A battle belt distributes weight much more evenly than traditional gun belts or riggers belts. It allows you to transfer more of your first-line kit to your belt and off of your vest. When properly adjusted, the weight is evenly distributed onto the hips, much in the manner of a backpack waist belt. Another reason for running a battle belt is its versatility. PALS webbing allows the plethora of MOLLE pouches to be attached for optimal mission configurability.

VTAC Battle Belt

The Viking Tactics® (VTAC®) Battle Belt was designed by retired US Army Sergeant Major Kyle E. Lamb, Founder and Director of Viking Tactics, Inc., along with now-retired Sergeant Major Dan Brokos who was still serving at the time. SGM Lamb and SGM Brokos brought their decades of real-world experience to the design of the VTAC Battle Belt.

SGM Lamb spent 21 years in the US Army, most of it in Special Mission Units, including the Army’s premier Special Mission Unit, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (1st SFOD-D), commonly known as Delta Force. SGM Lamb participated in combat operations around the globe, including Mogadishu, Somalia (Black Hawk Down incident), served numerous tours in Iraq and Bosnia, and is a highly sought-after military and law enforcement trainer. If he puts the VTAC name on a product, you know it’s absolutely top notch.

SGM Brokos is a retired US Army Special Forces Sergeant Major who, in addition to his many years of SOF operational experience, served as the NCOIC of Fort Bragg’s Range 37, home of the Army Special Forces Close Quarters Combat Course and Special Forces Sniper Course. SGM Brokos spent 26 years in the Army, including 21 years in Special Forces. SGM Brokos is Founder and CEO of Lead Faucet Tactical (LFT) and, as is the case with SGM Lamb,  a highly sought-after military and law enforcement trainer.

The VTAC Battle Belt is made of 500D nylon with padded, non-slip spacer mesh for comfort and breathability. It’s wide cut and features an egronomic shape and a six-inch high-density plastic insert that reinforces the belt. It’s lightweight, weighting in at six ounces.

There are four suspender D-rings for optional use with a harness. The VTAC Battle Belt can be worn with an H- or X-harness (such as the excellent VTAC Combat Suspenders), tactical vest, chest rig, plate or armor carrier, or even as a waist belt for a backpack. It can also be worn alone.

Weaving slots are located every three inches across the PALS. For greater versatility, it retains the capability to use normal belt mounted accessories. Holsters and accessories don’t need to be MOLLE-specific. Many other battle belts lack this capability. The VTAC Battle Belt is quickly and easily modified as the mission dictates by adding or removing pouches and accessories.

As is the norm with battle belts, the VTAC Battle Belt doesn’t have a closure and must be worn with an inner belt. Although the VTAC Battle Belt can be used with any inner belt of your choice, it’s sized to go together with the VTAC Cobra Belt®.

The VTAC Battle Belt has an elastic loop that accepts a belt up to 2.25 inches wide. A smaller, non-elastic loop is below so when you run a VTAC Cobra Belt or similar width belts though it the Battle Belt doesn’t slide back and forth.

VTAC Cobra Belt

The VTAC Cobra Belt operates as a back-up safety harness that can be employed for air-frame tie-ins, roping off situations, and for emergency rappelling. Of course, no riggers belt, including the Cobra Belt, is recommended to be used as a standalone safety harness. It should be employed with a tactical rapelling harness.

The VTAC Cobra Belt features the patented AustriAlpin® Cobra™ quick-release buckle system. Designed for mountaineering, the Cobra Buckle is the only quick-release buckle that won’t open under a load. The Cobra Buckle is machined from the highest quality 7075 aluminum alloy and features solid brass and stainless steel release mechanisms. The Cobra Buckle has an 18kN (4,000 lbs) rating.

The VTAC Cobra Belt is constructed of two layers of Mil-Spec 1.75-inch Type 13 webbing rated for 7,000 pounds. The two layers are sewn together with bonded 138 nylon thread stitching for the entire length. They’re also laminated with an industrial-strength adhesive for additional rigidity and stiffness. The VTAC Cobra Belt is stiff enough for support while still being flexible enough for comfort.

The VTAC Battle Belt and VTAC Cobra Belt are designed to work together as a system. The VTAC Battle Belt / Cobra Belt system is exceptionally comfortable, even when fully kitted out and worn for extended periods.

In Conclusion

Although there are a lot of battle belts on the market from which to choose, the VTAC Battle Belt and VTAC Combat Belt excel in both all-around utility and comfort. They have been exceptionally well thought out. The workmanship and quality of construction of the VTAC Battle Belt and VTAC Cobra Belt are absolutely first rate

The VTAC Battle Belt has an MSRP of $119.99 (XXXL and XXXXL sizes $134.99). It’s available in black, coyote brown, OD green and MultiCam®. The VTAC Cobra Belt has an MSRP of $69.99 (XXXL and XXXXL sizes $79.99). It’s available in black and coyote brown. The VTAC website includes helpful sizing information. The VTAC Battle Belt and VTAC Combat Belt are made in the USA. GSA Contract: GS 07F-9236S.

A licensed version of the VTAC Battle Belt is available from 5.11 Tactical. Designed in conjunction with SGM Lamb, the 5.11 Tactical VTAC Combat Belt has a MSRP of $74.99.  It’s available in black and Sandstone. The 5.11 Tactical VTAC Combat Belt lacks some of the features of the VTAC Battle Belt, such as the suspender D-rings. It’s imported.

Material Disclosure

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer 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.

Photos courtesy VTAC and 5.11 Tactical.