Sizing & FAQ
If your answer isn’t here, email or call. I’d rather spend ten minutes on the phone than remake a strap.
How to measure
- Most people wear it under their bunker gear, so measure that way.
- Decide where you want the radio bucket to sit.
- Measure from one side of the bucket, over your shoulder, to the other side.
- Include the clips in the total.
- Measure over your bunker pants, not your waist: the pants you’ll wear it with, adjusted to where you wear them.
- Pull the tape snug, not tight.
- Order the range your number falls in.
- Suspender clips on? Measure with them fastened.
- Worn over your bunker coat, so put both pants and coat on.
- Measure around where you intend to wear the belt.
- Snug, not tight.
- Choose the size your number fits within. Outside the ranges? Call me and we’ll figure it out.
- Front waistband, over the shoulder, to the back waistband.
- H-Back or X-Back, follow the path of the leather as it travels across your back.
- Say how they fasten: a button or a fabric loop. Wearing something else? Ask.
- Give me the total measurement.
| MEDIUM | LARGE | X-LARGE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radio straps | 51–60" | 56–64" | 60–68" |
| Bunker pants belt | 36–44" | 40–48" | 44–52" |
| Truck belt | 36–44" | 40–48" | 44–52" |
| H-Back suspenders | 32–41" | 37–46" | 42–50" |
| X-Back suspenders | 38–45" | 43–50" | 48–55" |
| Made to measure | Any length, +$25 · send your numbers in the custom order form | ||
The bands overlap on purpose. You generally want your measurement to land somewhere in the middle of the size you pick. If you are close to an edge, put your measurement in the comment box when you order and I will check the numbers before I cut.
Caring for your leather
Wipe the grime off with a damp cloth, let it dry at room temperature away from heat. Hang it up to dry so it keeps its shape.
A light coat of neatsfoot oil or conditioner worked in with a soft rag. Less than you think. It should darken, not soak. Work it in, then use the clean side of the rag to keep working it until no more oil comes off on your hands.
Hang it up and dry it slowly, then oil lightly to put back what the water pulled out.
Hang it up so it keeps its original shape. Leather tends to take the shape of whatever it is touching, worse in high humidity or when it is wet.
What not to do
A radiator, heat gun, or truck dash cooks veg-tan stiff and cracks it.
They soften the temper, and a radio strap needs to stay somewhat stiff.
Ever. Damp cloth only, and by hand.
Send it back. Resizing and re-stitching my own work is free, you pay shipping. I can make a piece smaller, but I can’t make it bigger.
Any questions, contact me before you do anything.
Frequently asked
How long until my order ships?
5–6 weeks from when you order. Everything is made after the order comes in. Rush placement is +$60 and ships in 10 business days.
Can you match my department's specs?
Usually. Send the spec sheet or a photo of an approved piece through the custom order form and I'll tell you straight whether I can match it.
Do you do department or bulk orders?
Yes. Six pieces or more gets bulk pricing and one invoice. Purchase orders are fine; net 30 for departments.
What radios do the straps fit?
The radio buckets are designed to fit large radios. My department runs Motorola APX, which is comparable in size to both Harris and Kenwood radios, and it fits without any issues. Questions or concerns, contact me.
Can I return a custom piece?
Returns are accepted on non-custom items. Everything here is made to order, though. Once it's cut to your stamp, stain, and size, it's final sale. If the fit or workmanship is wrong, I fix or remake it at no charge. Email me first.
What can I have stamped?
Every piece has its own limit, because every piece has its own room. In 1" letters: 16 on a radio strap, 12 on the Bunker Pants Belt, 6 on the Truck Belt because the built-in axe holder leaves less to work with, 6 on the gear strap, and 3 on a radio strap passport. Suspenders depend on the style: H-Back takes 5 on the cross piece plus one character on each shoulder strap, and X-Back has no cross piece, so each strap takes 8 of its own. In ½" letters, 8 on the glove holders and 8 on the Mask quick release. Whatever you pick is struck one character at a time: last name, badge number, company, department, whatever you want. The letters are cut into the leather and painted, so tell me the color you want. A Maltese cross, the Star of Life or the flag is a 1" stamp like any other, so it uses one of those characters, and I strike it first, ahead of the lettering. Want something else stamped or tooled? That is a custom order, so contact me.
Where do suspenders get stamped?
Depends on the style, because the two are not built the same at the back. H-Back has a cross piece: up to 5 characters there, plus one character on each shoulder strap below it, usually an initial. X-Back has no cross piece, so the stamping moves onto the straps themselves, up to 8 on each. Any spot can be left blank. Same rule as everywhere else: letters, numbers and emblems all count as a character, and an emblem is struck first.
Will the leather stretch?
Yes, leather moves and stretches. That's why straps are cut on the tight side of your measurement.
What does the axe holder attach to?
It's built into the belt itself, not a separate strap-on piece. It's there the moment the belt ships.
H-Back or X-Back, which do I need?
Whichever your department already wears. The stitching follows the path of the leather across your back either way. Tell me how they fasten too, a button or a fabric loop. Not sure what you have? Send a picture through the custom order form.
Can glove holder stamps include symbols?
Letters and numbers only on the glove holder: no symbols in that stamp, unlike the straps and belts.
What are the gear strap connection points for?
Up to four independent points down the strap: top, top-middle, bottom-middle, and bottom, each its own ring, scissor clip, or none. Mix and match for how you actually hang your gear.
Is the leather NFPA rated?
No. This is traditional veg-tanned leather gear, not certified PPE. Check your department's policy before you carry it on the fireground.