I can’t be the only one out there who has had this issue. I’ll set the scene. You want to go out for a leisurely hike. You’ve packed your 50 lb. ruck, you throw it over your shoulders and then you try to connect the hip belt. “No, not going to work,” you say. The belt happens to land right where you’re wearing your concealed carry holster. “Maybe open carry”, you’ll ask yourself. Nope, not going to happen. Even though you purchased that “awesome drop leg holster”, that you’ve been waiting to try out, open carry, is sadly, prohibited in many of the best hiking spots. Well, fellow students of the craft, I have found a solution, the “Hill People Gear Recon Kit Bag”.

This chest rig is in my top five favorite pieces of kit. It’s fully adjustable and once you get it dialed in, it feels like it’s part of you. This is one of those items that pictures really don’t do it justice. When you fondle it, you’ll feel the quality, when you use it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. The technical specs from the site, listed below –

The Recon Kit Bag includes the following features:

500d construction

8 channel / 3 row PALS grid

quick access concealed pistol compartment

comfortable mesh backed H-harness allows you to wear the Kit Bag by itself or underneath of a pack

elastic keepers for the H-harness straps

Velcro loop and dummy cord loop in pistol compartment allow for various retention options

tabs with grimlocs at the top for hanging on another pack, or for use with Lifter Straps (optional) for docking to a host pack

tabs on the bottom for attaching to another pack, or for use with the Stabilizer Kit (optional) for running with

Front zippered access flat pocket with two interior slot pockets with dummy cord loops above them

pro-tip: one of our GI 1qt bottle holsters mounted on the front of a Recon makes a dandy quick access binocular carrier.

I have found that most pistols fit inside the main compartment and ride very securely. I’ve ran testing with a Walther PPQ M2 Navy, FNX 45 Tactical (both with threaded barrel), FNX 9 and a Glock 20sf. All have stayed secure and accessible in this chest rig. Both the FNX 45 Tactical and the Glock 20sf, fully loaded, are over two and a half pounds. The “Recon Kit Bag” makes the weight virtually disappear.

The reason for carrying on the trail, is simple; force protection. You never know what or whom you are going to encounter on a trek through the woods. Once zipped to the top corner of your strong side, it just takes a simple action of grabbing the corner of the main pocket, with your weak hand and pulling down. This action splits the bag open and allows the strong hand to grip the pistol with a full shooting grip. The zippers are top quality, YKK and with heavy use, have yet to bind up on me during the presentation of my firearm. I’ve not had to use it in a defensive situation but I have ran some drills to get used to the technique, should the need arise. It doesn’t matter how much you paid for it or how good your kit is; if you can’t use it, it’s useless. Please train with whatever solution you chose.

The “Recon Kit Bag” is equipped with a net back that really cuts down on the pressure that would usually be felt by lesser rigs. Also, the net allows for copious beathability, as to avoid that awkward sweaty back situation, during your longer hikes. If you don’t already know, you want to avoid sweating, in cold weather environments, at all cost. This feature seems to help immensely.

Along with my pistol in the main pocket, the additional front pocket allows me access to gear I need quickly and often, i.e., lighter, CHP, asthma inhaler, multi-tool. For this reason, I wear the “Recon Kit Bag” on my hike in and after camp is set up. This rig is that damned comfortable.

It took me a while to drop the hammer on this purchase because of the price. For a small chest rig, it’s somewhat expensive, $105.00 before shipping. Yes, you can have it for $95.00 but I wanted the multi-cam, I’m sorry. What sold me on the rig was a friend. He has the “Runners Kit Bag” and gives high accolades. If The Jackal is reading this, thank you sir. You were absolutely right with this recommendation. For quality kit, you’ll pay a bit more but for me, I’d rather spend a little more on gear I can rely on than something I’m worried about breaking. I feel that I could go to Hell and back with this rig and it would be no worse for wear.

I want to let everyone know, I am in no way affiliated with Hill People Gear and am not getting paid to write this review. After all, I am just an “Average Beau”. I do,however, highly recommend this product and encourage anyone with the incline to conceal carry, while hiking, to purchase this awesome “Recon Kit Bag”.

If you’re curious, follow the following link. http://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Products/tabid/762/CategoryID/1/ProductID/5/Default.aspx

Remember, even the average can have an awesome time in the back country.