You may have not of heard of him, but Jones Tactical is hitting the scene offering some no messing around heavy duty custom gear. For this particular review I am checking out the Cobra Shooters Belt which hence the name uses the pinnacle of heavy duty buckles, Cobra buckles. What is so special about this buckle you might ask? Well a common problem in other belts is that the webbing strength is rated much much higher than the buckle. The Corba however is rated closer to the webbing, getting into rowdy 2500+ lbs country which not even the fattest bastard on the planet can threaten.
The quick release functionality is intuitive and smooth in which one pushes the golden tabs down at the same time. If just one tab is engaged the connection will still hold and fully relock on its own once released. The connection manufacture tolerance is a great balance allowing solid functionality even in extreme environments.
Equal quality efforts go into the webbing parts of the belt. Made with 4088 Type 7 or 13 riggers webbing, 2 pieces are used for stiffness. Inside is an extra layer of 17337 webbing for a slight addition to thickness and stiffening. All stitching is done clean and MIL-Spec. These specs make the belt about 1-23/32" wide, which is a good size to be wide, while still fitting in the vast majority of military style pant belt loops. The adjustment end is tapered for ease of use and well melted to prevent fraying. For flap control hook velcro is also on the adjustment end with a generous amount of loop velcro on the exterior of the belt to secure to. Since a custom item, for a little bit extra money the inside / outside can be covered in loop / hook velcro as desired. For those who want to make it more rigger belt style, adding a V-ring is another option. Not enough you say? Both the webbing and buckle color can be chosen with the option for a single or dual adjust Cobra buckle.
The end result is a nice stiffness vs comfort ratio belt good for attaching a holster to. It isn't as stiff as a duty belt, but offers more rigidity than some chump leather belt. The quick release capability makes it great for everyday use when you just need to go to the bathroom or expose your crotch for other fun activities :) . The general look of the belt is military for sure, yet the cobra buckle has a more classy look than most. Although it looks a bit bulky, the Cobra buckle is actually pretty comfortable and I haven't had any poking / pressure point issues while wearing.
This belt isn't cheap by any means mostly due to the high cost of Cobra buckles, however those who want a premium belt will be more than pleased. Check one out and prepared to be spoiled.
