By Mike Boyle
External vest carriers can reduce duty belt weight, improve comfort and keep critical gear within reach – but only when the vest and belt are set up with purpose.
When I started out, my duty belt included my service revolver, a holster, a dual dump pouch for spare ammunition, and a handcuff case. This whole rig was secured to my inner garrison belt by a trio of keepers and a baton ring and I felt I was well equipped to handle any emergency which came my way. Although I was issued a portable radio, it was nearly useless in my remote patrol area and I only carried it when another officer might be nearby.
That has changed dramatically and officers now carry more gear than ever, including an aerosol restraint, a body-worn camera, a TASER®, an expandable baton, a radio, a tourniquet, extra magazines for their pistol and rifle, and a flashlight. The combined weight of these accessories can bring the rig to a weight of 25 pounds or so. Not only does this compromise the comfort factor over a long day, but the long-term effects on the lower back come at a huge price.
Not only is weight a factor, but there is just so much real estate on the duty belt to place critical gear. Hard items placed between the three o’clock and nine o’clock positions on the rear of the belt can cause serious injury in a fall. Gear around the back can also be a big handicap in a ground fighting situation. This leaves one with roughly half a duty belt to affix critical gear. This might not be a major issue for a good-sized individual, but it can be problematic for slim and small stature officers.
Essential gear must be carried, so we need a more effective way to have it on our person. One viable solution is an external vest carrier which holds soft armor panels while keeping essential safety equipment immediately accessible. As with many recent innovations, careful consideration must be given in determining which items are best placed on the vest and which should remain on the belt. Let’s take a look and see what sort of advantages an external vest carrier might offer.
Take a Load Off
My first experience with an external vest carrier came in the early 1990s, when I was issued a quilted nylon carrier for my body armor panels. It was intended for winter wear and many officers preferred it over a concealed vest because it was cooler and more comfortable over the uniform shirt. I stayed with the traditional under-the-shirt carrier until retirement. Another spin-off was the external vest carrier which matched the color of the uniform shirt. To the casual observer, it gave the appearance of a regular police uniform and was unlikely to draw any undue attention.
But, that was then and this is now. Over the last several years, the uniforms worn by patrol officers have gotten a bit more practical. BDUs, boots based on athletic shoes and synthetic duty gear have replaced neckties, oxfords, dress pants, and leather for everyday patrol wear. Here in the Northeast, more departments are adopting external vest carriers for patrol officers and the trend continues to grow.
Today, the most popular style of external vest carriers have a more business-like, practical appearance and feature MOLLE loops and integrated storage compartments. This allows officers to get gear off the belt and up on the vest. It may not sound like a big deal, but the cumulative weight of even small accessories adds up. The fact that critical gear is now within easy reach also pays dividends.
Is this style of vest more comfortable? Comfort is a subjective quality; however, most officers who use an external vest carrier feel that it holds an advantage over a concealed vest. The fact that an officer can make adjustments without a great deal of difficulty over a long shift is another advantage. Ballistic protection is afforded with either Level II or IIIA panels and some vests will even support a rifle plate. Getting some weight off the belt, enhanced comfort and greater safety are indeed very positive attributes.
Do This, Don’t Do That!
Exactly what gear should we put on the vest and what should stay on the belt? An external vest carrier does not make the duty belt obsolete and there is, in fact, gear which needs to stay right there on the belt. For patrol officers, the holstered pistol belongs on the belt. While some tactical operators may have reason to mount a sidearm on the vest, the duty belt remains the best place for patrol carry. I also feel the pouch containing spare pistol magazines should also remain on the belt. If there is a need to reload, a properly situated magazine pouch on the belt is the faster option. In addition to the pistol and extra magazines, I personally prefer placing the expandable baton and a single cuff case on the belt as well, for quicker access.
Perhaps the most common accessory well suited for the vest is the portable radio. Modern portables are lighter, more reliable and let officers communicate instantly away from their vehicles, unlike the brick I was given years ago. Other gear could include a body cam, a chemical agent, a tourniquet, emergency first aid gear, a tactical flashlight, a folding knife, or a small notebook. How about rifle magazines? One of the concerns many administrators have is that external vests have a military appearance and may ruffle some feathers. Would visible rifle magazines do that? How about a TASER? Ultimately, it all depends on the community you patrol.
On the downside, wearing an external vest carrier with gear affixed will result in slightly reduced agility. This can be minimized by placing gear where it is accessible, but does not interfere with your range of motion. This is crucial when using empty-hand control during an arrest.
As a trainer, one concern I had was a support hand draw in the event of an injury. Years ago, I attended a class put on by members of LAPD SWAT officers. They reported that a significant number of officers involved in a gunfight are struck in the dominant side hand, arm or shoulder. Removing a firearm from a Level III retention holster with the support hand is already challenging; officers using external vest carriers should ensure they regularly practice this skill. After I ran our troops through a live fire exercise, more than one officer changed the location of his/her gear on the vest.
Another issue users of external vest carriers may have to contend with is shooting a rifle from the prone position. What I’ve noted with some of our officers is that the butt of the rifle slides off the shoulder when wearing the external vest when firing from prone. Depending on the terrain, one could also try to shoot from the Hawkins prone position when you are on top of the buttstock instead of pulling it tight into the shoulder pocket. This is not only a very stable position, but it makes you a much smaller target than when firing from conventional prone.
Duty Belts Still Matter
If the goal is to lighten the load, you need to take a hard look at the gear you are carrying on the belt. Considering some support gear can be carried off the belt, I have taken the minimalist approach and only my holster, dual magazine pouch and cuff case remain on the belt. If I were still an active patrol officer, I would probably add my expandable baton to the mix as well.
Recently, I checked out Point Blank’s Patrol Belt System which pairs with a low profile stiffened inner belt and eliminates the need for extra hardware. Available in 1.75 inch or 2.25 inch widths, it features a hybrid aluminum/steel Cobra buckle, Snap Track sizing, micro adjustment, and included Tac-Wraps for quick gear attachment and relocation. To fill out the package, I added a Point Blank Double Mag Pouch and a Handcuff Pouch along with a Level II VALOR® Duty Holster from Blade-Tech. To date, I’m very impressed with the VALOR Holster and putting this rig together gave me a significantly lighter package than I had been utilizing previously. I especially like the fact that the hook and loop combination of the duty belt and inner belt eliminates the need for keepers and prevents the whole rig from shifting around.
Making It All Work
A properly configured duty belt and external vest carrier keep vital tools accessible; improve comfort and focus during long shifts; distribute weight more effectively; and can increase an officer’s margin of safety. Traditions die hard in American law enforcement and some executives have an issue with officers going afield with something other than a traditional police uniform. I get that and sensitivities will vary from one community to the next. But, it’s quite clear that external vest carriers have much to offer. As long as officers are recognizable as public servants and not some spec ops warrior about to jump out of the back of a C-130, I don’t have a problem with it. Agency affiliation and name tags should be visible. I would also suggest that, if your department doesn’t have a written policy on external vest carriers, you need to get one together.
For the hard knocks of patrol, external vest carriers have much to offer. A well-thought-out system between the external vest carrier and duty belt allows officers to carry vital gear in comfort and enhances not only their safety, but the safety of the members of the community they serve.
Captain Mike Boyle served with New Jersey Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Law Enforcement, and has been active in use-of-force instruction for over 40 years. He is an instructor in multiple firearms and less-lethal disciplines and has been a police academy assistant director, instructor and rangemaster. He is the author of three books; three training videos; and hundreds of magazine articles on firearms, training and tactics. Mike served 21 years on the Board of Directors of IALEFI and is a member of NLEFIA and ILEETA. He continues to work part-time as a law enforcement training specialist and resides in Forked River, NJ.