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Posted: 3/10/2009 5:26:11 PM EDT
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I bought a couple of these last year and decided to post a quick review here. I was looking for something to hold magazines for my wife and I in a short term Katrina like SHTF event. I read enough here to get confused. Then I stumbled onto this chest rig. I figured it was better to get something that was good enough now, rather than wait to find the perfect piece of gear later.
This is obviously AirSoft gear. But it is made well enough for my purpose. I would want something tougher if I was going to invade some other country. The AirSofters give it good reviews, so it must be able to stand up to their level of use. It didn't take long to get it adjusted and it is very easy to put on. There are two shoulder straps that cross over in the back. There is also a strap that goes horizontally around the back and attaches with a snap buckle. It has 3 magazine pouches and two larger pouches. The magazine pouches are designed to work with both AR and AK mags. They will hold two AR mags loosely or three snugly. The large pouches can hold AR 5 magazines. The biggest drawback to the mag pouches is that they are as deep as an AR Magazine. So you need to use your fingers to pull magazines out. And as you all should know tactical gear should not require fine motor control. I decided to put ranger pulls on the mags I keep in them. I've also considered cutting them down a bit. I recommend this to anyone who doesn't need top of the line gear. That would be people who are getting started and need a piece of gear to learn first hand what they do and don't like. And people who need a something 'just in case'. 
$20 Chest Rig This is also available in other colors. The radio pouch located on the left strap is really too large for any radio or cell phone I've seen in the past 5 years. It's a bit hard to tell from the photo but between to two straps and behind/above the magazine pouches is a flap. The body of the rig is actually two pieces of material. If you unsnap this flap, it's a big pouch. The lining appears waterproof but is more likely just water resistant. This would be place to keep maps or a few paper documents. I'm sure I'll get flamed for recommending AirSoft gear, but a lot of us need something that is good enough to get us through a short term event and don't need something made to last 3 tours in a war zone. |
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While your post is a nicely done write up, the item you are reviewing is chicom crap, and will get you flamed around here as you correctly guessed. Not to mention it's freaking HUGE.You can pay 40 dollars and get you a made in the USA, Eagle Industries patrol bandoleer which is low profile and adequate for carrying some spare ammo in a realistic SHTF scenario. If we want chicom crap we can always use the Cheaper Than Dirt catalog for that, instead of just tossing it in the trash like the piece of shit that it is.
EDIT- I'm sorry if I'm coming off like a snob, because I'm all about budget gear, but I just can't abide those cheap 'tac vests' and chest rigs. Running around wearing one of those during Katrina would probably get you shot, and you'd really be better off with a lighter style bandoleer or bug out bag for ammo. You'll need water and food more than ammo. |
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Quoted:
While your post is a nicely done write up, the item you are reviewing is chicom crap, and will get you flamed around here as you correctly guessed. Not to mention it's freaking HUGE.You can pay 40 dollars and get you a made in the USA, Eagle Industries patrol bandoleer which is low profile and adequate for carrying some spare ammo in a realistic SHTF scenario. If we want chicom crap we can always use the Cheaper Than Dirt catalog for that, instead of just tossing it in the trash like the piece of shit that it is. EDIT- I'm sorry if I'm coming off like a snob, because I'm all about budget gear, but I just can't abide those cheap 'tac vests' and chest rigs. Running around wearing one of those during Katrina would probably get you shot, and you'd really be better off with a lighter style bandoleer or bug out bag for ammo. You'll need water and food more than ammo. Shot by Who? Inquiring minds want to know. |
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the blackwater thugs, the acting .mil in the area, local leos, etc.
read the lessons from katrina thread over in the survival section for a better understanding of where the above mentioned gear was and was not appropriate. basically put, there were a few neighborhoods that were locked down by it's residents. check points were set up. the local leo and patrolling .mil would come by, check in with the check points and move on. unless it's gotten to that point, running down burboun st in tac gear and a long gun would probably flag you as a BG and the end result would probably not be in your favor. I'm sure joker will interject in this thread at some point, if it does not get a quick lock. IMO, this discussion is not for this tech forum. |
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Gentlemen, let's keep this one civil. I'm inclined to agree that this is a low quality piece of gear and that the OP would be better served with something else, but he is entitled to his opinion and his choice of gear just like everyone else.
The truth is that this type of gear is in use by a lot of people and it is worth discussing, even if that discussion only centers around why you shouldn't use such gear. I have to ask though, have you actually used this gear for any type of training or did you just load it up and put it away for later use? |
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Perhaps some pictures of it in use as well...instead of the catalog picture. Sometimes the less expensive gear looks totally different in the catalog. I've used high end stuff and cheaper stuff and some of the cheap stuff stands up to training use, but I'd go with more name brand stuff if you think you'll be using it for real deal stuff. We can argue the issue all day long but certain things work for certain people and certain situations. I say if you plan on using this for SHTF and you say you've got a couple of these....take one...load it up and go out shooting with it, low crawl with it, throw it through a wash cycle, basically use and abuse it and then get back to us on the details and you'll also know how it holds up to the abuse.
Maybe I'll get one for my site and do just that....if I do I'll get back to this post regarding it... Gear Geek's Review |
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Um, that's not low profile at all.
You wanted to be low profile after Katrina, thing one of those thin shingle type chest rigs that just hold mags and maybe have molle webbing for a oouple more pistol mags, light, and some other things. You can at least throw a zip or button up short sleeve shirt over that. |
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Not slamming you. Hopefully this is of value to you. Quoted: The AirSofters give it good reviews, so it must be able to stand up to their level of use. I have no idea as to the quality of what you bought there. But last year, a guy came to a Carbine Course with some kinda "lower price" chest harness. By the end of the first day, it had stretched a lot. By the end of the second day, the thing had stretched out beyond all usefulness. And I'm not kidding when I say "all usefullness." He was a young guy - starting a family, real nice, etc. I had a TT MAV that I bought to check out, and didn't like. So I gave it to him. There are much better alternatives to going low profile. I can wear 4 rifle mags, 3 pistol mags, and a pistol, and with a large enough jacket, not look too bad. There's a thread in here somewhere about low profile. I'd take pics of mine, but it has been reconfigured. |
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