One of the best hidden gems at SHOT Show was Blue Force Gear’s BELTminus. Based on their proven Helium Whisper technology it was sort of hidden in plain sight in the corner of their booth and unfortunately eclipsed by the unveiling of Blue Force Gear’s new signature pack collaboration with Chris Costa.
So what’s this BELTminus thing anyway? Well in a nutshell, it’s a modernized version of the old load carriage belt and suspender combo worn for centuries. Like I said, Blue Force Gear has revived this older style but updated it with their Helium Whisper technology making it lighter and stronger than previous models out there. Additionally, as the military begins to shift focus toward hot wet (ie jungle) environments, the fact that this material won’t soak up a bunch of water is pretty desirable. Naturally, the whole kit and caboodle is PALS compatible so you can configure as much or as little load as you need. Additionally, they are offering two mesh-lined shoulder strap versions; the enhanced padded model and the low profile, free breathing model.
“We’ve gone back to the basics with BELTminus.” said Ashley Burnsed, Blue Force Gear’s CEO. “The classic belt kit had a lot to offer the modern warrior but the concept needed updating. We applied our MOLLEminus technology to bring the belt kit into the 21st century, making it the lightest modular system available.”
The new BELTminus moves your load down on to your waist and is intended for applications where you won’t be wearing full armor carriers. In addition to jungle and maritime applications, this could also mean concealed use under an over garment.
This is a sized item because they don’t want you to have to carry around a bunch of excess material. Determine size by tape measuring your true waist size where the BELTminus will be worn over clothing with sizing ranging from XSmall – XLarge.
Available now in MultiCam with Urban Wolf Grey and Coyote coming soon.
Tags: Blue Force Gear, Helium Whisper
In stock at O P Tactical last I checked.
ANy idea if these can be worn as a traditional “war belt” or if the use of suspenders, as part of the concept, is required?
Alex,
The shoulder strap webbing is sewn onto the BELTminus and we do not recommend running it without suspenders: that’s what our SOC-C is for. This rig was designed around a heavy infantry patrol load out (8 mags, 2-4 liters of water, IFAK, food and a shell) with your first line worn on a separate pants belt. However, we always look forward to seeing all the ways end users employ it.
Looks great JF. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the reply. That is pretty much what I figured from the pictures/description. I really like the concept, keep up the good ideas.