Being the good hipster that I am, it pains me greatly to admit this. I recently jumped on a bandwagon. And I have to say, I was fairly disappointed.
I purchased the much sought after, and consequently hilariously priced, Cobra belt from Viking Tactics, one of the many companies that makes them. This belt is designated as a riggers belt, which contrary to popular belief, is not designed for rappelling. Not to say it can’t be done, but its main purpose is attaching yourself to an aircraft.
Vtac put a lot of over-engineering into this belt, making it pretty much bomb proof. It is made from 2 layers of nylon tubular webbing, stitched together with a stiff plastic strip between them for added rigidity. Everything is double or triple stitched and there were no loose threads hanging off it to subtract from its overall appearance. The rigid construction makes it an excellent gun belt, almost bordering on a duty belt.
The Cobra buckle is a fantastic design in that unlike the traditional riggers belt, it does not require you to unthread it from the buckle to…take care of business/disrobe. Unfortunately, thought the buckle is what sets this belt apart, it’s also what makes it a hassle. As I was disappointed to discover, you have to unthread the belt in order to take the belt out or your belt loops, thereby eliminating one of the reasons I bought it in the first place.
So in a sentence, this belt is impractical and unnecessary. However, I was just perusing 5.11 Tactical’s website, and noticed that they have revamped it, and put a small male end on the buckle to allow it to fit through belt loops. In addition to that, they have cut the belt to taper at the end so there are no edges to catch as you thread it. Once I save up enough money to pay the exorbitant price they are asking, I will be getting one.
I am not generally a gear reviewer. The only time I usually endorse a piece of gear is when it really impresses me. The reason I wrote this review is not to cast a bad light on any of the companies I have mentioned. It is to allow you, the select few that read this, to learn from my mistake and not put your trust in gear. Put your trust in your training, and The One who trains your hands for battle. (Psalm 18)
Vtac put a lot of over-engineering into this belt, making it pretty much bomb proof. It is made from 2 layers of nylon tubular webbing, stitched together with a stiff plastic strip between them for added rigidity. Everything is double or triple stitched and there were no loose threads hanging off it to subtract from its overall appearance. The rigid construction makes it an excellent gun belt, almost bordering on a duty belt.
The Cobra buckle is a fantastic design in that unlike the traditional riggers belt, it does not require you to unthread it from the buckle to…take care of business/disrobe. Unfortunately, thought the buckle is what sets this belt apart, it’s also what makes it a hassle. As I was disappointed to discover, you have to unthread the belt in order to take the belt out or your belt loops, thereby eliminating one of the reasons I bought it in the first place.
So in a sentence, this belt is impractical and unnecessary. However, I was just perusing 5.11 Tactical’s website, and noticed that they have revamped it, and put a small male end on the buckle to allow it to fit through belt loops. In addition to that, they have cut the belt to taper at the end so there are no edges to catch as you thread it. Once I save up enough money to pay the exorbitant price they are asking, I will be getting one.
I am not generally a gear reviewer. The only time I usually endorse a piece of gear is when it really impresses me. The reason I wrote this review is not to cast a bad light on any of the companies I have mentioned. It is to allow you, the select few that read this, to learn from my mistake and not put your trust in gear. Put your trust in your training, and The One who trains your hands for battle. (Psalm 18)
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