Owned and operated by US Tactical Systems in Washington, Missouri, Elite Survival Systems (ESS) is a manufacturer of quality products focusing on concealment, transport, or field use for the public. Among its core product line, is the Cobra Riggers Belt and SIDEWINDER™ Adaptive MOLLE Battel Belt. Worn together, the two provide for a comfortable, sturdy belt fit for range or tactical applications.
Elite Survival Cobra Riggers Belt
The Cobra Riggers Belt is Elite Survival’s take on the classic field belt and can serve as a stand-alone belt or the foundation of a full range/duty belt. It’s Cobra Riggers Belt CRB was among the first to offer the patented AustriAlpin Cobra quick release belt buckle with a rescue D-ring.
The Cobra Buckle is rated to 4000 pounds (straight pull) of force, and the D-ring is rated to 5000 pounds (straight pull), exceeding ANSI Z359.1, CSA, EN, UIAA, and NFPA standards. There is a full “rigger’s stitch” on the D-ring side for added strength and durability.
The belt itself consists of 1.75″ Mil-Spec Type 13 webbing that is rated to 7000 pounds (straight pull) tensile strength. The webbing gives the belt a rigid profile that can support additional gear to be added either directly to the belt, or via a padded battle belt.
Product Link: https://www.elitesurvival.com/belts/cobra-riggers-belt/
SIDEWINDER™ Adaptive MOLLE Battle Belt
The SIDEWINDER™ is a 4.75″ padded battle belt offered by Elite Survival as an alternative to mounting holsters or pouches to your belt, while providing comfort to the weight on the body.
The SIDEWINDER is made from 1000D nylon construction and includes segmented PALS panels to accommodate any MOLLE attachment pouch or holster. At either end of the belt are hook-and-loop retention straps that ensure the base belt does not rotate or slide.
The belt itself consists of thick, 1/4” closed cell foam padding with mounting points/hardware for attaching suspenders or a vest (sold separately). On the interior of the SIDEWINDER is a vented mesh to aid in airflow and moisture wicking. On the belt’s interior face, at the rear, is a rubberized panel to increase the overall belt’s grip and prevent slippage during dynamic body movements.
Product Link: https://www.elitesurvival.com/belts/sidewinder-adaptive-molle-battle-belt/
Elite Survival System’s Belt Specifications:
- Sizes:
- SM – Fits 26-31 waist
- M – Fits 32-38 waist
- L – Fits 39-44 waist
- XL – Fits 45-50 waist
- XXL – Fits 51-56 waist
The SIDEWINDER belt available in Black, Coyote, Olive Drab, and Multicam (featured). The D-Ring Cobra buckle by AustiAlpin available only in Black or Coyote (featured).
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Average (3/5): With the Cobra Riggers Belt at $99.95 and the SIDEWINDER at $72.95, the price point for both belts is based on the overall volume of material, and the quality of nylon involved. Elements like stitching and source (domestic or overseas) can also influence the vendor’s price point. Comparable market alternatives would be; the Assaulters Gun Belt ($81.61) and the Padded AGB Sleeve ($106.81) by First Spear, or the Cobra IDR Riggers Belt (no hook-and-loop) ($91) and Suregrip Padded Belt ($120) by HSGI. With regards to price, it is a tradeoff with the Rigger’s Belt by Elite Survival still above price point of competitors, but the SIDEWINDER below. Thus, the cost of both belts is considered a draw (or average), and left to the consumer to determine how those costs would best fit within their needs or if mixing in alternatives is more feasible.
- Comfort – Average (3/5): Worn independently, the Rigger’s belt felt like any other, with stiff contouring consistent with Type 13 webbing. The Cobra buckle itself provided a clear and audible lock, although the D-ring tended to move around unnecessarily. A good suggestion for improvement would be to add a hook-and-loop retention strap to their Rigger’s belt to keep that D-ring flush. When combined with the SIDEWINDER, the larger, padded belt added comfort and provided a wider base by which the belt grabbed the waist line. The foam padding of the SIDEWINDER itself was not overly thick, but its width did give the hip significant protection from the weight borne.
- Durability – Excellent (5/5): Like most Elite Survival products, the Cobra Rigger’s Belt and the SIDEWINDER were both made from materials with a high degree of abrasion resistance. A number of vendors use Type 13 webbing to form the base material their rigger belts because of its high degree of tensile strength, as well as the webbing’s ability to withstand abrasion (the buckle often being the weakest aspect in any belt). There was notable reinforcement stitching on the belt that anchored the buckle and made for an extremely solid product. Similarly, the SIDEWINDER was crafted from 1000D nylon, a material also noted for its abrasion resistance, but intended more to support the weight of accessories or items hung around the waist. The outer edging and PALS sections of the SIDEWINDER were all double stitched, while the inner lines of MOLLE webbing had bartack that combined gave the belt a good deal of durability.
- Functionality – Average (3/5): Functionally, the belts were of average performance, demonstrating the expected aspects for their use. The sizing to the Cobra Belt was a little on the plus size; but once ran through the SIDEWINDER, the excess was used up by threading it through the MOLLE/PALS panels and/or additional accessory pouches. The rubberized panel helped ensure the outer SIDEWINDER didn’t rotate or sag. The MOLLE panels held up under stressor drills and supported the weight of fully loaded pouches with ease.
- Weight – Good (4/5): With the Cobra Riggers Belt (size Large) coming in at 14 ounces, and the SIDEWINDER at 9 ounces, the total weight for both as the foundation of a battle/range belt was very minimal. In truth the weight of a battle/range belt comes from its accessory pouches and loaded magazines thus the foundation belt(s) play a minor (but critical) role. In comparison, alternative competitors to Elite Survival’s riggers belt would be the Assaulter’s belt (10.8 ounces) from First Spear, or the Cobra IDR Riggers Belt (12.8 ounces) from HSGI. Alternatives to the SIDEWINDER would be the Padded AGB Sleeve (11.2 ounces) from First Spear, and the Suregrip Padded Belt (16 ounces) from HSGI. It should be noted that the most probable reason Elite Survival’s Cobra Riggers Belt weighs more than others is the belt’s inclusion of a D-ring into the Cobra Buckle, whereas other venders either do not offer such a variant or do so at an added cost. In contrast, the SIDEWINDER was still less in weight than either alternative listed, demonstrating the effective use of design and materials to deliver a lightweight foundation for a battle/range belt.
Overall Rating – Above Average (18/25)
Product Link: https://www.elitesurvival.com/belts/
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