Chest Rigs...Fad or Functional?

Clay Novak is a retired Army Officer, Hollywood Consultant, Blogger, Podcast Host, and Author of the novel "Keep Moving, Keep Shooting". You can find his content at claynovak.com and can purchase "Keep Moving, Keep Shooting" on Amazon at this link; Keep Moving, Keep Shooting.

All the cool kids have chest rigs nowadays. If you don't have one, or if you don't know what one is, you're definitely sitting at the nerd table in the cafeteria.

What do they do? Are they something new? Are there advantages or disadvantages? Do I need one at all?

Chest rigs, in a very simple definition, are a way to carry ammo, radios, first aid, and any other essentials you may need. Depending on the design and set up, they can be discrete enough to wear under a light jacket or can be big enough to keep you from lying in the prone.

They aren't, in fact, new. You could argue the creative ways Paratroopers invented to carry stick magazines for the Thompson submachine gun were some of the earliest examples of chest rigs, getting the parachute riggers and their heavy sewing machines to stitch individual canvas pouches together into a vest-like apparatus. The Rangers on D-Day, famously represented in Saving Private Ryan, wore a vest that carried everything they needed instead of the typical suspenders, belt, and pack configuration worn by normal infantry. Those were probably more than just a chest rig, but on the same path. Mostly when I think of the origins of modern rigs, I think of the green cotton vests the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army used to carry AK-47 magazines on their chest.

Regardless, they are the rage right now. Like I said, all the cool kids have them.

There are a few things all chest rigs have in common; the load sits predominantly on your chest (hence the name), the weight is carried by your shoulders and upper back, and they can be worn with or without body armor. That's about where it ends.

There is no "do everything" solution when it comes to chest rigs. Like any piece of mission essential gear, each of us needs to decide what is most important.

If you are worried about reliability and durability, preconfigured and permanently sewn rigs are probably your best bet. There is much less chance for a broken buckle, strap, or webbing to give way at the worst possible time. These types of chest rigs can be a built as an over the head or split front configuration. Both of those names are self-explanatory, so I won't go into any detail. When it comes to preconfigured, I prefer over the head rigs because they tend to shift and move around less for me, but that's just me.

Preconfigured rigs, however, provide very little flexibility in adjusting their set up. That's the drawback. They are the same size, shape, and capacity no matter what the mission is. That big, super durable carrier that holds six rifle mags, a radio, a first aid kit, and two pistol mags, all sewn up in nylon camouflage isn't the most discrete thing in the world, so if the mission requirements change, a weapon change drives different ammunition carrying requirements, or anything else changes, you're stuck with what you have. It won't break, but it won't adapt either.

For some, flexibility is key. There are lots of chest rigs that maximize MOLLE straps, velcro, and plastic buckles, giving the user endless opportunities to change or modify their kit for mission requirements. Often, the ability to add or take away an ammo pouch, knife sheath, or radio is worth the risk of equipment failure.

These rigs do tend to limit the wearer on how much gear you can carry; eventually, you run out of surface area. A simple solution is to add a "war belt" like the ones I wrote about in a previous article, What's With The Gun Belt? | LinkedIn. Splitting the load between a belt and a chest rig, provides even more flexibility and load dispersion.

One of the latest developments to provide that important flexibility is the use of placards. Placards allow the wearer to swap out key portions of their set up almost instantly if requirements change, with the wearer retaining the suspenders and/or base. Placards usually use buckles with straps or Velcro make them easily interchangeable but also stable and secure. The one danger, and I use that term loosely, to using placards is you end up buying and building more and more of them. Is that a drawback? Only for your wallet.

What about chest rigs and body armor? You can read my article about plate carriers, Who needs a Plate Carrier? | LinkedIn, but it doesn't really address the relationship between wearing armor and a chest rig. I can assure you, virtually any chest rig can be worn over virtually any plate carrier. Peas and carrots in most cases, you just have to get them adjusted.

One additional plug for using a placard system; many of the newer body armor and plate carriers are already equipped with buckles and Velcro to accept placards. What does that mean? You can wear armor and a chest rig with a placard, or you can wear just the chest rig with a placard, or you can wear just the armor with a placard. It really is the ultimate set up to provide flexibility.

I will reiterate the same thing I said in the article about Plate Carriers, buy real gear and not kit for airsoft. It matters. This may be life and death, and you shouldn't be worried about how well your kit will hold up when it counts.

As usual, I don't necessarily push readers to a specific brand or model because I know requirements change and people have their own preferences. There are some companies I am certain make great gear because I own and use their stuff. G-Code Tactical (Edgeworks Manufacturing) makes the chest rig in the cover photo. Spiritus Systems , as well as 5.11 Tactical , make some great equipment. There are plenty of others out there and Google is a great tool.

To answer the original question, chest rigs may be the newest thing going but they are far from a fad and are definitely functional. So, get on board, get yourself set up with a chest rig, and come sit with the cool kids.