Disclaimer: I am not a subject matter expert, this is only my idea of how a belt setup should generally look, or should generally have at the bare minimum. Your setup should be tailored to your own ergonomics, needs and mission set. This setup is specifically for gunfighters and was developed by @longhairoperator and I. If more comes to mind from me, I will type out more. If you have questions, feel free to ask me.
So the idea of a universal belt setup theory for me is based on the amount of observations I've done of how different SOF, LE and agencies set up their belt rigs. For modern day setups, it usually follows this pattern: at least two pistol magazines, at least one primary magazine, IFAK and pistol holster. What else you might need is to your discretion, so you're free to add and omit as you go.
Fundamentally, we have to understand what the purpose of a first line rig is before we explore why these components are so commonplace in every gunfighter belt rig. Your first line serves as your primary method of holding up your pistol, its ammunition and extra ammunition for your primary. Your second line (plate carrier) is where you carry most of your primary ammunition, some more secondary ammunition, radios, IFAK, tools, etc, in the process your weight savings and dividends really count. For some people, the solution to reducing weight on the second line is to put all of that bearing on the first line, but I have my disagreements with that. Regardless, your first line can make or break your kit in that all the extra weight you put on the second line might be able to be moved towards your first line.
That explanation should take care of why we run ammo on our belts, but why the IFAK too? In my opinion, the belt IFAK should specifically be small and quick access so that you or a teammate can quickly tear it off your belt rig to render aid to an injured teammate, civilian or captured combatant. However, since the IFAK is small, it can also be used as a supplementary IFAK to a larger IFAK on your second line. We'll get more into brands and IFAK types later.
So with everything I mentioned now, we have the basic makeup of the universal fighting belt rig, but some may wonder why I have excluded the dump pouch from the universal setup. To put simply, I do not believe a dump pouch is a necessity. Yes, I see value in it as an SSE type bag or to quickly dump your expended mags into it, but a lot of the training doctrine now has been to dump your mag on the ground, pick it up later and re-index it into your magazine pouch/holder. To me this is logical, what about that extra 5 rounds of ammunition in that magazine you didn't quite dump out? Would it be better to reindex it for later use so that you have that insurance? Or would you rather dig out that magazine from your dump pouch? However, there is a use for a dump pouch and it should not be fully ignored! As I stated before, great as SSE bags and great for quickly putting fully dumped mags in.
Now that we have those fundamentals out of the way, we talk about magazine pouch types. Over the past 15-20 years there was a paradigm shift towards usage of kydex backed magazine pouches or kydex holsters (Or elastic magazine pouches for you BFG fans out there) in order to quickly access a magazine while still having great retention. The fabric pouches of the 90s-early 2000s with the closed tops are becoming more obsolete now; with kydex backed magazine pouches and kydex magazine holders, you can quickly index and reindex magazines without tearing away at a velcro pouch.
My recommended brands for these pouches: ESSTAC Kywis 100%. midlength or short length cut pouches are most optimum for quick mag draw and reindex. Also, the Eagle FB kydex pouches don't cost all too much and do the same job for a lower price.
For IFAK pouches: You really want to prioritize on something smaller profile. If you have to take a seat with a big IFAK, you're not going to be comfortable. I would recommend the BFG Micro Trauma Now! kit, BUT, it is limited in space and you're forced to use the pricey mini IFAK kit made for it. I recommend the ATS Tactical Tearaway Mini IFAK for this very purpose, it is more spacious and it is less finnicky than than the BFG Micro Trauma Now! kit.
On Holsters: So this honestly really depends on your body ergonomics. Personally, I am a Safariland fan and advocate, especially for their later ALS stuff with the quick release draw side button. Other companies make kydex holsters that can be MOLLE mounted and high/mid/low ride really depends on your body type and preferences. HOWEVER, low and mid rides are much more susceptible to knocking the holster and pistol on doorways and tables, but high rides take a little more getting used to in my experience. Who makes the Kydex holster is kinda of negligible, in my observations, they're all about the same, but if the kydex holster gives you the option to run the Safariland paddles, go for it since it gives you many more points of height ride options. I also recommend G-code as a holster brand if you prefer friction lock like a kydex over a mechanical lock such as the ALS stuff from Safariland. (6354DO gang).
On the belts themselves...... OKAY. I don't know all of the brands out there, I don't know all of the solutions out there, I can only speak of what I've used. For GUNFIGHTER specific belts, they follow this general formula: MOLLE outer part with some kind of buckle, Austri-Aupin cobra buckles most of the times (avoid plastic buckles at all costs), and a velcro inner belt that interfaces with the MOLLE outer belt and acts as a rudimentary riggers belt. For these types of belts, you have the Eagle Industries Gunfighter belts, the Ronin Tactics series of belts, Blue Alpha Gear, Crye MRB, yadda yadda yadda, HSGI, etc. So for the buyer, price is a huge aspect when considering these belts. These belts run more expensive than your run of the mill riggers belt as well as some battle belt systems, but they are worth the price you pay for them. Reasoning? You have the convenience of being able to quickly detach the MOLLE outer belt part if you do not need your first line rig NOW. You have the convenience of being able to have a fully setup MOLLE outer belt without having to detach your riggers belt each time and routing kit through as you put on the riggers belt. Also, it's a simpler way of putting on a belt with kit versus if you're putting on a battle belt kit with suspenders on to keep the damn thing up. Now I also mention that you should avoid plastic buckles like the plague.... okay so all of the guys I knew who ran MRBs always switched out the plastic buckles with Austri-Aupin Cobra buckles, that's because plastic buckles are prone to breakage, especially if you're building a heavier belt rig. The Austri-Aupin Cobra buckles are rated for mountain climbing and pretty heavy weights and plus they just straight up look better than your crappy plastic buckle.
Another aspect affecting pricing of these gunfighter belts is the inclusion of the D-ring for helicopter lanyards... if you're not anticipating that you're going to shoot targets or hogs out of a helicopter on a regular basis, I highly urge you to see if there is an option to have the gunfighter belts without the D-ring. It's an extra piece that serves as more of a luxury than a necessity for the average milciv. Without the D-ring, the belt price can drop from 30-50 USD.
Now, I've been talking about gunfighter belts, but what about riggers belts and battle belts? Are they viable? Yes, they work, but they're not the greatest solutions to the first line problem. Battle belts generally tend to be very large and bulky and require additional suspenders to hold them up on your waist. A great option for the battle belt system on the market is the Crye Blast Belt with the STKSS kit to mount on the CPC/AVS in order to further reduce felt weight, but once again, EXTREMELY BULKY. Normal riggers belts? Very inexpensive and great if you're only running a pistol holster on a paddle system such as from Safariland. But if you were looking to load it up with gear, you're in for a bad time loading up every pouch and piece of kit you need to carry on it.
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