A waist belt for load bearing applications, comprising a downward facing conically shaped sacral plane fitter segment having a first and second ends, the sacral plane fitter segment being configured so as to rest on the sacral region of the lower back of a wearer, a first sub-iliac crest segment issuing from the first end of the sacral plane fitter segment and a second sub-iliac crest segment issuing from the second end of the sacral plane fitter segment the first and second sub-iliac crest segments being configured so as to rest on the sub-iliac regions of the pelvic bone and a first abdominal relief cut segment issuing from the first sub-iliac crest segment and a second abdominal relief cut segment issuing from the second sub-iliac crest segment, the first and second abdominal relief cut segments being configured so as to curl under the abdomen.
