Traveling abroad or just going about your day?
A belt is the most effective and versatile go-anywhere improvised EDC self-defense weapon

Note: there are many valuable points below that are well worth reading, but if you are in a hurry and need a belt now, scroll to the clue at bottom of the page and from there you can begin your voyage of discovery . . .

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Why everyone should have an effective self-defense tool with them at all times

Western travelers are usually easily identifiable, even when traveling in other Western countries, and as a result are more likely than locals to be targeted by criminals, and should therefore never travel without effective tools for self-defense. However, it’s not only tourists and business travelers that need them. In most Western countries, unbridled immigration of unvetted migrants from vastly more violent parts of the world has greatly increased regular citizens’ exposure to random attacks. Unfortunately, these have become regular occurrences, and invariably the innocent bystanders who have been targeted were completely unprepared to defend themselves and their families. In most of these countries where safety is being progressively degraded, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Norway and many parts of the USA, citizens and travelers face considerable restrictions on what they are allowed to carry with them to defend themselves when in danger. Even compact folding pocket knives are banned in so many places, while politicians, bureaucrats and police turn a blind eye to the problem of knife-wielding migrants on the streets of their cities. This is why an appropriately-constructed belt makes such a uniquely powerful and effective self-defense weapon against knife attackers — that is also something one can carry anywhere. Even in permissive states, where people are allowed to carry a firearm, drawing it is not always appropriate and can put the bearer under a great deal of scrutiny by authorities, so it is critical that one also have other first-line defense options, of which the belt is in a uniquely advantageous position. However, not just any belt will do as most belts are completely unsuitable for the task.

We discuss below the reasons why belts make one of the best personal carry improvised self-defense items for travel. The following are just our personal opinions and do not constitute advice of any sort, legal or otherwise. You are solely responsible for your actions. Inform yourself of the specific laws related to self-defense and improvised weapons for the jurisdictions through which you plan to travel. Never provoke a fight, always try to get away from potential conflict situations, and only ever use a belt as a last resort in self-defense or in defense of the innocent and when life and limb are clearly in danger.

Why a belt is your best EDC & travel self-defense option

You can travel anywhere with a belt

It’s hard to beat a belt with a solid buckle that can be rapidly removed. A huge advantage of a belt is that it is a routine item that one can travel anywhere with. Plus, it can be highly effective. Everyday items such as canes and belts, which can be improvised for alternate uses have several big advantages over single-purpose items, such as pocket knives, which can’t be carried in many places because of local, state or national restrictions, and will be confiscated at airport security gates (I’ve heard many stories from men who had to give up expensive pocket knives in order to not miss a flight).

In addition, even in states with permissive gun and knife laws, going to a job with such items can also be problematic. Even in such states there are many non-permissive environments where you have to leave it locked away at home or in a glove-compartment because of rules and social expectations. Even if you have a gun on you, it may not be the best first option in many situations.

Dedicated defense products can be inconvenient and uncomfortable to carry

A compact pepper spray canister, small stun-gun, kuboton or tactical pen might be portable and pocketable, but are nonetheless uncomfortable in a pocket when sitting and will inevitably end up being stowed away in a bag (or left at home). When one heads out to lunch or at the end of the day, one has to remember to transfer them back into an easily accessed pocket (without drawing attention), or carry the bag at all times. This is inconvenient and requires developing new habits and sticking with them — such routines will soon grate on the user and end up being discarded.

Many popular self-defense tools are often ineffective and unreliable

Pepper spray and stun-guns are popular but can be ineffective and unreliable. A web search will yield plenty of videos and stories where they failed to stop real and test subjects. That’s not to say that they are never effective. They might be useful in certain circumstances, such as a dog attack, or against someone who is not a determined attacker, but to depend on them can put the user in danger, even where they might be effective. Compact pepper spray canisters silently leak out within a year, requiring periodic testing (which depletes the small amount of pressure to begin with, and few people are going to want to deal with test spraying the eyewatering liquid). This requires replacement and expense on a regular schedule (what a hassle!). Stun-gun batteries constantly drain and need to be charged regularly. Batteries can also fail unexpectedly (as we discovered some years back when several we bought at a gun show all died not long afterward). Generally, the more the complexity, the more likely something is to fail, and these kinds of products give one zero warning before failure. By contrast, any flaws or excessive wear on low-tech products can be easily be seen every time they are handled.

Low-tech compact items such as kubotons and tactical pens can help as a last-resort but their efficacy is limited by your skill and strength relative to your assailant, and both require one to be close-in where one is vulnerable to a punch, kick or knife thrust. Since Kubotons and tactical pens are prone to being be confiscated by airport security, a better option is a flashlight. This is another example of a routine item which can be improvised, without the disadvantages that come with other single-purpose items. A compact rechargeable flashlight is an indispensable item, but it is subject to the same range limitations as kubotons and tactical pens. For airline travel a cursory search suggests that as long as it’s under 7” and doesn’t have sharp edges / large crenellations / a pronounced bezel on the end, one should be able to travel with it on your person, but you should do your own diligence on this, as rules can change.

Limitations of pocket knives

Folding pocket knives are low-tech enough and a good knife from a brand with a solid reputation is something one should always carry (except of course, when boarding aircraft, etc.). However, even folding pocket knives are banned in many countries, such as the UK. Australia also has laws against carrying pocket knives, which can vary depending on the province. In many places in the USA, there can be a hodgepodge of state and local laws limiting blade lengths, etc.

Lastly, a knife is a hand-to-hand combat tool and doesn’t put any distance between the user and assailant. It requires some skill to operate and if an attacker also has a knife, any advantage is likely lost. And who wants to risk getting potentially contaminated blood on themselves?! Importantly, a knife is a lethal weapon that does not provide the flexibility of giving a non-lethal response. A weapon that has the option of being used in a non-lethal way provides far more flexibility to adapt to circumstances where one doesn’t want or need to deal with the dire consequences of taking lethal defensive action. Even better is something that can also be used as a psychological weapon to effectively defuse situations without the need to even engage with hostile aggressors or animals.

Routine items that can be improvised for urban defense

A single-purpose item is something extra that one must always remember to bring. On the other hand, a routine item is something that one will carry anyway because of its everyday utility. The key is finding a routine item that is convenient to carry and can do the job effectively.

ROUTINE ITEMS THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE:

A cane, walking stick or sturdy umbrella can be used effectively, but most people aren’t going to want to carry one of these everywhere they go, unless they actually need them. In many places one would also have to prove that one needed a cane, should an incident occur. No rain? No need for an umbrella either.

The truth is that there aren’t too many routine items that are effective. A keychain doesn’t have a useful weight or range. Most routine items one might consider carrying are small and require use at very close quarters to be effective, such as a tactical pen. A larger assailant may well have restrained his victim before he or she can effectively use such an item. This leaves the belt . . .

A belt is a powerful psychological weapon and a highly effective improvised weapon

Seeing a belt whipped out and spinning in an overhead circle can be very intimidating. It sends a powerful message that the wielder of the belt means business and shouldn’t be messed with. I know of of encounters in which multiple surrounding aggressors quickly left the scene upon seeing this performance. The spinning also creates a 360 degree halo effect, which keeps aggressors from getting close and anyone from sneaking up behind the belter. This also potentially gives a shorter person the advantage, since the height of the halo will be difficult for anyone behind to sneak under to attack. A taller belter can tilt the angle of the halo so that its lower behind him or her, preventing a sneak attack from behind. At any time the belter can swing low to the front or side while stepping forward to increase range. Randomly changing patterns of movement is key.

An effective tactic against multiple aggressors may be for the belter to randomly rotate his body clockwise and counterclockwise so that it’s hard for an aggressor to stay behind and out of visual range. Unpredictable directional movement also makes it difficult for a group of attackers to surround their target. Movement out of the location that the attackers have chosen to other terrain can be very effective, as they will be concerned about encountering police or groups of people who might help the belter, or at least witness the attack and call for help. The likelihood of them taking off increases significantly. If they persist, a swift blow to the legs of the ring-leader is difficult to defend against (avoid the head and neck) and should be enough to bring him down and send his minions packing.

For those of small stature or who are at a physical disadvantage (such as a woman being assailed by a larger man), or who are not practiced with using a belt at range, winding the webbing around the hand so that the buckle extends out on a very short section results in an incredibly fast, powerful weapon that can swiftly be swung side-to-side or down at an angle onto a hand/arm/leg/collar bone, or up between the legs to great effect.

Belts for self-defense against wild animals in the outdoors

A belt with a solid buckle is also well worth wearing when out in nature. Generally accepted advice for dealing with a threatening mountain lion/puma/cougar is to look as big as possible while loudly shouting at it. Swinging a belt overhead will add to the effect and the unfamiliar sight of a buzzing buckle is likely to confound and scare the creature away. I once watched a brief video in which two men in Africa each had a thin but leafy branch in hand, and were slapping the ground in front of them to ward off a large male lion. The lion could easily have leaped at them and the thin bendy branches would have made useless weapons, but the visual effect and motion of the leaves intimidated the lion, which was backing away from the men. A belt can similarly make one appear more imposing to a threatening animal. On another occasion I was walking with a park ranger on a path to collect dogs from a kennel in a national park when we came across an adult bear stealing apples from a tree. It had been ignoring the cacophony of several barking dogs just a few feet away, apparently aware that they were constrained by the tall cyclone fencing, but upon hearing and seeing the young woman shout, clap and stamp her foot, the bear took off running. A multi-sensory combination of noise and movement can startle and intimidate wild animals, and a spinning belt can add to this effect.

Nylon is the best choice for webbing, and with a stainless steel or brass buckle, will be highly resistant to corrosion. Water will ruin a leather belt and a cheap mass-produced metal belt or buckle will quickly corrode when exposed to salt water. Leather also degrades and slips easily in the hand.

What kind of belt is best for self-defense?

A conventional belt with a standard weight buckle might work in a pinch to intimidate an attacker, but the belt can be slow to release and the buckle at most will hurt or sting without taking the attacker down. A stinging strike is likely to enrage an assailant and make him much more aggressive and determined. You might only get one chance at hitting him, so you want it to count. If the first blow is hard enough, even if it doesn’t break a bone, the sheer surprise and severe pain can turn the assailant into a whimpering bag of mush begging you for mercy.

Most belts are not suitable for effective self-defense:

Knife Belts: there are many belts with knives or blades concealed in the buckle (or even a whip hidden behind the belt strap), but these all have the limitations of not being something one can travel with and also being illegal in many places. While a mugger might not see that your buckle has a knife hidden in it, TSA agents and border guards most certainly will recognize a knife disguised as a buckle. In addition, most of the knife buckles are unattractive and make the wearer look really geeky — not a great look for single men or women. Knives also have the negatives previously discussed (no range, a purely lethal option, and will result in the likelihood of contaminated blood ending up all over the user.) Lastly, the buckles are too lightweight.

Battle Belts / Gun Belts / Duty Belts: these are made for carrying other items. They can’t be removed in a hurry, plus various items are usually hanging off them. They are generally much too thick for wielding or wrapping around the hand for a secure grip, the strap is too heavy, and the buckle doesn’t have the necessary heft. Duty, gun and battle belts also aren’t a good look good for regular wear.

Other belts: Utility belts have the same limitations as battle-belts. Belts with metal straps will hurt or cut the hand of the holder, can’t be securely gripped and are usually cheaply made and likely to break. One should avoid mass-produced gadget belts that are cheapy constructed or or overly ornate in appearance. Durability and stealth are key. The limitations of Biker and Cowboy belts are discussed below.

Buckle weight matters

A buckle of around 5.5 oz to 6 oz, is an ideal weight. It also needs to be compact and dense so that it doesn’t catch the air and twist in unpredictable directions. Aim is important. Large Cowboy and Biker buckles have a large surface to weight ratio, the result being that they are not aerodynamic and most are not heavy enough to be optimal. A buckle that is heavier than 6.5 oz isn’t necessary and will be slower and require more energy and endurance to wield.

A rapid-release buckle is essential

Most buckles have pins on hinges and are slow to release. The wearer has to pull out the tail of the belt, hold it forward away from the buckle so that it can be pulled off the pin, and then pulled out of the rest of the buckle without the pin digging into the leather or another hole (the second hand is employed to hold the pin out of the way). Handgun practitioners practice being able to draw and fire in under 1.5 seconds, as that may be all the time one has to save one’s own life. A belt with no pins and hinges to fiddle with or plugs that have to be popped out of belt holes is what’s necessary to be able to draw a belt out reliably and without delay.

What’s more, buckles with hinges, pins, clasps, etc. don’t have the necessary heft and are prone to breaking if they contact an obstacle.

The right strap webbing is critical

Leather is not suitable for such a belt. It easily slips in the hand, especially given how one’s palms tend to sweat when one is anxious or gripped by fear. Regular mil-spec nylon can also be fairly slick but is a big improvement over leather. Metal belts can hurt or cut the hand. Leather belts also don’t wrap well around the hand as they can’t bend enough. This is even more the case with extra-thick gun belts. The webbing needs to be flexible, strong, durable and high-grip.

Appearance is important

Looks are important not just for the sake of appearance, but also for strategic reasons. A wise person travels without drawing attention to himself and avoids the “tacticool” look. He wears clothing that doesn’t stand out or make it easy for others to categorize him. An effective self-defense belt can either have a completely non-descript appearance, or it can have an attractive finish that makes it look more like a non-threatening art piece. Either way, the belt is hiding in plain sight and few people will even think of it’s potential usefulness for self-defense.

Regular “Tactical belts” are to be worn with full tactical gear, and look really awkward with street clothes or work wear. A sturdy tactical belt with a Cobra buckle costs between $129 and $154 online, but these are designed for carrying firearms, clips, etc. and are not suitable for other purposes. The webbing is much too thick to wrap and the buckle weight insufficient. Such belts are unsuitable for defensive use. Most conventional belts are inadequate, and as discussed, even big biker and cowboy buckles are not well suited and the leather straps they usually come with provide poor grip.

For the cost of a mass-produced tactical belt, one can buy an artisan-made belt that has been hand-crafted in the USA and designed to optimize the ideal qualities discussed above. A high quality pocket knife can easily cost upwards of $150 to as much as $650, and that’s just for a mass-produced knife — quality hand made pocket knifes will cost even more. Considering that hours of work go into making each of the hand-crafted belts, and considering the numerous advantages they have over knives, as well as their longevity, they are a fantastic value.

Summary

• A belt is a routine item that one wears regularly — nothing extra to carry and remember to bring.
• One can travel anywhere with a belt.
• Choose a belt buckle releases in an instant while also being secure.
• An orbiting belt provides range as well as 360 degree coverage.
• Range can be extended and reduced to adapt to the situation.
• The solid stainless steel or brass buckles have the ideal heft.
• Ribbed nylon has exceptional grip.
• The belt needs to be durable and dependable.
• Nylon webbing is more comfortable and cooler than thick leather and laminated belts.
• The buckles are attractive and look great with casual and business wear on men and women.
• Multiple buckle styles and finishes available for varied outfits and EDC options.
• If one wears a belt it makes sense that it should be able to double as an improvised tool.
• Considering what people pay for quality pocket knives, wristwatches, etc. the investment in a quality hand-crafted belt, which is a far more practical item, is a bargain.
• A belt that meets the requirements described is a must-have item for daily wear and for travel.

So, what is this mystery belt?

There is one belt that stands head-and-shoulders above the fray and it is the original defense belt, which began its development decades ago by a master weapons expert and pioneer in the outdoor survival industry. While there are a few “Johnny-Come-Lately” belts in recent years that have had a go at being for delf-defense, none of them have been able to follow in the footsteps of the master’s original hand-crafted self-defense belts. They fall short for quite obvious reasons. To begin with, they are slower to release, with either conventional pin buckles or plugs that have to be popped out of a thick leather strap, with the strap then fed out through the buckle. Secondly, their straps don’t have the same high grip or flexibility necessary to deploy and wield such a belt with complete confidence. Critically, their buckles are not as solid. The staps also are not as durable, employing leather and other materials such as stitching that will wear much faster. They don’t have the finesse and attractive appearance of a hand-crafted buckle, nor do they have the stealth — a conventional pin buckle that has simply been scaled up to make it heavy enough is still a boring, unsightly pin buckle, only now its appearance is even more awkward, oversized and gawky-looking. Similarly, a flat lump of CNC machined metal with no chamfering or curvature to match the human form looks amateurish and unrefined. Needless to say, neither of these would be a good look for the office or for taking a lady or gentleman out to dinner. Considering what people spend on nice-looking EDC items such as pocket knives and keychain ornaments, which are mostly hidden in a pocket, a small investment in a belt buckle that will be visible front-and-center day after day is warranted. Something as visible as a belt buckle deserves to be stylish and unique.

The sought-after USA-made hand-crafted belts we refer to are barely promoted anywhere and are mostly found through word-of-mouth by insiders, or from expert reviews on selective survival-related community websites. The artisans can only make a few of these belts in a week and they are kept busy making belts for their loyal base of devoted belt wearers (who invariably order more for themselves and for gifts), for protection professionals, and for the few who get to witness the impressive belt demonstrations at events the makers sometimes attend. We could make it easy, but this belt has a relatively low profile — to find it on the Internet will require a little effort on your part.

Here’s a clue: this is the belt one would want to have if one were under siege . . .