Pack QD battle belt

[Squirtgunsquirter]

What I WOULD LIKE to do, is change the belt setup on the Pro Pack from this...

To something like this...

The Pack belt works fine, but I would like to be able to separate it from the pack body. I could easily make a battle belt, and then insert it into the pack, but then once I had things mounted on the belt I couldn't get it back out without removing everything from one side. So I gotta think of something. That's going to be my job today.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Think I figured out a workable solution.

Gathered materials....

Started measuring and laying things out. Have to go the gym with the wife and get in the hot tub. I will have to get back on this later.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I didn't have enough black cordura, besides I want to make all the accessory stuff for the pack in a charcoal grey.

But for now, I will just consider this a prototype, and scavenge the buckles back off later.

I love making darts! No, really. Actually I don't.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

This is harder than I thought, lol. I have the basic belt made, just need to add some Molle webbing, and get the buckles on. Man, all those darts... Time to buy an edging foot and some bias tape.

 

[Kevin L]

I'm not sure what "QD" means, but maybe you're talking about an LBE utility belt?

I've put together a cheap pistol belt with suspenders, and I use belt pouches originally intended for small cameras.

My stuff is very ridiculous-looking (like a little kid playing soldier or, perhaps, Batman), but it works very well and is comfortable.

Small, zipper-style camera pouches can be had at Goodwill and the Salvation Army for a pittance. They are very tough (usually made of a ballistic-type nylon), they are comfortable, and can be adjusted to suit individual needs.

They can be modified to fit if you melt holes in them with the head of a heated nail, and use plastic zip-ties to make belt loops.

Plastic zip-ties can be used to replace lost and/or broken ALICE-style clips.

Camera-style zipper pouches are less obvious than ballistic nylon military LBE stuff, so they can become part of a "grey man" appearance.

I have mine set up so I can carry a ka-bar, my 1911, 4 spare pouches, a canteen (with cup), folding shovel, compass, crank radio-flashlight combo, Leatherman multi-tool, paracord, bandanas, survival life-straw, gorilla tape, ammo, and a turkey baster. There's other stuff in there, but you get the idea.

I've found that I can use gorilla tape to secure a syringe-type turkey baster onto the end of a blue survival life-straw, and suck water from a contaminated source and fill my canteen with it.

The end result takes a little practice, but:
1) It's cheap. The straw is $19.99, the turkey baster is $3.99, the roll of gorilla tape is $14.99 (tape has many other uses).
2) It's very light and compact.
3)I don't need to modify either the straw or turkey baster--just use the tape to seal the baster to the mouth-end of the end of the straw.
4)It takes me about 4 minutes to fill a 1-quart military canteen at a slow pace,
5)The straw is good for about 975 liters (according to the literature). Theoretically, two straws can provide 1 year worth of drinking water for 1 person.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Ah, QD means quick disconnect. The way the pack is designed, the waist is solidly attached during normal use. I want to be able to drop the pack, and not take off the belt.

I can usually tell the difference between someone USING tactical gear, vs. OWNING tactical, lol. A lot of the setups I see guys wearing (and actually using, for work) look a little ridiculous. Stuff taped on to secure it, expedient repairs, all that good stuff. Like on a chest rig or plate carrier, any pouch high on the right side (where it catches on your rifle stock, or interferes with your sling), is a giveaway to me that the stuff is for show. Or they are a lefty and therefore a mutant.

I only need to carry the dump pouch, tourniquet, second AR mag, CQB knife, and pistol and mags on the belt. Plus I want to make one.

Honestly, the only thing I would give you the business for carrying on the belt would be the turkey baster That would be too good to pass up. But it makes sense to have it there.

 

[Kevin L]

Thank you. My pistol belt has a quick release, but the suspenders slow me down a bit.

If I'm trying to stay alive post SHTF, I don't care if I look like a clown.

Of course I can kick them in the stones while they're busy laughing at me.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Well, ended up doing exactly what I didn't want to do, and messed up my neck lifting weights. Just pulled something, but bad enough I cant sleep. So two nights without much sleep, maybe 3 or 4 hours, and started a new part time job (still sewing) and I'm basically a complete wreck.

Never the less.

The belt about 1/2 done:

The big black buckle is the "QD" or quick disconnect part here. When I'm done, the strap will slip behind and into the webbing of the Pro Pack. Ive had it in there, it fits nice and keeps the right torso length on the pack suspension.

The actual belt strap is continuous, so the load bearing buckle is still... load bearing. Its scuba webbing, like everyone uses for pistol belts. Its pretty stiff.

The "pocket" for the Minotaur holster. It's a concealment holster, but I don't feel like buying or making a holster right now, so I just built the belt to accept the holster, and a knife beside it.

I can still play with the position of the knife, but I don't want it to overlap the pistol grip. I had the whole thing mocked up, it is pretty comfortable, but I will have to take it out and wear it for a long hike before I call it good.

Now, to add the other side Molle panel, and put the Cobra buckle on, and get it all set up on the dummy.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Ok, done with this project. Ignore the giant pile of fabric behind the white chair lol.

That's everything I wanted on there, the extra mag holster, the dump pouch, the retention knife, the pistol, and I can get the other knife on there if I want. The pistol actually has a nice tuck so I don't hit it when I swing my arm.

Finis.

On to the next one.