Get belted

Belt kits are great, and they always have been. We like them, and you should take a look at them too. Nowadays, load-bearing plate carriers have mostly replaced 'old fashioned' belt-and-yoke load carrying systems, but, as they say, eventually everything old becomes new again. 

This is where SAVOTTA from Finland comes in with their new 'VALJAS' belt-and-braces fighting load carriage system ('valjas' means 'harness' by the way). SAVOTTA's products are designed in Finland, made in the EU, and the company has been supplying the Finnish Defense Forces since the 1960's.

Plate carrier setups can become quite bulky and restrictive when everything is piled onto them. Movement suffers, especially in confined spaces or when going prone. By redistributing your load between your upper body and a belt system, you maintain agility and balance while increasing overall capacity. On the other hand, belt and harness-based load carriage systems offer exceptional accessibility whether you're standing, kneeling, or prone - and most importantly, a well-fitted belt system shifts weight to the hips, significantly reducing the strain on your back—something that's become even more important in the era of heavy fully loaded armor plate carriers.

If armor is necessary, a belt kit can complement your system by offering additional real estate and placement options - without turning your torso into a moving storage locker. It also gives you greater flexibility and easier adjustment of your protection and load configuration to match your mission or tactical profile. Having more space doesn’t mean you should just carry more stuff though. A belt and harness system should be for critical fighting load only. Less essential items belong in your pack - which incidentally will also sit more securely and comfortably with a belt kit than with a plate carrier. 

Bottom line? This isn’t about nostalgia or being able to carry more crap - this is about practical, efficient, and combat-effective load carriage. The VALJAS belt kit is available in Finnish M/05 woodland camouflage, Ranger Green, Earth Brown, or ubiquitous MultiCam - check it out at SAVOTTA.com.