What do you carry on your belt?

[VertigoBE]

So I've been giving this some thought recently. After my first African safari experience, and now in eager expectation of receiving my Heym, I think I need to upgrade a bit my gear for the next safari. No more every pants pocket and shirt pocket stuffed with stuff, having to use a small camera pouch stuffed with toilet paper to carry my extra rounds silently, let's do things right.

What I do know is that although those dedicated culling belts with fixed ammo loops are gorgeous, I'd rather have separate ammo holders that slide on. That way I can switch from 7x65r to 300WinMag to .375H&H or anything else I would wish. I also think I would prefer to have closed cases, preferably with no metal (button) sticking out that could rub against the stock of my rifle... talk to @chashardy if you need to know why I also never expect to be in such a hurry that pushing a flap open (I can unbotton before if necessary) to pull a cartridge from, would impede me.

Next to the ammo holder, I'd like my belt to hold my
- @Von Gruff PH EDC (although thinking of ordering an extra sheath with retention)
- Leatherman (thinking of maybe going for a smaller, lighter victorinox instead though, I just like having the pliers)
- Headlight (more practical than a handheld torch, when pulling an animal to the road in the dark)

I'll keep my cellphone (for the pictures) in a closed pocket, as well as a handkerchief and a chap stick.

So what else do you keep on your belt?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Nothing. I find anything on my belt to be annoying, especially if you need to leopard crawl or butt shuffle. I wear long trousers with a thigh pouch either side - pocket binos in the left, knife in the right. Velcro flaps keep everything where it should be. You don't even notice it is there, unlike stuff that bulges in hip pockets.
Four rounds in loops above my left shirt breast pocket, you can add a few more to make that six if you really must.
The trackers carry the water and anything else.

 

[Nyati]

Just a light folding knife.

 

[Red Leg]

For Africa? - knife and ammunition. The belt is by Murray and the knife by @Von Gruff.

 

[Jörg Krüger]

My folding Buck knife an 10 round ammo pouch

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I too don't care for a lot on my belt, in Africa or for everyday. 99% of the time the only thing on my belt is my Leatherman, and mine is an old style Leatherman Super Tool. I am very purposeful in this model, and feel naked without it.

For some of the items you mention, in a hunting situation, I'm a vest guy. I try to minimize but make use of pockets on a vest for critical items, while all else goes in the daypack. For additional rounds, I'm partial to buttstock ammo carriers; the type in the photo is my favorite. I have not had an issue with losing rounds.

 

[IvW]

Open ammo holders x2, knife.
All the rest of what I take goes in the day pack carried by one of the trackers and although small can be quite a bit....I never leave the truck without the pack.

 

[PARA45]

Here in GA my side arm, in Africa, nothing.

 

[Joker12]

Here in GA my side arm, in Africa, nothing.

I do the same northern Michigan. I almost always have my bird dog with me and have no intention of feeding her to the wolves.

 

[Happy Myles]

For Africa? - knife and ammunition. The belt is by Murray and the knife by @Von Gruff.
View attachment 434631

Handsome gear

 

[One Day...]

• Spare ammo: open .470 NE 8 pack OR closed flap 10 round pouch for .458 Lott / .375 H&H / .300 Wby / .257 Wby depending on what rifle / barrel I carry. Spare ammo is obvious, no need to comment.
• Hunting Knife: I used to carry a 4" fixed blade Puma. I now carry a 3" folding blade Puma, which is easier while ridding in the truck. A hunting knife is rarely needed in Africa, but a good blade is invaluable when needed.
• Flashlight: I used to carry a mini Maglite. I now carry a Streamlight ProTac 2L-X. I have come back to the truck too often at night while hunting in Africa (or elsewhere) to ever be without a flashlight.
• Camera: the best 1" sensor compact camera money can buy, I used to carry a Sony RX100 II. Now I carry a Sony RX100 V A. I like pro-quality pictures of sceneries, animals, people, along the way, not just trophy pictures after the kill. Africa is too far and too rare to miss a good pic. I always have a camera within reach when hunting in Africa (or elsewhere).
• Glasses: 1.5x foldable reading glasses are now mandatory if I want to see anything sharp up close...
• Swiss Army multi-knife/multi-tool: The Swiss Army Champion multi-knife/multi-tool has too many uses to describe... Actual field use examples include: tweezers to remove splinters; magnifier to see splinters; scissors to round up broken nails; surgically sharp small blade to remove imbedded thorns; cork puller to open wine bottle; etc. etc.

I put the belt on in the morning when leaving camp, and remove it in the evening when coming back to camp, and never have to worry about having on me what I need, regardless of what layer I put on or off and what pockets the layers have or do not have.

I prefer the belt to the pockets because layers come off and invariably what is the pockets come off too.

The binoculars (Leica Geovid HD-B 10x42 for PG, OR light Leica Trinovid HD 8x32 for DG), and rifle complete the kit.

I too never leave the truck without a backpack with water; Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK); "possible bag" (spare batteries, toilet paper, Bic lighter, lens cleaning kit, compass, original Leatherman Super Tool, etc.); a fleece or Gore-Tex light rain jacket depending on season... I have yet to be on a hunt when a tracker is not insisting to carry it, which I accept because it is light (6 lbs. including 2 lbs. for a quart of water) and because my first PH explained to me that it would be offensive for me to refuse the tracker's offer.

 

[Happy Myles]

I have nothing on the belt that holds up my pants. My additional belt has ammo carrier, Leatherman, and a head net stuffed into small soft golf ball sized pouch, The ammo carrier may change for different cartridges, for different hunting, or for different weather conditions. The Leatherman because if I do not have, i or a crewman, will need pliers or screw driver, they all carry knives. The head net because I often hunt in areas where suddenly The Tsetse Fly will be indescribably bad. Also, the net is nice for a noonday snooze in the bush too. I like to be able to take off the ammo belt and relax. Also a lot easier when nature calls. My day pack, usually carried by a tracker, carries my other odds and ends.

 

[curtism1234]

IMO, a mid-large fanny pack is the way to go (preferably with multiple compartments). Just big enough to keep a bottle of water, snack, multi-tool, Band-Aid / aspirin, cartridges, etc. You can keep a larger pack in the vehicle for additional day items.

 

[IvW]

Depends on what yo are hunting or sometimes following up. Buff and elephant whatever you have in the truck is of no use if you are miles away on the tracks. Tracker carries a pack with all I need to stay out all day if need be. There are typically 3 and a game scout so 4 people who can carry what is needed for such an excursion. Carry the minimum on the belt

 

[YancyW]

Depends on where I am, in Africa I carry far less than if I am hunting in late fall in the mountains. Knife, tourniquet and some ammo is about it in Africa. I never leave the truck without a real knife and a tourniquet on my belt, ammo usually in belt punch, but sometimes just in pocket.

 

[MAdcox]

A small fixed bladed knife by Muela that I have carried for 20+ years whenever I'm hunting or working cattle (it is in a cross draw type sheathe for ease of carrying, made by my best friend who is a master saddle maker) and my ammo carrier for whatever rifle I am packing that day.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Africa a cartridge belt sometimes with, sometimes without a fixed blade knife. I wear a hunting vest with other items in it.

 

[zephyr]

 

[1dirthawker]

in alaska, nothing. it will get under the belt of my pack and make a hot spot

in africa, nothing. the trackers carried what little bit of stuff we needed. i have a folding pocket knife and usually ammo on the gun butt and a few in my binoculars case

 

[Philip Glass]

So I've been giving this some thought recently. After my first African safari experience, and now in eager expectation of receiving my Heym, I think I need to upgrade a bit my gear for the next safari. No more every pants pocket and shirt pocket stuffed with stuff, having to use a small camera pouch stuffed with toilet paper to carry my extra rounds silently, let's do things right.

What I do know is that although those dedicated culling belts with fixed ammo loops are gorgeous, I'd rather have separate ammo holders that slide on. That way I can switch from 7x65r to 300WinMag to .375H&H or anything else I would wish. I also think I would prefer to have closed cases, preferably with no metal (button) sticking out that could rub against the stock of my rifle... talk to @chashardy if you need to know why I also never expect to be in such a hurry that pushing a flap open (I can unbotton before if necessary) to pull a cartridge from, would impede me.

Next to the ammo holder, I'd like my belt to hold my
- @Von Gruff PH EDC (although thinking of ordering an extra sheath with retention)
- Leatherman (thinking of maybe going for a smaller, lighter victorinox instead though, I just like having the pliers)
- Headlight (more practical than a handheld torch, when pulling an animal to the road in the dark)

I'll keep my cellphone (for the pictures) in a closed pocket, as well as a handkerchief and a chap stick.

So what else do you keep on your belt?

I don’t like my pockets weighed down with a lot of stuff. I’ll usually have Murray Leather ammo holders and a small Kuiu gear bag on my belt.