Yeah, the standards of the modern man/boy do seem to have hit an all time low. I saw a man in a onesie the other day.
Chest Rigs - How Useful Are They?
- Thread starter William_Montgomery
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Was he sat behind the drum kit on Shooting Stars?
I agree there is a ventilation penalty when wearing mine although I don't find it too bad....weather dependent. The chest pack I have is the smaller of the Helikon-Tex Numbat so doesn't cover as much area at the big one so allows more ventilation.
I've been wondering about a chest rig for carrying camera gear. I find that a Maxpedition 1 litre nalgene bottle carrier is a good fit for a 70 - 210mm zoom lens, a second one carries a 50mm and a 35mm with room to spare. I've had these bottle carriers clipped together with grimlocks and on a shoulder strap, and I've had them clipped onto the straps of a rucksack. I'd need a bigger diameter pouch to carry my 17 - 40mm zoom.
Next idea is a PLCE vest type of thing, but I'm not sure how practical that will be; the vest itself is already fairly heavy before attaching things to it.
I also have a PLCE yoke to which I can attach the side pockets from my 100 litre Belgian rucksack, to make a day sack... though I need to repair one of the buckles before I can use it again.
Next idea is a PLCE vest type of thing, but I'm not sure how practical that will be; the vest itself is already fairly heavy before attaching things to it.
I also have a PLCE yoke to which I can attach the side pockets from my 100 litre Belgian rucksack, to make a day sack... though I need to repair one of the buckles before I can use it again.
johnnytheboy
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Most of the stalkers I know use them but I find it quite restrictive on my chest when you’re really yomping! Some great well thought out rigs out there!
I haven't done a proper yomp with bergen for 20 odd yr's well gone are them days and my back from doing them.
I've got a smaller day pack but again thats really abit big for what I would want to take out as I'd wear that slung on 1 strap.
Cheers
I've got a smaller day pack but again thats really abit big for what I would want to take out as I'd wear that slung on 1 strap.
Cheers
Cross body bags don't work for me, I seem to spend a lot of time climbing over or under things or being on the floor and as soon as you bend over most shoulder bags swing out of position.
If you are upright the whole time then they are ok.
I prefer a daypack and just take it off if I need to get anything out, of course my chest pack and pockets contains most of the bits-n-pieces i might need during the day.
If you are upright the whole time then they are ok.
I prefer a daypack and just take it off if I need to get anything out, of course my chest pack and pockets contains most of the bits-n-pieces i might need during the day.
I would hazard a guess wearing one could cause those without to experience what sporting a bust can feel like. But personally I don't like to wear anything that can restrict the movement of my arms and chest rigs can, whereas less so the standard bib and belt webbing set up of which I use even for hauling around my photography kit
How much kit do you take out?
I imagine it varies, depending on whether it's a trip for a specific subject or technique (landscape doesn't require the same kit as mushroom macros).
But I've found that if I'm just out for the day and don't have a specific aim I end up taking a lot of kit... Five or six lenses, 1.4x or 2x extender, tripod (since the monopod that my son gave me broke...), square filter holders and filters, even, occasionally, a laser rangefinder. Even a second body, some days.
Maybe I should forget about a chest rig and just get a mule.
My photography is mixed photography and involves moving over varied terrain and having long since got fed up with having to stop, remove backpack and fish out what I need to cause ' the moment ' to expire, I have found the hip mounted holster system suits my needs.
At first it was a belt and holster when I had a lighter camera then I got a heavier camera to find the differential loading caused by 2kg on one hip played hell with an existing back/hip injury, to think to need to balance the load by putting weight on the other hip for the whole assembly to become rather heavy and prone to responding to gravity, there enter shoulder support to arrest the need for my assembly to meet with the ground and yes, seemingly lighten the load.
I did used to use the Lowepro S&F belt and harness but found it not as versatile as I needed it to be, to now be poking about with mil surplus webbing of which I do have to adapt to my needs as it's always been my design to attach a PLCE daysack set to the harness for the carrying of light stuff that I won't immediately need, stuff like me butties, flask and poncho.
I am also carrying camera supports
When I go out on a photo trip I am for the day to need to carry all that I am likely to need for that day for both myself and my photography.
But to say because of age, injury and that varied terrain I need my arms free to move wherever they need to move and yes a belt set up can hinder arm movement, but to me not as much as a chest rig
So a lot of kit...
I was at the photography club last night, one of the members gave a talk on old fashioned film photography... We have a darkroom for developing and two enlargers for doing prints...
And there's talk of doing some wet plate collodion photography. Now that's a serious amount of kit to take out for a bit of landscape photography... A whole portable darkroom to prepare the plates and develope them in the field!
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That is how my Great Grandfather earned his living.
He started out with wet plates and graduated pre-prepared glass plates.
He took views of Dublin for Lawrence’s Toy Shop to be published as post cards.
He turned one of the windows in his house into a wet plate and mounted a lens. He exposed a view of the Sugarloaf mountain, then nearly washed it out.
By day you could see through the window. By night the same view was visible in black and grey on the glass.
His work for Lawrence is published in a book called:
The Light of Other Days by Kieran Hickey
“Irish life at the turn of the century in the photographs of Robert French.”
ISBN 07139 0632 4
He started out with wet plates and graduated pre-prepared glass plates.
He took views of Dublin for Lawrence’s Toy Shop to be published as post cards.
He turned one of the windows in his house into a wet plate and mounted a lens. He exposed a view of the Sugarloaf mountain, then nearly washed it out.
By day you could see through the window. By night the same view was visible in black and grey on the glass.
His work for Lawrence is published in a book called:
The Light of Other Days by Kieran Hickey
“Irish life at the turn of the century in the photographs of Robert French.”
ISBN 07139 0632 4
I’ve picked up the small version of William’s chest rig. They seem really well made.
Also picked up a little velcro-backed insert to go inside it for a few quid. Seems to fit nicely.
Hopefully take it out for a test drive this weekend.
Have you been able to use yours in anger yet @William_Montgomery ?
These seem to be becoming a thing in the hiking world, and I get the idea because a lot of stuff that I carry for in-the-moment use never gets used as it is in the top pocket of my rucksack. Binoculars are a prime example.
Nice. I like that little insert. Is that from the same company?
Not properly, no. Had some grotty little virus and the van's been off the road, so the last week has been woefully lacking in getting outside. I'll take it out this weekend though, I owe the dog a good long stomp through the woods.
Be interested to hear how you get on with your one.
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