Urban Tactical Gear
9 July 2009, 12:46
It doesn't seem to matter which manufacturer you get your chest rig from, be it Tactical Tailor (http://www.tacticaltailor.com), HSGI (http://www.highspeedgearinc.com), Eagle (http://www.eagleindustries.com/home.php), OSOE (http://www.originalsoegear.com) or countless others, The stock shoulder straps are pieces of 1-2 inch pieces of webbing that form an X on your back.
Tactical Tailor Mini-Mav
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/tt%20mini%20mav/DSCN1278.jpg
OSOE Micro Rig(s)
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/micro%20ak%20rig/DSCN1271.jpg
HSGI Warlord series
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/warlord/DSCN1283.jpg
That is to say that they criss cross each other to stabilize the chest rig. There are a few methods to correct this, but each piece of kit is designed for a specific chest rig. For example: Tactical Tailor has produced the "x-harness" which fits the one and two piece "MAVS", however it does not fit the mini-mav. HSGI has an entire back piece upgrade for their dach and warlord series chest rigs.
After finding this picture on GOTX, I emailed John Willis at OSOE for more information about it.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/emagdnima/Gear/OSOE.jpg
This is the OSOE H-Harness..... and it can be made to fit ANY chest rig currently on the market. Just let John know what rig you have, what size buckles it has attached to it, and he can make it up for you. So as I have his Micro Ak chest rig and his Micro Rig Pals(which came stock with the criss crossing shoulder straps), I ordered one. Just to see how much more comfortable it was, and whether it worked well. within a couple of days I had it in.
If you will, please forgive my mannequin. i haven't had a chance to order a proper one yet.
The Front interfaces just like any other strap setup would. one buckle on each side at the top, and one buckle under each arm.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1317.jpg
The Big Difference, however, is in the back. instead of the straps intersecting and forming an X, OSOE has bridged the two with a cross bar, thus forming an X. I have been asked already, and posed the question to john. The H-harness does not come with pals on it. the way it works is the h-bar is actually two pieces held together with hook and loop. You run the straps from your hydration carrier through that, and then attach it at the waist belt.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1319.jpg
Should you so choose to add a hydration pouch, the rig comes standard with a tube retention loops
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1318.jpg
Another great feature, that i wasn't aware of prior to ordering it, is that the shoulder straps are padded. Personally I find this setup a great deal more comfortable than the criss crossed straps, as those tend to irritate my neck; the h bar sits a tad below the neck line.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1316.jpg
so there it is. an easy, comfortable fix to anyone wanting to ditch the stock straps from their chest rigs.
anyways. you know the drill. i don't work for the man. i just love his stuff. by now you should know how to get in touch with him, he has several online vendors, and his own website.
Tactical Tailor Mini-Mav
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/tt%20mini%20mav/DSCN1278.jpg
OSOE Micro Rig(s)
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/micro%20ak%20rig/DSCN1271.jpg
HSGI Warlord series
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/warlord/DSCN1283.jpg
That is to say that they criss cross each other to stabilize the chest rig. There are a few methods to correct this, but each piece of kit is designed for a specific chest rig. For example: Tactical Tailor has produced the "x-harness" which fits the one and two piece "MAVS", however it does not fit the mini-mav. HSGI has an entire back piece upgrade for their dach and warlord series chest rigs.
After finding this picture on GOTX, I emailed John Willis at OSOE for more information about it.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/emagdnima/Gear/OSOE.jpg
This is the OSOE H-Harness..... and it can be made to fit ANY chest rig currently on the market. Just let John know what rig you have, what size buckles it has attached to it, and he can make it up for you. So as I have his Micro Ak chest rig and his Micro Rig Pals(which came stock with the criss crossing shoulder straps), I ordered one. Just to see how much more comfortable it was, and whether it worked well. within a couple of days I had it in.
If you will, please forgive my mannequin. i haven't had a chance to order a proper one yet.
The Front interfaces just like any other strap setup would. one buckle on each side at the top, and one buckle under each arm.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1317.jpg
The Big Difference, however, is in the back. instead of the straps intersecting and forming an X, OSOE has bridged the two with a cross bar, thus forming an X. I have been asked already, and posed the question to john. The H-harness does not come with pals on it. the way it works is the h-bar is actually two pieces held together with hook and loop. You run the straps from your hydration carrier through that, and then attach it at the waist belt.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1319.jpg
Should you so choose to add a hydration pouch, the rig comes standard with a tube retention loops
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1318.jpg
Another great feature, that i wasn't aware of prior to ordering it, is that the shoulder straps are padded. Personally I find this setup a great deal more comfortable than the criss crossed straps, as those tend to irritate my neck; the h bar sits a tad below the neck line.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/osoe%20h%20harness/DSCN1316.jpg
so there it is. an easy, comfortable fix to anyone wanting to ditch the stock straps from their chest rigs.
anyways. you know the drill. i don't work for the man. i just love his stuff. by now you should know how to get in touch with him, he has several online vendors, and his own website.