Just got back from a multi day back country 60mile hiking trip. My large kit bag was my best friend. I did the same trip 8 years ago with lacking gear and couldn't believe what a difference the right stuff makes. Now taking a serious look at the decker system as a replacement for my current day and multi day packs. When he mentions the lifter straps making a difference he isn't kidding. I tried it both ways, and the lifters stayed on. Having both your front and back packs linked is more comfortable than either on their own, and a hell of an improvement over both independently shifting and tugging around your neck/shoulders. I had the kit bag with me on a recent Ireland trip to and talked about my experiences with it in a video on here (see $200 Pants that will Change your Life) UF Pro are no joke for gear either and are now an integral part of my everyday and back country attire. Cheers Evan, thanks for being awesome and so dedicated to your craft. Your passion comes through in how well thought out and adaptable your gear is. Armand
I’m so happy you guys are making videos going over the gear! That’s been one of my biggest requests from HPG. The gear is great but can be confusing for newbies. I’ve made several videos using HPG gear. Love it.
15 minutes in.....I can attest that even big chested ladies can wear these bags. I'm a D cup and find no issues wearing it.I am also a short torso, and it fits where it should. It was a game changer for me.
Recently found your gear lineup. Glad I also found this vid. Very helpful in determining which chest rig will best meet my needs. Good explanation of options. Thanks for putting this together.
I use my tarahumara, and my original kit bag, everyday, biking to work about 4 miles each way, actually got caught in the rain today, and nothing ever gets wet, my phone sits in the very front of my kit bag and it was fine as usual, just two products from the long list of the many items I want from you guys, thank you so much for your amazing products and videos, I don't know of to many, if any, companies that have videos of the owners not only explaining their products but also giving out valuable information for maybe not so experienced people, from a dedicated customer for life.
hey man, so you're able to wear both bags at the same time? I own a Tara and I'm wondering if it can be worn comfortably at the same time as a kit bag.
@@BOOSTEDLASER not enough demand to *always* stock it in black. That being said, we do have it in black a couple of times a year. Email info@hillpeoplegear.com with your request and we'll make sure you're notified when we do run it. We also use those lists to determine what special runs to do. If we have enough requests we do them more often.
@@BOOSTEDLASER it isn't. If we produce very much of it, it sits on the shelves for quite a while. Ranger is our most popular color by a pretty fair margin. After that, manatee, elk brown, and coyote are sort of a tie depending on which product you're talking about. Black is far behind those, again depending on which product you're talking about. Multicam Black is popular, but only in certain products.
The wife and kids gave me a runners kit bag for Christmas. Absolutely love it, I run with it every day. Plenty of room for my glock 43x, cell phone, and tourniquet. The vented H harness is great allows for air to circulate, especially running in the south eastern Texas heat and humidity.
Heavy Recon, Med Bino pouch, and a Mystery Ranch bear spray holster attached on the bottom- A bit big, but it goes everywhere with me outside. Great to glass critters whenever I get a chance in the backcountry and, true to its purpose, having your CCW and bear deterrent is always nice to always have on your person without having to think much about it. Just saw the framed Eagle certificates in the background! I display mine proudly, as well. All the best-
I have the runner love it I mainly wear it to walk my dog cause now matter want I have now I can have my gun ,key, wallet,etc really like it thanks for building a great product
I love my original kit bag had it for a few years now even though it get a little sweaty on hot days and occasionally nudges in the steering wheel in certain vehicles I'm hardly without it.
I have the original kit bag a runners kit bag and the tarahumara. This gear is higher quality than any military or backpackers gear. It's literally the best of the best. I also have the decker system in small and large with an extra pocket I just bought. I put it all together and I'm telling you. It carries like a dream. This guy who is designing these is a genius. Whoever is making these does an immaculate job. I can't say enough about the products,l. If you're wanting to go hunting hiking backpacking road trips day trips traveling. This is the highest quality on planet earth.
This summer I bought your SAR kit bag and love it. That way when I'm carrying our smallest child in the backpack, I can have snacks, basic survival/first aid kit, along and accessible. Fits great, carries nicely. Great company, quality product!
Visited Grand Junction last week. First day in town we found HPG store on Main st. by chance. Bought the SAR full sz and Runner medium sz that day. Took the SAR hiking at the Monument and Grand Mesa. Love it! On the way out we stopped by to buy a Recon bag. Wore the Runner while driving home from GJ. It is a comfy way to carry your sidearm while driving long distance.
@@HillPeopleGear pleasure meeting you and the family as well. Your daughter was very helpful introducing me and my wife to different models of HPG kit bags. She helped us selecting the two bags we bought last week.
Best gear hands down!!! Love these! You can use them on plate carriers, 5.11 bags, haley strategic, velocity systems, etc. You guys are FUCKING BADASS.
This would be great for hunting. I hate having to take my Fanny pack off to get water, map, knife, etc.. I wouldn’t need the pistol pouch but that would be great for phone, wallet, license. Looks awesome
UK user here. I love my V1 kitbag for winter carry as I can fit spare gloves and hat. Also a massive fan of my V1 snubby original. I’m a 54” chest and have no issues at all with comfort.
Love my Kit Bags! Just bought another Recon KB after I lost my first one in Afghanistan. Have a Heavy Recon & Snubby Recon love em both. But the regular Recon KB is just so flexible as far as possibilities and needs go for me. Build it up to a Heavy KB, or make it light like the running KB. But I do want a grey rip stop runners KB.
Years ago I bought a kit bag and I'll never buy another one again. Well, that's unless I decide to go for another color 'cause my bag doesn't show any wear or tear . ( I have the Heavy Recon.)
I just ordered the original (V2), after providing ID to get the military discount! Seems to be a shortage, I think the only color option that was available was Elk Brown
Yes, I agree, I hope similar fashion bags become more common, because it just makes chest bags more normal to passerby, similar to how manbags are very popular in europe and asia. I just got a grouse Original and I'm so psyched! I've been eyeballing your products since your first SSD article was posted 9-10 years ago. Can you provide any insight on wearing a kit bag as a sling bag? There's one picture of the M2016 slung over the shoulder, but not kit bags.
Thinking about getting a fourth kit bag in elk brown. Damn sexy color and it would match my Tara. Lol Evan - which knife do you have on the front of your KB? Thanks for a great review!
I've been using a heavy recon for many years with the lifter stamps. I don't think there is a better design chest pack out there. I carry bear spray under on the PALS. I never leave the house for the mountains without it
If folks knew how many kit bags I have stashed around, I'd be on Intervention. Can't say enough positive things about the kit bags and HPG as a company.
Do you have a video on how to carry or setup these great items for hikers wearing a backpack? Would love to see the SAR version with a regular backpack
not yet, but we had planned to. this is a good reminder. the whole point of kit bags was for wearing with a regular backpack. they're meant for this and are very good at it.
@@billybastar4022 For bags and packs, Cuben offers only a negligible weight advantage. There isn't enough fabric involved to make much of a difference. All of the weight is in things like zippers, buckles, and straps. And of course Cuben has a whole lot of downsides when it comes to longevity.
@@HillPeopleGear I suppose..however the weight can make a little difference, but more importantly it’s a near waterproof fabric, with very good abrasive resistant qualities. When putting serious miles per day on a two week hump, ounces are pounds!
Ask the guys at 5col Survival Supply. They're the ones who do most of the waxed canvas editions of our gear. I think they might have some waxed canvas waist bags in stock now.
Well, I'm an Evan since 1973. I was 20 before I ever met someone else named Evan. Now it seems to be all over the place. Guess we were Evan before Evan was cool.
Have you ever considered creating one out of Dyneema? (Formally known as Cuban fiber). I feel it may be worth it to make one marketed toward the ultra light hiker community. (Appalachian trail, PCT, AZT hikers) I definitely would be interested.
Dyneema is a marketing gimmick for anything but shelters. There simply isn't enough of a weight savings on smaller items - even most packs - to justify all the downsides of dyneema. A dyneema Kit Bag that was the same in every other way *might* save half an ounce. You save weight by cutting zippers, buckles, and suspension elements. A KB meant for ultra lighters would be very different by design. In general, we stick with building products for the kind of travel we do - backcountry off trail with no safety net. Designing for what we do makes the designs better. If any of us start doing UL long trail stuff, you'll start seeing products geared more in that direction.
Personally in my use of new dyneema based packs over hundreds of miles they perform very well but that's my data and opinion. I understand if the engineering, motivation and logistics aren't possible to create my suggestion and I am ok with that. Only reason I asked is because I really enjoy your brilliant products you have created. To the point I've created dozens of videos on RU-vid featuring your products because I believe no one does it better.
@@PreparedAirman It's not that dyneema doesn't perform well, it's that when you use heavy enough dyneema to perform adequately it isn't that much lighter per square foot than 500d. Add to that it's more expensive and a royal PITA to sew (driving up production and material costs) and it just isn't worth it to save less than half a pound on a full size pack and maybe an ounce or two on a Kit Bag. That being said, the notion of a UL Kit Bag has come up a couple of times recently and that may be something I attack -- not by using dyneema which wouldn't save an appreciable amount of weight, but by cutting weight in other ways. Fewer pockets, fewer features, different load lifter setup, perhaps a different harness setup, etc.
Looks comfortable, well made etc. I’m struggling with tge application in a urban environment. I carry in the woods or camping on my hip. No need to conceal anything. If I’m going to the bank or grocery store, quick trip or meeting clients. It’s a bit out of place and clearly it’s a mode for carrying a weapon. It would almost be better to carry a murse and do the walk of shame. At least I would just be accused of being a fem and not carrying concealed.😂
We don't use them in urban environments, but a lot of our customers do. Since the design was faithfully copied by a fashion house a couple years ago sparking a mini fad on the runway, it's not unusual to see chest bags in the city. Or so we're told. Not a place we spend any time.
@@HillPeopleGear thank you. I try to stay out of the city as well. For the outdoor activities I think it’s an awesome option. As I’m usually hunting or fishing, I’m either already weapon in hand or carrying on my hip for bad tempered snakes. But if I were in an area with dangerous wildlife, I would order one today. First aid application is definitely a consideration.
I have the original Kit bag ...don't know what the vertical straps are used for on the back of the bag ....I don't see the purpose of them and they get in the way of the main straps and webbing..
We make 4 of the models in blaze orange from time to time. Currently we have the full size original available in blaze orange: hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/1/ProductID/71
My friend who is a political consultant in DC is getting married this November and his Husband is an avid outdoor hiker. I would like to get 2 of your kit bags for them as a gift but my friend is transitioning to woman and will have big implants soon what kit bag would you recommend for him/her?
the materials are for all intents and purposes waterproof. as with any bag, water intrusion is through the stitch lines. in straight up rain, there will eventually be some dampness inside. in snow, I've never seen water intrusion. and... they are indeed perfect for lift served if that's what you're talking about.
There's been a lot of recent media coverage of a young family (mom, dad and baby in a backpack carrier) stalked by mountain lions near Durango on a hike at Purgatory. They had NO protective gear, just their cellphone. They were pulled out via Flight For Life, uninjured but very scared. Dad said on camera that maybe he should get some bear spray?? Do you think?? Just amazing that naive people go into our backcountry, so unprepared. They need to get seriously geared-up, and your company would be a great start!
The kit bags can't be converted, but the belt pack can be worn across the chest. Another option for a sling bag is to buy their palspocket and add the pocket sling, ends up being an awesome setup, similar to like a timbuk2 but better.
Inside of it, no. Not even 20s. The full footprint KBs take vertical 20s quite nicely and (2) horizontal 30s. I suspect the Snubby could take (2) horizontal 20s.
