Battle belt review: Blue Alpha Light and why chest rigs win long matches

Key points: Battle belt review Blue

• A two-layer battle belt, an inner Velcro belt through the pant loops with an outer belt over it, carries a pistol, pistol and rifle magazines and medical gear, so one setup covers rifle, pistol and transitions at the range.
• Waistline space is the limit: two pistol magazines, one or two rifle magazines, a rear IFAK, a tourniquet and a holster fill most belts, and the Blue Alpha Light saves room by hanging its dump pouch under a rifle pouch.
• That load worked well at a PCSL 2-gun match with short, low-round-count stages but fell short on ammunition for the long, high-round-count stages at FAST Idaho.
• Extra magazines make a belt uncomfortable quickly, and beyond four loaded magazines Hop would move to a suspender system or padded belt kit.
• Belts make layering hard, forcing jackets to be tucked in or left off in the rain, and they snag getting in and out of vehicles, while a jacket zips easily over a chest rig.
• Reloads from a belt are faster and more consistent than fishing magazines out of a chest rig or plate carrier.
• Hop recommends the Blue Alpha Light, the Leon Works belt, which is thick enough for full-height MOLLE and Malice clips, and the Defense Mechanisms belt.

About this Gun Review video

Battle belt review from Hop after a FAST match in Idaho and a PCSL 2-gun match in Washington, comparing his Blue Alpha Light (the channel sponsor's belt), a Leon Works belt and a Defense Mechanisms belt. A two-pistol, two-rifle magazine setup with IFAK and holster handled short 2-gun stages well but could not carry enough ammunition for long, high-round-count stages, and belts fight rain layers and vehicle seats. Verdict: versatile range and casual-competition kit, rarely the best tool for any single job.

Transcript: Battle belt review