As plate carriers have gotten better and more popular, it seems like everyone has forgotten all about chest rigs. Don’t sleep on this useful piece of gear!
Sometimes, you don’t need a big, hefty plate carrier and 210 rounds of 5.56 to get the job done. I love minimalist setups because weight sucks, and so does heat. And minimalist chest rigs keep things light and cool.
Let’s look at some of the best minimalist chest rigs on the market. I’ll talk about which I prefer and what makes them great so you can find the right one for you.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Versatility
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Best Out of the Box
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Best for Shotgus
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Best Value
How We Tested the Best Minimalist Chest Rigs
There’s only one way to know for sure which minimalist chest rigs are the best, and that’s to train with them. So that’s what I did!
I strapped on each of these chest rigs, packed them full of magazines, and did some shooting. Florida contributed some toasty weather that can really expose gear that’s not breathable and comfy.
In addition to being pleasant to wear, I made sure that each of these chest rigs could secure fully loaded magazines without busting seams or cutting into my shoulders. As always, I kept an eye on the price, too.
Best Minimalist Chest Rigs
1. Vertx Firebase Parabellum – Best Versatility
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- Solid build quality
- Wear it as a chest rig or an ambidextrous bandolier
- AR-15 and pistol-caliber carbine variants
Cons
- Only available in black
Vertx is primarily known for making some outstanding packs, including my favorite sling bag, the Commuter. I love Vertx, and when they announced a chest rig, I was thrilled.
The Firebase Parabellum is a clear winner.
This chest rig comes in an AR-15 or PCC configuration.
The front portion is a placard that’s removable and attachable to a chest rig or whatever else.
As a chest rig, it offers you just enough room for the four magazine pouches and a small admin/map pouch behind the magazines.
The real magic to the Firebase Parabellum is the ability to swap its various configurations around.
You can wear the Firebase Parabellum as a chest rig, or with a swap of some straps, it can become a bandolier and ride beneath your left or right arm.
You can also orient the magazines so they’re pointing up or down. The button-sealed flaps combined with elastic retention ensure the magazines never fall out.
I like my magazines right side up for the chest carrier and upside down when using the kit as a bandolier.
The shoulder straps are overengineered and comfortable, resembling the straps from a good shoulder holster more than that of a chest rig.
What do you think of Vertx Firebase Parabellum? Rate it below!
2. Blue Force Gear Ten-Speed Rigs – Best Out of the Box
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- AR-15, AR-10, and PCC variants
- Excellent retention
- Lateral mounting points for extra gear
Cons
- Slightly less customizable than some
Blue Force Gear’s Ten Speed chest rigs are an awesome option for shooters who want something simple and effective to carry their mags and a little extra gear.
There are three versions of this rig: the MP7 for PCC magazines, the M4 for AR-15 magazines, and the .308 rig for G3, FN FAL, AK-47, and AR-10 magazines.
I own the M4 chest rig for my 5.56 friends and the .308 rig for my AK-series rifles. The MP7 has five mag pouches, the M4 has four, and the .308 version has three.
The magazine pouches use Ten-Speed elastic material that keeps them nice and snug. Retention is outstanding and retrieving a magazine is easy.
It’s perfect for running and gunning.
The straps at the rear are very adjustable, and you can run the kit over armor or beneath a concealment garment without issue.
Plus, it can be tightened down and can fit users big and small.
The rigs also have two wings of three MOLLE rows on either side of the magazine pouches for an IFAK, admin pouch, cup holder, etc.
3. Gadsden Dynamics Shotgun Chest Rig – Best for Shotguns
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- Designed for shotguns
- Super low-profile
- Elastic retention for 24 shells
Cons
- No room for extra gear
Chest rigs for shotguns are few and far between. Minimalist chest rigs for shotguns are even harder to find.
Leave it to Gadsden Dynamics to create an extremely low-profile chest rig for the shotgun enthusiast.
It’s compact and pairs perfectly with a short-barreled shotgun or Mossberg Shockwave-like firearm.
The layout is utterly simple. It’s a square with two rows of elastic loops to accommodate 24 12-gauge shells.
There’s not much to it, and that’s a good thing.
This type of rig is the definition of minimalism. It’s perfect for tossing over an armored carrier and would appeal to me if I drove a patrol car with a shotgun.
If I need the shotgun, I might need the extra ammo. As such, having a small but easy to don rig would be massively beneficial.
The H harness is easy to adjust to fit different shooters or to fit over armor when necessary.
It’s super comfy and supports the weight of the rig well.
4. Unobtanium Gear Dank Robber – Best value
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- Maximizes every inch of space
- Stacked AR-15 and pistol magazine pouches
- Lots of bang for the buck
Cons
- Sticks out from the torso more than some
The Unobtanium Gear Dank Robber comes in at a great price point and comes ready for use with 5.56 rifles and pistol/PCC magazines.
The kit shaves off anything extra while still staying small and capable.
The Dank Robber has three AR-15 type magazines at its core, and in front, we have three pistol magazine pouches. This is a rare take for a minimalist PCC but one I can get used to.
Having three rifle mags and three pistol mags in a minimalist kit is rather nice. The pistol pouches could also be used for tools, lights, and other slender gear.
To the side of the mag pouches, we get two bonus pouches.
One’s a perfect size for a grenade or similar item. On the opposite side, you have a slot that’s perfect for squeezing in a squad-sized radio.
At the bottom of the rig are two elastic cord attachments to toss a TQ into.
All this in a super small piece of kit that’s easy to hide under a good flannel or windbreaker.
You also can’t beat how affordable this kit is.
How to Choose the Best Minimalist Chest Rig
Chest rigs are for carrying ammo, so let’s start there.
What kind of ammo are you using? AR-15 magazines? Pistol or PCC magazines? Shotgun shells? You’ll want a chest rig that works with what you’ve got.
The most versatile chest rigs use MOLLE panels or some other kind of mounting system, so you can add and remove magazines as you wish. These cost a little more, but they’re super useful.
Some chest rigs come with magazine pouches built in. If those pouches meet your needs, that’s great! You can save money and cut to the chase. Just be aware that they don’t work with every time of magazines and ammo.
Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical
Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike led the research and testing for this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped. He has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, including Pew Pew Tactical. In addition to a long history of testing and reviewing guns and gear, Travis is also a concealed carry and certified NRA pistol instructor.
During his years as a Marine Corps infantryman, Travis worked with Romanian, Spanish, Emirate, and Afghan service members. In other words, he’s seen chest rigs and all kinds of nifty military gear in action. He brings that experience to this article in the hopes of making solid recommendations to PPT readers.
Editing this article is freelance editor Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
Minimalist chest rigs have something to offer everyone, and these are some of my favorite kits. They make it easy to carry plenty of ammo, keep things low profile, and are extremely comfortable.
Plus, they keep the weight down and help me stay cool when I’m LARP-ing at the range.
Which of these kits appeals to you? Let me know what you think. Want more plate carriers? Check out our guide to the Best Plate Carriers.
Latest Updates
October 2024: Removed the Beez Combat Systems PCC Chest Rig, 5.11 Tactical, and Fenris
11 Leave a Reply
When I am looking for gear or builds, one of the first places I go is toPP for great information. Regarding this review, I was surprised to not see Haley Strategic chest rigs on the list, they make some great small chest rigs. Travis - any thoughts?
re. Fenris concealable from NF848; full 6 mags of 30 rds. is 180 rds hanging basically off your neck from a skinny strap.. (I know i'm a sissy la-la for b!t@hing about 180 rds.)
newbie so sorry if this is a dumb question - is there an option that can accommodate 556 and 9mm mags at the same time?
Yep, look for a kangaroo pouch or a "double taco". Beware, it'll add some solid weight.
Disappointed to see this article promoting a company that advocates for political violence on the same Instagram page they’re selling their products on. Specifically Nightfighter 848
You dont have to buy from them, thats whats great about america, and coming on a gun website to complain like that turns you into a karen. Why did you feel you needed to add your personal opinion of a company kare....i mean Russell?
Enlighten those of us over 13 years of age…
There's nothing wrong about standing up to communists.
They made a post talking about how we'd be better off without Antifa and people who identify as communists.
Oh interesting, I never knew about Nightfighter848 or their Fenris products before. I'll be sure to give their chest rigs a closer look. Seems like they sell good products and don't have a problem exercising their right to free speech. So thanks for the recommendation.
Hey Folks, Nightfighter here,
I am unaware of any post where I advocated for political violence against anyone. However, there are many groups that openly talk about violence against conservative, right wing groups, patriot groups, and gun owners. This includes openly stating that they want you dead. Anything I have posted is mild by comparison.
That being said, violence is the operating mechanism of self defense and gun ownership, it's just violence that is used to protect you and what is yours. Some gun owners are nothing more than "gun hobbyists" and are not prepared or willing to accept the reality I just stated. They are also more worried about the opinions of others rather than protecting and preserving our freedoms.
In any case, reach out to me if you guys need anything. I am actively selling my chest rigs, developing other products and building community. Thanks for featuring my product in this article!