As we’ve discussed before, when it comes to your tactical needs, there are so many options out there. The industry has been flooded with products (both good and bad) that will have your head spinning when it comes to choosing what is best for you. Sometimes it’s hard to sift through everything on the market to finally find the quality items you’re looking for. But when you do, life seems to get a little bit easier. For this review we will be going over a very simple, but important piece of gear: the tactical belt. Like everything else, there are many options and brands out there that do provide exceptional belts. The versions range from battle belts to riggers belts, duty belts, etc.  that also come in different heights and thicknesses, so you first need to figure out what your needs are.

Recently, I had the opportunity to use the Operator Belt (Cobra IDR 1.75”) from High Speed Gear. Now, if you’re not familiar with HSG, they are an amazing company that has been providing high quality, American made gear for the past two decades that has been driven by operational experience. This Operator Belt is a two system belt that gives you two different setup options, such as their micro grip panel inner belt that’s designed to be worn right over your clothing and offers slip resistance for minimal movement while you are running and gunning, or a Velcro inner belt that goes on through the belt loops of your pants and securely sticks to the inside of the Operator belt itself.

For me personally, I went with the Velcro inner belt. I enjoy having the ability to utilize the inner belt as a functioning part of holding up my pants. Then, donning the outer belt, it easily sticks back onto the Velcro. The only downside to this option is getting used to the best way of donning the belt so that it sticks where you need it to without having to readjust. It took some good repetitions, but it quickly becomes muscle memory. Once it was on, it has a solid comfortable feel and I never had to worry about any shifting or movement. Obviously while you are operating, it’s extremely important that your holsters and pouches stay where you expect them to be.

The exterior of the belt has some pretty remarkable features such as five rows of lock-stitched bonded 138 nylon thread, military grade Type 13 nylon webbing, and of course 1.5” MOLLE webbing that runs pretty much the entire length of the belt for your holsters and pouches. It also gives you the option of attaching belt mounted pouches as well. If you check out High Speed Gear’s website, you will find endless amounts of high-quality accessories to help you outfit your Operator Belt to perfect your shooter needs.

As far as sizing, the Operator Belt is offered in a Small to 2XL range depending on your waist. A word to the wise, when deciding on which will best fit you, make sure to add an extra inch or two as this is made to fit over your clothing. This was luckily brought to my attention before ordering which would have left me with a belt that was a little too small for my waist. You are offered 5 different options as well, including Black, Multicam, Coyote Brown, OD Green and Wolf Grey. Here comes one of the most important questions: how much does it cost? The Operator Belt can be found on High Speed Gear’s website for $198.00, which can be pretty steep for a lot of people, but a competitive price compared to other brands. For everything that you get out of this belt, it is one of the best options out there.

Overall, I feel that High Speed Gear’s Operator Belt is a high-quality product that is well worth the purchase, and remains an essential part of my tactical gear. This is a streamline piece of equipment that fully tends to your tactical needs. Whether you’re active duty military, LE or a competitive shooter, I believe that this belt is a perfect fit for your profession. A big thank you to High Speed Gear for allowing me to test out the features and capabilities of this amazing product.

Style: 5 out of 5 stars

Durability: 5 out of 5 stars

Function: 5 out of 5 stars

Cost: 4 out of 5 stars

Comfort: 5 out of 5 stars

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.