Let's talk chest rigs.

[Podmonkey]

You just strap it on. You can attach an H-Harness to it but I don't. It may move around if you are scraping the ground but when it does, it's very minimal.

I like it because it's simple and not bulky. It can easily be attached the bottom of a pack for more support making the pack and the belt one item. Kind of like this. His isn't attached but it can be with molle straps.

I just like simplicity. I can't imagine wearing a vest, hydration bladder, and a pack in the summer when taking to the woods. For me the modularity of the system works.

I agree, and I am leaning in this direction hence my questions. I wish BFG offered a battle belt to compliment their chest rigs. I like their low profile, lightweight approach. It would be nice to have gear that one could conceal under outer garments.

 

[freddy]

I agree, and I am leaning in this direction hence my questions. I wish BFG offered a battle belt to compliment their chest rigs. I like their low profile, lightweight approach. It would be nice to have gear that one could conceal under outer garments.

This battle belt?
MOLLE Belt Kit | Pouch Belt | SOC-C Modular Padded Belt Kit
Works great - with or without harness.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I agree, and I am leaning in this direction hence my questions. I wish BFG offered a battle belt to compliment their chest rigs. I like their low profile, lightweight approach. It would be nice to have gear that one could conceal under outer garments.

Oh. That too. I never though about that. You can easily conceal the rig with a football jersey.

 

[freddy]

So you just strap it on? Its not secured by belt loops or anything? Does it flop around, stay put when you lay down prone?

Goes on hips - not waist. Cinch down snug. Too heavy to flop around much when loaded with mags and crap. Also, a single leg strap on holster helps. If that fails then drink more beer and resulting belly will keep belt in place.

 

[Podmonkey]

This battle belt?
MOLLE Belt Kit | Pouch Belt | SOC-C Modular Padded Belt Kit
Works great - with or without harness.

Oh snap! Do you think tge belt harness would be cumbersone under the chest rig?

 

[Marine Cpl]

Oh snap! Do you think tge belt harness would be cumbersone under the chest rig?

I think it would be. I hated the H-Harness we were issued years ago before the LBV.

 

[Target]

Mag pouches were thicker than I thought they would be.
I have a double Kangaroo ( rifle and pistol) and a double pistol on the belt, which is not too bad.
A triple stacked rifle mag pouch is silly big , be it plate carrier, chest rig or belt.

The chest rig is a Condor Rapid Assault that fits flat .


You can use the belt without the H-harness. Fits snug.
I figure that I'd run the chest rig high enough to have a gap between it and the belt.

 

[Target]

Andy was thinking of us when he implemented the 7rd rule.
He didn't want us to get too tired with all those heavy magazines.

He's a friggin' genius!

 

[MilesTeg]

I like these too but I'm not sure they are worth the extra money or if your just paying for the name.

VTAC Belts

 

[Celt]

There are a lot of quality gear makers out there. I personally have Mayflower and hsgi gear. But if you're looking for something cheap Condor makes stuff that I would consider medium quality. Or you can go super cheap and by some of the chinese-made stuff off eBay and just buy a couple of them.

Most of the gear I buy is through www.skdtac.com

 

[MilesTeg]

There are a lot of quality gear makers out there. I personally have Mayflower and hsgi gear. But if you're looking for something cheap Condor makes stuff that I would consider medium quality. Or you can go super cheap and by some of the chinese-made stuff off eBay and just buy a couple of them.

Most of the gear I buy is through www.skdtac.com

Wow the Vtec belt gets great reviews on that website. I was kind if thinking you were paying for the name.

 

[Doc8404]

nice....staff picks here
SKD Tactical: SKD Staff Gear Picks

There are a lot of quality gear makers out there. I personally have Mayflower and hsgi gear. But if you're looking for something cheap Condor makes stuff that I would consider medium quality. Or you can go super cheap and by some of the chinese-made stuff off eBay and just buy a couple of them.

Most of the gear I buy is through www.skdtac.com

 

[Marine Cpl]

A battle belt can be rolled up and stuffed into a pack. It can also be quickly thrown over a shoulder. It can even be worn as a bandolier. It can be attached to the bottom of a pack via molle straps for more support. It isn't tacticool but it holds the most function.

 

[FrankenCub]

I promise the mags will never ever come out unintentionally. Especially if you have three bad discs. Unless you are a paratrooper with three bad discs, then maybe.

The elastic is beyond industrial milspec. The benefit with this design is instant access since all you do is grab and pull. No fumbling for flaps or velcro tabs or dingleberries. Also the ten speed is very streamlined, espcially when empty - they lay completely flat. No snag hazard.

That's nice to hear because I'm pretty skeptical of any kind of elastic after working marine upholstery. I've seen too many failures, even with new material.
They must be using something without the usual rubber inside.

I put a safariland molle fork and quick connect (QLS), front and center, on a plate carrier for a safariland ALS holster. Is this what you mean @FrankenCub ?

I'm using an ALS on a paddle right now. Getting the mollie fork was a thought if I decided to go with a vest/plate carrier that had mollie loops. I really like the retention and fit the ALS has.

 

[FrankenCub]

A battle belt can be rolled up and stuffed into a pack. It can also be quickly thrown over a shoulder. It can even be worn as a bandolier. It can be attached to the bottom of a pack via molle straps for more support. It isn't tacticool but it holds the most function.

Now that might be a good option for me seems a battle belt will put the weight on my hips instead of my back. The disks gone are L1-L3 so I already have the weight of my upper body on the nerves.
I'll look into those as well. Too bad my WWII belt wont work lol, be great if I carried a Garand.

You know, with that much more weight off my back, a plate carrier may be possible depending on how much one weighs up with plates.

 

[freddy]

depending on how much one weighs up with plates.

Dinner plates? Corelle is very light!
Ballistic plates? Slick will weigh less than 16lbs for front/rear 10x13 in carrier. Level 3+ poly/ceramic can stop multiple 308 hits.

 

[freddy]

A battle belt can be rolled up and stuffed into a pack. It can also be quickly thrown over a shoulder. It can even be worn as a bandolier. It can be attached to the bottom of a pack via molle straps for more support. It isn't tacticool but it holds the most function.

C'mon now, it is tacticool if in multicam!

 

[FrankenCub]

Dinner plates? Corelle is very light!
Ballistic plates? Slick will weigh less than 16lbs for front/rear 10x13 in carrier. Level 3+ poly/ceramic can stop multiple 308 hits.

Corelle? My wife would be pissed if I too all her plates lol.
I'll have to hang 16# from my shoulders to see what it feels like, might be doable. Ceramic...well lmao. When I was younger and didn't have to worry so much about bills I'd buy the best of everything. Like a motorcycle helmet, how much is your head worth. Now those damn bills just won't go away, guess my head isn't worth so much. Must be inflation.

 

[freddy]

Corelle? My wife would be pissed if I too all her plates lol.
I'll have to hang 16# from my shoulders to see what it feels like, might be doable. Ceramic...well lmao. When I was younger and didn't have to worry so much about bills I'd buy the best of everything. Like a motorcycle helmet, how much is your head worth. Now those damn bills just won't go away, guess my head isn't worth so much. Must be inflation.

Hybrid poly and ceramic, triple curve. $279 per plate. 5 lbs each.
BulletProofME.com Body Armor - Rifle Plates - Ultra-light Level III PLUS Ceramic / Polyethylene
I was mistaken, my 16lbs quote included side plates. You could be ~12lbs without them.

 

[togmaster]

I've been looking at a few battle belts for training. The HSG slotted belt seems to be a great idea for mounting gear to both the belt and the Molle straps. Seems very versatile and gets good reviews. Laser Sure-Grip® Padded Belt - Slotted

 

[Celt]

Wow the Vtec belt gets great reviews on that website. I was kind if thinking you were paying for the name.

VTac make some good stuff, I have the hsgi battle belt myself and I like it.

 

[MilesTeg]

VTac make some good stuff, I have the hsgi battle belt myself and I like it.

Do you think the extra money is worth it? I still like the look of the T Rex one too but I think that's only a few bucks less than the vtac.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I never thought much about a battle belt but now I'm considering it. It seems to have good versatility and modular usage,

When I have some money burning a hole in my pocket I'm going to buy some of these steel plates. They probably aren't light but they are cheap and effective.

CATI LEVEL III AR525 Packages

 

[MilesTeg]

Still researching these and came across another vendor that's worth taking a look at.

ATS Tactical Gear Belts

 

[Tintalieau]

not in a chatty mood so I'll keep it short. I go USGI belt and pouches. Can get surplus cheap, then i have a Condor MOPC for plates and extras if the need arises. Lefts face it if were strapping it on, shits bad. MIL, LEO or us "Civies" it all depends on what you plan for. After a lot of soul searching, i doubt I'll be in a position to need a carrier. I have one for "IF" but when things go sideways, I'll be lucky to get my battle belt and shoes on. While a chest rig has some nice features, i think a battle belt will do everything and then some, and still leave plate carriers and extra shit as an option. Having MOLLE plate carrier makes additional options available but for the foreseeable meltdown of America, we might not have the time or all of the equipment we need, i keep my BB set up for grab and go and the carrier set of improvements as needed. IMO a battle belt will do all you need (just keep stuff off the front for prone work) and keep a plate carrier for more dire times. Again my opinion from what i see as "reasonably occurring threats" it should be GTG, but i'll find out when SHTF, i'll let ya know how it works out then......

 

[Acer-m14]

i haven't really looked into them deeply or plate carriers , why ... i'm 5'3 a buck 40 .. any thing that needs to fit me needs to come from the kids or female department .. no one carries small .. all med , lg to XXXXXXXXLG .. and whats Med .. 38 to 40 chest .. i need bigger moobs ..
my backpack from EMS is a girls pack .. only thing that fit my frame .. being small sucks at times .. so i just don't shop much for wearable stuff ..
oh my camo coat and bibs for hunting ... youth size .. FML LOL ...

 

[Marine Cpl]

i haven't really looked into them deeply or plate carriers , why ... i'm 5'3 a buck 40 .. any thing that needs to fit me needs to come from the kids or female department .. no one carries small .. all med , lg to XXXXXXXXLG .. and whats Med .. 38 to 40 chest .. i need bigger moobs ..
my backpack from EMS is a girls pack .. only thing that fit my frame .. being small sucks at times .. so i just don't shop much for wearable stuff ..
oh my camo coat and bibs for hunting ... youth size .. FML LOL ...

I hate to use Fudd words but you aren't missing anything by getting a plate carrier unless you wear armor which I don't recommend anyway. "You don't really need all that!". Lol.

 

[GOPerfect]

I hate to use Fudd words but you aren't missing anything by getting a plate carrier unless you wear armor which I don't recommend anyway. "You don't really need all that!". Lol.

Hell, I barely wore armor when I was deployed, and wear it even less at work.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Hell, I barely wore armor when I was deployed, and wear it even less at work.

I was in during the era of flak jackets and during the transition to chest plates. When I was issued the 25 lb vest, I hated it immediately. I could no longer run fast. Hills killed me. I fatigued way to quickly. I wasn't the only one. The whole platoon suffered.

You'll never see Recon, Delta, Green Berets, Seals, ect wearing armor unless it's a forced attack like a hostage rescue in a building with the chopper hovering by to pick them up. Why? It slows them down ln if they have to walk any considerable distance. In Vietnam the flak jacket was tossed for the same reason. Could you imagine humping in the jungle wearing that shit?

 

[GOPerfect]

I joined in 90, I also had the Flak Vest, what a waste.