Riggers Belts
You’ll see a lot of different companies offering riggers belts on the market. For those who are unfamiliar with them, these shouldn’t be confused with trouser web belts. Basic trouser web belts are made of nylon webbing and have a simple buckle although some do come with a traditional locking metal roller buckle such as those on the military box-frame buckles. You don’t have to have a rigger’s belt for rappelling if you are going to use a rigger’s harness. The belt adds another layer of safety. However, they’re cool looking belts to have if . Some use riggers belts for work-related matters and others like the ‘cool-guy’ factor the belts give you.
Web Belt, $5.00-$10.00
They come in a variety of colors but can be purchased in the traditional OD Green, Black and Desert Tan. They’re great for wearing with ACU’s, BDu’s etc or blue jeans. But do not use them for tactical tasks! You can walk around town carrying a concealed weapon and light holster tucked under your shirt, but I don’t recommend them for much more than that as the belt can loosen and your pants may sag. Nothing worse than losing your weapon because your pants fell down!
Unless they have some type of hook & loop fastener (such as Velcro, 3M, Duragrip) or a locking mechanism I recommend you don’t carry a holster or pouches on it. It may be too heavy for the task, and awkward when you’re sprinting. If you want to wear them with a standard holster or drop leg-holster, try a riggers belt, duty belt or box-frame buckle with a prong and holes.
Now, if you’re going with a rigger’s belt, this type of belt is very ideal for variety of things such as rappelling, or just for everyday carry ‘cool guy’ looks. The ‘V’ or ‘D’ Ring accepts any carabiner. If you do intend to use it for something like rappelling, for safety reasons, please check the manufacturers specifications to insure your choice of belt meets high standards. Lots of companies out there, like Blackhawk, and S.O.E offer rigger’s belts.
Blackhawk Rigger’s Belt, $25.00-$40.00
Here’s another belt that I use. It meets all military specifications and has a 7000 pound tensile strength. I once wore one of these and had to low crawl for hours through mud, grass and rain. Because I was on my belly, I dragged my gear along and was completely covered in grime. Eventually I hosed down my gear but the hook and loop (Velcro) fastener portion of my belt was covered in lots and lots of tiny, flecks of dried grass and wouldn’t grasp any longer. The only way I could get this out was scrubbing it with a firm, wet, toothbrush to remove the debris. It still holds but not as well as before. Still, an excellent belt for everyday use and takes a beating.
HSGI Cobra Riggers Belt, $40.00-$60.00
If you want to go up in safety, ease of use and all around coolness, try the quick release, high load buckle. I picked up mine from a tactical store that gave 10% off discounts to law enforcement officers and military personnel. There are different offerings on the market and the belts from HSGI and S.O.E. offers models that are specifically sized and adjusted for each end-user. The course syllabus for a school I attended called for a riggers belt. I hadn’t rappelled in years and wanted a sturdy model. This is my selection.
Buckles and adapters
Parachute grade buckles and ‘V’ and ‘D’ rings that meet the general requirements for all commercial hardware per the Parachute Industry Associations PIA-H-7195 specifications. The buckle tie in points must meet Mil-specs. and each component should have a rust resistant finish, and be smooth in order to not cause snags.
V and ‘D’ ring tie-in anchor points which meet Mil-specs. Should have rust resistant finish, and be smooth in order to not cause snags
Webbing should be a standard 1 3/4″ wide, and .080″-.120″ thick and made of a super strong nylon with at least 7000 pounds of tensile strength in order to be used for safety harnesses, tie-downs, slings, cargo nets, restraints, & straps. Lastly, the hook & loop liner should be of a quality that minimizes friction/wear to the belt at the hardware contact points.
- Made in USA
- Life Time Warranty
- Can have added/additional stitching to the webbing to reduce degrading.
Here’s a good close up of a Corbra buckle from Lowy Enterprises
Whatever you choose, make sure you keep your store receipt. Any business worth its salt will allow you to try an item on for fit, issue a refund or give you store credit. Lots of online businesses take things back no questions asked. In the end, you want to find something that might save your life, so make sure it’s dependable!