Velcro vs. keepers; for duty belts

[BAM-BAM]

Guess you'd call me old school...... shooting in the 80s and 90s I used keepers to secure my "gun belt" to my pants belt........

Looking at replacing/upgrading..... I see the new rage is velcro strips on both belts..........

Looking for thoughts on the pro and cons to each system.

 

[xfarfuldog]

I used to go through all the fad equipment back in the day. (Think Bianchi judge, SS70 etc.) I tried the all velcro duty belt and inner belt. The velcro tended to eat my pants. I went back to the standard Sam Browne with brass button keepers. Today I would go a standard belt with velcro keepers.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Tried the Safariland Velcro duty belt and underbelt back in the 1970's. Worked pretty good for a couple of years, then the Velcro started wearing out. By the time I used that gear for about 4 years there was so little Velcro remaining that it would not stay firmly in place.

For comparison, my old Sam Browne duty belt (Don Hume Leather Goods, two-layer construction) provided over 10 years service without any issues. Now about 47 years old and still quite functional.

 

[WR Moore]

As folks noted above, the velcro does wear out. The hooks have a tendency to fill up with lint. You can clean them out, but it's a pain. Where you repeatedly fasten/unfasten, the loop can wear out. It'd be nice if the various makers would standardize which belt has hooks and which has loops.

I guess I was cheap back when I first adopted the no buckle duty belt. I used a standard pants belt and keepers. Actually had a guy make me up keepers with hidden snaps so there was no nickel to gleam, except the darn badge. The last velcro setup I bought with my own money was by Eagle. Still have it. Both belts have the loops, the hooks are on the various pouches and separate keepers (you get a bunch with each belt or buy them separately). Replacing the keepers or the under belt isn't that big a deal and the velcro on the other stuff keeps them from moving.

 

[jimgoldth]

I glued a strip of Velcro hooks to the underside of my duty belts and wore a velcro pile belt through my pants belt loops and used that with my police uniform from 1990 until I retired a few years ago. Most of the guys in my department did the same.

 

[Smoke]

I've never had a velcro duty belt but I like being able to put keepers exactly where I want them.

 

[CH4]

I am definitely old school, third generation cop and prefer leather and keepers with brass or chrome snaps. Even after decades of service, I always took great pride in polishing my duty gear every Sunday night.

 

[jcs266]

Never used Velcro. Old school double layer duty belt and keepers here.

 

[Old cop]

I retired in ‘97 after 30 yrs using the two leather belts & leather keepers. I still have all my leather duty gear and it’s still in serviceable condition, although I’m not.

 

[Broke Hoss]

When I got on, the department was moving away from the buckeless Safariland & we were issued real leather & keepers. I was happy with this for many years.

Coming back to patrol after 15 yrs in plainclothes, I found the Bianchi Accumold Elite to be light, easy on the hips & still give a sharp appearance. Much better than the cheap looking nylon gear they were issuing at the time.

The Accumold uses Velcro to attach the inner/outer belts. I also like being able to put a Velcro tab inside my individual pieces of gear & they will "grab" the duty belt & stay right where I place em without the need for keepers.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

The Sarfariland Velcro system was issued when I swore on in the mid 70s, but the Velcro in 50 hour work weeks wore out and I bought a traditional Sam Brown belt and used snap leather keepers for the rest of my time in uniform.

 

[SG-688]

I loved my Safariland velcro belts.

 

[just plain joe]

When I first came on the Job I preferred the Safariland velcro system. I began with one of their Model 95, 2 inch (that's right, 2 inch) belts without the target buckle. It presented a neat, clean, business-like appearance as evidenced the the L.A.P.D. which was utilizing the system at the time. I then morphed to the 2 1/4 inch due to the fact that some of the security holsters, i.e. Bianchi Model 27 and 2800 (The Judge), needed the extra width to work correctly.

I continued with the velcro system until I retired. However by that time with the radio, Taser, collapsible baton, OC, key strap, cuffs, & Safariland 6360 holster, I needed to augment the belt with one keeper near the holster. This was due to the fact that less "male" velcro could be mated to the "female" to ensure that the outer equipment belt stayed attached to the inner/trouser belt.

I still have those belts. Lots of memories, many good, some not so. I too am "old school". I never got used to the newer types of duty rigs. My opinion, for what it's worth, is they don't project a "professional" appearance despite being practical.

I remember an old saying, "The apparel oft' proclaims the man".

 

[Fishinfool]

When I started as a uniform LEO, It was the traditional leather garrison under belt w/ a buckle, and a leather Sam Browne duty belt w / snap keepers.

Later, when I was working for the DOJ, I tried a reversible leather under belt with Velcro backing, both in BDU's and more formal pants, and really liked it. A lot more adjust-ability than a buckle belt for a perfect fit. Or wear it Velcro side facing out with a compatible duty belt when carrying a heavy load of gear. No shifting around, and being buckle less, more comfortable. No messing around with snap keepers.

A lot of use, and I have replaced the Velcro strip on the under belt one time (It is glued on). I still wear it now and then as a pants belt, and with the outer duty belt when I am planning on carrying a heavy rig to the range or out in the woods.

Wanted to add that a stiff brush used on the Velcro every once in a while will remove most of the debris that accumulates there, and maintain the "sticky-ness" of the material.

Larry

 

[JJEH]

Looking for thoughts on the pro and cons to each system.

It won't work, ever, no matter if you are skinny or more on the heavier side.

I have used a leather pants belt and then "attached" the duty belt with keepers. A friend of mine who went through the academy with me had a velcro pants belt (she had a well adjusted body) and she still had to use keepers.

The "systems" are also expensive and I wouldn't spend that money. Buy a good pants belt and then get your separate duty belt. They make the keepers double wide btw, that's what I used in the back. My belt didn't go anywhere...

 

[Miami_JBT]

Done leather and nylon duty belts with velcro and keepers. I always used a combo of both.

 

[Muley Gil]

When I first pinned on a badge, the only choice I was aware of was the Sam Browne belt and keepers. I used my khaki Marine Corps trouser belt and buckle underneath. Most of my fellow deputies did the same.

When I was hired by a city PD, I bought a black web belt and used my USMC buckle. When the Safariland velcro system became popular, I bought one and used it until I retired in 2001. I liked the way it rode better than the belt and keeper system.

I used a nylon Bianchi rig in Kosovo and Afghanistan, with the velcro belt. When I got home and did private security for a Federal office building, I used my nylon rig, which was similar to the issued belt. I had to have the keepers, but they were basically redundant.

 

[dnater]

If you have to wear polyester uniform pants, the hook velcro on the duty belt will chew the belt loops up. As someone else mentioned, with all the junk on duty belts nowadays, there is not a lot of places for the velcro to hook up. I gave up on the velcro long ago.

 

[CH4]

However by that time with the radio, Taser, collapsible baton, OC, key strap, cuffs, & Safariland 6360 holster, I needed to augment the belt with one keeper near the holster. This was due to the fact that less "male" velcro could be mated to the "female" to ensure that the outer equipment belt stayed attached to the inner/trouser belt.

Exactly!
Unless you were a full-figured officer who’s ample girth requiring a longer belt with an extra foot of Velcro, the more aerodynamic officers ran out of the necessary hold to keep their Sam Brown from falling down.

 

[mscampbell2734]

Both

My belt is too heavy, I carry a stainless 1911, for just velcro to hold it steady. Without the keepers it sags. Also on my support side I have a Zac Tool clip for my rifle mag pouch. When I wear it my belt really really sags without keepers.

BUT I like the velcro because it prevents my pouches from moving around.