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To carry a radio, tools and a phone at the same time and keep your hands free, build a Setwear belt setup, or go fully hands-free with a chest pack. The belt route puts a tool pouch, a radio pouch and a phone pouch on a padded 2 inch belt; the chest-pack route carries your radio (and even a tablet) on your chest so your hips stay clear. Here is how to build either one.
Option 1: the belt setup
The classic solution is a belt with dedicated pouches, so every item has a home and nothing ends up in your pockets. Start with the belt, then thread on the pouches you need.
- Belt: the 2 inch Nylon Belt is the simple option, or step up to a padded belt in SM/MED or LG/XL for all-day comfort under load.
- Tools: a Tool Pouch for hand tools, or the Combo Tool Pouch if you want tools and small accessories together. Travelling light? The Mini Tool Pouch keeps a core set close.
- Radio: the Radio Pouch holds a two-way radio securely on the belt.
- Phone: the Smart Phone Pouch keeps your phone protected and reachable.
- Extras: add a Mini Flashlight Pouch for a torch, a Utility Pouch for tape and markers, and a Black Tool Leash so nothing drops when you are working at height.
A typical loadout is a tool pouch on one hip, a radio pouch and phone pouch on the other, and a utility pouch in the middle. Because the pouches thread onto a standard 2 inch belt, you can add or move them as the job changes.
Option 2: the hands-free chest pack
When a belt is not practical, or you spend the day reading a script and running comms, go hands-free. The Radio Chest Pack carries a radio on your chest where you can reach it instantly, and the iPad Hands-Free Radio Chest Pack holds a tablet plus a radio. These are the go-to for ADs, stage managers and production crew who are on comms all day and want their hips clear for sitting, driving and moving through tight spaces.
Which setup suits which role
| Role | Best carry setup |
|---|---|
| Grip / lighting / rigging | Padded belt with Tool or Combo Tool Pouch, Radio Pouch and Phone Pouch |
| Camera / AC | Belt with an AC pouch and Phone Pouch, plus a tool leash for height work |
| AD / stage manager / production | iPad Hands-Free Radio Chest Pack, or Radio Chest Pack |
| Sound | Radio Pouch and Phone Pouch on a belt, or a chest pack for comms |
How to build it so it works all day
Two things make a carry setup comfortable: a padded belt if you run any real weight, and balancing the load across both hips rather than loading one side. Keep the items you reach for most, radio and phone, on your dominant side, and put tools where they will not dig in when you crouch. For the full pouch and chest-pack range and sizes, see our Setwear pouch and chest pack guide, and pair it with the right gloves from our Setwear glove comparison guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I carry a radio, tools and a phone at once on set?
Put them on a Setwear belt setup: a 2 inch padded belt with a tool pouch, a radio pouch and a phone pouch, so each item has a dedicated home and your hands stay free. If you would rather keep your hips clear, a Radio Chest Pack carries the radio hands-free on your chest.
What is the best Setwear pouch for a two-way radio?
The Radio Pouch holds a radio on your belt. For a hands-free option, the Radio Chest Pack carries the radio on your chest, and the iPad version adds room for a tablet.
Do Setwear pouches fit any belt?
Setwear pouches are designed to thread onto a 2 inch belt. Setwear's own nylon and padded belts are the natural match and keep everything sitting correctly on your hips.
Belt or chest pack, which should I choose?
Choose a belt if you carry tools and want everything on your hips. Choose a chest pack if you mainly carry a radio or tablet, want your hands and hips free, and are on comms all day, common for ADs, stage managers and production.
How do I stop tools dropping when working at height?
Use a tool leash. The Setwear Black Tool Leash tethers a tool to your belt so it cannot fall, which is essential when you are working on a ladder or up a rig.
Where to buy in Australia
Black Flag Distribution is the official Australian distributor of Setwear. We supply an Australia-wide network of authorised retailers and stockists rather than selling direct to the public, so there is a local dealer who can help wherever you are. To check pricing and availability and to buy, use the Black Flag Distribution store finder to find an authorised retailer or stockist near you. Search our store finder to locate your nearest Australian stockist and purchase from an authorised dealer.
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