The Essential Duty Belt for Police Officers

For police officers, few pieces of equipment are as clutch as the utility belt. Otherwise known as a police duty belt or simply a duty belt, this essential does double (sometimes triple) duty. Sure, one of its primary jobs may be to keep your uniform pants up, but it's far from your average belt. LA Police Gear is here to help you customize the perfect utility belt for whatever the day throws your way, no matter how sweat-inducing, physically demanding, or intense.

A Good Utility Belt Should...

• Hold All Your Stuff and Your Pants - Your police uniform needs to be a perfect fit so you can focus on the task ahead of you, and your tactical belt helps ensure that nothing's falling down or getting in your way when you need to be quick and responsive. But it also needs to hold a lot of stuff - magazines, pouches, batons, handcuffs, firearms, pepper spray, etc. - which can weigh a ton. You need a style that keeps your pants up but doesn't bulk you up and slow you down.

• Be Strong Enough for Demanding Line-of-Duty Wear - This vital tool of the trade, most likely, won't be sitting in a cabana by the beach all day. It'll be scraping sidewalks, hoisting heavy gear, and helping you keep the peace, no matter how tough the environment. Basically, it'll need to be as rugged as the rest of your apparel -perhaps even more.

• Keep Your Gear Readily Accessible, No Matter What - Last, but definitely not least, your duty belt should help ensure that all of your most crucial everyday gear is at arm's reach and easily deployable. A belt malfunction or a poorly designed rig could cause life-threatening holdups and compromise your ability to do your job to your best ability. These babies can weigh up to 10 pounds when fully equipped, so they could definitely get in your way if not properly thought-out.

Building the Ultimate Utility Belt

So, how do you get a belt that ticks all of the above boxes and more? Build your own, of course. The beauty of tactical utility belts is that they're entirely customizable, which means yours will be specially tailored to your job, needs, and preferences.

• Step 1: Pick Your Material - The foundation of your tactical utility belt is the material. These days, most utility belts feature non-metal buckles, so you don't have to take them off through security. These kinds of belts typically come in the following options:

• Nylon - Ballistic nylon and Cordura nylon are generally considered the most popular materials used in utility belts. The super-tough webbing is resistant to rips, tears, and abrasions and works well in MOLLE/PALS systems.

• Polyester - Polyester is very similar to nylon in that it's a synthetic material woven to create a very tough, tactical-grade belt material. It also boasts impressive tensile strength and resistance to tearing and can be integrated into your MOLLE/PALS system.

• Leather - While leather belts are durable and offer a classic look (think: the Sam Browne belt), they're not the best for loading up and may crack, causing noise that could compromise your job.

• Cotton - Cotton webbing, such as canvas or duck, is a breathable and lightweight alternative to nylon or polyester, but it's not as durable. Avoid cotton in demanding situations.

• Step 2: Add Your Pouches and Cases - The next step in building your ideal utility belt is to equip it with utility pouches, cases, clips, and panels, which allow you to stack the belt with your gear. This is an essential step in building your MOLLE or PALS utility belt that specifically suits your haul. Choose pouches made from tactical materials like nylon or polyester webbing.

• Step 3: Add Support, if Needed - Your belt is built. Now it's time to make sure it's comfortable to wear on a day-to-day basis. Many people equip their utility belts with tactical utility suspenders to ensure that they stay in place all day without slippage or loosening. You may also equip your belt with belt keepers to keep your duty belt attached to your regular belt.

Trust LA Police Gear for Your Utility Needs

Whether you're an active-duty police officer or a civilian looking to employ the same systems used by law enforcement, LA Police Gear is here to help. Founded by Los Angeles law enforcement officers, we have nearly 20 years of experience outfitting cops and are happy to help you build your utility belt from the ground up.