Reversible Chest Rig United States Tactical
The plate carriers have evolved tremendously over the years since the war on terror began. From the traditional flak with LBV to now we have had some great products and not so great products. Good thing the market has so many options someone can find something to suit their needs. The United States Tactical Chest Rig is one of the first non-plate carrier platforms I have tested or even used. I have always been in the need or market for a plate carrier while at work and in the Marines, I was given a flak and LBV (yes I am old).
- Double-sided chest rig is reversible with solid MOLLE panel and four permanent elastic AR/AK mag pouches
- Accessory pocket ideal for maps, manuals, or CCW
- Height-adjustable shoulder straps with quick-release buckles
- Adjustable waist strap with quick-release buckle
- All adjustable straps include elastic slack keepers
- VELCRO strip accepts name strip and morale patches
- 1000D nylon construction
The Reversible Chest Rig is nice, its simple, comfortable and plenty of customization ability. On one side of the rig, you have four pouches that can hold AR or AK mags, while on the other side you have a solid molle panel that you can use your favorite molle accessories. Each of the straps is adjustable and can be cinched down for proper gear maintenance.
What I enjoyed about the Chest Rig was that it wasn’t too big yet had plenty of real estate for anything I wanted to attach in just about. The main configuration I used the rig for was the four mag pouches. The elastic material the pouches are made of is very nice and provides the right amount of tension to retain the mags.
For this review, I paired the Chest Rig with the United States Tactical S-1 sling, since I liked it so much from my last review and their covert belt. The Chest Rig sits close enough to my body to stay out of the way of the sling and doesn’t catch while transitioning to my pistol. While at the point with either my pistol or AR, the Chest Rig does not get in the way nor bind due to the cut.
I really liked the addition of the admin pouch. It is great use of the dead space between the four mag pouches and molle panel. To top that off, I was really impressed by the addition of the magnet used to secure the admin pouch at the top of the rig. There is a small tag of material that you pull to open and close. The magnet is powerful enough to keep the contents in and easy enough to manipulate with one hand, very good idea.
Price starts at $89.99 and color options bring it to $99.99.
The covert belt is a solid piece of gear that complements the overall offerings of United States Tactical. The original belt I ordered was a size too big and Jeff Kyle was more than happy to accommodate my request to exchange for a new one. The belt has the features listed below (from United States Tactical):
- 2,000 lb-rated slim-profile COBRA buckle
- Dual-layer 1.75″ nylon webbing
- VELCRO lined 1″ nylon webbing tail
- Light-weight and fits into standard belt loops
- Adjustable Waist
I wore this belt with my 1620 Workwear pants and it for a fairly heavy-duty belt, it fit just fine within the belt loops, as advertised. It felt solid and it was easy to adjust to my desired length. The belt was stiff enough to carry my M&P Shield but didn’t feel cumbersome or too stiff. To be completely honest, I thought the belt was very comfortable to wear. When you take it out of the packaging you will be impressed with its material blend, it is soft to the touch yet still stiff enough for concealed carry. The standard with this type of belt is the use of a Cobra buckle and the Covert is of no exception.
What stands out the most for me is the way the belt is built. The selection of material and how it’s all put together provides a good balance of stiffness and comfort. Everyone is different and will have your preferences, however, if you are like me and like more of a balanced approach in with these types of belts, the Covert will work for you. Sizing of the belt is truer to your pant size. Like I said above, I ordered a medium but ended up needing a small.
Overall, the three products I reviewed from United States Tactical have met and in most cases, exceed my expectations. To make everything better, their price point on their offerings are extremely reasonable. I would expect it to be higher given the materials. And with it being designed and made here in the US. If you are in the market for any tactical products I would highly recommend you place their site on your list to visit.
The Covert Belt starts at $79 and the Multicam is $89.
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.