Helicon-Tex Patrol Line Guardian Chest Rig, by BePrepared

I was inspired to write this as someone in NCScout’s last Recce class recognized it and commented on how comfy it was for him. I’ve been using this rig for five years now, it’s load out has changed from the beginning (as is oft to do) but I still love this rig and run it. At close to $120 it’s not exactly cheap, but it is well worth the money for the comfort, capacity and quality. Buy once, cry once.

The Helikon-Tex website states: “Guardian Chest Rig® is a universal carry platform to accommodate basic ammunition load and personal equipment. Designed to work along with a backpacks and belt kits, it would optimize the configuration of your combat gear. Depending on the number and size of the magazines, the height of the fixed pouches flaps can be adjusted. Exchangeable magazine inserts can be rearranged accordingly. The central double magazine insert can be replaced by the Pistol Holder Insert from our catalog.”

Basic construction is a chest rig with three double AR mag pouches with two larger pouches on the outside. I don’t remember having “exchangeable magazine inserts” but I do recall having a velcro pouch holding two AR mags and another pouch holding a “pistol holster” that I also promptly lost, I don’t need parts of a pistol buried in my chest in the prone. There is a central admin pouch and two smaller admin pouches behind the larger pouches. Fabric is Cordura (at least 500, but I doubt it’s 1000) and holds up well to crawling around and bushwhacking, all seams are sewn well and I’ve not had a problem with them in all my “ahem” testing. The rig is suspended from some pretty wide shoulder straps (with channels to run headset wires) in an X-pattern across your back and a lower strap near your middle to keep it from flopping. The rig comes with fastex buckles on the shoulder straps so you can swap them out if you prefer a different H-harness.

I bought mine in ATACS-FG which they don’t seem to make anymore and I remember it took darn near a month to get here (from Italy). If you look on the manufacturers website, there are maybe three or four colors in stock (plenty more patterns on Amazon, just remember to use the AP link).

Wish I looked that cool. He is also wearing it a bit lower than I do.

As I said I’ve run this rig for five years and it’s the only rig I use for Scout/Recce. I typically run it with gloves, 2-4 mags, a radio, a canteen, two multi-tools and 2-3 smoke grenades. All will fit, not fall out and makes no noise when I do the jump test. (You are jump testing your equipment for sound right?). If not running a radio in one pouch, you can run three AK mags, three AR-10 mags or six AR mags. (Or three 16.9 oz bottles of water) Recently I’ve taken to stuffing 308 mags in those mag pouches, you can get one easy, two (per pouch) takes a bit of finagling

Now I run a radio on my left side, in a magazine pouch. I have the wiring for the PTT switch laced up in the shoulder strap of the rig so no matter what radio or headset (AR-152 or UV-5R/Peltor or Retevis) I can plug it in and go. (Turn off the color displays when your transmit or receive.) Same side I run the full size USGI canteen. Left to right, add mags to the two other mag pouches, gloves in the admin pouch then red light/smoke grenades/VS-17 in the far right (as I’m looking down)

Now it has MOLLE webbing on the front and sides. I’ve only taken a TQ pouch and added on the side, adding anything out front is a huge mistake, but you are welcome to make it if you wish.

I love my rig and use it regularly, as you should. Get out in the woods and try out your gear either solo or with some training.