Most people travel with just their basic EDC — Every Day Carry — if they travel prepared at all. Others wear a day pack, courier satchel or other off-body style wearable to keep additional necessities nearby. We'll call that the “urban ready” equivalent of what military personnel often refer to as First Line and Second Line Gear. There's a Third Line, but in this context that would likely be restricted to vehicle stowage.

Messenger bags and packs are a great, and often the only, option for any sort of extended load carriage. Passersby might look at you askance were you to go walking down Jefferson Street at Fisherman's Wharf while fully jocked-up. However, these bags' very nature makes them relatively easy to separate from their proper owner, they're not easy to get into (at least not quickly, or repeatedly) and they can be uncomfortable. It is for this reason that some people (like OFFGRID contributor Freddy Osuna) choose to stow redundant First Line, all their Second Line and in some cases parts of their Third Line gear in a “battle belt” — even if that battle belt never sees a holster or weapon magazine.

Carrying equipment this way spread-loads weight around the wearer's waist and supports it with the hips. In some cases this makes it more comfortable to carry the load; in many more it's just more convenient. This is true whether you're hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or moving to a hit on a mud-walled compound somewhere in the Hindu Kush.

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If you are one of those who carry a lot fear around your waist, you've likely considered the High Speed Gear Sure-Grip Padded Belt. If you're one of the many who've chosen that platform, you'll welcome news of the Battle Belt Bridge. It's essentially a cummerbund type attachment you can fasten to either side of the buckle gap to the belt's front, adding an additional six rows of PALS for modular pouch attachment.

It won't work for everyone, obviously, particularly someone who for whatever reason needs to prone out or crawl, but for those who do need it, it's an elegant, if simple, solution. Though in these images the Battle Belt Bridge has been used to “plus up” available ammunition, it could just as easily be used to stow tools, other “necessaries”, even snacks or — for those of us who travel with small humans in tow — baby wipes.

The Battle Belt Bridge ships with an HSGI Clip and their side-release buckles so it’s simple to install and quick to remove. You can pick one up for $35 on the HSGI website right here.

Written by David Reeder