I understand completely the back and hip problems. I wore a duty belt for 28 years. I started in 1979 in the heyday of the S&W Stainless .357 revolvers. We eventually switched to Beretta 92's. I did crime scene work primarily, and I quickly came to the conclusion that the beretta, and 3 magazines of weight and bulk was way too much to be climbing around and crawling into small places. I had the option of going back to the .357 and did until the world got crazy. I am sure the weight of the duty belt is responsible for the hip and back pain I experience as well.