Chest Rigs - How Useful Are They?

[William_Montgomery]

I was recently given a chest rig. It's not really something that's previously been on my radar, but it looks like a tough, practical, handy bit of kit.

I'm thinking it might be useful for a number of things:

- Ladder work. Quick (and safer) access to tools without fiddling about in pockets or pouches. I'm up ladders a fair bit, (although I really don't like going up them) so anything to make it all a bit more efficient is good.

- Rainy day, muddy walks with the dog. If I'm on a long walk, I don't usually need a rucksack's worth of stuff. Also it's easy to zip it up under a coat to keep it dry.

- Travelling about. Using public transport, navigating busy stations/areas or driving. Security and convenience.

- Gardening/woodland management/general outdoors antics. (Bushcraft forum... everything has potential usage for messing about in the woods)

Are they something you find useful?
If so, what do you use them for?

 

[Chris]

They’re really useful if walking especially with a pack, as you can keep things like phone/map/knife/dog poo bags/tissues/IFAK and other quick access stuff in there, without having stuff spread out amongst pockets so much, or swing your bag around to access it.

Been looking at picking one up again for foraging - could get a reference book, mushroom knife and foraging pouch in there no dramas with plenty of room to spare.

 

[lou1661]

I have been looking for a while, and sorely tempted for the same reasons as @Chris I quite liked the look of the Helikon Numbat small and some of the Hill People Gear stuff.

Louis.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I have a lot of Hill People packs, but no chest rigs. I have thought about them a good bit. I can see their use when hiking with a pack for stuff you want at hand, and don’t want to dump the moment you take your pack and hip belt off.

Main thing I was interested in outside backpacking was fishing in chest waders when most pockets in clothes are inaccessible and anything at waist height is liable to get wet through.

I am not sure how good they are for load on your body if not counter balanced with a backpack. I can see purpose for mountain biking if you want access to bits without needing to unsling a backpack or butt pack.

The original purpose of the HPG chest rigs was concealed but quick access to a pistol when backpacking, mountain biking or running. Most of their rigs are still built with this in mind. The other uses are top dressing. Without the gun, or wilderness backpacking, I reckon one needs to be very thoughtful about whether the other uses are good enough to justify a purchase and use. This is why I don’t have one. Could have bought one while in the US last year, and didn’t.

 

[Chris]

I have a lot of Hill People packs, but no chest rigs. I have thought about them a good bit. I can see their use when hiking with a pack for stuff you want at hand, and don’t want to dump the moment you take your pack and hip belt off.

Main thing I was interested in outside backpacking was fishing in chest waders when most pockets in clothes are inaccessible and anything at waist height is liable to get wet through.

I am not sure how good they are for load on your body if not counter balanced with a backpack. I can see purpose for mountain biking if you want access to bits without needing to unsling a backpack or butt pack.

The original purpose of the HPG chest rigs was concealed but quick access to a pistol when backpacking, mountain biking or running. Most of their rigs are still built with this in mind. The other uses are top dressing. Without the gun, or wilderness backpacking, I reckon one needs to be very thoughtful about whether the other uses are good enough to justify a purchase and use. This is why I don’t have one. Could have bought one while in the US last year, and didn’t.

In the military chest rigs were often the preference for drivers/mounted troops, as webbing isn’t practical when sitting down. I suppose that’s also still a good use case, if you’re hopping in and out of a vehicle and want to easily carry a few extra things. Although they might not get along well with seatbelts if on public roads.

 

[Forest fella]

we used to wear chest rigs while on Cold weather training there great for all the above reasons plus while your on a snow mobile you can get to your grub.
I've been watching a few youtube vid's recently on there bushcraft use and the Numbat variants as well these seem to be the best options that I've looked at as there basically a minimal chest rig.

 

[FerlasDave]

When I bought my binoculars they came with a chest pack. I wasn’t too keen at first but the extra pockets are handy and I’ve got a few bits good to go now that would have normally rattled around in my game bag or been moved from one jacket to the next often being forgotten about. They have their place even if they do look a bit daft.

 

[Laurentius]

They are becoming quite the fashion, I saw a "yoof" in my local store this evening wearing one, he also had his pajama trousers on.

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

I have a grey Helikon Numbat and for me it's usefulness is when out and about I don't have keep stopping to get phones, mapping, snacks and snivel gear like Chapstick and tissues for snotty noses. I was forever dawdling and rummaging through a backpack whereas now I don't need to stop

It's like a little admin office under your face.Keeps pockets empty of bits as well.

 

[Forest fella]

I've worn my Day sack on reverse / front afew times, but I think I'd look a right tit walking up to the woods wearing just the rig I'd want a Pack on then pull the rig out when I get to my location.
Sort of defeats the idea, may have saved myself afew bob.

 

[MartinK9]

I've worn my Day sack on reverse / front afew times, but I think I'd look a right tit walking up to the woods wearing just the rig I'd want a Pack on then pull the rig out when I get to my location.
Sort of defeats the idea, may have saved myself afew bob.

I attached mine to the Bergen:

 

[Forest fella]

Yeah I was just thinking of getting one for shorter treks maybe I'd be better off with a shoulder / sling bag but I haven't wore one since school.

 

[HillBill]

If out on a slog, great for quick access items... with a bit of weight in them, they help counterbalance a back pack... Outside of that...well... They're better than bum bags.

 

[Ozmundo]

I used to like a small chest rig that had a fold out map table and small pockets for compass, walkie talkie and Kit Kats. Useful when I was working in the hills and micro having and locating stuff.

I just have a bino harness now, the local gamekeeper has one for his thermal optic.

I prefer not to have one on while doing stuff such as setting up a tarp or cutting wood.

 

[Megatramp]

The large front pocket on my smock gets a work out when I'm out n about, same with hoody front pockets, always the first thing to wear out, so I can see the usefulness, especially for tool storage while working on things. Is there any organisation on the inside?

Enough pockets in my clothing to accommodate everything I need so I wouldn't buy such a rig but if I was given one, it'd be rude not to try it, eh?I

Seems bum bags are out but I find my Camelback Bandido invaluable on the bike, especially in hot countries. Used them since the late 90s.... I'll get mi coat.

 

[William_Montgomery]

I can see the usefulness, especially for tool storage while working on things. Is there any organisation on the inside?

I can foresee using it a lot for work/building/gardening type jobs. Just got through building a large hen run, it would have been really useful for doing the fencing. It's got various pockets in it, so good for tools and hardware. The person who gave it to me uses one to work on their boat.

Been looking at picking one up again for foraging - could get a reference book, mushroom knife and foraging pouch in there no dramas with plenty of room to spare.

It would be really handy for that. There are two 'Collins Gem' sized pockets inside.

 

[Billy-o]

 

[Watch-keeper]

I have a Helikon tex Numbat with the small map case inside.
The map case forms a little table at chest height which is great for nav checks I like being able to just unzip and check the map and zip up again.
Also useful for stashing your phone/GPS so you can do you nav check with everything on the table and not have to juggle things.
It also serves as my admin pouch, bog roll, wet wipes, sweets, cuts kit etc .

 

[Ozmundo]

For hiking I find having anything on my chest interferes with vent/cooling. It’s nice to have accessible storage off your waist line when carry a big pack though.

The HPG bags are about as big as I’d want to use. I am more inclined to use a waist pack that I can move to the front, add to the pack itself or have cross body if needed.

Chest rigs are definitely useful for quick access. I tend not to be carrying a Glock when tabbing up Tryfan however.

 

[BrewkitAndBasha]

I sometimes use a Hillpeoplegear one out in the tropics as I don't like to carry much kit in my pockets. Very useful bit of kit for me, with or without a pack.I mainly carry emergency gear and munchy bars in it but do miss having the same convenient access to a water bottle while on the move.

I prefer to use one of the "Ribzpaks, which is a two-pouch (one each side of a zip) chest rig designed to be used above a rucksack waist belt but keeps your chest area clear. The benefit of them is you can carry a litre of water ( G.I Type Nalgene canteens or Osprey bottles fit well) in addition to loads of other gear. Hardly notice it when it's on and also good for ventilation.

I used to use my old Arktis 5-pocket chest rig for carrying camera gear, 35mm film and lenses while backpacking but it does look military, not always a good idea overseas.