Components of the Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment are similar in design to components of the standard M1956 individual load-carrying equipment.Because nylon materials and aluminium hardware are lightweight, they are used where possible in lieu of cotton materials and brass or steel hardware.The nylon materials are water resistant, retain less moisture and dry faster.

The belt is made from Army shade 7 olive drab nylon webbing with black chemical finish brass hook-type buckle fastener. The medium size belt has an adjustable length ranging between 26- to 43-inches and the large size belt ranges between 33- to 55-inches. The individual equipment items are hooked through eyelets along the bottom of the belt or attached by interlocking slide keepers. The eyelets along the top of the belt are for attaching the field pack suspenders.

Military specification MIL-B-43723 covers an adjustable individual equipment belt made from olive drab nylon webbing and miscellaneous metallic hardware.