Wilderness Tactical Instructor belt: 5 year review.

A little over 5 years ago I bought a 5 stitch Instructor belt from Wilderness Tactical Products. They came highly recommended from pretty much every source I could find.

I consider these great belts. The 5 stitch model is plenty stiff, and does a good job of holding up your gun, extra mag, and all the rest of the stuff we tend to carry around every day.  An added bonus is these belts are made in the USA. 

I really like the way these belts work. You slide the belt through the buckle, around the moving post, and back out the way it came where you Velcro the tag end down so it doesn't flop around. You have  about a 5" adjustment range, and can adjust to any spot in that range. You don't have to worry about having a hole to line up where you need it. This is nice to adjust for when you have your gun on, when you don't, and for how tight or loose you want it. For instance, I wear the belt a lot looser when I am carrying AIWB than when carrying strong side. With the gun in front it needs more leeway to move with your body. 

I have worn this belt every day for over 5 years. The Velcro is wore out, on both the hook side and the soft side. There is also wear on the belt itself from my keys and holster clips running against it.  The belt itself is still very stiff and has non of the bend that cheap belts get after a while. I have no doubt I could keep wearing this belt and it would keep doing its job. I ordered one of these for my brother for Christmas this year and since I was already placing an order I figured I might as well order me one too...

One interesting thing that The Wilderness offers is you can send your belt back to have the Velcro replaced. They will do the hook side for free, or both sides for $15. Of course, you would have to pay for shipping both ways. I thought about doing this, but by the time I paid for shipping I would be close enough to the price of a new belt that I don't really know that it is worth it. Still an option though. 

When it was time for a new belt, I could have ordered from any of the newer companies that make gun belts these days. I knew the quality of Wilderness belts, and I knew they did everything I need a gun belt to do, so I ordered from the same company I had before and was not disappointed when my new belt arrived. If that isn't an endorsement I don't know what is. 

My EDC

Seems like you can't have a 2nd amendment website, youtube channel, or podcast without having a page about your EDC, so here is my obligatory EDC post!


2nd Generation Glock 17 9mm.  2nd generation only because I got an awesome deal on it.  After a trip to Glock in Smyrna, GA, all internals replaced with new, and magazines swapped to new 4th gen magazines.  They did all that for free.  That's great customer service.  It has Glock night sights on it as well.

(For the safety police: the gun was very much so loaded in this picture. It is, after all, a carry gun.)

Dale Fricke Archangel holster.  Holster is set up for AIWB(Appendix Inside The Waistband).  I have 3 of Dale's products, and they are all exceptional quality.

Wilderness Tactical 5 Stitch belt.  A quality gun belt is absolutely necessary part of carrying a gun.  It holds the gun up, and close to your body.  I've had this belt since early 2008.  The velcro is starting to wear but the belt still works fine.

Cold Steel Voyager XL.  5.5" blade, this is a huge knife.  It took me awhile to get used to carrying a "pocket sword." Now that I am used to it, all other pocket knives feel tiny in comparison.  I actually really like this knife.  It holds a good edge and is easy to sharpen.  Inertia opening is incredibly easy.

(Shown with Glock 17 mag for size comparison.)

Surefire 6PLED Defender.  This flashlight is pretty old technology now but it still works great.  Surefire really stands behind their products.  After a few years of constant carry and use the lens cracked.  I called Surefire and they put me a new one in the mail no questions asked.  I started carrying a flashlight because I used one at work, but the thing is I am constantly using it.  Also, you can take a flashlight with you anywhere.  Federal buildings, airplanes, wherever.

I don't always carry an extra mag, but when I do it is in a Dale Fricke Gideon Elite mag carrier.  I have also just thrown an extra mag in my back pocket before. Not exactly "tactical" but it works. 

Keys, Wallet, Pen, iPhone.  Normal crap to get through the day.

(Picture taken with iPhone, hard to be in the picture that way.)

That's all my carry. Leave a comment on what you carry, or with any questions on mine. Thanks.

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~Tattooed Gunner