[B-Series] Belts | Kinesis Photo Gear

- The product B307, B308, B309 or B311 — Kinesis Heavy-duty Belt has been added to comparison list.

Belts

B-Series
We offer three weights of waist belts (scroll down to see products):
B206 unpadded belt which is constructed from 50mm (2") nylon webbing.
B100-series or “Kinesis Black Belt,” is our standard weight and most popular belt. It is made with 6mm (1/4") closed cell foam and is 90mm (3-1/2") wide.
B300-series or “Heavy-duty Belt” is made from bi-laminite foam which is 20mm (3/4") thick and is 110mm wide (4-1/4").
All belts include a pair of B501 metal sliders and strap keepers.

Belt Choices (Regular or Heavy-duty?)
90% of our customers purchase the the standard “black” belt for everyday use (B107, B108 etc. series). Most photojournalists carry their DSLR around their neck, while nature/traveling shooters like the option of a C-Series holster case to shove it away and protect it from the elements. If you carrying a full-size heavy body (i.e. Nikon D3-series or Canon EOS1d-series) plus fast and bulky 2.8 lenses (70-200/2.8) on your waist, then consider the heavier belt — it will provide more support. If you doing a multi-hour walking or hiking, the heavier belt will also be more comfortable and because of the extra padding it tends to stay up better or stick to your waist without suspenders. Of course the trade off is if you are in a hot and/or humid climate, then the heavier belt may prove to be uncomfortable (although the fabric is breathable, the thick bulky foam insulates). Please note that with a fully-loaded belt, the regular-weight “Black Belt” seems a little floppy when removed, but when worn on the waist it provides good support for most average loads, esp. when you consider that the pouches are padded too.

Backpack Use
I personally prefer the “standard-weight” Black Belt for use with the Journeyman pack (up to about 25 lbs. / 11 kg) because much of the weight is distributed throughout the pack frame and shoulder harnesses. Whenever possible, I adhere to the “less is more” philosophy with gear. Be sure you order the B503 adapter with your Journeyman pack if you using a Black Belt. On the other hand, if you think you might purchase a Heavy-duty Pack Frame then purchase the Heavy-duty belt (B307, B308 etc. series) instead of the “standard” Black Belt. The heavy-duty model has special pockets for the aluminum staves of the P017 or P019 Heavy-duty Frames. The extra rigidity of the heavy-duty belt is needed for heavier loads typically carried on the pack frame.

Buckle in back or buckle in front? The durable 50mm (two-inch) quick-release buckle is the same as found on mountaineering packs (i.e. Mountainsmith, Lowe Alpine, Greogory etc.) and is a "dual-adjust" model so the length can be adjusted from either right or left, keeping the buckle centered at all times. A Kinesis belt can be adjusted while it is worn in the fanny or belly position. See photo in the right-hand side bar.
When you first put the belt on, place the buckle in the front... and then I slide the belt around so the buckle is in the back. The pouches surround the front and sides of you body, making them more accessible. Wear longer pouches, such as a water bottle pouch or the E280 lens pouch on the sides and shorter pouches in the center. This makes it easier to lean or bend over.
A few customers have requested that their Kinesis harness work with the belt buckle in both the front and the back positions. See pig tail accessory below for a custom solution to this problems.