Customer Reviews

Occidental Leather 8098 Stronghold Beltless Bag System

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Whats good:

1. The bag is made of very durable materials and should stand up to many years of jobs site use. 2. There are plenty of pockets to hold small items such as tape, pencil, knife, screw drivers, etc. at very convenient reach. 3. Slips on and off in seconds. 4. Allows the user to bend at different angles with out being confined by a belt around the waist. 5. Pouches are less likely to spill contents when working at different bent over positions. 6. Two large pockets to hold larger sized tools.

Whats not so good:

1. The system is difficult to adjust for use the first time out of the box. (Set up is done only once so this is a minor pain only) 2. The shoulder pads, although very comfortable, will get dreanched with sweat if you work in the heat. (I need to think of something for the odor?) 3. The system does not remove weight from your lower back as I had thought it might. You can carry a ton of tools with this system, but you will feel it by the end of the day.

I install siding, windows and do general carpentry. This bag gives me flexiblity and capacity that I didn't get with my old belt. I like the system and would recommend it to people that feel confined by belts or that are looking for a good capacity well organized system.

Hope this is helpful

I bought this rig after nine years of cinching my waist with an old fasioned tool belt. It sounded like a good idea, but once I put it on I had a terrible sinking feeling. In fact, I felt like I was going to suffocate. The suspenders are too bulky and you can't move without being very aware of them. The bags don't hold their shape and move away from you when you reach across your body for the opposite bag. The bags are too big and I kept losing my Vise Grips horizontally at the bottom of them. The tape measure holder on the bag is too small to hold my regular 25 foot tape. The whole rig is just way too cumbersome and irritating to wear. I put it away after two weeks and got out my old 11 pocket belt. I will happily wear it and put up with the dents in my waist, all the wiser for the experience.

I purchased this belt set last January and I was impressed with how it relieved the stress on my lower back. I was also relieved of waist rot from conventional tool belts. The suspenders were easy to set up with the instructions included. Break in takes about a full week. Pouches do hold lots of tools.
As hotter weather came along, the suspenders hold a lot of sweat (later they began to smell). But I also noticed it was very uncomfortable when the suspenders wouldn't allow for your upper body to cool off. My shoulders also began to chaf.
As for movement, the system doesn't cling to you. But working in very close quarters, (i.e. lifts, steel joists, some scaffolding,etc.) it was easy to get hung up and scrape against walls.
I am considering selling my suspension belt, but pondering the fact that its not a bad set to own if you switch between this system and the belt a few times a year. That way I wouldn't wear out body parts to quickly.

I have the all leather version and it's better than I thought it would be. It takes sometime to adjust all the straps and secure the shoulder pads, but when its done it blows the belts away!

I have the Stronghold system in leather, which [is no longer listed]... I think it is first rate in functionality and comfort, and wouldn't return to a belt. I think you have to analyze your needs and body type carefully: this system isn't always going to work better, for instance reaching up can be tiring, though that is true of suspender. If you have the kind of body that rides a belt, without suspenders, and it never shifts, binds, or restricts your breath, good for you, stay with the belt. It takes, however, only a few inches on the waist, whether from brownies or winter clothes for me to be hauling on a belt all day long.

Another issue to look at is back pain. This system puts all the strain on your shoulders, were it flows down through your spine, and you don't have a big belt supporting the small of your back. That works out better with my back pain, but it may not for yours.

I am 6'1", and I have no problem fitting this strap set. I like my knuckles to drag in the bottom of the deepest nail bag, which is a higher setting than many prefer. The bags by themselves are unique, and would fit nicely on a safety harness if the inspector prowls your worksite.

I thought I would like this tool system. I have all the same complaints about my old tool belt as everyone else. Hurts the lower back, makes bending difficult, etc.... This suspender system seemed like a good idea, and it is. Just not for me. I tried it around the house for a few hours and noticed that when I reached over my head, the stiff shoulder pads pushed on the sides of my neck, though these may get softer with wear. And that my shoulder muscles had to lift the entire weight of the bags when reaching upwards.
Also, these bags are BIG and WIDE! You will have to be careful if you are a remodel carpenter, walking through finished doorways and hallways.
Still, this rig is very well made and if you need to carry lots of heavy tools and want to give your lower back and your waist a rest, this may work for you. It's a trade off.

I owned the original 5050 occidental leather belt since 1986 and loved it. I was intrigued by this great company's idea of a "beltless system" and ordered this "harness"on faith,and was sadly disappointed by its field performance.To make matters worse I retired that wonderful old belt to an envious apprentice,thinking I had found the solution to "waist rot"I have just ordered a set of 5080 0xy lights from the same company because they are laid out just like my old set,yet a bit lighter.I highly recommend this company,but in my opinion the "beltless system" has to go back to the drawing board,

I HAVE BEEN USING TOOL BELTS SINCE I WAS AN APRENTICE WITH A TIE ON NAIL POUCH. I WAS LOOKING FOR A BETTER NAIL POUCH AND STUMBLED INTO THIS. AFTER I ORDERED IT I WONDERED WHY I WOULD SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY! AFTER GETTING IT I WOULD NOT GIVE THIS BACK.IF YOU GET THIS YOU WILL BE SURPISED AT THE QUALITY, IT'S GREAT. THEN PLAN ON TAKING TIME TO GET THE STRAPS ADJUSTED, THEN WHEN YOU DO LOAD IT UP. YOU WILL FIND PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ANYTHING YOU WANT AND A VARIETY OF LEATHER HOLDERS.SO DO YOU BACK A FAVOR AND TRY THIS!

I owned the pro framer for years; then sold it to a helper for $... and he was happy. I bought the Pro Trimmer but was disapointed because the speed square holster (between the small and large bag) was not available on a rig of this size. After awhile I forked over the big bucks for the Stronghold System-the best there is. Oh I've read the reviews:adjustment-if you can't adjust this system you probably shouldn't be doing carpentry;the yoke; heavy duty, extreme quality products take time to break in-like good leather work boots or the Carhartts that last longer than anything else; the back strain relief; a no brainer-buy a weight belt and wear it along with the system-there is no belt to interfere; lastly, if you wear a framing belt in a finished house or around cabinets your going to mess something up-don't do it-I build cabinets and built-ins and do general carpentry for a living. The only criticism I have(the part about the missing star)is that this product should be available with the lightweight, green leather bags. After 1 year the nylon shows signs of extreme wear at the front corners. If Occidental Leather would do this for us I would be one of the first to buy them even for $... . I will wear this for as long as I work! The writing is on the wall; perfect this product and it will be a five star masterpiece second to none.

I received my beltless bag system with a poped rivet right out of the box. Although the shoulder strap and bags are heavy duty and well made occidental uses cheap hollow rivets which could not stand the strain of being stuffed in a box for shipping without having one pop. Return!