This looks like a brilliant idea:
http://prosurvivalkit.com/beltpro.html

I agree, that's one way to remember your PSK ... but that price!

Great idea............. $96 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUCH.

get some tubular nylon webbing should cost around $1.00 per yard. Slice it open for the majority of the length, say - 35 inches for a 42 inch waist. Get some buckles from REI and a flat coil zipper from a yard-goods store. Heat seal the cut edges of the tubing with an iron or open flame (depending upon skill and daring - make your choice - I don't dare to melt nylon with my wifes iron....:)), Sew the zipper into the opened length of the tube, attach the buckle and fill with your favorite survival supplies.

My main concern when I looked at this kit was all the lumps in the belt poking against my hip-bones making my belt uncomfortable. I suppose it is all in the packing technique.

Funny you post this, that was one idea I was toying with. I am a small guy and can't fit a lot in my pockets without bulges (see my other post in the Urban "Convenience" thread). I was thinking of buying one of these http://www.eaglecreek.com/40027.html and putting some kit in it. Looks from the pics to be about the same belt but with a price around $15.

It is the same belt.

Matt

I've got the eagle creek belt. Its very good and cheap. I put my own kit in as necessary.

No, it is not. While I have not seen the Eagle Creek belt, I do know the Pro Survival is custom made by George. Of greater significance, the Eagle Creek is nylon webbing according to the spec provided, the Pro Survival is polypropylene webbing. What that means is that after a while the poly belt will get comfortable and pretty much mold to you and its contents, the nylon belt will still pretty much be stiff and smooth years down the road. That's good when you are trying to conceal thin stuff like cash, not so good when carrying somewhat more bulky gear as found in even a slim PSK like this. Different goals, different materials.

The high price must be why it's selling so well. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I think it is a pretty good value. Obviously, you are paying someone else to do the work you enjoy, often assembling bits and pieces that you have scrounged via various means, so the cost seems high to you. But the value is what counts when someone not inclined to build their own is looking at a product such as this; are they getting their money's worth in terms of what's in it, how it's constructed, and their time saved. Actually, I think he's probably got it priced too low. <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I will be posting a review of this PSK soon.

Wonder if/hom much George would sell just his belt for? Would be nice for us who like to pur together our own kits.

Excellent! Your reviews are always on the money.

Let me start by saying that I am not advertising my survival kits on this Forum. As I have stated in previous posts, I like this Forum because it is commercial free. In addition, the members of this Forum are not in my target audience, since most of you already have personally built kits.

As for the Belt Pro kit, it is completely different from the Eagle River belt mentioned before. Not only for the reasons Doug mentioned, but also because the Eagle River belt is just 1.25" wide and has less than 1" in useable space, compared to my belt with 1.5" of useable space. Their belt has a 19" storage area, mine has 25". The Eagle River belt is great for small flat items and may be a perfect kit platform for some of you. I have one and can tell you the quality is great.

Sorry, but I do not sell the belt separate from the kit. The process of building each belt is very time consuming and selling them individually would limit the amount of complete kits I could pack ( I personally prep/pack all my kits and hope to stay that way).

If anyone wants to build their own belt, I would be glad to share the technique. I researched and tested about six different designs before choosing this one. If you have a sewing machine and basic skills, it's not that tough. One of the previous members recommended using tubular webbing, which might work, but it would be tough to sew a zipper on it. I'm sure the pictures Doug takes in his review will help in construction. After that, if enough people are interested, I'll post the instructions.

Semper Fi, George

Thats Cool. I am of the 'build my own' type even though I may not have a lot of experiance in that area. I prefer to buy supplies myself so I have spares at home to refill anything that gets used. Plus I tend to pack differently, for example I get sick if I eat fish so I tend to not pack any fishing gear, plus I find that searching, assembling and packing to be half the fun. Also since I'm a small skinny guy I try to shrink my gear to better fit me. I would be interested in the technique, I found a cpouple web sites where people made belts out of cord before I found the Eagle Creek belt. I certainly don't want to take away from any potential sales by having you supply information, I know how much work it takes to make and sell a product, I have had ideas of my own but not the time or start up money to go anywhere with them.

Virginian-i think your comments and proposals are very admirable due to actually running a buisness from the products you seem quite happy to tell us how to make for our selves!!!

Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the compliment. I consider myself a realist; there is no way I can build a kit for everyone who wants/needs one... hence, the higher-end kits with quality components that are fairly expensive.

I completely agree with some of the other posts that say "building a kit is half the fun". It's probably more than half! Some people don't have the time to do this... that is where I come in. I do dispute that it is generally cheaper to build your own kit; all my kits cost me more to build the prototype than what I sell them for. If one place sold every item, it would be cheaper, but that is not a reality. Having to pay 20 different shipping charges adds up.

As for instructions on the belt construction, lets see what mysteries Doug's review unravels... then we'll go from there.

Semper Fi, George

I certainly agree with mbrodw. If I didn't like to build my own I would buy one, but I try to to buy anything premade anymore as I would just take it apart and modify it anyway <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Eugene (hitting refresh untill Doug's review)

Broke the buckle on my eagle creek belt - They have a great return policy and fast service. Recommended.

TRO

As it happens:
I put together a basic kit in an Eagle's Creek belt. It was in response to a question about an E&E belt that might escape detection (at least initially)if your were kidnapped/ taken hostage and an opportunity to escape arose.

I managed to cram in to it:

1 20mm button compass.
1 spark-lite.
1 Dermashave razor knife.
1 Dermashave folding saw.
5' 55o cord.
10 Assorted hooks.
40' 30lb Spyderwire fishing line (on a bobbin).
5 Tinder-Quick.
1 ltr ziplock bag.
5 puritabs.
3 Band aids.
5 lifeboat matches.

Your basic limitation per item is that it has to be less than 1" across and no more than 1/4" thick.

i am in the design faze of what i call my "batman belt"

i have a good, 1 1/2'' leather belt with two rows of holes. looks like ::::::::, to which i will attach pouches. i thought about buying pouches for it but i think i will make them instead (cheaper, better material control.) i can't seem to locate a size-able quantity of leather without sacrificing an internal organ on the black market, so i thought about tough, easily accessible, workable stuff. i am thinking a seat belt. i have a watch band made from it, wow! it is tough as nails. 50lb test, lighter and a THICK needle i already have. i am thinking snap closures (velcro does not last well for me) while not huge, i think that i will be able to make enough to carry most of my gear.

Hi EC,

When mini-mag lights first came out about 30 years ago I bought one but could not find a pouch for it. So I fashioned one out of a section of seat belt and I am still using that pouch today. My aunt worked in a factory that made seat belts and she provided me with the small spool of nylon tread that I used to sew it. About 2 months ago I saw the same spoool of thread in a mini-repair kit for tents. The only trouble is that the tent repair stuff was brown tread and you would probably want black.

Good luck,

Mike

Coats brand 100% nylon upholstery thread is a passable, readily available thread for heavy-duty DIY sewing. It comes in four or five colors.

My cellphone cases take a beating but the one I made from 1000D Cordura is still going strong after two years plus.

Since then I bought a 1 lb spool of #69 bonded nylon thread that will last me a lifetime.

I used to test my field gear designs, stitching, etc. with seat belt straps. Here's a good tip for you. Go to a auto junkyard and ask the attendant if you can cut off some seat belt strapping from his junk cars. I have never had a problem getting that stuff for free.

thanks for the help, i plan on going to a junkyard this weekend so i will acquire some belts if its ok with the yard.

Echo, you may also want to spend a few minutes perusing this site,

http://diytactical.com/blog/

Lots of tips and techniques for making your own batbelt.

Finally got to the junkyard today while it was open. They keep worse hours than bankers. Only open to 2p.m. I now have around 20 feet of seat-belt material. I will get around to stitching something together soon.

P.s. I got it for free,

Sheath for flashlight: done.
sheath for edc kit: in progress