- Joined
- Nov 5, 2004
- Messages
- 534
I am still waiting for the naked female to model it. *taps fingers
lol Interesting rig. Thanks for the pics...
lol Interesting rig. Thanks for the pics...
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+ Photos. NEW GEAR for the woods
- Thread starter Bushman5
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2007
- Messages
- 1,236
No, you can now enter the world of sweaty chest and aching upper back!
Chest rigs...I like them better than vests but man they are HEAVY for what they do! But they are not as hot and miserable to wear as molle vests.
I have a full high-speed-lol-drag TT MAV 2-Piece rig but I don't take it hiking, personally...it's all set up for my gun stuff and I find molle stuff a pain in the ass to reconfigure all the time. I switch it around for 7.62 guns or 5.56 guns, but that's about it. And, anyway, for the weight my backpacks all hold more stuff. But whatever works for you!
Half off is a good deal on a Warlord, though...they are tough. I find used is the way to buy those rigs, as lots of guys get them because they're cool, discover they aren't that fun to wear unless they have to, and if they aren't shooting in 3-gun matches or Tac Rifle they don't use them, after a while, their wives make them sell them.
Of course I never manage to do this as what happens to me is that I decide to change something on the MAV and I have to suddenly run up to Dave's and spend another $60 to make some minor change...
But anyway good deals can often be had in the used market.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
- Messages
- 4,172
I have an older HSGI Denali and you can really load it down and I've used that front fold-down map pouch and it works great when doing land-navigation/orienteering. It's definitely more geared towards the mil crowd, but I have used the MAV 2-piece chest harness hunting and really like it.
ROCK6
ROCK6
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2007
- Messages
- 1,236
You know what I like about that MAV? Splits for going prone.
That is my issue with a lot of chest rigs - they are built for a modern mechanized army with a lot of guys in vehicles or kicking in doors. They never need to go prone. But I'm not modern or mechanized! And most importantly I mostly shoot M14s, so my interest is in intermediate range shooting, often done from prone.
But that is a personal issue not encountered by the hiker!
I couldn't see using the MAV without the X-harness though, unless you had it overtop of something pretty thick or didn't have much weight in it.
That is my issue with a lot of chest rigs - they are built for a modern mechanized army with a lot of guys in vehicles or kicking in doors. They never need to go prone. But I'm not modern or mechanized! And most importantly I mostly shoot M14s, so my interest is in intermediate range shooting, often done from prone.
But that is a personal issue not encountered by the hiker!
I couldn't see using the MAV without the X-harness though, unless you had it overtop of something pretty thick or didn't have much weight in it.
now the review:
wore it all day today at the Canadian BF chopfest. JCA21, Munky88 and I slogged thru rivers, clambered up steep slopes, sat around eating and having fun with all the knives we brought. The entire time i never once took off the chest rig. It is so comfortable (a lot of the comfort is the fact that i'm NOT loaded out with 20 mags, or grenades etc. - just the outdoors essentials.). The biggest thing i love about this rig is i dont need to remove a pack to get at my gear. All the essentials are right there, and secure, organized. The next biggest thing i liked about it was when we were river wading and bushwackiing, my balance was perfect, unlike when i wear a pack. As well i never snagged up on logs. Sweatwise, i was comfortable all day. I was wearing a snug 5.11 heat shirt base layer, then my CDn forces fleece. Toasty warm and the combo wicks sweat quickly. Only a little patch of damp on the front, i did'nt even notice until i was back in the truck) . Love the flip down "office" where the map is, very easy to read the map, look at the compass, make marks on the map and then zip up and go! . The chest rig weighs in at about 4 lbs fully loaded, and that was with multiple folders and fixed blades. The chest rig was always there, and not somehting i could take off and possibly forget.
gear was:
- ACR signal mirror
- flat whistle
- map
- 2 pencils
- 2 sharpie pens (red/black)
- 1 rite in the rain notebook
- 1 glowstick
- 2 Motorola GMRS radios (their best ones) (in case one of us had to go back to the Ranger station - 1 radio for the runner, one for the crew)
- SUUNTO compass
- SF Spares Carrier with 4 cr123 batts
- firesteel/tinder/striker
- FAK
- tiolet kit
- SF L2 Lumamax
- Spyderco manix large
- garbage bag
- snickers
wore it all day today at the Canadian BF chopfest. JCA21, Munky88 and I slogged thru rivers, clambered up steep slopes, sat around eating and having fun with all the knives we brought. The entire time i never once took off the chest rig. It is so comfortable (a lot of the comfort is the fact that i'm NOT loaded out with 20 mags, or grenades etc. - just the outdoors essentials.). The biggest thing i love about this rig is i dont need to remove a pack to get at my gear. All the essentials are right there, and secure, organized. The next biggest thing i liked about it was when we were river wading and bushwackiing, my balance was perfect, unlike when i wear a pack. As well i never snagged up on logs. Sweatwise, i was comfortable all day. I was wearing a snug 5.11 heat shirt base layer, then my CDn forces fleece. Toasty warm and the combo wicks sweat quickly. Only a little patch of damp on the front, i did'nt even notice until i was back in the truck) . Love the flip down "office" where the map is, very easy to read the map, look at the compass, make marks on the map and then zip up and go! . The chest rig weighs in at about 4 lbs fully loaded, and that was with multiple folders and fixed blades. The chest rig was always there, and not somehting i could take off and possibly forget.
gear was:
- ACR signal mirror
- flat whistle
- map
- 2 pencils
- 2 sharpie pens (red/black)
- 1 rite in the rain notebook
- 1 glowstick
- 2 Motorola GMRS radios (their best ones) (in case one of us had to go back to the Ranger station - 1 radio for the runner, one for the crew)
- SUUNTO compass
- SF Spares Carrier with 4 cr123 batts
- firesteel/tinder/striker
- FAK
- tiolet kit
- SF L2 Lumamax
- Spyderco manix large
- garbage bag
- snickers
Last edited:
Of course I never manage to do this as what happens to me is that I decide to change something on the MAV and I have to suddenly run up to Dave's and spend another $60 to make some minor change...
yea, i walk in there and I see the staffs eye light up! i walk out poor.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2009
- Messages
- 5,679
Very nice. Thanks for the review. I see HSGI has an Admin pouch just like the front of your setup. It would cool to add something like a Maxpedition Rollypoly to the MOLLE on your setup to collect tinder or wild edibles.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2006
- Messages
- 3,188
i can vouch for bushman, he was carrying ALOT of stuff in his rig and moving alot faster than munky or myself as we slogged it through the river. i've been looking at the 5.11 vest as a nice way to carry stuff but the chest rig was pretty darn cool with the fold down office.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
- Messages
- 4,172
Absolutely agree misanthropist! I've really grown to like chest rigs for what I do, but the 2-piece (splint front) MAV is much easier to don/doff than an enclosed front harness. For woods bumming and when I was doing a lot of training on land navigation, the HSGI Denali was great. Hunting, stalking, climbing into tree stands, etc., the 2-piece MAV is much easier to use.
You mentioned going prone (not a much practiced method here in the WSS, except when it's bed-time
), and you make a very valid point. We just received the new Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV); it's primarly a closed front type of body armor. It's very difficult to go prone and get a good shooting position and with full combat load, you feel like a turtle that's rolled over onto its shell
Good news is they are much more comfortable than the older OTV's.I have a few MAV's (and a SOE Hellcat III) and one has an X-Harness. I like it as as stand-alone or with a small pack/Camelback. If I'm carry a pack with any significant weight, I actually prefer the unpadded, wide straps of the MAV as they ride under the pack straps much better. I've done a lot of ruck-marches with a 40-50 pound pack and the MAV carrying my fighting / secondary load and it gives you excellent balance.
I'm glad you enjoy your chest rig Bushman; a lot of traditionalist will scoff at them, but they are really quite functional and comfortable depending on how you used them. Try not to overload it though...it's easy to do. I initially tried to put a full 3-4 day load out in my Denali (which is easy to do) and it weighed in at 30 pounds (with water)
Some old pictures:
ROCK6
^ GREAT PICS!
i dont think i will be be able to overload the Warlord V4, its very compact (in comparison to your rig in the top pic).
see what i mean:
in your last picture, is that the X harness on the top rig? i'm quite liking that, and it looks like the X harness will replace the bulky straps that mine has.....
i dont think i will be be able to overload the Warlord V4, its very compact (in comparison to your rig in the top pic).
see what i mean:
in your last picture, is that the X harness on the top rig? i'm quite liking that, and it looks like the X harness will replace the bulky straps that mine has.....
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
- Messages
- 4,172
^ GREAT PICS!
i dont think i will be be able to overload the Warlord V4, its very compact (in comparison to your rig in the top pic).
see what i mean:
in your last picture, is that the X harness on the top rig? i'm quite liking that, and it looks like the X harness will replace the bulky straps that mine has.....
Yeah, the Warlord is more manageable if you're not carry a full combat loadout...the fold down shelf is just an ingenious creation by Gene. I do like the more slim look!
Yeah, the X-Harness is on the upper MAV.
Cheers!
ROCK6
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2007
- Messages
- 1,236
Looks like you have it set up very well...I agree that not packing 2-300 rounds of 5.56 on it will make it a vastly more comfortable, enjoyable and practical experience!
That flip down panel is cool for sure...the way you are doing it, it really makes it seem like a good option for the hiker, not just the tacticlol crowd like me.
And ROCK6, your input on topics like these is always interesting and valuable...I feel awkward thanking you for your service as it wasn't done on my behalf - I'm Canadian - but I salute you for your actions on behalf of your fellow Americans.
Ah, who am I kidding...Canada has been getting a pretty sweet deal off overhang of the American security umbrella, so you're helping us Canucks too. Thank you sir!
That flip down panel is cool for sure...the way you are doing it, it really makes it seem like a good option for the hiker, not just the tacticlol crowd like me.
And ROCK6, your input on topics like these is always interesting and valuable...I feel awkward thanking you for your service as it wasn't done on my behalf - I'm Canadian - but I salute you for your actions on behalf of your fellow Americans.
Ah, who am I kidding...Canada has been getting a pretty sweet deal off overhang of the American security umbrella, so you're helping us Canucks too. Thank you sir!
here is everything i put into the chest rig (minus the powerbars and snickers bar...... ).
right to left:
FAK (in the two ALOKSAK envelopes), mini EMT shears, SureFire Spares with 2 x CR123, SureFire L2 Digital Lumamax, 2 x 30minute green chemlights (& cord for signaling overhead), ACR mirror with whistle, firesteel/sparker, Rite In Rain notebook, 2 x sharpie pens, pencil, Suunto Kb14 sighting compass, Spyderco large Manix, Michael Morris SAR edition necker, Motorola T9500R GMRS radio, plastic bags for drinking water, water tabs.
missing: AMK heat sheet tarp, powerbars, snickers bar, PJCB firestarter
fixed blade carried on hip belt.
weighed everything + chest rig, 4.8 lbs
).
right to left:
FAK (in the two ALOKSAK envelopes), mini EMT shears, SureFire Spares with 2 x CR123, SureFire L2 Digital Lumamax, 2 x 30minute green chemlights (& cord for signaling overhead), ACR mirror with whistle, firesteel/sparker, Rite In Rain notebook, 2 x sharpie pens, pencil, Suunto Kb14 sighting compass, Spyderco large Manix, Michael Morris SAR edition necker, Motorola T9500R GMRS radio, plastic bags for drinking water, water tabs.
missing: AMK heat sheet tarp, powerbars, snickers bar, PJCB firestarter
fixed blade carried on hip belt.
weighed everything + chest rig, 4.8 lbs