My players have suggested that they wear two utility belts strung across their shoulders and one around their waist, adding three to their encumberance rating. I feel that this is a bit ... I'm not sure, but it doesn't sit right with me; it smacks of exploiting the rule. They already have a backpack and so are suggesting that they can add 7 to their normal value.

Have any of you come across this idea and what did you say in response if so?

I would say 'no'. Or yes, but they can't wear a backpack.

Well limiting load bearing equipment is up to you.

Honestly, I wouldn't have a huge problem with it, but... It wouldn't be stackable with stuff like the backback, the equipment harness from AoR, or the rucksack from Dangerous Cov, since it's essentially taking up the same space on the body.

But I would also tell the Player that a utility belt and a back pack would provide a greater bonus at less of a cost, but it's his credstick and torso, hes free to abuse both as he wishes...

Minutia or not to minutia is the question.

I'll cut to the chase...

I am big on encumbrance values from spending a good portion of my life in the military. It just seems wrong to me when people carry tons of crap and run around like it were nothing. With that said, this is a game and more about fun then book keeping.

My character carries a backpack and a utility belt with gear allocated to certain areas. I drop my backpack fairly often even though I am not encumbered per the rules. I will not allow Gand to more than double his base encumbrance even if he could with gear. Just doesn't fit right with me.

As for slinging a utility belt over a shoulder and calling it a bandoleer... I say go for it.

There is load bearing gear in one supplement, I think SoF, which grants +3 to enc. That's pretty much what they're looking for I would think. You could just make a custom piece of gear, call it a bandoleer, +2 enc and wear it with a pistol/utility belt for another +1. There are a pack in EtU and DC that each essentially are +6 enc. Lots of options for boosting enc.