During DSEI we have you a taste of great things yo come from BFG. The Lightweight MOLLEminus Belt is now in production with delivery to commence shortly in MultiCam with other colors to soon follow. Sizes 28-46.
I am very impressed with this belt which not only boasts light weight and ergonomic design, but also a static load rating of 3500lbs (15.5 kN).
Here is their press release:
BLUE FORCE GEAR® ANNOUNCES THE LIGHTEST MOLLE COMPATIBLE SAFETY RESTRAINT BELT EVER MADE
POOLER, GA (January 16, 2020) — Blue Force Gear’s absolute dedication to Lighten the Load™ for the warfighter has led to the development of a state-of-the-art, fully MOLLE-compatible belt system that – incredibly – weighs just half as much as competing brands, and with a static load rating of 3500lbs (15.5 kN). Intelligent design, proprietary ULTRAcomp laminate and valuable feedback from elite professionals all contributed to the success of this belt system, one we are very proud to bring to market.
“Our new Lightweight MOLLEminus® Belt is the result of many months of focused design work and nearly daily interaction with our SOF customers. We listened intently to their evolving needs and the MOLLEminus Belt is a product of that synergy” said Stephen Hilliard, Director of Product Development for Blue Force Gear. Constructed using Blue Force Gear’s proprietary ULTRAcomp® laminate – a layered composite material – coupled with other technologically advanced components; the MAB is set to revolutionize how the modern warfighter carries their first-line kit.
Some innovative features include ULTRAcomp® laminate and composite components that are cut on a bias to provide custom-fit-comfort right out of the box. A lanyard “hard-point” at the rear of the belt is positioned for greater safety should the user depend on the restraint feature, and a matching inner belt is laser perforated for increased breathability and comfort. All this, and the Lightweight MOLLEminus Belt still comes in at only 0.65lbs for the inner/outer belt system (size 32).
The composite material sandwiched between the layers of the outer belt provide more than sufficient stiffness to carry a sidearm, plus mission essential loads without affecting overall comfort, or compromising the stability of the system.
Lastly, the MAB is Made in America of Berry compliant materials and will be available 4th quarter, 2019.
For more information, technical specs or to view video demonstrations of Blue Force Gear products, visit us at www.blueforcegear.com
Someone needs to contact a web administrator at blue force gear. Their website features multiple images of people carrying mission essential items at the easily accessible 6 o’clock position on their belts. BFG clearly feels that is unsound, as they decided to put a superfluous lanyard “hard-point.”
I would much prefer it without both lanyard points too
It’s coming. You’re not the only one to ask for such.
lcpl1066,
The end-users for whom this belt was designed have as a part of their mission-set the need to tether into the helicopters that get them to and from work. That is the reasoning behind having the tether points where they are located; the commandos we designed the belt for asked us to put them there. Also, the rear lanyard point is not stiffened so you can run a pouch over the top of it (or above or below it). Lastly, we will have a version without them available next.
Thanks,
Stephen
How much to do you tie into aircraft? Serious question. There are other companies who do the same.
@ Watch these and broaden your knowledge base.
https://youtu.be/j7D4B2-jWc8
https://youtu.be/MhpPB_yGIas
You answer someone’s legitimate criticism of hard-point placement with a flippant comment to watch some BFG marketing material. Specifically, the first is a two and a half minute sales pitch that doesn’t really address the issue and the second is 22 minutes I’m not going to sit through.
If you can’t provide a meaningful counterthesis in a hundred words or less,….
He said broaden. You’re unwillingness to spend the time watching a video isn’t our problem. Perhaps he thought the video could do a better job explaining than he could and was trying to help a guy out.
I don’t know, but maybe the company that designed the belt could provide answers that you, some other joe, lcpl1066, and others seek in regards to why a product exists, and why it has certain design features. People wanting specific answers to a question, but only in 100 word length format probably have bigger issues than not understanding Military belt design criteria.
How about this? You may not need it. It’s ok.
@ lcpl1066
I’ve had one these for a few months and I think its great. I like the hard points and my IFAK easily fits on the belt just below the 6 o’clock hard point. It’s my favorite duty gunbelt.
In 2019 at IWA we launched AWB – Anatomic War Belt. Conical shape, double layered and weight quite identical to BFG’s, so I would be careful about statements such as BFG’s.
Anyway. It is cool to see that a small company form the Czech Republic such as Fenix-Protector is inspiring one of the world most known companies out there.
https://www.fenix-protector.com/en/produkt/opasek-awb/
Shout out to BFG 🙂
2019 huh? Prepare for everyone to tell you about belts that have been on the market for decades with an anatomical shape.
You’re seriously not claiming to be the first to design a war belt with an anatomical shape in 2019? I can name at least a dozen companies that had one before 2010. Hell… I made one on my own in a connex box in Afghanistan so I guess I’m the one that inspired everyone else! Hey Eric… I want my royalties!!
If you want to get specific, we were inspired by the dozens of leather belts we’ve owned and worn throughout our daily lives that take on the anatomic curvature of the wearer after years of use.
Also, our design cycles may be a little longer than yours; I started on this belt around 3 and a half years ago and even sent several out to friends in industry to provide some beta feedback.
As the Director of Product Development at BFG, I go to GREAT lengths to make sure myself and my designers aren’t inspired by other designs. I can think of 2, maybe 3 times that I actually had to pull a project because we found a competitor’s product that looked or functioned too similarly.
Thanks,
Bravo Stephen. Keep up the great work!
Stephen,
What is the price point? I can’t find it anywhere.
Thanks,
We are honoured that such a name in business like BFG is using one of our concepts, the conical shape for weight transfer.
However I would be careful with statements of “the lightest” out there… we achieved even lower weight with our AWB (Anatomic War Belt).
Best regards
Dominik from Fenix-Protector
For some reason my previous comment was not approved…so I will try to not post any links here
Shaped conical belts have been around for a looooong time, do you really believe you where the first? When did you first come out with one?
Can you quote a source that such a belt was on the market? If such belt actually was on the market, why it is not widely used ? Crye, Arc’Teryx or some other global manufacturer would have one in their portfolio I assume.
Try Google which you should have done before you made this accusation. They are all over the place and have been.
You mean an accusation that we had this concept earlier and are still lighter ? I stand behind that one. Please provide a source of a curved combat double layered belt which was out there fora loong time so you can back up your claim.
I don’t hate on BFG, its a compliment that they are making such equipment.
Br
Dom
Let’s see… Blackhawk… LBT… TAG… Condor… Tactical Tailor… Raven Concealment… HSGI… HTC… Safariland… a dozen Chinese knockoff companies… and any guy that had access to someone to sew for them that was running overseas.
There are gun belts from the 1800’s that are anatomically curved for the human body…
So you’re saying that you invented curved waist belts? What year was that?
Let’s see … in the late 80s, companies were making curved leather duty belts for women in law enforcement. So, yeah, as you’ve mention, curved gun belts have been around for a bit.
Pretty sure that anatomically-contoured leather belts have been around since medieval times…
What if I told you American gun belt companies have been making curved gun belts for decades? Anatomical shaping of load-carriage belts is hardly new.
http://www.frontiergunleather.com/index.php/gunbelt-sizing
https://www.miltsparks.com/belts.php
Crye BLAST BELT ca 2010/2 and its lower profile version
Kifaru with their belts ala 2001/2
Alright let’s make this clear. No we haven’t invented curved belt.
And now let’s look at a comparison:
BFG release date 2020, Fenix Protector release date 2019
————————————————————
Sandwich material – BFG yes, FP yes
Double layered construction – BFG yes, FP yes
Cobra type buckle – BFG yes, FP yes
Conical shape- BFG yes, FP yes
Webbing weaved through outer belt BFG yes, FP yes
————————————————————-
Cheers
Dom