12/3/09 - The M-Harness from CTOMS (Canadian Tactical & Operational Medical Solutions, Inc) is an evolution of their X-Belt PS, featured previously. The M-Harness can be considered as a special version of the X-Belt PS with a integrated Class II climbing harness with removable leg straps that can be donned or doffed without having to unbuckle, disturb or remove the load-bearing combat belt.

Background - CTOMS is a company dedicated to providing training and equipment for the medic and soldier, LE officer and paramedic, SAR technician, first responder and health care professionals that go into harms way and those that provide medical care in remote and dangerous places. CTOM's CEO, Chris Kopp, comes from an Army and Air Force Pararescue background as well as a climbing background, so he has always had an interest in those avenues of product development. The inspiration for this new product came from a PJ buddy of his named Mike, hence the name 'M-Harness'. The idea behind the M-Harness was to bridge the gap between having to wear a harness under a padded gun/combat belt by eliminating a second piece of equipment and speeding up/simplifying the process of donning and doffing a harness. While there were other designs on the market of belts with removable leg straps, none really were to his satisfaction so Chris wanted to start with a clean slate and design something that met his particular vision for functionality and practicality.

Description - The M-Harness is an evolution of the X-Belt PS; it shares the same padding system with its two side panels, rear panel and rear pad (details below). The difference is in the inner belt.

Inner Belt - Instead of the X-Belt QR rigger's-style belt, the inner belt on the M-Harness makes up part of the climbing harness, and is made for CTOMS by CMC Rescue. By itself, when used with the rear V-ring, the belt is a Class I safety belt. There is no front V or D-ring. It is designed with a non-adjustable Cobra buckle as the main front buckle. When designing the M-Harness, the biggest issue was having a quick-release buckle on the main belt. A gun belt without a QR buckle isn't practical, and even with all the safety features built into the Cobra and similar buckles, it still wasn't acceptable to Chris as an attachment on the main belt of a harness. He therefore had to design a system that allowed for both convenience and safety.

Adjustments are accomplished via a separate adjuster buckle under the PALS flap on the side. The reason for having separate main buckle and adjustment buckles is to facilitate the leg loop attachment system. On each side of the main Cobra buckle is space for the leg loop front attachment loops to thread through. When the leg loops are attached to the inner belt and connected with a carabiner, they capture the main quick release buckle so that even if it were to come undone, it does not affect the integrity of the harness in any way.

While the adjustments are on one side of the main belt, the rest of the belt is stiffened with plastic between the webbing to provide rigidity for a holster. Pouches on the side opposite the holster can be mounted to the PALS webbing on the outer sleeve. In the photos below, the sewn-on labels on the inner belt are upside down because it's reversed for me for left-handed holster mounting. Normally, the adjustment buckle will be on the left side, not the right.

Like the X-Belt QR, there is a 'mobile' drop down V-ring for rear attachment during rescue drags and as a quick attach point. This rear V-ring slides on the belt and is removable. Also included are two equipment loops. These are attached to the inner row of PALS sleeve are removable. They're used for hanging climbing equipment from. At the rear of the sleeve are two female SR buckles, for attaching the elastic straps on the leg loops to.

 

Padding System - The M-Harness shares the same padding system as the X-Belt PS. It is not just a sleeve through which the X-Belt QR (inner belt) is threaded through. It's actually made up of four separate pieces.

Side panels/pads (2) - The two side pads wrap around the hips at the front and extend around to the small of the back. They are fully padded and are lined with a Drilex wicking mesh material. A rigid plastic stiffening insert is sandwiched between the inner belt and pad to prevent any buckling or sagging of the belt under load. The center stitch also prevents rolling and slipping of the pad relative to the inner belt or outer portion and creates a small 'breathing channel'. Normally, padded belt sleeves have a channel where the inner belt goes through, with the outer portion sewn down at the top and bottom, with some openings on the bottom for attaching stuff to the inner belt. The M-Harness sleeve is completely open at the bottom, and the outer portion is more of a 'flap' than a 'sleeve'. The outer portion folds over the inner belt, leaving it open at the bottom so you're not restricted to a single place along the inner belt to hang a load from. The inner belt is threaded through some belt loops sewn to the pad, which has a single row of molle webbing at the bottom. The outer 'flap' secures to the pad with velcro and a snap tab at the front of the belt. The outer flap has 10 columns and 3 rows of molle webbing on it.
There are two suspender attach points (one with a D-ring) on each side pad (more on that later).

Rear panel - The rear panel is non-padded, and overlaps and connects the two side panels in the rear. At each end of the rear panel is a molle connector, which secures the ends to the side panels. The rear panel can be attached anywhere along the molle webbing on the side panels, thus providing girth adjustability. The inner belt runs through two belt loops on the inside of the rear panel. There are 12 columns of 3 rows of molle webbing on the rear panel. Also on the rear panel are four suspender attach points, the two rear with D-rings.

Rear pad - The rear pad slides over the inner belt and is centered between the two side pads. The pad is lined with non-slip material.

Leg-loops - The Leg Loops make up the other portion of the M-Harness; also built by CMC Rescue. The loops are adjusted and release by a 1.25" Cobra buckle on each side. The Cobra buckles were acceptable on the leg loops as you can still hang/rappel with only a waist belt (although it'd be uncomfortable), and the likelihood of both leg loops coming undone is very rare. The 1.25" Cobra buckle was chosen over the 1" buckle to provide an added safety factor as the side release buttons on the 1.25" buckle are flush with the body and the ones on the 1" buckle protrude. Cobra buckles are designed not to release when loaded, or even when one button is released.

A thick, stiff horizontal section of webbing joins the two leg loops. Above that section of webbing, are two vertical loops, or 'ears'. These loops are threaded through the webbing on the inner belt when the leg loops are installed. They capture the inner belt ends, so even if the main Cobra buckle is released, the ends are still connected via the horizontal section of webbing joining the leg loops. A carabiner (not included) then secures the 'ears'.

Two elastic straps at the rear of the leg loops connect to the female SR buckles on the main belt, in the rear. These keep the leg loops up. The M-Harness comes with a zippered leg-loop pouch which mounts to the back of the main belt with Malice clips.

For now, the inner belt and leg loops are only available in black.

 

Using the M-Harness - The inner belt is first adjusted to the correct waist size. Once adjusted, no further adjustments are necessary unless needed to accommodate thicker or thinner clothing. The main belt is donned, and the main Cobra buckle engaged. The two leg loop 'ears' are then threaded through the inner belt at the front, pulled through then secured with a carabiner. The leg loops are then buckled around the thighs and adjusted. Lastly, the rear elastic straps are snugged to take up the slack.

I got the chance to use the M-Harness back in October when Chris was in my area on a business trip. It'd been some years since I did any rappelling, so I was excited to do some, plus try out new equipment at the same time. Chris has set up my M-Harness beforehand to fit me, and also to accommadate left-handed holster use. At the rappel tower, Chris showed me how to don the M-Harness, and it only took half a minute to put on and adjust.

Chris had brought along all the additional equipment, including the rope, anchors and a proprietary/prototype descent control device (which is why it's pixelated in the photos below). A series of errors were made that resulted in an unplanned test of the descender on my first rappel, and me with some nasty rope burn on my hand. First, I had brought along my SWMS/Camelbak Friction Fighter gloves. When we went up into the tower the first time, I found that I had left my gloves in my pack at the bottom. Being lazy, I asked Chris "hey, think we'll need gloves?" and he replied "nah, you shouldn't need them." I should have gotten a clue when HE donned his for his rappel, but I didn't.

When it was my turn to go out the window, I made the second mistake of not getting familiar with the descent control device, which I had never seen or used before. I should have walked backwards with tension on the rope, and felt how much control the device gave. It seemed simple enough, so I just went with it. The third mistake was not thinking we needed a belay for safety. We were both complacent since it was only a couple of stories up, and he had trusted my previous rappelling experience. At least I had my Ops-Core Bump Shell on my noggin.

On my first rappel, I needed some slack in the rope to position myself on the window sill, so activated the descender so that it'd allow the rope to pass through. Without getting a feel for the descender first, I didn't have a good idea of how much was needed to brake or unbrake the rope. As a result, when I went out the window, I started going down the rope - fast. I realized that all I needed to do was let go of the descender and it'd automatically brake. The descender is designed to not lock immediately, but to slow the rate of descent in a controlled manner (I'm talking something like one second vs. immediately) to prevent injury to the user from an abrupt stop. So, when I released the descender, it started to do its job, but since took a few feet for it to stop me completely and I didn't know when exactly that would happen, I instinctively tightened my grip around the lower part of the rope with my guide hand. The descender brought me to a complete stop just in time for me to come to a stop before I hit the ground. I landed on my feet ungracefully, and otherwise unhurt except for the rope burn on my right hand. We were also using 6mm rope, which is thinner than normal, and it only took a second to take my skin off. After I had apologized for giving everyone heart attacks, and ensured them that I was fine, I grabbed my gloves out of my pack and put them on. Slowly. Then I played around with the descent control device to get a feel for it. Better late than never. (Note that the 6mm rope we were using is NOT the same as 6mm cord - this was specialized rope made from special material and is not commercially available at this time).

So, in that first rappel, I unwittingly proved that the prototype descent control device worked as designed, as did the M-Harness (much to Chris's glee). If either had failed, I could have suffered much more than just rope burn. I also learned my lesson to make sure that I try out any new equipment first to familiarize myself with it on level ground, or have a belay. Oh, and wear my gloves, no matter how short the rappel is.

The rest of the rappels went without incident, although we DID use a belay/safety line from then on. In the photos below, which were taken after I had put my gloves on, you can see the OD green belay rope and the tan 6mm rope which I'm rappelling down. The M-Harness felt comfortable and secure, whether I was descending or just hanging on the rope for a while. The padding felt good and the leg loops didn't scrunch or pinch any more than other climbing harnesses I've used in the past. Doffing the leg loops took a matter of seconds, when we were done.

 

The beauty of the M-Harness is that it integrates a Class II climbing harness with a battle belt, so there's no intereference between the two, or overlapping of buckles, webbing etc. By combining the two pieces of equipment, it reduces weight and bulk while streamlining the system. By having removable leg loops, you don't have to wear the leg loops until you need them, and when you do, they're a breeze to put on. The M-Harness has not been added to the CTOMS website yet, so call them to order.

 

1/16/10 - The Enhanced Rigger's Belt from 215Gear is an alternative to their Ultimate Rigger's Belt for those who don't need the quick-release Cobra buckle feature. What makes it unique among rigger's belts is that it doesn't have the standard parachute hardware that rusts, and the usual metal V-ring has been replaced by a sewn-in attachment point. This makes for a simpler, lighter design.

Description - The Enhanced Rigger's Belt (I'll refer to it as the ERB for short) is made to the same standards as the Ultimate Rigger's Belt, but with a coated stainless steel slide instead of the Cobra buckle. The slide buckle is Austrialpin's SlideBloc buckle, which is a self-locking framebuckle made of black coated A4 stainless tool steel with a moving stainless steel middle bar.

The belt itself is 1-3/4" wide and made of a double layer of parachute webbing for the main part of the belt (threThe stitching on the entire belt uses heavier thread (instead of the standard #69 thread used on most rigger's belts) on a class 7 sewing machine. There are six rows of stitching along the entire length of the belt, in addition to the 4 inches of WW stitching right behind the sewn-in carabiner attach point, which helps stiffen the belt without the need for an insert, and reduce rollover. There is more than enough loop velcro sewn to the outside of the belt to retain the loose end (tongue) of the belt. The belt is available in medium (30-35" waist), large (35-40"), and X-large (40-45").

The most unique feature of the ERB is the sewn-in attach point. Rather ingenious, I think. Instead of the forged V-ring that's used on most rigger's belt, the sides of the outer layer of webbing are folded inwards and are sewn to form a loop for attaching a carabiner. The loops is there for instant access, and there is no need to have an additional velcro tab to secure a V-ring when not in use. The sewn-in loop is also lighter, and takes up less space at the front of the belt.

Buckle/loop details

Back side of buckle

Observations/Notes - The Austrialpin SlideBloc buckle is lighter than most forged buckles used on rigger's belts, but also a bit taller, at 2-3/4" vs. 2-3/8". This is the only issue that I encountered with the buckle - that it's tall enough that it can extend above the top of the pant (as seen in the photos below). The edges/corners on the back side of the stainless slider are a bit sharp, and if I'm not wearing a t-shirt tucked into the pant waist, the buckle can poke me in my spare tire if i'm seated or bending down, which isn't the most comfortable. Now, I'm not fat, but I'm not the slimmest around the waist either. At the end of the day, I found myself with a little indentation where the top of the buckle stuck into my fat. One thing that reduced this is to wear the belt with the buckle off-center, and with the loop centered instead. This puts the buckle closer to a belt loop and less likely for the top of the pant to slip further below the buckle.

I have rigger's belts with the standard buckle and the quick-release Cobra buckles. I like the convenience of quick-release Cobra buckles once the belt is on, but dislike having to remove the male portion from the belt if I have to thread it through smaller belt loops. Another convenience with a quick-release buckle is that once the belt length is adjusted, you don't have to mess with re-adjusting it every time the pants are unbuttoned, and thread the tongue behind belt-mounted pouches or a holster. So, it's a give-and-take situation when it comes to choosing between a rigger's belt with a quick-release feature or buckle like the ERB where you have to thread the tongue through. The single-layer, rounded end of the tongue also aids in threading it through belt loops and the buckle. Other than my small issue with the buckle, I found the ERB stiff, and otherwise comfortable for every day use. Most of all, I appreciate the light weight, high quality construction, and simplicity of the sewn-in loop.

 

11/11/11 - The H·150 Riggers Belt from Arc'teryx LEAF is a departure from the typical thick scuba/parachute webbing riggers belts. Instead, it's utilizes Arc'teryx's Warp Strength® Technology to spread the load uniformly across the entire belt, resulting in a very thin, low profile belt. While supple along its longitudinal axis, it's stiff enough vertically to support a holster and other light weight belt pouches.

The H·150 is designed as a lightweight, comfortable belt intended as a 'belt for travel restraint' under the EN 358 standard. This means that it's not meant for mountaineering or climbing, but as a restraint (on a helicoptor, boat etc) to prevent the user from reaching a position where a fall can occur. It does not meet the requirements for fall arrest. In other words, use it to prevent a fall; not as a climbing harness to stop you during a fall.

Warp Strength® Technology - Arc'teryx's Warp Strength Technology (WST) equally distributes pressure from edge to edge with minimal bulk and light weight. It's used in Arc'teryx's climbing harnesses (which have leg loops), and now in the H·150. Shown below is a WST sample, that illustrates the technology. A 3/4" wide length of Type 66 flat nylon webbing is spread out to 2" wide by removing the weft yarn (the cross-wise yarn) which 'binds' the warp yarn (longitudinal threads) together. The best way I can describe it is that it's what happens to your Levi's when you have holes in them, and the frays develop into long horizontal strands when the vertical threads are removed. In the first photo below, I've started to unravel the weft yarn in the webbing, which zig-zags across the warp yarn, by pulling it out. The warp threads then separate, without anything to hold them together.

The WST removes the warp yarn for a section in the middle of the belt, leaving the ends intact. This creates a continuous, flat webbing belt that's wide in the middle and skinny at the ends. The wide section is laminated, which provides the laternal stiffness for the belt, then covered in stretch woven fabric, to create a 5-ply construction. The result of this design is a very thin belt that's supple along its length, but stiff enough to carry a handgun. It's also much more comfortable than the standard thick rigger's belts.

Separated warp and weft threads

WST sample

Description - The H·150 comes in a small mesh bag that's recommended for use when storing or transporting it. The H·150 has 2" wide main portion, which tapers at both ends. At each end, the unseparated 3/4" wide webbing exits the main portion to form the buckle end, and the loose end. There are two keeper loops on the outside of the belt to secure the loose length of webbing. On my medium belt, the webbing is 19" long. There are also two black equipment loops at the bottom of the belt - these are normally used for clipping the hook of a lanyard or restraint to, when not hooked up to whatever vehicle the user is in.

H·150 and bag

Loose end

Buckle end

The buckle is made of 7075 T6 anodized aluminum, and is auto locking. It's actually made up of two seperate pieces, and is attached to the 3/4" webbing that's doubled back to form a loop. There are some very serious bartacks just aft of the buckle, spaced about 3" apart. These form the anchor loop in between the bartacks, and the loop is further reinforced from wear and abrasion. At the loose end side, a white instruction label is sewn behind the 3/4" webbing, which shows the correct way to thread the webbing through the buckle. The H·150 is available in black, Crye Multicam, and Crocodile (shown here), in sizes XS through XXL. The H·150 weighs only 5.3 oz (for size medium).

Buckle and anchor loop

Back of buckle side

Instruction label

Webbing secured

Anchor loop

Observations/Notes - The swami belt design of the H·150 belt can be traced back to Arc'teryx's climbing harnesses, which incorporate the Warp Strength Technology. Even so, it is not to be used for climbing or fall arrest, but only for travel restraint with a safety tether. When used as a travel restraint, it's important to periodically inspect the H·150 for any wear or damage that might compromise its integrity. Treat it like you would a climbing harness.

The H·150 is the lightest, most packable and comfortable rigger's belt I've come across yet. The 2" width enables it to be worn with most tactical pants and BDUs, whereas a regular rigger's belt can be too thick for some. Ironically, when worn with the Arc'teryx LEAF Sphinx or Talos pants in size medium, the equipment loops on the H·150 belt line up exactly, such that they're covered by the belt loops (see photos below). That's something that LEAF should be able to correct quite easily (I think), to ensure that the loops on the belt are offset from the pant loops for the corresponding sizes of their pants. When worn with other brands, the loops are accessible. The loops tend to hang up on belt loops when donning the belt, so it's not as smooth thread through belt loops as say, a leather pant belt. The loops can be cut off by the user, if the user deems fit.

When worn normally, the anchor loop is centered in the front, not the buckle. The belt can also be worn backwards with the anchor loop at the rear, to provide a rear tie-in point. The loose webbing end is long enough so that you don't have to thread and unthread it through the buckle to don and doff your pants - handy for keeping anything mounted from sliding off. The belt can also be worn upside down, so that the loose end is on the right. the equipment loops end up on the top of the belt, though.

While the H·150 has been tested with a number of different holsters and pouches hanging from it, it was never intended to replace padded 'battle belt' rigs. But, that won't deter people from attempting to use it as such. That being said, it's stiff enough to carry a handgun and a couple of extra magazines, or some light weight pouches. I don't think that it's the most convenient belt to use as a gun belt, because of the long loose end of webbing that needs to go somewhere to be secured (especially for a left-side mounted holster). If pouches or a pistol are mounted there, it can probably be tucked behind the belt then downwards. The same issue crops up when using standard rigger's belts with a longer loose end, vs a leather gunbelt where the loose end goes behind the belt, through the buckle. While Arc'teryx does not recommend it, the long loose webbing can be shortened, as long as the end is folded over and sewn down the same way. Note again that it's up to the user's discretion to alter the product against the manufacturer's recommendation.

When worn with a minimal load, like a Glock 19 and one spare mag, the H·150 is very comfortable and stable, with no rigid scuba webbing to dig into your hip bones. The H·150 is also thin enough to wear under a battle belt, just as a pants belt. To the general public, it's also not as 'tactical' looking as a thick rigger's belt with metal V-ring.

Like many of LEAF's products, the H·150 is a specialized item. For those who will use it as intended, and are looking for a lighter, more streamlined and comfortable alternative to a standard rigger's belt, it's well worth looking into.

With Sphinx pants

TAD pants

Talos pants