Need to quit screwing around and buy some gear that will make my firearms more usable in a SHTF scenario.  Looking for a "chest rig".  Nothing fancy, just need a way to carry extra rifle/pistol mags and other stuff.  Can I get anything decent for $200 or less?

Esstac

I ordered his Trimmed Bush in multicam. Planning to put together an Enhanced belt setup next.

Is esstac usa made? Looking online I found a handful of their mag pouches are, but no info is given on the chest rigs

I just got the Mayflower UW Chest Rig Gen IV from Spiritus. It fits good, holds 4 AR mags, and a handful of general pouches.

https://haleystrategic.com/shop/soft-goods?cat%5B0%5D=16

https://kommandostore.com/products/pattern-84-chest-rig

Surplus TAP - $60 new for a coyote USMC surplus.
Spiritus Systems harness - $50
Spiritus Systems back strap - $12
Extra buckles to retrofit the harness and back strap $5 for 4.

Or spend a little more and get the full upgrade kit for a kick ass rig: Spiritus Systems TAP upgrade kit. - $150

I got w/ @stoner63a to make some better side buckles and this might now be my favorite chest rig:



Cut the flaps and got some kydex inserts off Amazon. Also have bungee retention:

Mayflower Gen IV

Comfy, holds a lot of shit, unused pockets don't get in the way, and no molle to dick with so you aren't screwing with pouch setup for eternity.

4 mag slots, and two radio pockets that can also hold two more mags each.

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Pretty nice stuff so far...

The new Trex Arms chest rig will be the next one I try.

https://www.trex-arms.com/store/t-rex-quad-flap-chest-rig/

I like my Haley DC3MX....... or whatever the hell its called. But all chest rigs have upsides and downsides.

That setup looks nice.  Any info on the belt?

Yes all US made and the owner is a member here.

Good deals to be had if you're patient in the Chest Rig board in the EE, too.

Get the Haley strategic during Black Friday. It will probably go for $150. It’s very comfy and has what you need and some extra room for ya. I enjoy that it has 4 pistol magazine holders. It’s comfy too.

Thanks.  I keep an eye out.

This is best choice, imo, but if you want, you can buy something off EE and try to piece it together. That’s what I did.

Today? I’d buy premade. @esstac is a member here.

OP are you looking for a dedicated chest rig, or a placard system that also connects into your plate carrier?

Made it myself with berry compliant material, and a very old Singer I refurbished. Holster is a KT Mech Akela.

I stole design ideas from all over the place

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If you're not jumping out of helicopters on a regular basis, I have a couple of Condor chest rigs that have held up very well during classes.
I would suggest their bare MOLLE chest rig then pick up whatever pouches/mag carriers you want so you can experiment w/placement to determine what best suits your needs.

Condor Bare MOLLE Chest Rig

Condor Modular Pouches

Agilite is my go to and I love the K19 but if you buy Agilite buy the K-Zero it’s the shit with the stiffer cummerbund they sell

This is what I did. Figured out what setup worked best, and eventually got an Esstac rig with the same configuration.

I have a couple Spiritus rigs, I like them a lot.  When you ad the wing expanders they are pretty versatile.  I just added a Ferro ATAK chest mount to this as well to keep it off the belly area.

If you can find one on the EE, UW Gear makes some great rigs that are super simple and bombproof. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.

Ferro concepts, might be a little more than 200.00 completed… Haley also makes a nice one D3CR Heavy is in your price range

My 5.56 / 7.62 setup

OST

I went with the Mayflower rig. One quick note Trex arms makes a back strap for these modular chest rigs that is adjustable and more elastic making running these types easier over a slick plate carrier and taking the slop out in general. You can also direct attach most of the new rigs to a carrier and the back strap will keep the outer pockets from flapping. Something to keep in mind if you decide on grabbing armor etc later or want a more comfortable rig.


Trex back strap

Helikon-Tex TMR works well.

https://www.helikon-tex.us/training-mini-rig-tmr.html

Just a rig for now.  Armor later.  I have a budget/mortgage/wife and two teen daughters lol.

That’ll do it.

+1 on trying the EE. I ended up with a (mostly) Shellback Tactical setup, but if I were to do it all again today I'd go with USGI surplus and/or Esstac.

FPNI

I went with Bushboar split

Yes they're stitched in Washington State

Yes, just about most good chest rigs are $200 or less, and many are already mentioned.

Given that, I'll ask you "what is your idea of 'more effective'?"

Are you looking for minimalist, Neighborhood Watch, plus a few incidentals?

UKR type scenario where you're living in a trench and need as much ammunition as possible?

Figuring out what you imagine yourself using it for will help you find what you want. Think well and hard about it and remember that there are few one size fits all solutions in life, so focus on what you're most likely to use it for, and start there, since you'll likely end up with more than one, anyway.

Chest rigs are really something you have to have a purpose for.  "What do I want to be able to do with this?"  That, more than anything, will drive what product to get.  A lot of guys get these chest rigs and load them up from top to bottom and while they look good, they are extremely clunky, heavy, and don't allow for good movement.  If this is for SHTF scenarios, you shouldn't need something that carries eight mags.  You likely want to be able to move.  You'll have one in your gun so honestly, a smaller rig that carries 2-3 should be good.  You'll a lighter weight and better able to move too.  

As you've also seen, battle belts are getting more popular and practical.  If I needed SHTF, I can throw on my battle belt quicker than my chest rig.  I have one rifle and two pistol mags there.  One in each gun so 2 rifle mags and 3 pistol mags total.  Should be enough in SHTF if you are planning your responses well.  The guy that loads up his 10 mags and all his gear because he never thinks he's going back home to reload?  Someone is going to pick his slow ass off and be gifted some nice accessories.  

The chest rig I would look into is the Haley Strategy Micro Chest Rig.  Assuming it's for 5.56, get the triple mag insert.  I also have the D3CR which is nice but 4 rifle mags, 4 pistol mags, 2 accessory pouches...it gets to be a lot.  I had it on a Shellback Banshee 2.0 plate carrier but i figured out quick that it was a lot to lug around.  I got a slimmer profile PC and put the micro on it.  Much better.

The HSP MCR will run $175 but it should be around $150 come black Friday.  If price is a concern, I would also check out the Blackhawk Foundation Series first responder placard.  This one flies under the radar a bit.  It looks very similar to the HSP MCR - had 3 rifle slots, 2 pistol slots, and the middle is a pull-out IFAK.  It's a pretty slick set up, honestly.  Very minimalistic.  You want a good rapid-response rig for cheap, this one is $50.  The quality seems okay.  I haven't roughed mine up, really but I've had good luck with Blackhawk in the past, so...we'll see how it goes.

If you go the more minimal chest rig route, I would look into a battle belt.  I recommend G-Code.  Get their Operator's belt and then tack on some of their Scorpion mag pouches.  I personally LOVE their optimum drop leg holder attachment. Have it for my Blackhawk and Safariland holsters.  That said I also have the 5.11 battle belt which I love equally as much.  

If you want other sources of info - and this is going to sound nuts - but check out 4chan /k/.  They have ongoing threads called "gear queer" where guys focus on loadouts and gear of all kinds.  It's a blue chan too so it's much more tame than the wild west /pol/.  If anyone wants the link to the thread, IM me.  They have some really nice standard infographics that are helpful.  

OP, if I was starting over and on a budget, I would get this combo:
Blackhawk Foundations Series First Responder Placard
LAPG Low Vis Plate Carrier

Should run you $130 or so.  It's good entry-level gear that, I believe, would serve the needs of 99% of the people on this site.  You gonna take it to the middle east or Ukraine?  Probably not.  Your AO, probably be fine.  This entry level set up also allows you to get a taste of how you might like this set up.  Do you want more or less, different pouches, etc without breaking the bank on the first go around.

You really need a few types of set ups. I have a plate carrier with pouches for 4 rifle and 2 pistol mags, thats the I have to go run in to a gun fight rig. I also have 5.11 chest rig that can hold 12 mags, for the I am here and the gun fight came to me no running back for more ammo. I have a micro chest rig set ups for grab and go now for both an ar and bolt action.

They each have their own use, dont lock your self in to one setup. When teamed up with a battle belt the options cover a lot of bases.

I have been 100% happy with everything I have bought from eestac. However I really wish they would improve their website a little, especially regarding the colors / patterns. To me is is often a surprise what I bought actually looks like.

Spiritus micro is my favorite but it has been mentioned already so I will throw in the recce rig from onward research, its $160.

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Esstac has what you need!
https://esstac.com/chest-rigs/

Just something to have ready to go if something happens.  Bump in the night kinda stuff.  Not planning on doing classes (there aren't any around here lol).  Just to have a few mags/light/etc ready to strap on and check things out.

I like Haley Strategic and Agilite.

Heard good things about Esstac, but i always miss their sales

https://gadsdendynamics.com/underground-partisan-chest-rig/

What pouch is that on your left side?  

I also like my onward research recce rig.  The simp pouch is too small for anything practical though

spiritus tall GP pouch.

Look at G-code h harness

Plenty to just order listed in here but some good threads in armory section of this site.

I recommend layers of stuff.  A chest rig is one thing a battle belt is another.  If they complement each other you wind up with things working well together.

I live rural and shoot on private property and so.etimes park vehicle and walk a ways.  Having an easy way to carry mags and stuff is nice.

Probably a micro rig then. Haley or Spiritus being the 2 big ones, but there's a ton these days. Just whatever placard will hold 3 mags. Haley is nice if the built in pouches work for you. Just remember the inserts aren't included in the price.

This and the Trex quad flap look like the best options on the market, depending on how you want your rig set up.

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South African Pat 83. I have one and it's great ??

@Liaztraht

Which H-harness did you go with:  Cordura, 2” or 3”?

I have the 2” and really like it.

@C-4 just the basic one.