Chad Wallace

May 22, 2022

Review

KORE Essentials Battle Belt

Chad Wallace

May 22, 2022

Review

If you go to the range a lot, or need something to hold a bunch of gear around your waist, a battle belt may be what you need. The battle belt gives you a great way of holding all the gear that you need around your waist. Like a holster, magazine carriers, IFAK, etc. Kore Essentials sent me one of their new Battle Belt kits, plus a hanger for when it’s not in use.

The Kore Battle Belt system comes with 2 belts, an inner and an outer, both of which are adjustable. The inner belt is 1.5” wide and has soft loop velcro on the outer side. The outer belt is 1.75” wide and has the hook loop velcro on the inner side. This is so you can put the inner belt through your belt loops like normal, and then just put the outer belt over it. This hook and loop style system has been in use for years and works extremely well. Now for the adjustable part. The inner belt just velcros onto itself for tightness adjustments. However, the inner belt has a portion of hex material. This Hex section is thinner than the rest of the belt, but still strong. The hex portion is made so that when you tighten the outer belt, it can flex and make the outer adjustment possible.

Kore Essentials outer belt is where all the real magic happens. First, it has a track system that mates with an adjustable buckle. Yes, that’s correct, an easily adjustable outer belt. There are 20 little tracks inside the belt that the buckle can grab onto. Each track is ¼” apart. So essentially you have 5” of adjustment, or 2.5” in each direction. This adjustment is what sets the Kore Essentials Battle belt apart from the rest. It is super easy to adjust while wearing it. To loosen the belt, there is a little tab on the top of the buckle that you push away from your body. Just push it and either loosen the belt, or take it off completely. To tighten the belt, just push the belt in and the buckle ratchets over the tracks. It then holds tight when you find the right adjustment. The loosening tab can take a little getting used to, it can be hard to find when the belt is cinched up. There is also a velcro keeper that keeps the extra belt tang contained.

The outer belt is stout. As Kore Essentials says "Outer Battle Belt is Nylon Web flanked by two rows of Molles, a Super-Fiber inner lining & proprietary Reinforced Power-Core™ center". What does that mean for you? Well, it’s super strong and not flexible, just what you probably want in a battle belt. The MOLLE allows you to easily attach all the goodies like magazine carriers, first aid kits, etc. The reinforced core lets you hand lots of weight on the belt without it flexing in the wrong way. Kore says it can handle up to 20 pounds of gear. I’m running a holster, IFAK, 2 AR mags, 3 pistol mags, and a dump pouch without any problems.

With most battle belts, you must decide what size to purchase, not the Kore Essentials one. Because of the way Kore Essentials does this battle belt, it comes large enough to fit a 48” waist. The Kore Battle Belts are made to be cut down to your specific size using their supplied measuring tape system. Just line up the tape with the end of the belt that has the track on it. Then cut the outer belt to your pant size and the inner belt to 1” less than your pant size. I did this first using my pant size that I carry IWB with, the belt was a little long, so I cut it down 2” to my actual pant size. The belts fits me great. The belts are pretty tuff, so use something really sharp, or really sturdy scissors. I used tin snips. Then hit the ends with a lighter or heat gun to keep them from fraying. Now that the belts are cut, you can install the buckle. Put the buckle on the outer belt, where you cut it, clamp it on and then install the screws to keep it super secure. Kore also gives you a crimp on end for the inner belt. I couldn’t get it to crimp on properly, it just wouldn’t stay. So I threw the metal clip away and just wrapped some duct tape around it.

I have been using the Kore Essentials battle belt on most of my range trips. It really is a nice piece of gear. My biggest complaint, and it’s not just from Kore, is that the MOLLE isn’t spaced properly for most stuff to fit tightly. This is a 1.75” belt problem in general, not just the Kore Essentials one. My favorite part of the Kore battle belt is that it can be adjusted on the fly. They also sent me a closet hanger, which is pretty neat. The buckle just clicks onto it and you can hang the belt in your closet.

The Kore Battle Belt system is really that, a system. The two belts work seamlessly together. Having the ability to adjust your battle belt on the fly is great and Kore’s ratchet system works well for this. Being able to buy it as a one size fits most, is also pretty cool. The price is reasonable for what you are getting also. If you are in the market for a battle/duty belt, give Kore Essentials a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Adjustable Battle/Duty belt with inner velcro belt

Target Market:

Those needing a rugged, heavy duty range belt with MOLLE

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Adjustable sizing
2 belt system (inner & outer)
1.75” wide outer belt
1.5” wide inner belt
Holds up to 20 lbs
24”-48” sizing

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Coyote and Ranger Green

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars @koreessentials.com

BEST BATTLE BELT I'VE EVER USED.

FRANCIS C.

As a security officer and firearms instructor I run through a lot of equipment. I 1st came across the Kore Essential belt systems about 3 years ago loved the idea of the ratchet system on the EDC belts been hooked on them ever since and that's all I've used. Then came the battle belt and I was more impressed than ever these belts are not only tough but they make your equipment float around your waist it's like you're wearing nothing at all. Although the belts are rated to carry 20 pounds you would have to carry a whole bunch of stuff to fill any kind of weight at least that's how I feel. I love these belts, good job Kore Essential, you hit another home run!!! I turned my students and other security officers on to your belt systems, they all love them, no bad reviews yet.

Link to other reviews:

The Armory Life

Price point:

MSRP = $139.95

Retail = $139.95 at Glock Store

I need it now! Availability:

Kore Essentials

Our Rating:

Pros:

Stiff - in a good way
Adjustable
MOLLE compatible
Inner/outer belt system
Holds all my gear easily

Cons:

MOLLE spacing isn't quite correct
Buckle latch can be odd to use
Frays where cut (lighter took care of this)
Inner belt, crimp on end clamp sucks

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link: Gun Guys Garage

Community Reviewer

April 7, 2022

Brash Tactical

Community Reviewer

April 7, 2022

Brash Tactical has come into the gear/accessory market with a bunch of products. These products are made in the USA with mostly American sourced materials. Brash Tactical sent the Gun & Gear Podcast crew a bunch of stuff to try out. We have been using the stuff for some time now.

The products Brash Tactical sent us were belts and slings. We will have a short section discussing the products each of us received.

Chad:

Double Duty + Kydex Leather Belt - Black: $49.99

This belt, as the name says, is a double layer, 1.5” wide, leather belt with a kydex insert for stiffness. The belt uses 2 layers of 8 oz American steer hide that is also tanned in America. Brash Tactical then sews these two pieces over the kydex. The US made steel roller buckle is attached in place by looping the outer layer of leather through it and then riveting the leather to hold it in place. Brash Tactical uses ¾” hole spacing on the adjustment holes.

I have been wearing this belt everyday since it arrived. It is a beast of a leather belt! The belt is around 5/16” thick. I really do like the thickness, it will hold up just about any pistol you decide to carry on it. Where the buckle attaches, there is only a single layer of leather, this makes it easier to use, as well as not making it as thick where the tail rides. The one problem I have with the belt is that the kydex seems to have either set or cracked, where it makes a sharp turn around my IWB holster. It doesn’t affect the belt any, it just looks a little odd. The belt still looks very good and is comfortable to wear. Next time, I’d probably opt for just the non kydex double duty belt, or the Hybrid like Zane and Rob received.

Deluxe Quick-Adjust 2 Point Sling - Multicam black w/QD’s: $19.99

Brash Tactical’s Quick-Adjust sling is a 1” wide, mil-spec webbing, 2 point sling. It comes in a variety of colors or patterns, they sent me Multicam Black with the optional QD’s. This sling uses a quick release steel cam buckle. With the paracord handle that is attached to the cam buckle, you can easily make the sling shorter or longer. Just pull the tab away from you to lengthen the sling. Or pull the buckle up and in toward you, to make the sling shorter.

The Quick-Adjust sling is easy to use. I found that it works better if the attachments (QD’s) are spaced farther apart on the rifle. So one up by the muzzle, and the other at the rear of the stock. This sling is a little awkward if the mounting points are close together. However, the sling does what it is supposed to do. The 1” wide webbing is a little narrow for my liking, or it needs padding. But for a US made sling for $20, you honestly can’t go wrong.

Loop-Adjust Sling - Black w/QD’s: $17.99

The Loop Adjust Sling is also a 1” wide, mil-spec webbed, 2 point sling. The difference is the hand loop that is used to adjust the length. Just pull/slide it up or down to shorten or lengthen the sling. It really is that simple.

Brash Tactical Loop Sling is one of the easiest slings to adjust. I really do like this sling. Its adjustments are just so easy and intuitive. I was worried that because it was so easy to adjust, it would loosen up. That was not the case, it is very tight when in use. Yes, it also uses the 1” webbing, so it can dig into your shoulder a little bit, but that’s only after extended use. For a $18 US made sling with QD’s, how can you really go wrong.

Rob:

Hybrid Leather and Nylon +Kydex Belt: $39.99

When I received the belt, the buckle prong was on the wrong side of the frame. This meant that you could not insert the belt through the punch holes. I reached out to Chris, sent him a few photos, and he sent me a return receipt to send the belt back. A little over two weeks later I had the replacement with the prong on the correct side,

The belt felt strong and fit well. I have been using this belt for two months and have no major complaints so far. The kydex insert supports full size pistols with ease and this is a solid belt.

My main issue with this is the kydex stops just before the punch holes. My experience with similar belts is, after time, the holes will start to open (stretch) causing the belt to slide down. My personal preference is their double duty belt, where the Kydex takes up the full length of the belt, but that is just a preference. (Editorial note: The kydex doesn’t run through the holes on the Double Duty belt, but it is two layers of leather, which can help with this)

Tony:

Loop-Adjust Sling: $17.99

Single Point Sling: $29.99

I received the Brash Tactical Loop Adjustable sling and their Single Point Bungee sling. The 2 point sling was installed on my Hi Point 995 carbine in a High Tower Armory MBS 95 chassis. The sling worked well with the bullpup design, the adjustment allowed the gun to be brought tight into my body when needed. It's easy to manipulate.

The con for the Brash Tactical 2 point slings is it lacks width. That lack of width causes the 9 pound carbine to quickly become (at first) annoying and eventually irritating on my shoulder. Taking an all day class or carrying it for a few hours would become distracting if not painful. It needs to be wider, thicker and maybe have some padding. For short range trips it won't bother most people.

The single point bungee sling was way too long and had no adjustment in the bag for length. I installed it on my 10/22 in the High Tower Armory 90/22 chassis that I use to introduce kids to firearms. The sling suspended the firearm below my belt buckle. Regardless of placement it hung too low to be of any practical value. If there's a method of shortening the sling it would work well.

For multi hour use, I wouldn't recommend either due to the negatives.

Zane:

Zane’s stuff will be added at a later date, or when he finishes it.