Riggers Belt
A riggers belt is the standard trouser belt for combat uniforms and field pants: stiff nylon webbing, a quick-adjusting buckle and enough strength to hold up a holster in a pinch. Our riggers belts and related pistol belts cover uniform wear, airsoft, range days and everyday use.
- Rothco AR 670-1 Compliant Military Riggers Belt – 100% nylon, 1.75 inches wide, aluminum buckle with hook-and-loop closure. Rothco says the coyote brown version meets DA PAM 670-1/AR 670-1 and pairs with the OCP uniform.
- Rothco Heavy Duty Riggers Belt – polypropylene webbing with a metal cargo buckle and hook-and-loop closure, built for BDU pants and field clothing.
- Rothco Reversible Airport Friendly Riggers Belt – black on one side, coyote on the other, double-layer nylon with six rows of stitching and a plastic buckle that keeps metal out of the hardware.
- Rothco Adjustable BDU Belt and Deluxe BDU Belt With Security Friendly Plastic Buckle – simple, low-cost belts for BDU and cargo pants.
- Quick release pistol belts and range belt – the Military Style, GI Style and New Issue Marine Corps Style quick release pistol belts and the Heavy Duty Range Belt carry holsters and pouches outside your trousers.
A note for service members: DA PAM 670-1 makes the tan 499 rigger belt with a black open-face buckle part of the Army combat uniform. Buy the Rothco AR 670-1 Compliant belt in coyote brown for that use, compare it to the regulation's description below, and check your unit's policy. The other belts here are for field, airsoft and casual wear.
How to Choose a Riggers Belt
A good riggers belt does three things: it holds its shape when you thread it, it locks without slipping, and it opens fast. Decide where you'll wear it, then pick the buckle and color.
Uniform Riggers Belt
For OCP uniform wear, color matters most. The Rothco AR 670-1 Compliant Military Riggers Belt comes in a coyote brown version that Rothco states meets DA PAM 670-1 and AR 670-1. Other colors of the same belt are for non-uniform use.
Airport Friendly and Everyday Riggers Belts
Metal buckles set off metal detectors. If you fly often or work in a building with security screening, a plastic buckle saves time. The reversible black/coyote riggers belt also covers two outfits with one belt.
BDU Belts and Heavy Duty Riggers Belts
BDU belts are the budget pick for BDU pants, cargo pants and airsoft clothing. The Heavy Duty Riggers Belt steps up to polypropylene webbing and a metal cargo buckle for harder use.
Riggers Belt vs. Pistol Belt
A riggers belt runs through your belt loops. A pistol belt, whether the GI style or the Marine Corps style quick release version, is a wider outer belt worn over your trousers to carry a holster, canteen or magazine pouches. Range belts work the same way. Most people who shoot or play airsoft end up with one of each: a riggers belt to hold up the pants and a pistol belt for the gear.
Riggers Belt Sizing and Fit
Most riggers belts are sold by waist size or waist range. Measure around your trousers where the belt sits, not your bare waist. Thread the belt, pass it through the buckle and adjust the hook-and-loop end so it lies flat. For uniform wear, trim the end if needed: DA PAM 670-1 limits how far it extends past the buckle.
Riggers Belt and Military Uniform Regulations
What DA PAM 670-1 Requires
Paragraph 4-2 lists "Belt, rigger, tan 499" as part of the Army combat uniform. Paragraph 20-3a describes the belt as tan 499 cotton web or woven elastic, 2 inches wide, worn with a black open-face buckle. The tipped end passes through the buckle to the wearer's left and can extend no more than 2 inches beyond the edge of the buckle. All personnel wear the rigger belt with utility uniforms that have belt loops.
Buying a Commercial Riggers Belt
AR 670-1 paragraph 2-10 says commercial items worn in place of issue items must meet the issued item's baseline spec. Rothco labels its AR 670-1 Compliant belt for that use, but its listed width is 1.75 inches and its material is nylon, so compare it to your issue belt and ask your leadership if you're unsure. BDU belts, black belts and reversible belts are not uniform belts for the OCP uniform. The Air Force and Space Force set their own OCP accessory rules in DAFI 36-2903, and your unit can always be stricter.
Riggers Belts Off Duty
Off duty, a riggers belt is one of the most useful belts you can own. It handles a holster, keys and a multitool without sagging, and it shrugs off mud and water.