Anyone know or have any advice on making the duty belt as light as possible? ... I carried a new LB Operator for the 1sf time and it was HEAVY. Need to find ways lighten the load.
lightest duty gear
schiffer99
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Anyone know or have any advice on making the duty belt as light as possible? ... I carried a new LB Operator for the 1sf time and it was HEAVY. Need to find ways lighten the load.
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Depends on what your agency approves. The lightest duty rig will be ones made from nylon. Safariland makes belts, ammo carriers and handcuff cases along with holsters. Some agencies have also allowed suspenders that attach to the belt and take the weight off the hips and distributes it on the shoulders.
With all the equipment police officers carry on their duty belts these days any rig will be heavy. I feel it's just a matter of getting used to the weight. I carried a 1911 pattern pistol for most of my 27 year career and have the bad back to prove it but I don't place all the blame on the weapon.
The problem today with most agencies is they want everyone to look the same.
Hope this helps
With all the equipment police officers carry on their duty belts these days any rig will be heavy. I feel it's just a matter of getting used to the weight. I carried a 1911 pattern pistol for most of my 27 year career and have the bad back to prove it but I don't place all the blame on the weapon.
The problem today with most agencies is they want everyone to look the same.
Hope this helps
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What are you carrying on your belt? Do you actually need it all on your person (either by preference or policy), and can you get rid of some of it?
I dropped my silent key keeper, glove pouch, phone, and OC... I carry mags, PR24, X26, radio, 1911, flashlight, and double cuff pouch. Gloves in a pocket, OC and key ring in the car. Many cops carry entirely too much gear, leading to back problems and issues actually getting their gear out and in use (radio traps taser in holster, asp prevents draw of pistol, etc).
My advice is ditch anything that you wouldn't need in a spur of the moment confrontation. Anything else, you'll have time to go get it out of your car.
I dropped my silent key keeper, glove pouch, phone, and OC... I carry mags, PR24, X26, radio, 1911, flashlight, and double cuff pouch. Gloves in a pocket, OC and key ring in the car. Many cops carry entirely too much gear, leading to back problems and issues actually getting their gear out and in use (radio traps taser in holster, asp prevents draw of pistol, etc).
My advice is ditch anything that you wouldn't need in a spur of the moment confrontation. Anything else, you'll have time to go get it out of your car.
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Right now all my gear is basketweave leather (which might be the biggest problem). On the belt is a double cuff pouch, safariland 6280 with 1911, radio, baton, double mag pouch, X26, and a surefire G2. All my gear is primarily from on my sides from about 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock on the right and 11 o'clock to 9 o'clock on the left. Would distrubuting gear around the entire belt help?
I'll look into some nylon stuff this week.
I'll look into some nylon stuff this week.
Uncle Mikes Mirage is nice looking and light it comes in BW. By far the heaviest thing on your belt is the Op, I would try and balance the weight on both sides as much as possible. With your setup all I'd have on my gun side is the gun and the baton and the cuffs
I'll 2nd the uncle mikes mirage. But when it comes down to it the 1911 platform is just plain heavy. I don't remember the exact numbers but I once used a drug scale to weigh a loaded railed 1911 with 4 loaded mags and a loaded g22 with 2 loaded mags. The glock was over a pound less. A pound is alot after 8-12 hours.
As for not carrying so much, I wish I had that liberty, but policy is policy so I'll carry what I'm told to untill I'm the boss. That ain't today and tomarrow dont look good either.
Is the extra weight worth it? Thats up to you to decide.
As for not carrying so much, I wish I had that liberty, but policy is policy so I'll carry what I'm told to untill I'm the boss. That ain't today and tomarrow dont look good either.
Is the extra weight worth it? Thats up to you to decide.
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I hear ya... Last time I was carrying a 1911 on a duty belt it was a lightweight operator, guess that 10-12 ounce difference really does add up. I'll work with it for awhile and see what I can do as this LB operator is sweeet... though I may end up back to a lwt operator, a sig p220 sao... Or... Gulp... a G21.
I would also mention the Bianchi Accumold Elite gear. It is also very light and looks nice like leather. I am switching to it. I am also switching to ASP lightweight aluminum handcuffs. Safariland also has a pair that are around 7 oz.
My current duty rig is an actual leather duty belt (not Safarilaminate). Tex Schumaker 4 mag pouch, X26 in Serpa holster, MKIII OC, Phoenix (ASP style) PPCT baton, 1 pair of S&W model 100 handcuffs, Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II, radio, Surefire 8X, leather glove pouch, dept. issue pager, and my iPhone 4G.
The above with the 5 Wilson 47D mags and 41 rds of 230 gr Gold Dot plus my body armor, uniform, and boots adds up to 25 lbs extra weight to carry for 8.5 hrs a shift.
The lighter weight Kimber reduces it by about 10-12 ounces.
I had back surgery for a herniated disc at L3-L4. I had a 17 mm herniation. The doc didn't know how I was evening getting around. Anyway, after a microlumbar discectomy, I was pretty much good to go. Some physical therapy etc and I am back on the job. The doc did stress the need to lighten the load as much as possible. That including in getting off some more weight. I had gained some of it back while being off work. So I need to get backdown below 200. I am hovering around 202-207. I am trying to get back down to 180 or so and stay there.
I'll second what Lawson12b said, "is the extra weight worth it?" For me it is, I love the 1911 platform. I am actually considering going back to a full size gun. I just got a Springfield Armory Range Officer and may make that my new duty piece. I may relegate the Pro Carry II to my off duty (right now it is a Glock 23 cause it is so durable).
My current duty rig is an actual leather duty belt (not Safarilaminate). Tex Schumaker 4 mag pouch, X26 in Serpa holster, MKIII OC, Phoenix (ASP style) PPCT baton, 1 pair of S&W model 100 handcuffs, Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II, radio, Surefire 8X, leather glove pouch, dept. issue pager, and my iPhone 4G.
The above with the 5 Wilson 47D mags and 41 rds of 230 gr Gold Dot plus my body armor, uniform, and boots adds up to 25 lbs extra weight to carry for 8.5 hrs a shift.
The lighter weight Kimber reduces it by about 10-12 ounces.
I had back surgery for a herniated disc at L3-L4. I had a 17 mm herniation. The doc didn't know how I was evening getting around. Anyway, after a microlumbar discectomy, I was pretty much good to go. Some physical therapy etc and I am back on the job. The doc did stress the need to lighten the load as much as possible. That including in getting off some more weight. I had gained some of it back while being off work. So I need to get backdown below 200. I am hovering around 202-207. I am trying to get back down to 180 or so and stay there.
I'll second what Lawson12b said, "is the extra weight worth it?" For me it is, I love the 1911 platform. I am actually considering going back to a full size gun. I just got a Springfield Armory Range Officer and may make that my new duty piece. I may relegate the Pro Carry II to my off duty (right now it is a Glock 23 cause it is so durable).
Also is the 6280 attached to a 1.5" drop plate?
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I think it all depends on what your department will allow. An external vest makes a world of difference. You can move a ton of crap off the belt, but some administrators think it is too militaristic. Perception and functionality do not always mix in LE. I attached a pic of my vest and an inside pic of my extra handcuff pocket (or BUG gun pocket).
For simple fixes, light weight (LW) cuffs by safariland, LW baton (or loose it all together), nylon gear, Jennings 22 for duty gun.
As for nylon gear I use a duty belt by Tactical Taylor, 2 Comp Tac single mag pouches (singles allow the belt to flex which aids in comfort), cuff pouch by BDS gear, Serpa for the gun, plastic ring for big flashlight which I rarely carry (I carry a 3 cell surefire on vest with Malkoff led, these are awesome bulbs to retrofit old surefire lights), Benchmade belt cutter in nylon pouch, and some legacy leather pouch for the rubber gloves. I leave the baton and taser off That's it I moved all my crap to the carrier and what a difference it has made. I leave it to the young guys to carry all the extra crap.
Good Luck and Stay Safe
For simple fixes, light weight (LW) cuffs by safariland, LW baton (or loose it all together), nylon gear, Jennings 22 for duty gun.
As for nylon gear I use a duty belt by Tactical Taylor, 2 Comp Tac single mag pouches (singles allow the belt to flex which aids in comfort), cuff pouch by BDS gear, Serpa for the gun, plastic ring for big flashlight which I rarely carry (I carry a 3 cell surefire on vest with Malkoff led, these are awesome bulbs to retrofit old surefire lights), Benchmade belt cutter in nylon pouch, and some legacy leather pouch for the rubber gloves. I leave the baton and taser off That's it I moved all my crap to the carrier and what a difference it has made. I leave it to the young guys to carry all the extra crap.
Good Luck and Stay Safe
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All the suggestions above are good.... I recently added the blackhawk underbelt (keeperless) that is thick about 6 inches wide with the built in gel pads that fits under the duty belt and it works great.... It feels like it redistributes the weight evenly so after a 10 hour shift you don't get that pain in the points of your hips like I used to.... Although I wear it with extra long keepers because I don't feel comfortable with "no keepers"... You might want to give it a shot if your department allows.... It was only 35 bucks at my local supply store... Well worth the investment.... I tried the hidden suspenders and didn't like them so I sent them back.... They were expensive too!
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Bianch Accumold Elite and I love it. Leaps and bounds lighter than real leather, and it doesnt squeak.
I use Bianchi Accumold nylon. I have a duty set up and a court/parade set up. For the court/parade belt I have going from front right O.C., Serpa level 3, light weight ASP, Safari alloy cuffs, Safari alloy cuffs, Streamlight LED, radio w/latex gloves on bottom, 2 magazines. My duty weapon and ASP are the only things not Bianchi nylon. My belt is light.
Duty wise though I start with a mic thats in a Bianchi pager type holster, Bianchi key holder flap thing that closes on keys, O.C., Serpa w/light level 3, full weight ASP, S&W cuffs, latex glove holder, S&W cuffs, full size flash light loop holder, Streamlight LED, radio w/latex gloves on bottom, 2 magazines, and Blade Tech w/Taser.
Both my set ups are lighter than other area's w/leather and Sigs (We use Glocks).
Duty wise though I start with a mic thats in a Bianchi pager type holster, Bianchi key holder flap thing that closes on keys, O.C., Serpa w/light level 3, full weight ASP, S&W cuffs, latex glove holder, S&W cuffs, full size flash light loop holder, Streamlight LED, radio w/latex gloves on bottom, 2 magazines, and Blade Tech w/Taser.
Both my set ups are lighter than other area's w/leather and Sigs (We use Glocks).
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