5.11 has a diverse collection of belts for every situation. Here I show the TDU, Trainer and Operator belts. They also make leather belts if you need something a little more dressy.
Glad it was helpful Tami! And this was 9 years ago, quite early in my belt reviewing career. :-). I just got 5 new belts in the mail today to review. What was different about my vid than the others?
Great review. This is the best review, with the best details of these belts. I now can buy the trainer belt based on the details you revealed. Thanks so much.
Thank you for a well and informative video. I stumbled across your channel a few hours ago and seem to have hit the jackpot :-) I am a massage therapist and have started wearing the 5.11 pants which I find very comfortable throughout the day my next purchase of course is the operators belt. The operators belt looks like it's dirty enough to handle my Glock 30 and it's cross breed holster Super Tuck design .
I've been wearing a wilderness belt for a couple of years now. It's an awesome belt as well. pretty much the same as the 5.11. they do over a titanium buckle for another $40 or so.
Just commenting here to thank you for the videos, specially this one and the one about the 5.11 stryke pant.. Helped me a lot in deciding between the pants. Sorry for bad english.
Thanks for the reply, I was looking at purchasing a kydex holster and yours looked very nice! I've been looking at Raven and Bravo Concealment Kydex, both look promising.
Hi Snareman. Great Vid by the way. Very good Information. All my Equipment is Tactical since I'm in The First Response Team, United States Civil Air Patrol. A couple of years Ago I was flying to NY and was Wearing my Civil Air Patrol Shirt With the matching Blue 5.11 pants And tactical Black Web Belt with Government ID in Hand. TSA still Made me take off the BELT and SHOES to be PLACED in their Plastic box to be run thru the X-Ray. But it all depends on the Airport you're going thru. Coming Back from the Oklahoma City Air Force Base I had No Problem Going thru with TSA. I had my Government Credentials in Hand and TSA Recognised my ID from The AIR FORCE and let me pass without a hitch. But AGAIN being they are Practically Next Door to The AIR FORCE BASE the TSA In OKLAHOMA CITY AIRPORT are used to seeing Military Personnel come thru their Domain. THANKS AGAIN for YOUR VIDS. Lt. Gilbert Osuna Civil Air Patrol United States Air Force Auxiliary
Got the operator for concealed carry. Was using a regular old leather belt but it wasn’t sturdy enough. At 48 dollars at sportsman’s, the operator is perfect
The belt is the operators model that's 1 3/4 inches, I am glad to say it fits all of my holsters and magazine carriers. Both my G30 (45auto) and G27 (40cal) are held tight and close to the body, very comfortable...
Just got the tdu green operated 1.75 fits perfectly on my Levi's 501s. Can't wait to try my in the waist band! Quick note! The buckle broke on my big thick leather belt while Christmas shopping. My gun fell into my pants I ran in the dressing room. Lucky the coat I was wearing had a good size inner pocket or I would have been in some trouble. Realized the importance of a good belt. Regular belt don't cut it and will fail in the worst place.
@rodeo600 Thanks. Holster was made by one of the instructors at TDI (Tactical Defense Institure - Dick Wheeler) and the mag pouches by SharkTac (who I recommend avoiding unless you see him at a show)
I looked this up because I needed a new belt. Had to do a double take because I recognize your channel from drumming videos, didn't know you did guns and gear videos too lol.
The the reversable TDU belts are thick and sturdy just like the trainer and operator but still have the plastic buckle. I have one as well as a trainer both in 1.5" size.
I have the trainer for almost 4 years and still going strong. Recently I bought the operator belt and the buckle fell apart in less than a month of normal EDC use. The center piece fell off, i took it back and they exchanged it for a new one and it the same thing, so i believe it had some faults. I wrote 5.11 and they offer to exchange it but i told the rep it makes no sense, so he offered me a discount on future purchases. Try twisting the center part at an angle and see your own falls out .
Thanks for this informative belt review snareman...been belt shopping and now I know what to get to tote my handguns,multitool (Leatherman Mut - great unit but it ain't the lightest...lol) and my Commando android phone....
Great vid. Have been considering a few different belts - I've been rifling (no pun intended) through "gun belts" in the standard leather that I prefer and have been going bonkers over how quickly a) I'm wearing them out and b) how inconsistent the thickness (height, I mean?) of belts are when you aren't specifically looking in a market that uses 1.5 or 1.75" etc. Thanks! bought a new belt in Marpat immediately after viewing this!
The operator belt works well as a self defence with the steel belt buckle and the velcro make it very efficient at moving form your waist to your hand (assuming you have the 5.11 tac pants) using the velcro to make a handle in a second or faster. Can also be used to restrain an attacker by making a look with the buckle after you have subdued your attacker. I don't carry a gun but am I a wheel chair and belt also make a good lasso that will tighten around what you ring it on by pulling the velcro end (turned into a surprisingly comfortable hand hold that seem as it were made to wrap around a wrist and threw your hand), plus it keeps a circle shape and will not fail to ring a neck if an attacker is within range. Also hear that you could break a bone with the buckle. (warning take a self defence class and lean how to use it before your in a situation that you need the skill for, seriously its not a toy you can hurt yourself)
@GoldenColts Yes. I wear the belt like this to work in the ER with my shirt tucked in. No gun. I usually wear 5.11 style pants and a scrub top or polo style shirt. Looks and works great. If I'm CCWing I have the belt with a holster and shirt untucked, so you don't see it. And yes - only the TDU belt us truly airport safe. I also own 3 Wilderness belts. Vids are forthcoming.
You're welcome! I try and make vids with the info in them that I'd want to see if I was watching the vid myself. That's one of the things that motivated me to start making them. I wanted to fill what seemed like the void of low quality, low definition, low info vids. :-)
I was looking at getting the Double Duty TDU by 5.11 with the plastic buckle ($17 cheaper) but your review just talked me into the Trainer belt, I literally just placed the order for the tundra colored one with the Stainless steel buckle. Thanks for a very helpful review.
Good comparison. I need to upgrade from Blackhawk!'s version of the tdu to the operator. I like the thicker belts. Where'd you get that holster? I've just taken an interest in making my own kydex holsters. That was a sharp setup.
I have done modifications to a lot of gear . I bought a knockoff belt for 8 dollars that says 5:11 on it . Although it is not 5:11 and it's stitching sucked for lack of a better word . As well the sizing was off . The 3 mod's I did to make this belt comparable to that of an 80 dollar belt were as follows . First I doubled the stitching all by hand as I have not yet learned to sew with machine as of yet . It only took 2 days of use before the velcro stitching started coming off so doubling the stitching of the velcro was the first thing . Secondly I could not tighten the belt to the right size so I added velcro to the belt . I used salvaged velcro I gather it here and there as I run across it . Taking it off things people throw by the roadside etc . You don't have to buy it nor do you have to always buy shock cord or nylon if you use creative thinking . Later I was bored and had been watching escape and evade videos and gear reviews and seen something that had not been done in the way I envisioned it . What I did next was to add 2 small velcro pockets to the inside of the belt . The pockets measure 3.75 inches wide by the width of the belt which is 1.50 inches . I fist sewed the little pockets out of a nylon material from an old lunch bag..Once I had the little rectangular pockets . I added velcro to fasten them shut . And finally I sewed them to the belt . First putting one in the rear and secondly adding one to my left side . These little pockets are great for hiding money from your wife ,she will go in your wallet but never in your belt! No more looking like an idiot when you go to buy something and don't have as much money as you assumed . As well as the inspired reason I dropped in a small razor and a small piece of hacksaw blade As well as a handcuff key . I have thought about buying more belts like mine to modify and sell to make a few dollars . I could sell them under 90 dollars especially if I would sit down and learn to use the sewing machine . I would like to hear if ant one else has modified their gear such as bags belts plate carriers etc ?
One of the instructors I know made it, but there are a ton of kydex holster options out there these days. I like them because they hug your body so well. Raven concealment is a popular one as is PhillyEDC (see his channel).
I started out with 5.11 belts as an IDF volunteer. The military issue sucked. I've since moved on to Wilderness belts. They are awesome, and the ones made specifically for CCW are awesome! They are pricey, but, worth every penny.
This is the MFG riggers belt and the engineers belt. Basically all the same just waaaay more expensive. That being said I own the trainer and operator 5.11 cause I just love 5.11
pt2. It seems that the 5.11 design changes to the buckle are just made to avoid patent infringement (but don't quote me on that since I haven't looked into Wilderness Tactical's currently held patents). The wilderness belts are also made in the USA and proudly stamped showing that. I think anyone considering purchasing these belts would be better off and have less buyers remorse looking at the Wilderness products from the get go.
I tried their "leather" gun belt a number of years ago, basically a thin leather cover over a plastic core, it fell apart quickly. I do like their pants though.
@tul9033 I have a 32" waist and have the 32-34 belt. I prefer it to secure around the area of my right front pocket. Otherwise I have the problem like you with fitting a holster over it.
10/4 sir, will do. Yeah ive heard nothing but good stuff just seems as though most people who opt for a full frame gun amd spare mag fir edc seem to have the best luck with an instructor style belt. We shall see though! Will do a review if how its held up after a month or two of wear, worse comes to worst it can be my dressier edc belt lol.
What size belt in relation to waist size do you recommend? For example the medium says 32-34. Would you get that if you have a 32" waist or would you go a size up?
I recently ordered the 511 “double-duty” TDU belt, because the (regular) TDU wasn’t available in my size. Afterward, I realized that it is basically 2 TDU’s sewn together. It hasn’t been delivered yet, but I figure it will be pretty stiff. Hopefully, it won’t be atrociously thick. In either case, the TDU buckle is much simpler than the rigger’s belt (simpler = better?). 👍🏾
with ref to the belts slipping and or the floppy end sticking out, turn the floppy end back on its self and jam it into the buckle. it should stop the nylon slipping back
What's your advice on the sizing? I'm 6'2 185 and wear a 34-36''. I bought the large in the TDU belt, which is supposed to be for 36-38'', and I only have about 4'' of material when its cinched up. I noticed you have a lot left over. What size waist/belt do you use for these 511's? Thanks.
@holybrolydood A good belt definitely makes a difference! One of the instructors at TDI (tdiohio .com) made it for me. I got the mag holster made at a local gun show. I too have gently tried some kydex concoctions of my own, but it take quite a few before they come out looking professional (I'm still not there :-) )
Juat got one today and came to look at the review after. Weird order i know 😅. Then i looked at the time stamp, 12 years ago ! Wow ! Great review though.
What is your waist size as compared to the belt size you got? Specifically the trainer belts. I am 38" or slightly less levi waist size and I have been using the 40"-42" 5.11 trainer. It will secure just past my 9:00 position, which seemed to be about where your's was. My only gripe about that is it can make it difficult to get my mag pouch on and off (triple layer). I fear going to a 36-38 will be too small. When I tighten all the way the velcro is just starting into the buckle.
When i went to the website they dont list any sizes just L,XL and so on nor a size chart, can you shed any light on this about how big these belts really are?
Thanks. I actually already have a few watch reviews, including one of the watch I'm wearing in this video and one of my Rolexes. Check them out and let me know what you think. :-)
And what size belt did you get? I read a number of online reviews which discuss getting belts depending on wearing a holster inside/outside the waistband. Size does matter to fit a gun, if worn, and for the hook/loop to attach properly.
Sorry for the delay. I think I've since sold my 5.11 belts and now mostly use Wilderness Tactical belts so I'm not positive on the size. You would want to get it a little larger though if you're going to do IWB to account for the extra space. Might be easiest if you can find a store that has them to try them on to be sure . I just discovered that with some FirstSpear belts I bought.
The real comparison between these belts (and belt types) as well as how easy they are to put on and adjust. Also the rigidity. So ya, basically everything in there lol.
If there is a secret to keeping the TDU belt tight, I sure would like to know!!!! It is always slipping from the point of where it is tightened. The one I bought is reversible but has the same plastic buckle (first demo) and it slips.
I've actually stopped wearing mine because I didn't like the floppy tip sticking out of my belt loop.
9 лет назад
+ultraclassic01hd How do these TDU belts get loose on you folks? I have an ASP Tactical Logo belt and that never happened. I'm comparing them since they're similar in design.
Any opinions on the apex gunners belt from 511? Im waiting on mine to arrive now but am slighlty nervous i shouldve went with a trainer belt because i carry a full frame gun and spare mag.
I don't have any experience with it. I've looked at them, but haven't gotten around to buying one yet. I'm thinking it will probably be ok though. Let me know how you like it. 5.11 seems to have removed the reviews section from their website.
