REVIEW: Cobra Belts – Stratagem & Platatac

The normal person needs a belt to keep their pants up, the special person needs a belt to carry their equipment. Accordingly, they have a Battle or Duty Belt. This is usually worn over the belt that holds the pants up. So, there is also a normal person in every special person. Currently, belts with Cobra buckles are extremely popular. We have looked at two different models for you: the Instructor's ER COBRA® Belt including soul from STRATAGEM (left) from Berlin and the Soldier's Integrated Combat Cobra Belt from PLATATAC from Australia.

The two snakes together: what unites Germany and Australia is, so to speak, the heart from Austria. Cobra buckles come from AustriAlpin in the Tyrolean Stubaital (Read more about the Cobra buckle HERE in the interview). Both belts are designed for improvised securing: Stratagem (left) has opted for a metal triangle to which the lanyard for securing (e.g. in a helicopter) can be attached. The SICC from Platatac does this with a sewn gusset. Less stiff, but certainly not as tear-resistant as Stratagem's solution.

But the two belts can only be compared to a limited extent, as can be seen on the body very nicely: STRATAGEM uses Type VII Class 1a webbing for its Instructors Belt, Mil-Spec webbing with a maximum load of 2,700 kg, which is also waxed and has an embedded core, a plastic reinforcement that makes the belt particularly stiff and shapely. Holsters and magazine pouches on it, other necessary pockets - this is the perfect Duty Belt here. PLATATAC takes a different approach. The belt also consists of two layers of webbing, but has no core and is significantly more flexible than its German counterpart. It is also sewn with a Multicam band and MOLLE in Multicam, which almost wraps around the entire body. Or, as the Australians so wonderfully describe it from the manufacturer: "Soldier's Intergrated Combat Cobra Belt is what it stands for and that is what it does." In fact, we have the lightest Battle Belt here that one can have. Holster, dump pouch, canteen and pistol magazine pouches attached, done. If both are too minimalist, they can be drawn into a battle belt and only use the Cobra buckle (but with STRATAGEM, this would be truly a waste, as it is designed as a stand-alone solution).

This is how the Cobra works and shows its advantage: the buckle is first closed (top left) and extremely strong. In relation, it takes no effort to open the clasp (bottom left), two finger presses and the Cobra buckle is open (right). Nice to see: M (left in the picture) fits in F (right in the picture). Just like in real life ...

CONCLUSION: Cobra Belts are currently fashionable because the buckle is extremely good. The two belts we have presented today are both extremely functional as Duty or Combat Belts. STRATAGEM focuses on high-quality workmanship. PLATATAC offers a rugged all-rounder, which MOLLE makes extremely flexible. The Australians also know about the uses: "If none of those suit your purpose it looks pretty rad holding up your pants." Well said ...

The Instructor's ER COBRA® Belt including soul from Stratagem costs 69.90 euros (excluding shipping). The Soldier's Integrated Combat Cobra (SICC) Belt from Platatac costs 79 dollars (excluding shipping).

Those with a special heart for perfection will be extremely satisfied with the Cobra Belt from STRATAGEM: rarely do you see such precision in stitching. Everything here has its symmetry.