If youre like me youre probably wondering why this thing is necessary. Since a pouch or pocket would take up more space within the bag I dont use one. 2022, 5col Survival Supply Ecommerce Software by Shopify. So far it has worked out really, really well. I use a Hill People Pack and have other gear from their them. The differences between the three are in the MOLLE webbing across the front. The center pocket is the main storage on the SAR Kit Bag. Convenience is a huge reason for wearing a chest rig. Fixing this minor issue only required routing my sternum strap under the kit bags harness. 500d nylon construction provides excellent durability for use in rugged environements. I do wear a simple name tape on here during SAR operations. This gives me a source of light. This kit contains two pieces of fatwood, and a match case filled with Vaseline-coated cotton balls. The placement of the SAR Kit Bag over ones chest makes it hot. If you have to get on rope, use the bathroom, do a little scouting, or whatever, you may drop your pack. It contains a small notepad and several writing implements. I wanted to keep the back within the margins of my chest so it wouldnt interfere with my pack straps. Since all my map stuff was in my pack I had to drop my pack, dig it all out, then pack it all back up, and put my pack back on. As you have probably noticed by now there is a large, pile-portion strip of Velcro across the front of the bag. The back panel of this pocket is MOLLE compatible for use with admin pouches, organizers, or perhaps holsters. Since I prefer to carry my handgun on my belt I have reserved this pocket for a couple flat survival items, but more on that in a minute. Honestly, though, the flatter (and way cheaper) ESEE-4 would be just as good a knife and bit better inside this pack. My biggest worry was that this pack would not be comfortable under a backpack. ; Height: 7.50 in. I chose the grey (technically Manatee/Black) because it was dull without looking tactical. This pocket contains mostly administrative stuff. This is also a great option for guys like me who, as part of my day job duties, may have to go in the woods with a paramedic jump bag. Contact andy@5col.net for rush orders. The pack is made of 500D nylon The harness consists of a strap over each shoulder, one around the body, with a mesh back panel. Hill People Gear makes a variety of kit bags. Orders received for products without shipping restrictions on its product page will ship the same business day when received before 10:00 a.m. EST. There is also a flat pocket on the back. The compass is a Silva Ranger 2.0 and the whistle is an ACR Res-Q whistle. Im finally, fully on board, though, after attending the qualifying Search & Rescue class and needing constant access to my gear. See list below video for links to all the gear mentioned, 2022 Nature Reliance. These are actually the same size as their original Kit Bag prototypes and they fit squarely in between the sizes of Kit Bags that they currently offer. This pressed the buckles into my chest and was quite irritating. - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab, Learn more about earning points with eBay Mastercard, - eBay Return policy - opens in a new tab or window, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new tab or window, No Interest if paid in full in 6 mo on $99+. I have done quite a bit of work with this knife since buying it about two years ago and would recommend it in a heartbeat. Straps are easily adjustable and come with elastic keepers for wrangling the excess. It is comfortable, keeps my survival essentials on my body, and gives quick, convenient access to frequently-accessed stuff like map, compass, and notepad. Minimalism is the third reason I can think of to have a chest rig. Wild Edibles of The Southern Appalachians. One side of the around-the-body panel unsnaps for donning and doffing the rig. US View cart for details. Even in mild weather my shirt is normally soaking wet under the SAR Kit Bag. Craig Caudill | 28 October, 2021 0 Comments, Craig is a well-known carrier of HPG Kit Bags and packs and his gear changes with the season, and as his knowledge and experience ebbs and flows (like everyone else). I also have an berleben Tindar Wick to assist with lighting fires. Lets look at all three. I also have a Black Diamond headlamp. This gives me an easy, flame-producing method and a more durable sparking method of ignition. This page works best with JavaScript. Free Shipping for all orders shipping within the US! Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Hill People Gear V3 SAR Kit Bag (Blaze Orange), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, See all details for Hill People Gear V3 SAR Kit Bag (Blaze Orange). Great Dealer!!! First, I didnt want MOLLE webbing all over the front of the pack. One of the photos above shows a GPS, but this generally lives in my pack as a backup navigation device. I will do my best to break them down. Getting rid of them makes the bag a little lighter and more streamlined. Not every hike or SAR call-out requires a full rucksack. Initially I had some problems when I tried to buckle my sternum strap over the SAR Kit Bags harness. BCS PREDATOR GHILLIE SPECTRALFLAGE BLANKET, Lester River Bushcraft Heavy-Weight Quilt Prototype, Walker Defense Research Releases Silicon Carbide Inlaid M-LOK Rail Covers. Ill talk about the survival stuff I keep in mine a little further down. There is also a very minimalist Runners model that is intended mainly just to carry a handgun. I use it for mapping stuff which is mostly flat, and my compass which I generally remove and place around my neck during a SAR search. Another Ziploc contains some food and some miscellaneous supplies. Here is an updated look at his daily setup. I can check my azimuth at will, and I use the whistle instead of shouting the lost persons name. For both of the SAR ops I was a team leader and was super thankful for the convenience of quick access to maps, notes, etc. The front of the bag features a smaller zippered pocket with two more internal pockets. All three models come in (from largest to smallest): Heavy, Full, Medium, and Snubby. Items not listed as Sold Out are in stock and available for shipping. There are two organizer flaps within the front pocket. No other gear comes close to their stuff, in my opinion. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. First, I keep a fire kit. Hill People Gear will soon offer Medium Footprint versions of their popular Kit Bags. UK. Survival is another reason for a small chest rig. This lets me carry the jump bag and some personal survival gear. 2022 Jerking the Trigger. During a search these come out of the bag and go around my neck for easy access. A 1-liter Platypus water bladder gives me a way to store and purify water. For ignition sources I have a Bic lighter and a Exotac Firerod (a ferrocerium rod), which is dummy-corded directly to the pack. Then there are a couple loose items. Item as described, and speedy delivery!!! During the SAR class I took in may these became the envy of every student because we did a lot of map work. A single PALS column under the Kit Bag provides an attachment point for knives, rain gear, tarps, magazine pouches, etc. The primary large compartment isa quick access pistol compartment with velcro loop panel and dummy loop for holster insert. Lets talk about the contents of my Hill People Gear SAR Kit Bag. Finally, I carry my compass and a whistle, both secured to a 550-cord lanyard. The Ultimate Wilderness Survival Handgun? This strip will hold any number of identifiers, morale patches, etc. All Rights Reserved. So far I really like it. ; Length: 2.50 in. The first, on the front, is flat. Lets talk about carrying/wearing it, and what I put in it. Other colors include black, blue, coyote, and blaze orange. It lets you wear a small pack containing some critical survival items and keep it on your body. This review was not coordinated in any way with Hill People Gear, and I receive no incentives, financial or otherwise for this review or the sales of HPG merchandise. We will go pocket-by-pocket, and work front to back. Copyright 2022 Ubuy Co. All rights reserved. Hill People Gear is known for its extensive selection of high-quality chest packs. I have mostly worn it on personal hikes, but I have also worn it on two searches so far (one of which involved a brutal 1,550 ascent in under 1 KM). The pack is exceedingly well-built. And then there are sizes. Unlike the front pocket this one is discrete, and does not get consumed by a full center pocket. Having a chest rig gives you flexibility in letting you choose what you carry and what you dont. Weight: 1.00 lb. Take upto 15% OFF on your first purchase. All of this is stored in a 1-quart Ziploc bag. For bulk orders, custom survival kits, or First Responder/SAR/Mil discounts, email andy@5col.net. Cordage is worth its weight in gold in the wilderness. The intended purpose of this pouch is for the carry of a handgun and has a strip of Velcro for mounting a holster. On the other hand this is definitely no worse that when wearing a military chest rig, which generally covers much more of the body. It covers that much more body surface area and holds in that much more heat. However, I may put a radio pouch on there at some point. Honestly this is mostly so my bag isnt mistaken for someone elses if I set it down at a staging area. The food is a Payday bar, a couple jerky sticks, and some candy (usually Hi-Chew). Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020. I have been a member of my local SAR team for a couple years. With the reason for these packs laid out, lets take a look at the pack itself. Something went wrong. The Original has none, the SAR has MOLLE straps for a radio pouch, and the Recon has MOLLE from head-to-toe across the front panel. Due to the variety of bag/size combinations, youll want to do some research on HPGs website before committing to one. These roughly translate to XL, L, M, and S, respectively. This is a feature I never see myself using. - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. Great Experience!!! Sometimes throwing on a minimalist kit and going with it is perfectly acceptable. There are three main reasons for a chest pack (which HPG calls a kit bag). Everyone with a chest rig had this stuff immediately available. Full Disclosure: I paid full price for my Hill People Gear SAR Kit Bag, Medium. This concern proved to be a non-issue, however. #10 YKK zippers allow easier, faster access to this compartment. We are using cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience. Based around the Hill People Gear Version 2 Kit Bag, the SAR Kit Bag features the addition of a loop panel on the exterior of the bag for small organization and patches, as well asdiagonal MOLLE loops for mounting a radio, knife, or other tool. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. I have resisted the chest rig bandwagon for a long time. If youre looking for a convenient way to carry quick access gear, a minimalist pack, or a way to keep survival gear always on your body, check out Hill People Gears kit bags. You dont have to drop your chest rig, though. If the Snubby Kit Bags are too small for your application and the regular size Kit Bags are more than you want to carry on your chest, these will be right up your alley. I chose the SAR Kit Bag, Medium for a few reasons. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Every time I arrived at a point I had to navigate to the next point. The pocket on the back holds a couple fairly important items. Materials are top-notch and the stitching is precise and strong. This style of Kit Bag is now designated V3 by Hill People Gear. This Kit Bag is designed with Search and Rescue team members in mind, with input from the instructors at Randall's Adventure and Training. I barely notice the SAR Kit bag. With these two forms of tinder I can start a fire in almost any condition. There are three main models: the Recon, the SAR, and the Original. It opens on three sides and folds down. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. The SAR Kit Bag also comes with two additional straps for attaching it to a backpack, attached by large Grimloc plastic D-rings. This is the main pocket and where I keep most of my stuff. Its definitely bearable, though. Most can be had for under $150. I have worn this chest rig for about 25 miles of backcountry hiking so far. Also, I wish these were optional and the bag was about $10 cheaper for not getting them. Though it wouldnt be fun this would get me through a day or two in the woods. You can light the hemp cord and use it as a match. The trash bag, when cut open makes an excellent sheet of waterproof material. All of it has been in tandem with my Mystery Ranch Scree 32 backpack. Free shipping to US and APO/FPO/DPO addresses, and inexpensive international shipping. Our online store is open 24/7 and we ship Monday through Friday, excluding some holidays. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.