Best Duty Belts Reviews

Police officers need to have quite a few items on themselves while on patrol or when called in. It’s not like they are going to keep all that equipment in their pockets. There’s the gun, the ammunition, the handcuffs, the baton, pepper spray, and other essentials. They are quite heavy, which is why they need a belt that can accommodate all of that and more.

 
Bianchi Accumold 7200 Black Nylon Duty Belt
Ballistic weave fabric outer and loop lining, with foam center
Two layers of closed-cell foam for support and comfort
40" (102 cm) - 46" (117 cm) Large
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Recommended
First To Act Tactical Black Law Enforcement Duty Belt
2" Wide belt, adjustable 35-54 inches
Modular versatile design for police, security, tactical law enforcement
Secure but quick release buckle
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5.11 Tactical Sierra Bravo Duty Belt Kit
includes the main belt, the inner belt and four individual keepers
constructed from super-resilient high-tensile 1680D nylon
waterproof back coating that protects against rain and moisture
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Duty belts are the best choice for a law enforcement officer to keep all of his or her equipment at arm’s reach at all times. In case of emergency, you can’t just go to the car’s trunk to gear up. You need all that on you. And here is where the duty belt intervenes. It can hold anything you need.

A duty belt is usually worn along with an inner belt. The inner belt is like a regular belt, it goes through the loops of your pants, but wearing it is not a must. There are a lot of officers who prefer to wear the outer belt only. Of course, the inner belt has the purpose of keeping the duty belt fixated to your waist, but as I said, nobody is required to wear it. As long as the belt is secured to your middle, you can easily go without.

Types of duty belts

Not all belts are the same. There are several finishes you can choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.The width is standard, 2 ¼ inches, but when you purchase your duty belt, you need to choose the waist size. You don’t have to consider the size depending on whether you wear the inner belt or not because the manufacturers already have taken that aspect into consideration. All you need to think of is the waist size.

As far as the finish is concerned, many departments have their special requirements. When it comes to leather duty belts, basketweave and plain leather are preferred. They tend to last longer than the nylon counterpart, two or even three times, depending on the manufacturer. However, they are a bit more demanding, so to speak. The prices for leather duty belts are higher than the ones for nylon, and they require extra care, just like all leather products do.

High gloss belts are a thing of the past, but you can still spot them on honor guard units and highway patrol units. These too require some extra care because you need to prevent smearing and tarnishing on the finish.

The most commonly used duty belts are those made of nylon. They are not as expensive as the other two types, and they require little maintenance. Also, nylon is less rigid than leather, which means that officers wearing it are less prone to back pain and discomfort.

I suppose you can see the difference between all of the belts above. The maintenance is different, the comfort is at a higher level for nylon duty belts, but when it comes to quality, nothing beats leather. A nylon duty belt will last two or three years, but a belt made of leather can last for a decade, provided that you take care of it correctly.

Commonly used duty belt accessories

Not all law enforcement officers need the same accessories, which is why few manufacturer sell all of them with the duty belt. You have the option of choosing them yourself, according to your needs. However, there are a few accessories that are most common, and they are as follows.

  • ü The keepers – they are a must because they hold the duty belt safely secured to your inner belt. The inner belt doesn’t have to be the one that comes with the duty belt. Your regular belts are enough.
  • ü Handcuffpouch–there is more than one way to carry your handcuffs. You can either go for a closed-top, an open-top, a simple strap, or an investigator handcuff pouch. You can also choose from the single or the double pouch. Either way, you need to place the pouch somewhere where you can easily reach when you are trying to arrest someone.
  • ü Radio pouch – not all officers wear their radio on their shoulders. As far as design goes, there are two of them. First is L-shaped and the radiosimply rests on it while a loop around the radio secures it in place. The second consists of two pieces, a radio pouch, and a swivel. The radio sits in the pouch with a loop over the top, and then the pouch is attached to the belt by a swivel. The second design is more convenient to use than the L-shaped.
  • ü Baton holder or ring – no matter what type of baton you are required to wear, it always has to be secured to your waist. A baton holder is usually used for expandable batons, while the rings are more suitable for securing straight stick batons.
  • ü Pepper spray pouch – they are available in both open-top and closed-top, but what you have to consider is the size. The MK-3 is smaller than the MK-4, so keep that in mind when you have to buy this accessory.
  • ü Gun holster – if you are carrying a gun, then you need a holster that needs to be secured to your belt. As far as gun holsters go, you have plenty of designs to choose from. The model depends on the firearm and your preferences.
  • ü Magazine pouches – as long as you carry a gun, extra ammunition is required. In case of a shooting, you can’t rely only on the bullets you have in your gun. They usually come in three sizes: single, double, and triple. The most commonly used is the double magazine pouch. Since there are so many gun magazines, pouches are different too.The design also differs, and there are horizontal or vertical pouches. With the except of the size (which is requires by the gun magazine), the rest is up to your preferences.
  • ü Taser holster – it is usually placed on the opposite side of the firearm, also called the weak side.
  • ü Flashlight pouch or ring – these too are available in open-top and closed-top. The latter is the favorite because it prevents you from accidentally turning it on.  There are a few standard flashlights in law enforcement, and the manufacturers took into consideration all designs and sizes.

These are just a few of the accessories a law enforcement officer must wear around his or her waist. However, there are others like glove pouches, key rings, and first-aid kit pouches. An officer cannot wear all of them at once. It depends on your precise job. The point is that a duty belt can easily accommodate everything you need.

What are the best duty belts?

Nobody can actually tell which one is the best, but what I can tell you is that there are plenty of models on the market that can provide everything you need. The most reliable source of information when it comes to this sort of thing is customers’ reviews. They are the most qualified people to tell if you a particular product is what you expect it to be or not. After all, they have already bought and tested the products you are interested in.

Bianchi Accumold 7200 Black Nylon Duty Belt

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The Bianchi is very popular these days, and rightfully so. Few products on the market can provide such amazing quality and comfort. You can find this model in several sizes, depending on the size of your waistline. The width of the belt is standard, 2.25 inches. As the title suggests, the Bianchi duty belt is made of nylon and has a black finish. It requires very little maintenance and will not put pressure on your back.

When you purchase this product, keep in mind that what yousee is what you get. If you need an inner belt and other accessories, you are going to have to order them separately. The outer belt is all you will receive. The manufacturer provides this option because it’s a known fact that you may not need the whole package.

The design is not something that you see on many duty belts. The ballistic weave fabric outer and loop lining with the foam center and the stiffener sandwiched between make this belt unique. The belt has two layers of closed-cell foam for support.  It will take care of your back and overall comfort.

The polymer buckle is highly secure. It features a tri-release, shatter-resistant mechanism that only you will be able to unbuckle. There is absolutely no chance for it to fall from your waist accidentally. The buckle, together with the keeper, will safely secure the duty belt to your waist. Click here to read more reviews and buy on Amazon.

First To Act Tactical Black Law Enforcement Duty Belt

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This duty belt features a modular equipment system that is suitable for anyone from mall police to tactical force officers. It is some sort of ‘one product fit all.’ There is no other duty belt as versatile as this one. The modular feature will allow you to take out anything that you may not need.

This all-inclusive tactical and modular duty belt is suitable for anyone. It has a width of 2 inches, but you cannot find it in different sizes.It is, however,entirely adjustable. It can expand it from 35 to 54 inches. That should cover most law enforcement officers.

As far as the accessories go, there is one for everything you need. It can accommodate anything. Depending on what size you need the belt to be, you can hold as many as 10 or 11 accessories all around your waist. If you are worried about the buckle not holding, don’t. The buckle is strong enough to withstand all that weight, and it features a secure but quick release system.

The belt is made of high-quality, industrial grade nylon. It will last a few good years and will not require too much maintenance. It feels comfortable around your waist and will not cause any back pain or discomfort. That is the whole point of a nylon duty belt. One thing you need to know, though. Not all accessories may fit your gear, so make sure that you are buying the right things. Even so, you will get a reliable product at an affordable price. Click here to read more reviews and buy on Amazon.

5.11 Tactical Sierra Bravo Duty Belt Kit

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The 5.11 is my favorite of them all, which is why it’s my number one recommendation. It doesn’t come with all the accessories, but you get four keepers with dual-retention hook-and-loop/snap closure, and an inner belt. From where I stand, that is everything a duty belt should come with. Not too many accessories so that there is no chance of them not fitting your gear, but not too few so that you can say you bought the whole package. The 5.11 is somewhere in the middle, which is why I strongly recommend it.

The 5.11 is made 100% of nylon. It is comfortable, easy to maintain, and is highly durable. It is made of a super resilient, high-tensile 1680D nylon. The chances of it tearing are slim to none. Not in the near future at least. The back coating is waterproof which protects the belt from rain and moisture.

This belt will integrate perfectly with MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) web gear and the 5.11 SlickStick System. The manufacturer provides a vast variety of accessories to choose from, but you are going to have to order them separately. They will all hold the same highstandards as the duty belt itself. Click here to read more reviews and buy on Amazon.

Conclusion

Convenience is one of the most appreciated features disregarding the domain you belong to. For law enforcement officers, convenience can sometimes help them to do their job better than without. Having all the equipment on you when you are on patrol or in case of conflict will save you a lot of trouble. And that is why a duty belt is a must in this field. Click here to buy on Amazon

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