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View Full Version : REVIEW : OSOE Tappered War Belt : 56k no no



Urban Tactical Gear
13 August 2009, 12:13
Disclaimer:
At this time I do not work for John Willis, OSOE, or Tactical Response Gear. I have no financial gain in their companies and/or products. The products contained here-in have been provided to me for the sole purpose of direct comparison to competitors products, and for product review. All Wording and/or findings are my own, and have not in anyway been solicited by any vested parties.

In my quest for perfecting my personal line up I have gone through several products trying to narrow it down. On recommendation I started with the ATS Warbelt as my first modular belt and first line base. This is the second modular belt that I have put hands on. This is the OSOE Tapered Modular War Belt (http://www.originalsoegear.com/mollebelt.html)
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0087.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0090.jpg

As with most of John's products the first thing you notice when you pull out of the shipping container is how rigid of a product it is. Measuring in at an Inch and half at it's thickest point, you can defiantly see the difference over that of the sleeve provided by the competition.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0092.jpg


One of the things that Makes the belt so thick is the padding. I'm not exactly sure what type of foam that they used, but man is it comfortable. It's covered by a thick layer of mesh. This mesh makes sure that there is 0 movement in the belt. Seriously, this belt is not going any where. even without suspenders.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0091.jpg


If you look at the sizing chart on blacktone tactical (http://www.blackstonetactical.com/catalog/images/ice/Battle_Belt_Sizing.htm) you'll find the following: "Because of the thickness of the ICE Battle Belt you can not overlap the ends." The OSOE belt is padded, but not so much that you cannot overlap the ends. Truth be told I think I might have told John an inch to big. The ends aren't supposed to overlap if you order the belt correctly. However. If you should over order, it will overlap
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0095.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0096.jpg

Like the ATS and Ice Belts, There are slots cut into the bottom of the belt to allow you to mount one sub-load per side. Under each sub-load mounting area you will find hook and loop. this is to prevent slippage of your inner belt. Something i'd like to point out with this picture. Look at the top and bottom layers. Each layer has stitched edging tape sewn onto them, for added durability.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0089.jpg

One of the features that OSOE puts into this belt, that the others don't is the webbing. you'll notice that It's multicam patterned (acu is done the same way). It's not printed webbing. It's actual codura that has been folded over and stitched 5 times to ensure maximum durability.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0097.jpg

As the description reads, this is a tapered war belt. It moves from 3 pals channels on the hip pads to 4 channels on the lumbar support.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20belt/DSCF0093.jpg

My initial thoughts:
Goodbye ats sleeve. I have found my permanent base for my first line. I have no doubt that this belt will hold up for whatever I can throw at it.

There will be some more shots taken, but I'm going to have to find another assistant as my current one has.... well let's just say i'm having family troubles, don't want to discuss it, but will complete the shots hopefully by the end of the weekend.

Urban Tactical Gear
14 August 2009, 20:15
for all those just joing us, this (http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=432872#post432872) thread is a must read