Essentials for the Discriminating Operator

Tactical gear covers a huge range of products specifically used by those who practice tactics and strategy daily, such as military personnel, law enforcement, public safety officials, hunters, and yes, even those playing air-soft and paintball.  Since the onset of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq the gear market has rapidly grown, particularly “tactical nylon” companies that have produced hundreds of innovations in load-bearing equipment, uniforms, and footwear.

One of the newest companies entering the market is United States Tactical , a small, veteran owned company located in Texas.  I recently received several tactical belts and accessories from the company for evaluation. They have several very unique products that I believe will revolutionize the carry of “first line” tactical gear and weapons; the Banger Battle belt and Hurst Master belt are just two of their “game changing” products.

The Banger Battle belt is the ultimate evolution of the “war” or “battle” belt.  This low-profile battle belt allows the user to carry the “first line” kit to shoot, move, and communicate while maintaining a covert posture.  This is a huge benefit for special reconnaissance, surveillance, and VIP security operations.  The Banger Battle belt wraps dense open-cell foam in laser-cut MOLLE to create a load-bearing add-on for your duty belt that will provide attachment points for all of your pouches, holsters, and other gear.

Technical specifications of the Banger Battle belt:

• Laser-cut MOLLE platform for attaching pouches and accessories
• Superior weight distribution versus duty belt alone
• Multiple belt-attachment configurations
• Dense open-cell foam core
• 100D nylon construction

The Banger Battle Belt works best with United States Tactical belts.  Included with the Banger Battle belt for my evaluation was the Hurst Master belt.  This belt slides right through the Banger Battle belt.  This rock solid belt was built with a heavy-duty COBRA buckle that includes a D-ring attachment point for carabineers and other safety gear.

Technical specifications of the Hurst Master belt:

• 4,000 lb-rated COBRA buckle with built-in stainless steel D-ring
• Rigid reinforced dual-layer 1.75″ nylon webbing
• Fully VELCRO lined for 100% contact to Base Belt (Base Belt not included)

When purchasing a tactical belt there are four key characteristics you want to consider: width, rigidity, materials, and buckle.  The desirable width of the belt should be between 1.25” and 2” thick; the Hurst Master belt is 1.75” of nylon webbing.  The thicker the band, the easier it is to distribute weight on the belt.   This is a key feature of the Banger Battle belt; when paired with the Hurst Master belt the weight is distributed which does several things for the operator.

First, the belt stabilizes and reduces stress on the spine; the belt provides tremendous support to the lumbar region.  Second, the reduced stress on the spine begets better overall performance.  The second key characteristic is rigidity.  The Hurst Master belt by itself is very rigid.  When paired with the Banger Battle belt you add to the overall stiffness of the belt system is a big plus since a rigid belt will assist in a clean draw. The Banger Belt comes in black, Ranger tan and multi-cam colors.

The materials used to construct both of these belts make them “bomb proof.”   Finally, a discriminating shopper must consider the buckle.  Here it’s important to consider the type of closure on the belt.  What type of activities, (mountaineering, search and rescue, parachuting, tactical endeavors, etc.) will the buckle support?   Is the buckle a quick-release, load-bearing buckle designed to work under adverse conditions, so dust, dirt, moisture and saltwater do not adversely affect the buckle?  The Hurst Master belt meets all of these criteria and then some. In summary:

The stainless steel D-ring has the right tie-in anchor points which meet Mil-specs and has a rust resistant finish. It’s smooth in order to not cause snags. The belt made of super strong nylon has a strong hook & loop liner made of a quality that minimizes friction/wear to the belt at the hardware contact points, and proper stitching to the webbing to reduce degrading. The belt is clean looking and the diagonal cut edging on the tongue are little details that make the belt look smart. Available in black, Ranger tan and OD green.

United States Tactical also sent me one of their tactical accessories; a tactical Shooting bag.

Technical Specifications of the Shooting bag:

• Universal design works with most rifles and shotguns
• Enhances stabilization for positive target acquisition
• For use with all shooting surfaces
• Suitable for front or rear shooting rest
• 1″ nylon loop
• 1000D nylon construction

Stability and proper position is very important in the world of precision shooting.  This light but sturdy Shooting bag has the perfect amount of fill (my other bags feel overstuffed).  The fill material is light, compressible, and is the perfect size for the precision shooter.  The bag can be formed into a variety of shapes and heights to accommodate the proper shooting position under a variety of surfaces, especially uneven ground.  The bag can be placed under the butt-stock and slid forward or rearward for elevation adjustment.  In the front, the bag can be used to stabilize the rifle on hard surfaces.  The bag comes in small or large size and multiple colors.  The bottom line is this Shooting bag will help keep the rifle steady and on target through the recoil which will help you make better with more accurate shots.

This is a Veteran owned “All-American” company from Texas producing exceptional and unique products for the discriminating operator.  So if you are in the military, law enforcement, a public safety official, hunter, or one who does air-soft or paintball the Banger Battle belt coupled with the Hurst Master belt are for you. They are….Essential pieces of gear!  Do not let equipment failure be the cause for you or your team to fail. This company looks to create gear that holds up, and I think they are off to a good start. Give them a look.

Material Disclosure

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.