Chest-rig design

[Arctic operator]

Hello

I'm currently designing a custom made chest-rig, and although I know pretty much what I want it to bee like I would be grateful for any advice from people who have experience of using chest-rigs. What features have you found useful, what have you found annoying and what modifications have you made on your own rigs and so on.

All replies appreciated.

[12B]

I'd like to see a holster for a sidearm and maybe a knife sheath.

[Whammer]

Definitely on the knife sheath... Probably something for a 5" fixed blade that might have options as far as how you mount it...

Shoulder straps with enough padding and surface area coverage to disperse weight load.

Include room for a TOW mount too. ;-)

di

[PathfinderJr3325]

Farted around with the concept myself once or twice. How about a glove strap? Camelbak mounting and tube routing too.

[This message has been edited by PathfinderJr3325 (edited 05-19-2000).]

[Arctic operator]

Thanks for the advice, my rig will include a knife sheath for my m95 "ranger knife" (which i strongly recommend).
As for the sidearm I use a thigh holster and am happy with it that way.
Camelbak sounds like a good idea, what model/size do you recommend?
The TOW mount just get in the way of my vulcan minigun.

[Arctic operator]

By the way there is some info on the m95 knife at: http://www.canit.se/~griffon/knives/m95/sissipuukko_m95.html
(Not my own website)

[Snow]

Arctic Operator:
Are you Finnish or Swedish?
Just curious...

[12B]

I thought one of the advantages of a chest rig was that you don't have to wear a pistol belt with it. How do you you use a thigh holster without a pistol belt? I was thinking about a cross draw shoulder holster on the chest harness. Also, about the knife sheath, I have seen chest harness LBE in use by Belgian Para-Commandos. They mount the kinfe horizontally above the pouches (at least that's what it looks like in this photo, http://www.mil.be/landmacht/images/photos/2cdo03.jpg.)

[Arctic operator]

I'm finnish Snow, where are you from?

I use a chest rig beacause it doesn't interfere with the waistbelt of a large capassity rucksack like normal webbing would. I use a heavy duty leather belt with my pants that holds the thigh-holster, that way it stays with me if I have to drop line 2 and 3 equipment. The cross-draw holster would have the advantage of not collecting as much dirt when crawling, and more comfortable on longer ops but I'm thinking of having utility pouches or something for grenades on the sides of the rig.

I know what you mean about the knife sheath 12B although I couldn't open the link. Still trying to figure out how to place the knife so I could get it easily with either hand.

[Snow]

Arctic operator:
I`m Finnish too...

[12B]

I didn't think about attaching the holster to my pants belt. Good thinking. Do you have plans to attach D-rings and extra webbing to the shoulder straps? That would be nice if you can't find a good place for your knife. I also like extra webbing (like that on the old ALICE suspenders) for attaching field dressing pouches, smoke grenades, mini- Maglights, etc. The D-rings are great for attaching map cases and retainer cords.

[Arctic operator]

Affirmative on the extra webbing and D-rings.

[erikoisjääkäri]

Hei äijät! Any info about finish erikoisjääkärit. Equipment, weaponry, bdu?

Kiitti jo etukäteen!

[Sosah]

Anyone seen the LBT chest rig? Has a holster included. Straps appear to be pretty beefy and include d-rings. Arktis makes a very nice modular chest rig too.

[This message has been edited by Sosah (edited 06-19-2000).]