I am with you on riggers belts. A belt ought to be able to do more than hold up your pants.

Just for grins, I did rappel with one. It gave me a super wedgie, and more significantly, tended to ride up and hinder breathing. But it worked.

I have used mine as a sling in setting up a rappel anchor. They are handy items to have around (your waist).

I have never used mine to rappel on. I figured if I did it would ride up to my floating ribs (like it sounds with what happened with you) and give me the weddgie of a lifetiem. My plan was that if I had to rappel I would do it so that I was slanted down more and thus forcing it on my hips.

But for low angle activities and even just using one to get to a car in a steep ditch to hook up a winch cable the belt pays for itself and proves very very effective.

Humm maybe leg straps would be a cool addition to the belt.. something that hid away untill needed..

I got it, and wow is it heavy duty.

My only concern is that once the Velcro stops working the belt will no longer work due to the setup of the front latch system requiring tension from the flap w/velcro to 'securely latch' with he buckle mechanism.

What do you think?

Other than that the belt is seriously the most badass belt I've ever owned.

I have a lot of fairly old velcro around and it still retains it ability. On occasion I have had to clean out gak from the the hard, hooked plastic portion of the closure (but hey! that's just like dryer lint for firestarter, right?) After cleaning , it went right back to functioning well.

Bottom line, I don't think it is a big issue. In fact, maybe the dryer lint stored in velcro patches, combined with ear wax, would provide a dandy firestarter. We all probably have extra lint in our belly buttons, as well.