When I was offered the opportunity to work with the Black Beard Belts Peacekeeper Gun Belt, my initial impression was similar to some of the comments on Spotter Up Instagram Page. I mean, at first look the belt looks like nothing you would imagine. In the market ruled by hook, loop and cobra, this one definitely stands out. But you must feel this, or it’s coyote sister version – The Warfighter, to truly appreciate the idea and craftsmanship behind it.
The idea is relatively simple. When you’re not happy with what’s out there, you make it yourself. The Peacekeeper uses a ratcheting system to secure the belt, and the cargo it is intended to carry. Cargo for which some have decided that ok is good enough, but maybe were not truly happy. That’s right, the belt is tightened and loosened using a ratchet, not unlike what you might see strapping down Con X box on a truck, but obviously a smaller version, with a lot more attention to detail. More on that later. The belt feels like heavy duty leather, but is actually a polymer material made to withstand the abuse of kydex, in and out holsters, weight and yet still provide comfort. The material is not only wide, it’s thick. So when the belt is tasked with bearing weight, the feel on your waist is minimal. In fact having the belt loaded with a handgun, 2 handgun mags, an AR mag, a fixed blade by Colonel Blades, and a full IFAK, I felt like the weight of the gear was floating off my waist, yet comfortably retained. In addition to high quality belt itself, there is no buckle which would interfere or disrupt the weight distribution. Because the belt loop work in a continuous manner, it seems to hold that weight very more evenly that a traditional belt. On top of that, the look and finish of the Peacekeeper is professional and low key. It work as well with a suit as with casual, don;t bunch my Silkies evening. But what about that buckle?
The M2 ratcheting buckle is a topic on its own. Since its a unique design, it took me a few minutes to get used to the adjustment. More so to loosen the belt, which becomes instinctive after only a few repetitions. The top lever requires either one lift to adjust a notch to relax, or a full lift to completely open the belt. The opposite larger lever within the buckle, is used to ratchet the belt tight. The beauty of the design is two fold. Its quite, no Velcro, or large metal components. And its very fine. Particularly when carrying inside the waist band, but really anytime you need to make an adjustment on most belts, its either open the Velcro working end or skip a few notches.
The Peacekeeper allows you to basically fine tune your comfort without interrupting the weapon, your attire, or your partner who may have fallen asleep after that third helping of tacos. The ratcheting portion on which the adjustment is made run approximately nine inches, and is positioned slightly away from the belt itself. Once adjusted, it is held in place by an elastic loop, similar to a web dominator, but heavier duty. It took me a minute to figure out where I want to position the ratcheting slide, based on which pair of pants I tried and where the belt loops were. All I had to do was move the entire belt slightly to either side to avoid snagging on the belt loop, and it was good to go. We have a couple videos on our the Spotter Up networks to show how the buckle works, which might be better that this entire explanation. The really cool thing is that the adjustments can be made very discretely. A quick look at the buckle might suggest that it would be too visible under a thin layer of clothing, but that isn’t the case. Compared to the anything you might actually hold with the belt, it blends very smoothly with a base layer attire.
I loaded the Peacekeeper more than I or most people would do to a belt, especially for a daily carry. With that, I have to say that it was more comfortable that I expected. No drags or snags, and no droopy pants. Black beard Belts are made in Oklahoma, USA, and are backed by exceptional customer service. Aside from the unique ratcheting designs, they offer the classic tactical gentleman style of pin and hole, with no less heavy duty.
Whichever is your preference, please look at the sizing instructions on the Black Beard Belts page, www.blackbeardbelts.com The peacekeeper lists on the site for $109.99, which if you think about what you ask of your EDC belt, is a reasonable price to hold things secure which must be secure. Bottom line is any serious belt which you would expect to look good and perform, should not come from a department store. The Peacekeeper by Black Beard Belts is one which you can count on for comfort, security, and good looks, and you owe it to yourself to get your hands on one to truly appreciate it. Hey, if you play your cards right and meet that special someone, the right move is only a click away.
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.