As Chris (Rocoski) once said to me “Condor sucks” and I would have to agree with him, they really do suck! There chest rigs and other equipment may fine, but there gun belts are not very good.
First of all, they offer zero support for your guns and gear. They are soft, with no internal support or structure. Any applied weight will make your gear sag and move around. And the supplied belt keepers are just as bad.
The velcrose liner on the inner and outer belts are opposite of any other
manufacture. So when you do buy a better outer belt, it will not be able to adhere to the Condor inner belt. Also the outer belt is so wide, most quality holsters will not fit the belt. While i can see Army Surplus stores low cost appealing to the new shooter, in the long run it will just be a waste of your money. Look at it this way…..how long did those payless shoes last you before you went out and bought some quality runners that gave your feet the proper support and comfort?
Another cheap alternative people tend waste their money on is the package deals from a company called 911gear.ca. These packages are so bad that they make Condor look good!
These kits include a useless magazine,handcuff,baton and flashlight pouches. The supplied holsters are also useless and the brass snaps will most certainly scratch your gun and its universal fit will leave you gun slopping around in your holster or even possible fall out!
Leather belts maybe fine for Cowboy Action Shooting, but thinner CCW styles leather belts tend to loose their stiffness over a short period of time. Also having to take your gear on and off your belt each time you gear up is a pain and your gear can slide and move around on your belt.
For the new shooter, the best bang for the buck l would suggest would be an Uncle Mikes belt and a kydex holster if you are planning to compete. There belts are very reasonable price, well made and readily available at most retailers. Size selection maybe a little bit limited for the larger shooter.
When l first started shooting PPC many years ago, l purchased and Uncle Mikes inner and outer belt. I still use it for my 1911 and it is still going strong and being used.
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=3307797011
If you can afford it, we would suggest spending the extra money now and purchase a higher quality belt to start. A quality CR Speed, Ghost, Ernie Hill ect will give your guns and gear the proper support and adaptability you will need in order to compete.
Show Music: I like Guns by Steve Lee
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2 responses to “Episode 43 – Gun Belts”
One consideration when connecting equipment to your belt, in particular in terms of shotgun or three gun is the massive reduction in velcro connectivity between the inner and outer belts as a result of the gear. A simple solution is to utilize velcro tape available at Canadian Tire etc. Apply it to the backs of the gear and you will be amazed in the difference in terms of the rigidity of your gear.
On CTC’s suggestion, I picked up a Black Scorpion belt. Not as cheap as the Uncle Mikes, but offers inner/outer belts and is decently stiff.