Review: Condor Modular Chest Rig 1 (56K GTFO)

[Spike]

OVERVIEW

So on my search for a lighter rig that's more efficient than my MBSS or CIRAS, I stumbled across this little gem. Usually, people only know of the condor modular chest rig as the 7 pocket rig, with a back panel. This is the Modular Chest Rig 1 (that seems to be the only name difference). This rig is quite similar to the Rhodesian Recon Vest (RRV), save for a few minor details.

I received mine from http://www.surpluspontrouge.com/en/home/ at a price of $55.99 ( http://www.surpluspontrouge.com/en/m...-1/coyote-tan/ ) [Comments on Surpluspontrouge: cheap, fast shipping, but lack of order updates or tracking number isn't the best].
http://www.surpluspontrouge.com/en/m...-1/coyote-tan/

Here it is in all it's glory:



FEATURES


SPR had this rig listed as "Coyote Tan". It's a little lighter than Pantac's CB. Here's a picture of it in comparison to Pantac CB and Khaki. The rig is on the top, the belt on the bottom is CB and the mag pouch is Khaki. The vest's colour falls somewhere in the middle.



The rig has two internal velcro top pouches (apparently these are for plates...? Way too small for that IMO. The openings span the whole width of the rig, but the entrance is not very big), one in the middle of the cummerbund and one in the bib.

Cummerbund


Bib


Like the RRV, the bib can be folded down into a pocket in the back of the rig, making a lighter rig. The bottom row of MOLLE webs can also be folded behind the rig, making it even smaller.

Pocket for bib


Bib-less


QUALITY

People often say that Pantac is the best quality Airsoft-gear-wise, however I had some 1000D pouches from EB before and they seemed like they had a higher thread count than my Pantac stuff. This rig's build material feels a bit looser than my Pantac gear, but doesn't seem like it would break any time soon. The stitching is quite stable, but there were a few loose threads. The fabric does not claim to be Cordura, which it clearly isn't, but some sort of high density nylon instead. It feels adequately tough.

WHAT I LIKE



-This rig has TONNES of molle real estate. It's awesome. I fit all the pouches that I used to need a plate carrier to fit on, and it's 10 times lighter and more flexible.

-IT FITS! I know it may sound weird, but as a thin dude, it's hard to find rigs that fit snugly. This is the first time that I had a rig that fit completely snug around my waist, so it doesn't twist around.

-Cost. This rig is 1/2 - 1/3 the price of a Pantac RRV, and is almost the same quality. Shipping only cost me like $12, so you can't go wrong with that!

WHAT I DON'T LIKE

-The shoulder straps. God damn, they're annoying. They feel kind of loose, but if I tighten them, all it does is hoist the rig higher. There's a little gap between the front of my shoulder and the strap, like it's too loose. It seems as if the shoulder strap is bent at a pre determined location and doesn't like to bend to form to your body. I had to cross them over the back or they'd fall completely off, which helped the tightness a tad, but these straps could certainly be designed better.

The straps are not detachable, so if you want a back hydro pack, you'll need to get a separate one (which I have on the way). This also means you can't attach an MBSS back panel (unless there is a way, someone can correct me on this if I'm wrong?) for a molle radio pouch, scabbard, etc.


CONCLUSION

9.5/10 - Anyone looking for a light rig, this is for you. The Cost vs Quality is great, it has lots of space, and is nice and light. Plus, no $40 shipping from Hong Kong!

After gaming this a few times, I will update with a quality report.

Cheers!
-Spike