Made from a variety of components, the complete battle belt system by Direct Action offers the end user an ideal blend of lightweight yet durable materials, rugged reinforcement, and utilitarian design. The result is a comfortable, light, and feasible tactical accessory that will serve well on the range or in the field. Direct Action (DA) has invested considerable effort to ensuring its battle belt system, and other products, represent the latest in materials and fabrication.
Mustang Inner Belt
Intended as the base belt for other DA systems, the Mustang Inner Belt is a thin, flexible belt that can be utilized EDC wear, but in a moment’s notice can mount to the inner hook-and-loop (female) material of the Mustang and Mosquito line of belts.
The Inner Belt is made from a combination of nylon laminate on the inward facing side, and hook-and-loop (male) on the outer.
The Inner Belt threads itself though the belt loops that helps prevent ride-up, while ensuring positive retention to other systems. A plastic pass-through belt loop allows the belt to be reversed back on itself to corresponding hook-and-loop material for a customized fit.
Specifications:
- Size M:
- Length: 36-39″
- Size L:
- Length: 39-43″
- Size XL:
- Length: 43-47″
Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com/mustang-inner-belt#CBR
The Mustang Inner Belt is available in a variety of colors to include Multicam (featured), Adaptive Green, and Urban Grey, and available between Medium to XLarge.
Warhawk Nautic Belt
The Warhawk series of accessories by DA is intended to be more for field use, and designed to be more rigid and bear increased weight. As such, the Rescue/Gun Belt can be used in conjunction with the Mustang Inner Belt, by itself, or as the inner belt to the Mosquito Modular Belt Sleeve. As a stand-alone belt, the Rescue/Gun Belt is intended to be one of the main platforms for uses to place pouches or other accessories.
Using a genuine AustriAlpin Nautic Cobra Belt Buckle, the outward facing edge of the Rescue/Gun Belt includes a 45mm-wide, Type 13 webbing material with a reinforced utility loop near the buckle for attaching clips, rings, or other items. Moreover, the overlap material is significantly reinforced with additional stitching to prevent separation under high separation stressors.
The inner facing edge has a band of hook-and-loop (female) material that extends the length of the belt for bonding to associated male fields on the Mustang belts or other accessories. Any excess material is secured by an elastic cuff to the belt itself.
Specifications:
- Size M:
- Length: 36-39″
- Size L:
- Length: 39-43″
- Size XL:
- Length: 43-47″
Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com/warhawk-nautic-beltr#CBR
The Warhawk Nautic Belt is available in a variety of colors to include Multicam (featured), Adaptive Green, and Urban Grey, and available between Medium to XLarge.
Medical Pouch – Vertical
A basic sleeve/insert design, the 1.75” (W) x 7.0” (H) x 3.5” (L) Vertical Medical Pouch is an envelope-style IFAK with a vertical draw that makes it comfortable and compact when stowed on the belt.
Made from a combination of materials, the outer sleeve comprises of Cordura and laminate nylon front/back panels with elastic shock cordage sides that allow for flex of the sides to accommodate the size of the medical insert pouch. The word “MED” is written on pinpoint ink lettering on the outward facing exterior to clearly mark it as an aid pouch. Anchoring the front flap is a pull-handle of hypalon that allows for immediate access to the insert.
The rear of the Vertical Medical Pouch includes two laminate nylon MOLLE straps and paracord loops that allow the overall pouch to be connected to a variety of belts, plate carriers, or other MOLLE fields.
The medical insert itself is a triangular envelope style that, when opened, lies flat for maximum access to its contents. Anchoring the envelope together when closed, and into the outer sleeve pouch, are small fields of hook-and-loop (female) in key points of retention.
The medical insert itself has two intersecting bands of elastic nylon that are segmented to different lengths to allow for the storage of a variety of medical items. At the bottom of the triangular insert is a mesh pocket for other items.
The Med Pouch – Vertical is available in Multicam (featured), Adaptive Green, Black, PennCott Badlands, and more.
Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com/med-pouch-vertical#MCM
Speed Reload Pouch (Pistol)
Made from folded Cordura with rigid High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) inserts, the Speed Reload Pouch for pistol magazines offers rapid draw of magazines with no loss of retention.
The enclosing shock chord, with speed lock, is wrapped through laser-cut MOLLE sections and allows for easy adjustment of tension.
The rear features a laminate nylon MOLLE strap and two paracord loops that joins to associated fields on various belts or other MOLLE fields.
Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com/speed-reload-pouch-pistol#MCM
Speed Reload Pouch (Rifle)
Similar in design and materials to the pistol pouch, the Speed Reload Pouch for rifle magazines is made from folded Cordura with rigid HDPE inserts, and allows for the rapid draw of magazines with no loss of retention.
The enclosing shock chord, with speed lock, is wrapped through laser-cut MOLLE sections and allows for easy adjustment of tension.
The rear features a laminate nylon MOLLE strap and paracord loops that joins to associated fields on various belts or other MOLLE fields.
Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com/speed-reload-pouch-rifle#MCM
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): The overall cost of each DA Battle Belt system varies based on components, color pattern selected, and in some cases size:
- Mustang Inner Belt (Size: Large)……$26.40
- Warhawk Nautic Belt (Size: Large)…$99.00
- Medical Pouch (Vertical)……………..…$71.90
- Speed Reload Pouch (Pistol)……………$25.40 ea.
- Speed Reload Pouch (Rifle)………….…$34.90 ea.
- The total cost for the evaluated DA battle belt system ran $317.90 USD. This price also represents the Warhawk Nautic Gun Belt system evaluated as comprising some of the most current designs and materials available on the market. In comparison, a similar battle belt setup by First Spear ($474.76), HSGI ($595), and GCode ($295) all demonstrate that the cost for DA’s system is of a good value within the market range of options. Reinforcing this scoring is that the DA system has many of the characteristics and materials of more expensive systems at a fraction of their cost.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): From a comfort aspect, the Warhawk Nautic Belt (with its mounted accessories) felt very light and flexible, with a minimalist/slender profile and a solid/secure hold at the Nautic buckle and with magazines. From its foundation, the Mustang Inner Belt was very light, and did provide a nice daily-wear style belt to the trousers while worn throughout the day and around the range. The cinch buckle allowed for a custom and comfortable fit. When the time came to working on the firing line, the Warhawk Nautic Belt was easily mated to the inner Mustang belt and provided a secure hold to the body. The AustriAlpin Nautic Cobra buckle did provide a solid and audible lock consistently throughout the evaluations while donning it on and off. On the note of comfort for the Speed Pouches, the HDPE inserts to the pouches provided much the same rapid and comfortable drawing/insertion as other aftermarket kydex pouches. Those HDPE inserts kept a stable shape to the pouches when in use and after drawing the magazines out. Elsewhere the design of the Medical Pouch; with its vertical low-profile and envelope style insert, kept a comfortable position and did not sag, even when fully loaded with necessary aid items.
- Durability – Excellent (5/5): The overriding volume of material used in the DA Warhawk Nautic Belt was a Type 13 nylon, consistent with rigging or scuba straps (with a tensile strength of 7,000 pounds). The corresponding balance of supportive material was threaded nylon used along stress points, and the AustriAlpin Cobra Nautic buckle. The choice of this material put the Warhawk system on par with many other high-end, minimalist performing platforms, such as Crye, Grey Ghost Gear, and First Spear. In comparison, other more traditional systems rely exclusively (or predominantly) on thicker nylon—something which makes them heavier and retains moisture. Thus the overall Warhawk Nautic belt system was light and durable to despite both tension and abrasion, in dynamic movements and heavy use. After evaluations, no fraying at the stitching or hook-and-loop field was noted, while the retention of the Speed Pouches remained consistent throughout.
- Functionality – Average (3/5): Functionally, as a whole, the Warhawk Nautic Belt worked very well in conjunction with its various Direct Action elements and achieved the goal of providing a comfortable and stable platform for the end user. The Mustang Inner Belt allowed trousers, like Direct Action’s Vanguard used during several evaluations, to be worn comfortably around the range, in vehicles, or elsewhere in daily life. It also provided for an immediate-application platform that bonded to the inner lining of the Warhawk Nautic Belt, which in turn readily allowed access to pouches and accessories. There was a little sag or lack of bonding between the hook-and-loop materials of the inner Mustang Belt and outer Nautic Belt at the point of a holster, but this was not to the point of effect against the belt to perform. The cause of this sag was most likely the minimalist material of the belt, lack of rigidity, and the weight of the holster used.
- Added to the battle belt were four Speed Pouches (two rifle, two pistol) that provided full access and retention as compared to other industry-leading nylon pouches (in good part to its HDPE inserts). As there was no MOLLE slots on the exterior of the Nautic belt, the Speed Pouch’s MOLLE tabs couldn’t be used, and thus simply slid onto the belt using the side paracord loops. This mounting style in turn allowed the position of each pouch to be adjusted, even while worn. The only negative was the Vertical Medical Kit, which because of its overall size (and paracord loops) being longer than the magazine pouches, was looser on the belt and slid a somewhat unnecessarily. A recommendation for improvement to Direct Action would be to evaluate if larger pouches need to have its paracord loops tightened so as to be more secure when mounted on the Nautic Belt. Otherwise, the Vertical Medical Kit was of sufficient storage space to accommodate a variety of medical and first aid items. The medical pouch insert itself remained compact and secure enough (due to its hook-and-loop enclosures) it could also be kept in a pocket as a dump pouch item should it be needed immediately.
- Weight – Average (3/5): With an overall weight of 1.35 pounds (without pouches) in its current configuration (2x rifle pouches, 2x pistol pouches, and IFAK), the Warhawk Nautic Belt setup came in at 3.03 pounds and utilized a blend of Type 13 nylon, Cordura, and laminate nylon to maintain a relative light overall weight with a minimalist profile. This weight can vary based on the application of the user (i.e. what pouches are used), and the Warhawk’s lightweight system sat very comfortably on the hip. In comparison, a belt system by First Spear (2.15 pounds w/pouches) and GCode (2.15 pounds w/pouches) demonstrate the light weight benefits of using combined materials (such as Cordura and laminate nylon). In contrast, the HSGI battle belt (4.01 pounds w/pouches) demonstrates the increased weight when using a more traditional nylon-based product system. As such, for its weight, material type, and number of pouches included in the evaluated battle belt system, the DA Nautic Belt setup was still an appropriate (or of average) weight within the market.
Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)
Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via STL Shooting Enthusiasts, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
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