Comments on: Stop undressing in airports with the Spec-Ops TSA-compliant “Better BDU” belt http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/06/30/stop-undressing-in-airports-with-the-spec-ops-tsa-compliant-better-bdu-belt/ Gadgets, gear, and greatness for people on the go Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:48:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Steffen http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/06/30/stop-undressing-in-airports-with-the-spec-ops-tsa-compliant-better-bdu-belt/comment-page-1/#comment-3423 Steffen Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:54:05 +0000 http://www.practicalhacks.com/?p=6305#comment-3423 Absolutely great review, thanks for sharing! I also have the Eagle Creek but am looking towards the Better BDU belt because of the higher width and sturdyness it provides. I just have to find a dealer here in Germany who sells it. I think I might miss the money belt option, though. Absolutely great review, thanks for sharing! I also have the Eagle Creek but am looking towards the Better BDU belt because of the higher width and sturdyness it provides. I just have to find a dealer here in Germany who sells it. I think I might miss the money belt option, though.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/06/30/stop-undressing-in-airports-with-the-spec-ops-tsa-compliant-better-bdu-belt/comment-page-1/#comment-1888 Kevin Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:18:28 +0000 http://www.practicalhacks.com/?p=6305#comment-1888 Michael - the end is fused or melted - if you look closely at the photo you can see about a 1/4" section that looks a bit glossier. They apparently clamp the end in some sort of heated device. If you want to shorten it, just use a really sharp razor knife (with care!) and use a butane torch or match to carefully melt the loose threads. I have the Eagle Creek belt as well, and like it. The buckle has held up well, although it hasn't seen a tremendous amount of use. The Spec-Ops belt is much heavier duty, of course. Thanks for the comment. Michael – the end is fused or melted – if you look closely at the photo you can see about a 1/4″ section that looks a bit glossier. They apparently clamp the end in some sort of heated device. If you want to shorten it, just use a really sharp razor knife (with care!) and use a butane torch or match to carefully melt the loose threads.

I have the Eagle Creek belt as well, and like it. The buckle has held up well, although it hasn’t seen a tremendous amount of use. The Spec-Ops belt is much heavier duty, of course. Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: Michael W. http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/06/30/stop-undressing-in-airports-with-the-spec-ops-tsa-compliant-better-bdu-belt/comment-page-1/#comment-1887 Michael W. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:07:03 +0000 http://www.practicalhacks.com/?p=6305#comment-1887 I use an Eagle Creek nylon webbing money belt with plastic "clamp" style buckle for airport transit. The webbing materials look very similar to the Spec Ops you review here. Besides being a money belt - always helpful - the Eagle Creek belt has a clamp style buckle that is easy to adjust on the fly. I don't think the Eagle Creek plastic clamp buckle is as secure as the threaded buckle type shown on the Spec Ops belt, it doesn't seem to lock firmly, but I haven't had any real problems just, just a feeling that a problem will develop one day with a loose clamp. The one issue I have with the Eagle Creek, was cutting the webbing down to size to fit my waist. Eagle Creek sells a single size you cut down to fit. From the Spec Ops website, they have two sizing options, but I can't tell whether they intend you to wrap the excess material partly around your waist, or trim it to size; generally I like enough excess material to fit through the next belt loop, since a "home trimmed" web end doesn't look that well finished. (I cut it to size with a pair of kitchen shears, then "melted" the web end to seal the loose threads.) So what's the set up on the Spec Ops version - is the web end "melted" or is it finished? I use an Eagle Creek nylon webbing money belt with plastic “clamp” style buckle for airport transit. The webbing materials look very similar to the Spec Ops you review here.

Besides being a money belt – always helpful – the Eagle Creek belt has a clamp style buckle that is easy to adjust on the fly.

I don’t think the Eagle Creek plastic clamp buckle is as secure as the threaded buckle type shown on the Spec Ops belt, it doesn’t seem to lock firmly, but I haven’t had any real problems just, just a feeling that a problem will develop one day with a loose clamp.

The one issue I have with the Eagle Creek, was cutting the webbing down to size to fit my waist. Eagle Creek sells a single size you cut down to fit. From the Spec Ops website, they have two sizing options, but I can’t tell whether they intend you to wrap the excess material partly around your waist, or trim it to size; generally I like enough excess material to fit through the next belt loop, since a “home trimmed” web end doesn’t look that well finished. (I cut it to size with a pair of kitchen shears, then “melted” the web end to seal the loose threads.)

So what’s the set up on the Spec Ops version – is the web end “melted” or is it finished?

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