What's on your belt?
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I don't wear a belt. 
Squishy, your belt does not surprise me. You seem like the type of person that is always prepared for anything and everything. :yes:
Squishy, your belt does not surprise me. You seem like the type of person that is always prepared for anything and everything. :yes:
LOL !!jonas1022 said:I used to have more on it, but then I gave some things up for Lent a couple years ago.
im gonna guess cell phone, collapsable batton, multiy(sp?) tool,master craft utility knife, screw drvier kit, rain poncho?Squishy said:Anyone else here have holsters for just about everything, or am I the only crazy?
Here's my belt in "patrol" configuration:
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Any guesses as to the items?
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That's 3/6, although one item is in the wrong order.
Our patrols are car-based, so no batonning required. That pouch holds something a bit more long-range, especially for hunting vampires.
Rain poncho eh? Now why would I shield myself from a free shower?
Our patrols are car-based, so no batonning required. That pouch holds something a bit more long-range, especially for hunting vampires.
Rain poncho eh? Now why would I shield myself from a free shower?
hmmm ok lol a monocular(sp?) would another one happen to be a first aid kitSquishy said:That's 3/6, although one item is in the wrong order.
Our patrols are car-based, so no batonning required. That pouch holds something a bit more long-range, especially for hunting vampires.
Rain poncho eh? Now why would I shield myself from a free shower?
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274 Posts
Holy heavy belts batman!!!! :shades:Squishy said:![]()
I think you got more stuff on your belt than I carry in my bunker pockets at work!
Well, to answer your question I have my trusty leatherman (original 1980's model with original leather pouch), and my cellphone. I also always have a pocket knife in my front pocket (usually a simple Gerber spring assist).
Pat
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Zombies stand no chance.
Here's what is on my belt:
Here's what is on my belt:
- 10 o'clock, backup cell phone batteries (taped up battery is one I rebuilt with LSD NiMH cells)[/*]
- 9 o'clock, keys with carabiner light modded with a Mag Solitaire bulb (the backup light, or backup-backup-backup-backup light when on patrols)[/*]
- 8 o'clock, tactical flashlight, normally with a 130-lumen bulb and tactical clicky tailcap, or when on patrols, a 450-lumen zombie-killer with a 10-lumen LED tailcap (for initial contact without malice towards retinas)[/*]
- 5 o'clock, Leatherman knife with six screwdriver bits[/*]
- 5 o'clock, utility knife for minor cutting, saves the Leatherman blade[/*]
- 4 o'clock, backup lithium cobalt oxide batteries for the flashlight, in a pinch can be shorted out with the Leatherman and used as grenades [/*]
- 1-2 o'clock, cell phone[/*]
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Well, you showed us whats on your belt... I guess I should show you whats in my Bunker pockets at work
Left bunker pants pocket is mostly my medical stuff
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Right bunker pants pocket fits my fire gloves
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Both bunker top pockets have some tools in them
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And while we're at at, here is the stuff I have on my back, head and in my radio pocket
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Left bunker pants pocket is mostly my medical stuff
Right bunker pants pocket fits my fire gloves
Both bunker top pockets have some tools in them
And while we're at at, here is the stuff I have on my back, head and in my radio pocket
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By the way if you are wondering what the stickers on my helmet are, the green ones with the number 58 are part of our pressure tactics against the city (we've been without a work contract since 2006). As we do not have the right to strike we can only take symbolic measures to show our displeasure.
The red sticker is to honour a firefighter from our station who is currently serving with the Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
Pat
The red sticker is to honour a firefighter from our station who is currently serving with the Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
Pat
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Holy! I'm missing about 100 pounds in equipment but I still get mistaken for a firefighter from time to time. It's my reflective green/grey ankle bands, and I guess I look just crazy enough to run towards fire.
How does the Streamlight LED measure up to an incandescent light for cutting through smoke? I guess LED is good for 123A lights, or else you're just hemorrhaging money from your wallet (still, you're not paying camera shop money for them, right?). I'm guessing the 3.7 V rechargeable Li-Ions are still too dangerous to use with firefighting. Vent-with-flame, next to your head! :shock:
How does the Streamlight LED measure up to an incandescent light for cutting through smoke? I guess LED is good for 123A lights, or else you're just hemorrhaging money from your wallet (still, you're not paying camera shop money for them, right?). I'm guessing the 3.7 V rechargeable Li-Ions are still too dangerous to use with firefighting. Vent-with-flame, next to your head! :shock:
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The streamlight is probably the best $100 I ever spent!!!
It cuts thru smoke a LOT better than any incandescent light I've ever used. Surprisingly enough, I use regular Duracell 123a's. I get 2 packs at Wallyworld, they last surprisingly long in my light (we're talking a few months here!). The light is a machined solid block of aluminum and is very solid, but I am not sure I'd chance rechargeable li-ion's in it.
Pat
It cuts thru smoke a LOT better than any incandescent light I've ever used. Surprisingly enough, I use regular Duracell 123a's. I get 2 packs at Wallyworld, they last surprisingly long in my light (we're talking a few months here!). The light is a machined solid block of aluminum and is very solid, but I am not sure I'd chance rechargeable li-ion's in it.
Pat
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Mine's also machined from a block of "aircraft grade" aluminium. My friends kid me about my monthly cleaning regimen. "It's not a gun, stupid!" I strip everything down, clean the threads, O-rings, reflectors, bulbs, and lens with alcohol, then lubricate the threads, O-rings, and electrical contacts with synthetic silicone grease (I repurposed a tube of brake grease from the garage). It does a lot to keep dust from getting past the O-rings and contaminating the threads or wearing down the rubber, but you should find out if you have silicone O-rings. If you do, I think you are supposed to use a petroleum-based lubricant. It's the opposite for non-silicone O-rings - petroleum will break those down, and silicone grease will break down silicone rings. :doh:
It's been a while since I've paid attention to the WalMart displays, but don't the Duracells sell for something like $16 for a two-pack? You can get the batteries much cheaper than that. The cheapest "quality" batteries would be from 4sevens.ca, that's about 1.92 CAD each, including shipping and tax, for a pack of 50 - that might be too big of an order if each set lasts you a few months. BatteryStation.com ships from the States (I think), but their cells are made by Panasonic in the US and they price them at $1.50 USD each before shipping. If you email them, they tend to give discounts for LEO/military types, and firefighters are probably included. With the discount, they might be even cheaper than 4sevens unless they ship by UPS or FedEx (watch out for those cross-border brokerage fees). 4sevens is the only Chinese-made cell that I would trust and are comparable to the USA-made cells like Panasonic, Duracell, SureFire, and BatteryStation, which are all manufactured by Panasonic (they have the only plant in North America making 123A cells). Even though they are the only plant, each cell is made to a specific company's specifications (i.e., a Duracell 123A could be made 20 feet from a Panasonic 123A, but they are each made to separate specs.). Even though you aren't using rechargeables, you should keep a multimeter next to where you store your batteries or your duty stuff, and check the cells for equal voltage before you put them in. If you happen to get a DOA cell and put it in series with a fresh one, bad things will happen. I should dig up the news article where a LEO had his Pelican ProPoly light explode in his hands from mismatched 123A cells - don't want that to happen next to your face. Also, if some of the safer rechargeable chemistries like lithium manganese are safe enough for firefighter use, keep in mind that rechargeable cells are rated at 3.7 volts and top off at 4.2 volts - quite a bit more than 3.0 V lithium primaries. The common configuration is a single 18650 rechargeable cell to replace a 2x123A configuration (6.0 V > 4.2 V) or what I have, 2x18500 to replace a 3x123A configuration (9.0 V > 8.4 V).
I actually find it surprising that your LEDs cut through smoke better. Are they a particularly warm colour? That makes me feel better about investing the $60 or so for a LED upgrade when my incandescent lamps burn out. I'm shooting for 800 lumens at the emitter. Might be too much light for smoke and fog, but I can modify whatever the detachment issues me once I get on into a 80- to 120- lumen spot beam for those foggy or smoky situations.
My name is Squishy and I have a flashlight problem. :bill:
It's been a while since I've paid attention to the WalMart displays, but don't the Duracells sell for something like $16 for a two-pack? You can get the batteries much cheaper than that. The cheapest "quality" batteries would be from 4sevens.ca, that's about 1.92 CAD each, including shipping and tax, for a pack of 50 - that might be too big of an order if each set lasts you a few months. BatteryStation.com ships from the States (I think), but their cells are made by Panasonic in the US and they price them at $1.50 USD each before shipping. If you email them, they tend to give discounts for LEO/military types, and firefighters are probably included. With the discount, they might be even cheaper than 4sevens unless they ship by UPS or FedEx (watch out for those cross-border brokerage fees). 4sevens is the only Chinese-made cell that I would trust and are comparable to the USA-made cells like Panasonic, Duracell, SureFire, and BatteryStation, which are all manufactured by Panasonic (they have the only plant in North America making 123A cells). Even though they are the only plant, each cell is made to a specific company's specifications (i.e., a Duracell 123A could be made 20 feet from a Panasonic 123A, but they are each made to separate specs.). Even though you aren't using rechargeables, you should keep a multimeter next to where you store your batteries or your duty stuff, and check the cells for equal voltage before you put them in. If you happen to get a DOA cell and put it in series with a fresh one, bad things will happen. I should dig up the news article where a LEO had his Pelican ProPoly light explode in his hands from mismatched 123A cells - don't want that to happen next to your face. Also, if some of the safer rechargeable chemistries like lithium manganese are safe enough for firefighter use, keep in mind that rechargeable cells are rated at 3.7 volts and top off at 4.2 volts - quite a bit more than 3.0 V lithium primaries. The common configuration is a single 18650 rechargeable cell to replace a 2x123A configuration (6.0 V > 4.2 V) or what I have, 2x18500 to replace a 3x123A configuration (9.0 V > 8.4 V).
I actually find it surprising that your LEDs cut through smoke better. Are they a particularly warm colour? That makes me feel better about investing the $60 or so for a LED upgrade when my incandescent lamps burn out. I'm shooting for 800 lumens at the emitter.
Might be too much light for smoke and fog, but I can modify whatever the detachment issues me once I get on into a 80- to 120- lumen spot beam for those foggy or smoky situations.My name is Squishy and I have a flashlight problem. :bill:
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