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Product Information:
Short version of the review: if you want a hydration carrier that will directly integrate into a MCR 4, 5, 6, or 7, buy this and you'll be satisfied.
Long version of the review:
The Hydration Harness is a direct drop-in replacement for the shoulder straps for any of the MCR chest rigs.
FRONT:
The buckles are attached to straps for adjustment across the chest/waistline (I would strongly advise to not do was Image 3 out of 6 shows on the product page, it is not good for attempting to shoulder any airsoft gun. My recommendation would be to run the webbing through the rows of webbing). Continuing up the front, there are three rows of webbing wide enough for 3" MOLLE compatible sheaths or pouches to be placed. The right side of the harness has loop velcro sewn onto the front of the bottom two rows of webbing along with the space in between while the left side has no velcro. Continuing up the harness, there are metal, painted D-rings sewn onto the harness. Within the same webbing used for the D-rings is a rear-facing loop for further customization. Also included on the rig are two loops of hook and loop velcro for securing hydration and or communication lines on each side.
REAR:
Starting at the top is a drag handle that is only bartacked nearest to the handle. The handle itself has a sewn "passive" loop material that allows the drag handle to be stuck to a corresponding 1"x1" patch of hook velcro on the harness to minimize the profile. Beneath the drag handle is the top of the hydration pouch. Looking over the design, it seems that the original intention was for the hydration pouch to attach to harness via a patch of velcro running the width of the hydration pouch (1.5"x 8") This velcro has remained in the final designed, but has been stitched over on the sides to prevent full removal of the hydration pouch (if you removed the stitching for this, the product would be able to separate into two individual, working items) The velcro can be split, allowing any sort of attachments to it (preferably something flat like netting) Continuing down to the actual hydration pouch, the port again shows that it was a full flap, hinging at the top and secured by velcro on all three remaining sides. The bottom was modified such that a line of stitching now runs across it allowing only the left and right sides to open. (Again, removing this single line of stitching should allow the product to fully function) The access flap for the interior has a coil zipper running down each side along with a span of hook velcro at the bottom to fully secure the flap. On the outside face of the flap is a large 3" x 4" patch of loop velcro. Sewn into the flap is a folded piece of webbing that works as a handle to open the flap (the same sort of handle can also be seen at the top of the pouch) Beneath the flap are four rows of MOLLE style webbing. The interior of the hydration pouch fits a 2.5L hydration bladder and I would be hesitant to say that a filled 3L bladder will fit.
INTERIOR:
The harness has mesh lining where the padding like the original chest rig shoulder straps.
The interior of the hydration pouch has a center loop and two loops with velcro sewn on to secure any bladders placed inside. (I use a Source bladder and the hook and loop attachments worked fine.)
There is a none padded mesh-lined pass through for the waist buckle of the chest rig.
FINAL NOTES:
Like any sewn products checking the stitching and the workmanship is extremely important. I personally found that a small section of stitching was missing from the bottom the hydration pouch.
Pros:
Good value for price.
Included strap length is long enough to fit anyone.
Straps have sewn in velcro keepers.
Padding the the shoulders is sufficient for a combat load with hydration.
Webbing and D-rings allow end user customization.
Direct drop in replacement for shoulder straps.
Easily adjustable.
Hydration/comm. lines keepers.
Cons:
Poor quality control. (Product came new with damaged stitching)
Hastily, integrated new design decisions that were done with single lines of stitching.
Drag handle is only secured with one column of bartacking along with a standard "X" pattern.
Webbing on the front before the buckles is not secured with an "X" pattern.
Straps are too long for user. (6'1" and 140 lbs)
Aesthetically, lot's of long stitching ends present.
Rating:  [4 of 5 Stars!] |
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