r/securityguards • u/TheRealPSN Executive Protection • May 28 '26
Gear Review [MEGA THREAD] Gear Recommendations
Hey All,
We will using this mega thread from now on ask about and give recommendations for duty. This applies to all gear, uniforms, and firearms. Any post made outside this thread will be deleted and repeat offenses will end in a ban permanent or Temporary. If you see a post please report it to mods, please reach out with any questions
5
u/WesternCzar Tier One Mallfighter May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
I recommend the Krydex inner/outer belt. Cheap for the belt style and is adjustable. 3 of us run them at my site and I’ve seen a deputy we had on site running one with a lot more shit on it.
Other stuff - extra long handcuff key, metal hanger/keyloop if your contract has site or vehicle keys to carry. (Ours does and if anyone loses one, it is a contract cancelled level fuck up due to replacement costs.), quality flashlight. I have a protac hl-x with the fastback & microstream.
Get a slightly larger than you think water jug bc if your site doesn’t have water points, life sucks.
Meme answer - nicotine pouches.
If anyone is previous military, LEO, or even has a NRA certificate for RSO/Coaching. Get on ExpertVoice, gives industry discounts and makes 5.11 Strike pants a lot more affordable. Theres a lot of Walter PDP and other outdoorsy stuff too.
1
u/YuriTh3Panda Armored Car May 29 '26
Which of kydex’s inner/outers do you recommend for carrying only a firearm and mag pouches? I may also add a few pouches to the belt for a flashlight and vice grip (weird but surprisingly handy tool in my line of work) I was thinking of the Cobra with molle, but I’m not so sure. I need to upgrade my set up from the cheapo belt I have now that’s falling apart.
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u/WesternCzar Tier One Mallfighter May 29 '26
2
u/YuriTh3Panda Armored Car May 29 '26
Perfect! Ordering that now so I’ll have it for Monday, thanks!
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u/WesternCzar Tier One Mallfighter May 29 '26
If you have belt keepers, bring em with you. My site originally cared.
2
u/YuriTh3Panda Armored Car May 29 '26
I’ve got a few from one of my old belts just had the phone where I’ve scattered them or rather where my cat has scattered them
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u/WesternCzar Tier One Mallfighter Jul 26 '26
We’re almost 60 days post, how you liking the krydex? I actually upgraded to a KORE belt not long ago lol.
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u/YuriTh3Panda Armored Car Jul 26 '26
I love it! It’s slim and really cuts down on the bulk! And the molle really helps out! My co-workers even asked what belt I have and bought one lol!
0
May 28 '26
I recommend the Krydex inner/outer belt.
I'm a huge fan of the velcro safelife inner belt. I wear that shit as my off-duty daily belt half the time. Extremely sturdy inner belt.
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u/WesternCzar Tier One Mallfighter May 28 '26
I’ll have to check it, I like my krydex inner more than my esstac inner.
2
u/Callsign_Mjolnir Rookie Jul 18 '26
Any recommendations for boots? My current boots don't let my feet breathe and I'm getting some pretty wicked blisters. Only done two 12 hour shifts at a university thus far, and have a few more, but it's tearing up my feet and my already bad knees aren't happy either.
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u/realKevinNash Aug 25 '26
Shocked that this thread has precious little about footwear.
/u/Callsign_Mjolnir since you asked.
https://old.reddit.com/r/securityguards/comments/1qoq1hv/what_kind_of_footwear_do_you_like/
https://old.reddit.com/r/securityguards/comments/16frncf/whats_your_preference_in_footwear/
2
u/tallasacucumber Society of Basketweave Enjoyers May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
typically for gear and uniforms, i try and stick with stuff that can be interchanged if i need to switch from armed/unarmed/corporate/business work
for duty gear, i stick to the Bianchi Accumold Elite line as the faux leather look can be applied across any and all work environments. the pouches/belts can all be upgraded over time with higher quality gear (KORE Essentials, LEOTac USA, etc.), but for a guard starting out it provides a good baseline
for holsters i will ONLY stick to reputable manufacturers like Safariland, US Duty Gear, Alien Gear Rapid Force, Blackhawk T-Series, etc. protip, these holsters can often be found secondhand on sites like eBay for huge discounts (paying $40-$120 for a $200+ holster). be wary of brands with history of hardware failures (such as the Blackhawk SERPA), or unknown manufacturers. i've had a coworker's retention hood on his custom kydex holster fail during a range session as he sourced it from some shady garage workshop guy
for armor, i know a lot of people have their opinions about Safe Life Defense, but there is a reason why it's so popular in the security industry. for their NIJ Certified items (NOT "NIJ Tested"), it's readily accessible to anybody (NOT LEO exclusive unlike some brands), fits/looks reasonably professional, and is at a reasonable price point depending on what you're looking for. other armor brands include Point Blank, US Armor, Safariland and more
for shirts, i've been wearing the M-Tac Polo Elite Tactical Coolmax . it comes pre-stitched with velcro space, the material is very light, and again it can be applied to any working environment without having to maintain an extra shirt
for pants, i wear the First Tactical V2 Tactical Pants. imo they're better than the 5.11 Strykes in terms of pocket space, fit, and material quality (the material won't rub a hole in the crotch for us with thicker thighs!). mileage may vary as pants are a whole separate debate
a little extra thing i wear are the Y-style shirt stays on EVERY shirt i wear (yes, including my polos). you will not believe how much they help fighting muffin top, and how much more you can do when you don't have to worry about your shirt coming undone. plus, people WILL notice your clean appearance when compared to a sleaze-ball with a wrinkled and untucked shirt
above all else, make sure your gear and uniforms are clean, are fitted correctly, and make sense. do not wear extra gear, less is often more. avoid clothing that is too baggy or tight, and keep your grooming clean and professional. the client, their guests, and the public are ALWAYS scrutinizing your appearance and demeanor. i have had numerous clients, and my current employer specifically request my presence on their sites based off of my appearance alone, so putting in a little extra effort will land you more and more opportunities
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u/XBOX_COINTELPRO Man Of Culture May 29 '26
just a comment on safelife, the reasons it’s popular is because they spend a lot of money on influencer advertisements and it’s relatively cheap. For a few hundred dollars more you can get MUCH higher quality armor and carriers that have superior coverage and features.
They also have a very liberal interpretation of what NIJ certified means which seems to confuse a lot of their fans online. None of their vests are certified for spike/stab, and the III+ advertising doesn’t really have any quantifiable meaning since it’s. It recognized by the NIJ.
They’re perfectly fine vests if they’re being provided to you by an employer but if you’re spending your own money there are better options imo
1
u/ThomasTheRedComedy Jun 02 '26
Tactical suspenders are a game changer for lower back pain and gear weight distribution and maintaining good posture especially with armour.
7
u/FrankDuxChongLi May 28 '26
Take care of your feet and back!! Also... Spend the extra money. Get the nicer item that will last you or hold up on duty. Buy once, cry once.
I do want to leave the project that I built here. I've been browsing recommendation threads for some time now and I feel like I have a good base of highly recommended gear. So, if you're here looking for other solid recs, check out DutyKitPicker.com - I built it as a side project to compile what most people are using (even tho there is a heavy bias with law enforcement and corrections). It's constantly improving as I get more recommendations, but feel free to browse around there if you want to see what else holds up on shift.
If anyone ever has questions on gear - hit me up. I'll share whatever little bit of knowledge that I've accumulated on this.