I use a large Maxpedition zipper pull coupled with a small, non-loop, zipper pull for the firearm compartment. This makes it super easy to grab the right zipper. I will add that one of my complaints with HPG chest rigs that are meant to carry firearms is that they do not have pull tabs, so you can quickly rip the bag open and get to your firearm. This is pretty standard on other firearm capable chest rigs and is such an easy thing for them to do. Their pulls are also lackluster, and I change them out immediately.
Yes I should have done a better job of explaining that my way of doing things is never intended to come off as THE way of doing things. I just try to offer what I do as a catalyst for others to develop carrying systems and kit items that work for them
@@NatureReliance No you made that clear up front, no confusion there. I appreciate YOUR opinion, as I appreciate the others I've watched. I have the same HPF kit bag and am always evolving it, like you are also doing.
Phenomenal looking kit, bro! Not much has changed with it since we last got together, besides that sweet back panel. That definitely extends the versatility of your chest rig.
Great setup Craig ! I love my HPG chest kit as most people know. I carry alot of the same items. I have been thinking about adding the admin pouch to the back of the Recon harness. I currently have a couple of small pouches on it... Thanks for sharing !!!
I have the same HPG kit bag that you have. Here is the major point of consideration that I walked away with. On Tuesday we deployed to search for an individual who had wondered off. Towards the end of the day, when I was most tired, we went to a new area to search. I made the choice to leave my HPG Prairie Belt and shoulder harness in the vehicle. I wear that in conjunction with my HPG SAR kit bag. My water holder is on my Prairie Belt. Like a tired idiot, I left my water behind in order to save some energy. The search area was tough going, and long. I started to regret my choice to leave my water behind. Had I known the Recon Harness held a water bladder, that would have been a GREAT option to carry my water instead of my Prarie Belt + Shoulder harness, whose normal purpose is to carry water. So .... I am going to put this to thought, and if it still sounds like it would improve my load when Sunday rolls around, I'll put it on order. Again, thanks for your perspective and continued evolution of your kit.
I just bought the recon harness after watching this going to do something similar, awesome kit! My one question is you said you normally carry water bladder in the back what size does it fit? I’m getting mixed reviews on the size from ppl
Knife is the Shemanese you can find it on my website. I designed it. It is built by LT Wright Knives,. They are currently on pre-order. I would give you a direct link to it here but TH-cam will remove it.
Great what, "a self-reliant instructor carries" video. I'm glad you posted this video of your ATACS camo preference, because I have a question, purely beyond the aesthetics of a pack colorways, is it considered a faux pas if you attach different color pouches to your pack? Thanks for sharing, Craig. Semper Fi!
I am not sure if it is faux pas as it relates to fashion. I am no slave to fashion, as you well know. However there is a certain value as of uniformity as it relates to camo. We teach camouflaging and have classes regularly in which we get to see this play out. The human eye, as well as more advanced animal eyes, can see the value and/or color change in varying patterns and when one is trained to see that it is helpful in seeing more things in the outdoors. I hope this is what you were getting at. If not let me know if I am off base, and I will answer something different. Thanks brother for always checkin on on the videos.
@@NatureReliance I was just asking if it was acceptable in general to use pouches of a differing color than the pack. But as usual, you took an off the wall topic, and turned it into a teachable moment. Thanks. Semper Fi!
The tiny carabiner on the trigger guard, delete it. Theyre annoying. You’ll be faster and easier to just send the cord loop though, and pass the guard through the loop. I just hate carabiners with the hook at the end.
The hpg kit bags are set up to pull the 2 zippers on the 2nd pouch..not the actual firearm pouch. You stage the 2nd compartment zipper pulls just like you stage the firearm pouch zipper pulls (you can actually open the firearm pouch just a hair to make it easier) then when needed, you grab the lower set of zipper pulls ( middle compartment) and rip them down..hence opening your gun compartment (and it keeps the 2nd compartment closed as well) so your draw hand is already going for your gun the same time you pull them. HPG has an actual video on this showing you better than my instructions prob...I'm sure you can do it either way but it could be even easier th intended way.
Thanks for the suggestion. I teach some coursework for the federal government with Evan, we have discussed this at length. That method works well for their neck of the woods. But in deep brush like I deal with here, having that opening is a problem. I believe the setup is heavily dependent upon where we are located. I am glad that one works for you.
Enjoyed sitting with you for a bit my friend.. Thanks for the mention..
Thanks for making such good items
Great setup. Thanks for sharing
One of the best kit bag dumps I’ve seen Ina a while
Thanks.
I use a large Maxpedition zipper pull coupled with a small, non-loop, zipper pull for the firearm compartment. This makes it super easy to grab the right zipper. I will add that one of my complaints with HPG chest rigs that are meant to carry firearms is that they do not have pull tabs, so you can quickly rip the bag open and get to your firearm. This is pretty standard on other firearm capable chest rigs and is such an easy thing for them to do. Their pulls are also lackluster, and I change them out immediately.
Thanks for the video! Always good to get other people's perspective.
Yes I should have done a better job of explaining that my way of doing things is never intended to come off as THE way of doing things. I just try to offer what I do as a catalyst for others to develop carrying systems and kit items that work for them
@@NatureReliance No you made that clear up front, no confusion there. I appreciate YOUR opinion, as I appreciate the others I've watched. I have the same HPF kit bag and am always evolving it, like you are also doing.
Some great tips and advice there Craig thanks for sharing 👍
Good revisit /update, Thanks
Thank you Josh, did you recognize that notebook? Thank you for that :)
@@NatureReliance Yes I did. Well nothing fancy, but you are welcome:)
like so much your videos, just felt like I being on the porch with you man! 👊
Thank you Tito, hopefully that happens more sooner than later
When I was at class I was curious as to what your pack was and how you like how it sits on your body, thanks for explaining! :)
No problem!! Glad this was helpful.
New sub - great setup! Following and will churn through some of your vids before I jump into the comments more deeply.
Very nice ! Thanks for sharing!
Good update! Thanks for sharing!
Phenomenal looking kit, bro!
Not much has changed with it since we last got together, besides that sweet back panel. That definitely extends the versatility of your chest rig.
Some things just work, so I stick with them I guess. I am boring like that :)
@@NatureReliance boring never looked so educational.
@@NatureReliance ain't broke, don't fix it ;)
@@NatureReliance DOES THE HARNESS DIG INTO THE NECK /SHOULDERS LESS?
Not once you determine how it fits. If you’re not used to them, it takes some learning
Very good information and suggestions, Brother !!!
Thank you !!!
Keep up the great work !!!
Thank you for that encouragement
Great setup Craig ! I love my HPG chest kit as most people know. I carry alot of the same items. I have been thinking about adding the admin pouch to the back of the Recon harness. I currently have a couple of small pouches on it... Thanks for sharing !!!
Yeah Man, I actually went back to admin after I made this video..lol...I cant make up my daggone mind.
What type of admin pocket would you recommend for the harness?
Great kit Craig! Thanks!
Excellent video
Love my HPG kit!! Nice video
Thanks!
Solid kit bag review brother!
Thank you my friend!
I have the same HPG kit bag that you have. Here is the major point of consideration that I walked away with. On Tuesday we deployed to search for an individual who had wondered off. Towards the end of the day, when I was most tired, we went to a new area to search. I made the choice to leave my HPG Prairie Belt and shoulder harness in the vehicle. I wear that in conjunction with my HPG SAR kit bag. My water holder is on my Prairie Belt. Like a tired idiot, I left my water behind in order to save some energy. The search area was tough going, and long. I started to regret my choice to leave my water behind. Had I known the Recon Harness held a water bladder, that would have been a GREAT option to carry my water instead of my Prarie Belt + Shoulder harness, whose normal purpose is to carry water.
So .... I am going to put this to thought, and if it still sounds like it would improve my load when Sunday rolls around, I'll put it on order.
Again, thanks for your perspective and continued evolution of your kit.
Would you mind explaining what precisely happened to your Yaesu? Great kit by the way!
hey! does it work exceptionally well??? 'cause I wasn't sure...
What watch are You wearing? Greetings from Venezuela
What do you use to clip the pack to the recon harness?
Is there a video on the sweet knife
I just bought the recon harness after watching this going to do something similar, awesome kit! My one question is you said you normally carry water bladder in the back what size does it fit? I’m getting mixed reviews on the size from ppl
I just watched the HPG video showing all their kit bags, and they said a 3L bladder will work but 2L fits better.
Can a pair of 8x42 or 10x42 binos fit in the main compartment?
enjoyed...!!
Thank you my friend!
What’s the name of the knife and where do I find one
Knife is the Shemanese you can find it on my website. I designed it. It is built by LT Wright Knives,. They are currently on pre-order. I would give you a direct link to it here but TH-cam will remove it.
But if you need to do a number 2, no paper? I always carry a quarter roll of paper in a drybag with a bic lighter.
No pot?
Great what, "a self-reliant instructor carries" video. I'm glad you posted this video of your ATACS camo preference, because I have a question, purely beyond the aesthetics of a pack colorways, is it considered a faux pas if you attach different color pouches to your pack? Thanks for sharing, Craig. Semper Fi!
I am not sure if it is faux pas as it relates to fashion. I am no slave to fashion, as you well know. However there is a certain value as of uniformity as it relates to camo. We teach camouflaging and have classes regularly in which we get to see this play out. The human eye, as well as more advanced animal eyes, can see the value and/or color change in varying patterns and when one is trained to see that it is helpful in seeing more things in the outdoors. I hope this is what you were getting at. If not let me know if I am off base, and I will answer something different. Thanks brother for always checkin on on the videos.
@@NatureReliance I was just asking if it was acceptable in general to use pouches of a differing color than the pack. But as usual, you took an off the wall topic, and turned it into a teachable moment. Thanks. Semper Fi!
Nah. It is called GWoT chic.
The tiny carabiner on the trigger guard, delete it. Theyre annoying. You’ll be faster and easier to just send the cord loop though, and pass the guard through the loop. I just hate carabiners with the hook at the end.
BAD, TOO BAD, NO FOR YOUR M-60. FAKE.
The hpg kit bags are set up to pull the 2 zippers on the 2nd pouch..not the actual firearm pouch. You stage the 2nd compartment zipper pulls just like you stage the firearm pouch zipper pulls (you can actually open the firearm pouch just a hair to make it easier) then when needed, you grab the lower set of zipper pulls ( middle compartment) and rip them down..hence opening your gun compartment (and it keeps the 2nd compartment closed as well) so your draw hand is already going for your gun the same time you pull them. HPG has an actual video on this showing you better than my instructions prob...I'm sure you can do it either way but it could be even easier th intended way.
Thanks for the suggestion. I teach some coursework for the federal government with Evan, we have discussed this at length. That method works well for their neck of the woods. But in deep brush like I deal with here, having that opening is a problem. I believe the setup is heavily dependent upon where we are located. I am glad that one works for you.
Wait stop, it can carry a walkie-talkie
I don’t know you personally but are you ok? 🥹🥰