What do you carry on your belt?

[Art Lambart II]

On my belt I carry a 4"-6"sheath knife, a Leatherman tool and 10 rounds of ammo in two 5 round pouches. The real question is where do you carry all the other items you need. Small items like band aids, mole skin, pain killers, paper towels, cotton handkerchief, small hank of cordage, flashlight or headlamp, lighter, matches, ferro rod with scraper, tinder, compass, cell phone, charger and cord, pocket knife, duct tape, reading glasses if you need them, whistle. To carry these extra items, I prefer a safari vest, but I could pack all of those items in a 6”x3”x2” maxpedition belt pouch with a little room to spare.

I’m not a fan of counting on someone else to have the gear I my need so I tend to carry a little extra. On my last safari they started calling me “Inspector Gadget” because whenever we needed something in the field I’d reach into a pocket and pull out what we needed.

The young Aide turned to the General and said, “we were sure lucky to have those extra wagons”. To which the General replied “Yes, the more prepared I am the luckier I become”.

 

[gesch]

SIDE ARM?!?!?! OMG!!!! The Horror,,, the Horror....

Less is more ... until less is less...

1) Is it needed?

This is a cost/benefit analysis: how often do we need it vs. how often do we carry it for nothing, and is carrying it a pain...

We all make our own decision based on our own tradeoff.

Have we ever seen a hunting buddy:

• run out of ammo in the field?
• miss his knife?
• miss his camera?
• walk into a thorn or twist an ankle walking in the dark?
• get lost?
• misjudge a distance?

Admittedly a client in Africa does not skin animals; asks the PH for the range; relies on the PH to shoot pictures; is generally back in camp well in time to watch sunset over sundowners; trusts the PH and trackers to find the way back to the truck; etc. etc.

So, I can see the point of less is more. After all the client is here to enjoy, not schlep a special forces 5 day combat harness and battle pack. Yes, 3 rounds in the rifle ought to be all the client needs...

But then again... occasionally:

• a one-shot kill turns into a 6 rounds affair;
• a PH does not have a reliable rangefinder, or (so common!) a fresh battery in it;
• a 15 minutes stalk turns into an afternoon pursuit that leaves you 2 hours from the truck when the sun disappears behind the next hill;
• everyone lost their bearing zigzagging in the dense Jesse (rare, but it happens! - did you notice that a fair number of very well known PH operating in large blocks carry discreetly a GPS on their belt);
• the cell phone relied upon for trophy pics has a cracked lens, or (more common) its battery is dead after a day of roaming, location tracking in the middle of nowhere, and endless WhatsApp-ing?

So... it seems that some of us do bring along a little more than 3 rounds in the rifle...

2) Belt? Pockets? Backpack?

• Are you wearing now the layer in which pocket what you need is?
• Did you transfer the pockets content when you changed layer?
• Did you grab the backpack when you jumped off the truck for this 5 minute stalk that turned into an afternoon pursuit of the next world record three-toed unicorn that always seemed to be tantalizingly only another 100 yards away?
• Did you notice that the tracker who carries your pack was sent back by the PH to fetch the truck an hour away and that he took off with your pack?

When the chips are down, and when you do not carry your own pack, what is so important to you that you do not want to run the risk of being without it?

THIS should be on your hunting belt, and likely your belt will be different from the next guy's belt

• it looks like we all agree on ammo and knife;
• I have personally collected most of my best animals in the last 15 minutes of light way out there, so I always have a small flashlight;
• memories are too important to me to run the risk of not having pictures, so I always have a compact camera;

Conversely, now that my rangefinder is integrated in my binoculars, I do not have it on my belt anymore...

Thanks for your analysis. I always learn something. Your friend, Brian

 

[BeeMaa]

On my belt I carry a 4"-6"sheath knife, a Leatherman tool and 10 rounds of ammo in two 5 round pouches. The real question is where do you carry all the other items you need. Small items like band aids, mole skin, pain killers, paper towels, cotton handkerchief, small hank of cordage, flashlight or headlamp, lighter, matches, ferro rod with scraper, tinder, compass, cell phone, charger and cord, pocket knife, duct tape, reading glasses if you need them, whistle. To carry these extra items, I prefer a safari vest, but I could pack all of those items in a 6”x3”x2” maxpedition belt pouch with a little room to spare.

I’m not a fan of counting on someone else to have the gear I my need so I tend to carry a little extra. On my last safari they started calling me “Inspector Gadget” because whenever we needed something in the field I’d reach into a pocket and pull out what we needed.

The young Aide turned to the General and said, “we were sure lucky to have those extra wagons”. To which the General replied “Yes, the more prepared I am the luckier I become”.

I very much agree, but not on my belt or person when hunting in Africa. Most of this type stuff (along with some water, please don’t forget water) goes in a day pack. It might be sitting in the truck or if we plan a long stalk, I’ll carry it.

Most of my hunting (even in the US) is fast and light with the essentials in a pack not too far away. However your point is well taken.

 

[Luederitz]

My hunting belt has some additional pockets with:
2x water (0,5 l)
1x pocket for suntan lotion, lip grease, disinfectant lotion, laser range finder
1x ammunnition, wind checker (with talcum powder)

 

[Tanks]

My belt changes on multiple rifle, multiple animal hunting schedule.

At the beginning when hunting PG, leopard, buffalo and elephant I had the following:
-- Els belt, Els cartridge holder 9.3x74R, Els holder .500 NE (4 solids, 4 soft), Leica rangefinder.

After I shot the bait PG and leopard I had the following:
-- Els belt, Els cartridge holder .500 NE (softs), Els holder .500 NE (solids), Leica rangefinder.

After I shot the buffalo I had the following:
-- Els belt, Els cartridge holder .500 NE (solids).

After I shot the elephant we spent 5 days looking for Kudu, Zebra and baboons.
-- Els belt, Els cartridge holder 9.3x74R, Els holder 9.3x74R, Leica rangefinder.

I had the SOG folding knife clipped to a pocket and a Garmin inReach+ connected to the back of the 5.11 cargo pants with a carabiner, iPhone in one of the front pockets. One of the trackers carried a backpack with a camera, headlight, first aid kit, water, extra Els holders with ammo (configured according to the hunt).

 

[DG Gunsmith]

Fixed Blade Knife(Horizontal Sheath on the back o' my belt) & Cartridge Slider... If you're looking for a Custom Belt Rig, I have been doing Leather Work since 1993... If you can dream it up, I can make it...

 

[CBH Australia]

Fixed Blade Knife(Horizontal Sheath on the back o' my belt) & Cartridge Slider... If you're looking for a Custom Belt Rig, I have been doing Leather Work since 1993... If you can dream it up, I can make it...

Could you post a few pics of your work/designs just for interest?

 

[DG Gunsmith]

Could you post a few pics of your work/designs just for interest?

Aye, I'm actually currently working on a DG Cartridge Holder(10rd Belt Slider), that I will be posting, when it's complete... In the meantime, here are a few pictures o' some o' my work...(My apologies for the poor photographs, these were taken quite awhile ago...) Unfortunately, I don't have a lot o' pictures o' my work, as the customer usually picks up the item, before I get a chance to photograph it... I have made quite a few Safari related items in the past, but unfortunately, they are amongst the items that I didn't get a chance to photograph... That being said, I will be making some Safari related items, in the near future... When I do, I will be posting them here... P.S. I will add, that everything I make is entirely hand sewn, and built to last(Every stitch is a locking stitch!)

 

[frankdes]

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?

Here what we use
Belt with knive amp pouch wind checker , torch, leathermann, RF and Puma.

 

[rookhawk]

Lots of variation on this thread. I like a Von Gruff knife and a pouch to hold 5-6 rounds, ideally with a flap that can be folded back for final approach, but is otherwise closed. With humidity and sweat, ammo falls out of open slots in Africa. Best to keep them closed until you may be in a dangerous game firefight. For anything but elephant and Buffalo, the pouch can stay closed all the time. I open it to “top off” after a shot to ensure I approach wounded game with full magazine, always.

Back at camp I have a diamond stone to sharpen.

so on the hunt: knife, ammo pouch, binos in a chest harness, shemagh. That’s it. The guys are carrying the gallons of water I consume, and my sticks.

 

[crs]

In Texas either my 357 mag or 44 mag revolvers with half chamber of snake shot and other half chambers full house JHP.

 

[DG Gunsmith]

Could you post a few pics of your work/designs just for interest?

Here is custom rig I built for a fellow in British Columbia... It is a back scabbard for a Rossi Ranch Hand Mare's Leg... Hand Sewn out o' Water Buffalo hide, with top quality Solid Brass Hardware...

 

[CBH Australia]

@DG Gunsmith
Nice work.

 

[BeeMaa]

I just ordered two of these sheaths for us. Looks very similar to the ones @Von Gruff makes.

 

[DG Gunsmith]

@DG Gunsmith
Nice work.

Thanks, Mate... Been at it awhile...

 

[charlieB12345]

View attachment 434637

• 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.

Wow who made your setup? Its beautiful!!!

 

[One Day...]

Wow who made your setup? Its beautiful!!!

This is actually on oddball collection of various leather items:

• The belt is a standard 1 3/4" De Santis pistol holster belt.
• The cartridge slide C2 Shell Holder (8 rounds - .470 NE) or pouch C3 Shell Holder (10 rounds - all calibers to .458 Lott) are standard Murray Leather items. The flap over the pouch secures shells of various diameters that could slip in open loops (e.g. .30/06 rounds in loops that carried .300 mag the day before).
• The Sony RX100 V camera pouch is a Triple K #580 Cartridge Box (standard cartridges size).
• The Foster Grant folding reading glasses pouch is a Victorinox Swiss Champ XXL pouch. Note: it took me a while to find one on eBay...
• The Victorinox Swiss Champ knife pouch came with the knife.
• The only two custom pouches are for the Puma La Caza folding knife and Streamlight ProTac 2L-X flashlight, custom-made by Murray Leather (I sent them to Dick Murray for him to make the pouches). The knife handle is too fat, and the flashlight too thin, for standard leather pouches as abound on eBay etc. and I wanted a flap to secure them in place.

The uniform color and patina comes from quarts of my own sweat progressively impregnated in the various leather items during days upon days, years after years, of classic on-foot safari hunting

As to what I carry, aside from the obvious spare ammo:

Camera: I know, few folks want a camera on their belt. Before using Leica Geovid binoculars with integrated laser-rangefinder, as a matter of priority I used the Triple K Cartridge Box to carry a Leica 2000 B rangefinder, and I had the camera in the backpack. Being able now to have the RX100 V on the belt is really, really useful to shoot large-print-worth impromptu landscape / animals / people pics, thanks to its high quality 1" sensor (twice as large as the best iPhone sensor) and Zeiss zoom with equivalent focal range of 24-70mm. Yes, latest phones now have 3 different lenses (that helps!) but these are still tiny (poor light transmission), and they still have a tiny sensor (tiny pixels with poor color rendition). Pics promptly show these limitations if you try to print them bigger than 6"x4", although they do look good on screens and TVs...

Glasses: things being as they are with age, I need readers to be able to see things sharp up close, and those little foldables have proved their worth to go through camera menus, remove needles and splinters, clean up cuts, etc. etc.

Folding knife: a big knife (I used to carry a Puma White Hunter) is nearly useless for hunting, but a solid folding knife is too useful in the bush and in camp to be without.

Swiss Champ knife: admittedly, this is the one item that I regularly consider ditching, but the various blades always seem to come in handy, sometimes in the most unexpected ways: mini scissors and nail file to deal with painful broken nail; magnifier and tweezers to remove needles or splints; various screw driver bits, plier, saw blade, etc.; not to forget can opener and cork puller.

Flashlight: I have walked back to the truck too often in pitch black night to go hunting without a flashlight... All it takes is shooting a Kudu at last light on a remote ridge after hours of tracking to realize that! And an iPhone light will not last long, and not light far. It's OK to go to the en suite bathroom, but not in the bush...

It is all a question of personal philosophy: many (most?) rely happily on their PH for anything and everything, and only need to carry a few extra rounds. I personally prefer to be self-reliant, and I promise you that more than once my PH was really happy that I had a flashlight after his phone light died Admittedly, I prefer the first 15 minutes at dawn and the last 15 minutes at dusk, so I regularly move in, or out, in the dark early or late. This could also all be in the backpack, but it always seem that the stalk will be short enough to not justify tacking the backpack, then one ridge leads the next, etc.


PS: forget the so-called culling belts, you really do not need 20 extra rounds Those, and a Rambo knife, are sure giveaways of how "green" you are in Africa