PDA

View Full Version : REVIEW: HSGI Warlord V4 : and oldie but a goodie



Urban Tactical Gear
18 August 2009, 15:28
One of the very first pieces of "tactical equipment" that I purchased was the High Speed Gear Warlord v4. I picked it up after about 6 months of trying to figure out what I wanted. After seeing a brief pictorial, written by protus, on lightfighter I committed to the purchase. I wanted something that I could use both for backpacking, and to load up in case the shtf.

The HSGI warlord is a pals based chest rig. It allows for plenty of room for any type of large or small pouch you would want to put on it.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/Picture016.jpg

The main feature of all of the versions of the Warlord series is the large built on admin pouch. The admin pouch consists of a slot big enough to carry your radio, elastic to fit a light or multi-tool, and several elasic slots for pens or whatever. It has a large flap on the back for carrying documents. On the side that folds down you'll find clear acrylic for holding a map. which was one of the reasons i picked it up for back packing.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/Picture019.jpg

The flap is secured with two pieces of paracord. it's knotted on the inside of the flap, routed through a metal grommet eyelet, and then knotted again. problem being that there isn't a lot on the outter side so after a while it can become untied. because i have fat fingers it's difficult to retie it.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/Picture020.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/Picture021.jpg


The back is covered in mesh, and divided into three sections, again giving room to carry documents or whatever.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/Picture023.jpg

Each side has a zipper that runs from around the top harness points to the bottom of the rig, giving you access to a large general purpose type pouch.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/Picture022.jpg

Like other manufacturers, HSGI leaves a football field worth of extra webbing so that you can adapt it to whatever body type you are, or adjust it to whether or not your using an armor carrier. A football field is an exaggeration, but there is ALOT!
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/P1000971.jpg

The stock shoulder straps are padded, and form an x across your back. They have an extra fastex buckle on each strap to add HSGI accessories like their hydration pouch.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/P1000966.jpg

This was my very first chest rig. I picked it up right around the time that Gene was releasing his Hercules plate adapter (a back piece for these units). I originally found out about the hercules adapter when i called to speak to Gene about a possible redesign for the shoulder straps. I found that for the rig to be comfortable I had to run it high on my chest. because of that the shoulder straps really dug into my neck and shoulders. especially when fully loaded. For my initial needs it didn't really fit the bill. It's one of the heavier chest rigs available, and for hobby packing that is a bad thing, well if your an ultralight packer like myself. The shoulder straps, i found, weren't conducive to wearing a true back packing pack because of how thick they were, and because of the design. keep in mind that i was using this rig for purposes other than what it was designed for, so i'm not bashing it per say. for it's intended purposes it's a great rig, with plenty of modularity for your personal configurations.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/arolfsen/reviews/hsgi%20warlord%20v4/P1000965.jpg

Custom-X_Sponjah
18 August 2009, 20:10
Little insight

There are Non Padded shoulder straps, an H-Harness, and the Hercules Plate Carrier adapter available which help make this rig more comfortable to the user depending on their intended use.
I will agree that the Padded Straps don't feel that great with people who are not running body Armor or who like to run their rigs high.
The H-Harness or HPC which is available via request, is the solution to this problem.
Calico has an older version of the Warlord V4 without the PALS webbing on the body to attach the HPC.
For the last year or 2 BOTH Padded and NON-Padded Straps are included with the Warlord, Denali, Silverthrone..

The Warlord system comes in 6 different configurations.
The Bravo Series of the Warlord system adds 2 columns of Pals Webbing to each side for attachment of IFAK and other pouches that need 4 columns of webbing.
The Idea is that you need to figure out what your purpose of this rig is and order the one which would best suit your needs.

I wish Gene would send me the Pic of the Sheriff out on a Marijuana raid with his Warlord.
Awesome Pic..

The Wide Part of the Shoulder Strap is supposed to sit on top of your shoulder, and the rig will fall there.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3261412457_2006c2764b_o.jpg

CXS