Maybe I've missed other products that are similar, but I've been looking for a
front/chest mounted kit bag to not only carry a pistol while hiking, but also the ability to carry other items that are vastly more accessible then what any backpack provides. The bag I wanted would not require a backpack to mount to its straps, but a fully independent chest bag, that could be securely worn alone or in conjunction with a backpack.
Items of interest to me other than a pistol may include a folding/fixed blade knife, a multi-tool, flashlight and so on.
After going through the Hill People Gear site, I ordered and recieved the Recon Kit Bag. It's smaller then some of their other models, but lower profile was important to me. Additionally, this particular model has MOLLE covering the front face of the bag, which adds significant modularity in the event I need to mount just about anything that wouldn't fit inside the bag, like additional smaller pouches....or stuff I may need faster access to like a knife.
Here's the bag in question:
The bag has 2 primary pouches. One main compartment which is where my pistol with reside. It'll fit my G19 easily as well as my HK45 which is as big of a pistol as I own, so its GTG with all my semi-autos. An extra mag or two would also fit.
The 2nd compartment is a smaller zip in front, that can hold smaller items. A phone, sun screen, batteries, compass....whatever. It has a few sectional pockets inside as well to keep certain items separate. Over all, exceptional design and quality.
The back of the bag looks like this:
This makes carrying the bag very comfortable/secure and as you can see, and wearing it with a backpack would be a piece of cake. (part of its design intent). I've already tried it with a backpack and the fit is flawless and extremely handy. It's one of those pieces of kit that once you have it, you can't imagine NOT having it going forward...it's that damn good.
I'm very jazzed about this bag as you can tell by now. The quality is fantastic, the functionality is a freakin bulls-eye for my purposes as well. This Recon Kit Bag fills a sorely needed niche in my gear and I couldn't recommend it more highly. Which brings me to the final thoughts about HPG as a company to do business with.
Like many here, I have a short list of vendors I do repeat business with. That has a LOT to do with CS, the quality of the gear, the timeliness of shipping and overall reliability and integrity of the company. Screw those things up and that vendor is done seeing my money. Period.
When I went to place my order, this bag in foliage was not available. Hey, it happens....no big deal. I was provided a link to be notified when it was available....which I set up late one night. The next morning at 8:30am I received an email from Scot at HPG telling me that he's on it, he'll be sure to let me know immediately once the bag was in stock and gave me his direct number for any questions. Very prompt and on the ball to say the least.
The very
next day (morning) I received an email from them, telling me the bag is now available, with a link to order directly from, which I promptly did. 5 minutes later I got the emailed order confirmation which was followed an hour later with a shipping confirmation.
These people at HPG run a tight ship. Great communication, great service, exceptional product. My short list of GREAT companies is now one company longer.
Here are the details for the Recon Kit Bag:
The Recon Kit Bag includes the following features:
- 500d construction
- 8 channel / 3 row PALS grid
- quick access concealed pistol compartment
- comfortable mesh backed H-harness allows you to wear the Kit Bag by itself or underneath of a pack
- elastic keepers for the H-harness straps
- Velcro loop and dummy cord loop in pistol compartment allow for various retention options
- tabs with grimlocs at the top for hanging on another pack, or for use with Lifter Straps (optional) for docking to a host pack
- tabs on the bottom for attaching to another pack, or for use with the Stabilizer Kit (optional) for running with
- Front zippered access flat pocket with two interior slot pockets with dummy cord loops above them
- pro-tip: one of our GI 1qt bottle holsters mounted on the front of a Recon makes a dandy quick access binocular carrier.