Bat belt or not?

[steve2267]

How do you carry most of your gear? On your belt, or in pockets? I've noticed a lot of sheeple these days with at least one cell phone in some sort of holster on their belt. I usually carry a concealed sidearm on my belt. I used to carry two spare 1911 magazines in a weakside double mag holder, but now I'm more likely to carry a single spare 1911 magazine in a Milt Sparks PCH-M in my weakside front pocket. I have a flashlight holder for my belt, but no longer use it. I considered getting a pepper spray holster that would ride horizontal (one of the Fox units), but never got it. Maybe it is because my current employer frowns greatly on carrying personal defense gear at work... but I find that I carry most of my stuff in pockets now. I arrange the items and use function specific pocket holsters to hold important items...

Anyway, I found myself thinking the other day that I seem to be using pockets more and more to store, organize and conceal my gear.

So what do you use? Belt, pockets or other (e.g. daily bag whether it be a briefcase, a soft bag, or something like a Maxpedition Versipack)? Are there any particular holsters (pocket or belt), or clothing with very useable pockets, or maybe pocket holsters/organizers that stand out that you really really like? (i.e. find it very hard to do without)

[flanker]

I just use my belt to support my IWB holster. I keep cell phone in weakside pocket also a snapout baton in pocket on strongside. In summer I have shorts with large side pockets I keep extra Mag. in one. This way I don't have a bunch of things hanging off my belt. I try hard to draw little notice to myself.;)

[Brownie]

Most of my gear seems to be now more weighted in the pockets than the belt.

cell phone, sheath knife on belt;

all the rest in pockets

[JMusic]

Pockets and breifcase is how I carry. Seldom do I use a holster. In the winter I use vests or coats made by Coronado.

[Guantes]

Belt for holster and if I am carrying two spare mags. If one spare mag it goes in off side rear pocket. If carrying a wheel gun, speedy loaders go in off side shirt pocket. Anything else goes in pockets

[DocH]

After all the years of full duty rigs with heavy revolvers,I try to go as light as possible.It's usually the G19 or 26 in an owb with maybe one spare mag.Other times a versa max II with the G19.
Mag and sometimes a surefire is often pocket carried,depending on the pockets. The "truss" that Gunslinger posted on looks like a good option for certain situations.

[DocH]

Sorry,a mistake of my feeble mind. Meant to say David Williams on the truss rig.:o

[gojira357]

My pockets were crowded even before I decided to carry, so I'm still adjusting. The problem is that I carry IWB untucked, and I'm a skinny runt. Placing gear under my cover on my belt just leads to more attention, although if done right, it can be good misdirection.

Sheeple: "What's that under your shirt. Is that a GUN???"
Me: (Pulls out multitool from belt sheath) "No, it's just a multitool I carry for my job."
Then pick from responses:
A: "Oh, I thought it was a Blackberry."
B: "OMG! That thing has a knife on it! Why would you need THAT?"
C: "No, I meant that gun-shaped bulge at your 3:00."

Right now, I put everything in my front pockets (leaving back pockets only for receipts, movie stubs, and anything else destined to ride in the washing machine). The problem is that I would like to consistently be able to carry the same amount of gear in jeans or mall-ninja pants with 47 pockets. Most days the extra mag gets left at home. :(

[Guantes]

Must be my friendly eyes or happy smile, I have few sheeple speak to me, much less ask questions.:D

[Brownie]

:D G, ya think? ;)

[gojira357]

Must be my friendly eyes or happy smile, I have few sheeple speak to me, much less ask questions.:D

Actually, people don't ask me either, but I figured if I started carrying the following on my belt: Surfire flashlight, OC spray, extra mag, SOG Pentagon Elite, Cold Steel push dagger, maybe a Palm Pilot or cell phone, all this under an untucked shirt, people are going to start looking more. And maybe supermarket security is wondering if I'm shoplifting cans of corn. :D

[Guantes]

gojira357,

I can see your problem.

I think a number of things come into play in determining "carriables". Things such as location, activity, time of day, past experience, age, etc. Some carry more, some less.

For example, I don't carry a flashlight unless I expect to be out at night, although I keep one in my ride. Regarding its (flashlight) use as a weapon, lacking a 5 cell or a sap, I'll use my strap as a thumper.
OC, I normally only carry when walking the dog, to possibly mitigate canine threats to my dog, without resorting to means that might create more problems. I do not have a great deal of faith in it on humans, as I have seen chemical sprays fail as often as not.
I normally only carry one knife, a CQC7.
Extra mags or speedies, go on the belt or shirt pocket respectively.
Don't own a palm pilot.
Wife carries the cell phone if we are together, if not, I usually do without.

Not knocking your accessories, just noting differences in what is perceived as necessary, based on the original criteria mentioned. You are not excessive compared to some who carry more weapons to the market than I carried going into a riot.

[gojira357]

That was the list I had thought of when I first joined the world of CCW and you get a little paranoid. I am down to wanting to free up my pockets of the OC (can't access it quickly or consistently) and carrying an extra mag. I think I can accomplish this by putting them in nylon knife/multitool sheaths on my belt.

[Sean]

I posted a thread on another forum about how gear has changed for the uniformed officer. When I graduated form the academy in 1987...we were ISSUED a garrison belt, six-round ammo loop carrier, and OLD style JayPee holster ala NYPD and a 4 or 5" Smith & Wesson Model 10. NOW....we could carry whatever we wanted (8-page approved weapons list) and purchase our own "real world useful" leather. For me it was all Safariland.

I carried on my duty rig:

1911

2 spare mags in an open top double mag pouch (5 more spare mags were in my ditty bag)

2 sets of Peerless Cuffs in cases (Peerless were smoother than S&W)

Baton Loop (pre-ASP days)

Mini-Mag Lite in a pouch (The 6 C-Cell was in the cruiser in another holder) I used a C cell because it would also fit into the baton loop.

GIANT hand held


I thought the above was a LOT of stuff to carry, but I guess....compared to what officers carry nowadays, I was lucky.

Now that I am old, fat, and retired, I carry my Glock OWB or IWB depending on mood, and weather, and often 1 or 2 spare mags. I don't carry the extra mags because I think I am going to be a prolonged shooting scrape with masses of zombies....the extra mags balance the weight of the gun, and save my back!

I carry a SMALL led flashlight in my pocket (the BIG C-Cell is in the truck) and my pocket knife rides in my pocket.

My cell phone is pretty compact, and carries nicely in a shirt pocket.

So, I am fairly unburdened.

There is, in both vehicles) a locking toolbox with a couple of spare mags, some ammo in boxes (mainly for shooting out in the boonies), first aid items, etc...

[grimreaper1973]

or you could just wear a cloak with all your favorite toys placed in sewn in pockets either open or with velcro flaps. Could still carry gun in usual spots (belt line etc). But at least with the cloak...EVERYONE would be looking at the CLOAK, and not your pockets, and can't see your face :)