matter how much kit you carry into an
operational scenario, there is never enough
room to store it all on your person. Loading up
your combat vest with extra ammo, grenades,
radio communications, mission specific tools,
food, water, orders and the likes, soon fills up
all the pockets and pouches you have. Yes we
can pile on kit wherever the MOLLE sits, but do
you really want to hit the deck with a shed load of kit on the
front of your plate carrier when the lead starts coming your way?
There is an easy solution to this load baring problem.
Battle belts or War belts have been around for many years
now in the form of combat webbing sets. Normally comprising
of a belt, yoke or suspenders and an array of pouches, these
early battle belts have proved their worth by army’s around
the globe. The modern battle belt is a far better improvement
on the bog standard set of issue webbing. Today’s battle belts
are usually of a MOLLE design, making it far easier for the
wearer to customise the belt for their intended use. Designs
of the battle belt vary from manufacturer to manufacturer,
but most now use the ever popular MOLLE system. The MOLLE
system (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) uses
several rows of webbing strips sewn onto the belt or pad,
enabling the pouches to be added to the belt by weaving the
straps on the rear of the pouch onto the belt.
MOLLE can be found on almost every piece of military
load carrying platform from belts to vests to backpacks. The
MOLLE pouches are compatible with all other MOLLE systems
regardless of manufacturer, making them one of the most
versatile pieces of kit available today for the individual
operator. This simple design allows the user to weave straps
on the back of the pouches in and out of the MOLLE attached
to the garment. This is akin to stitching the pouch to the
garment yet easy to remove and replace at any time.
The latest trend in MOLLE systems is a laser cut fabric
that negates the need for strips of webbing to be sewn onto
the pad itself. This, the manufacturers say, is a stronger and
cheaper way of manufacturing the MOLLE system and is
compatible with all existing MOLLE pouches. For me I have
no issues with the old MOLLE system and live by the saying
‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it’. I have tried the laser cut system
and find although it’s lighter, it’s also a bugger to thread and
replace pouches, also at the time of writing this article there
wasn’t many laser cur MOLLE battle belts on the market. I
found that the traditional MOLLE system to be better, but
that’s my own personal opinion.
26