High Ground Media, LLC

Designed by Helikon-Tex as part of its “Urban” product line, the Courier Bag is intended to blend the utility of an Every Day Carry (EDC) or currier bag, with the robust exterior and function of an outdoor waist/shoulder bag.

Introduced in early 2020, the Courier Bag is available as a medium-sized (featured) satchel bag or large. With its overall material of 500D Cordura, the bag features a multi-compartmented interior that allows for secure storage of its contents. The bag’s overall dimensions are 10.6” (H) x 14.2” (L) x 3.9” (D) with 9.5L of overall storage space, and the bag’s removable, contoured padded shoulder strap has a 1” wide segmented nylon band along both sides for attaching accessories. All YKK zippers have paracord pull tabs, with rubberized tubing for added tactile feel and durability.

Exterior

The front of the Courier Bag has a fold-over protective flap that connects from the top of the bag and is secured to the outward-facing exterior via two 1” slide-release buckles and two hook-and-loop panels. On the exterior of the flap is a 12” wide, zipper-secured accessory pocket for storage of immediate-need items like sunglasses, keys or smartphone. Additionally, a 4” (H) x 7” (L) hook-and-loop (female) field provides an ideal surface for affixing morale or identification patches.

Under the protective flap, along the front exterior is a 12” length, zipper-secured accessory storage pocket lined with hook-and-loop (female) fabric along one side of the interior for storing flat electronics, hook-and-loop organizers (not included), or other items.

The Courier Bag’s sides feature an elastic pocket (one each side) for a 1QT nalgene (or similar) water bottle, IFK, or other items.

The rear of the Courier Bag has a 13.5” long, zipper secured EDC pocket that is lined on one side of the interior with hook-and-loop (female) for attaching associated holsters or allows for off-the-body carry of large framed handguns. The exterior of the EDC pocket has a removable waist strap that can be modified for either left or right carry. At the top of the bag’s rear is a 1” nylon carrying handle for when the shoulder strap is not in use.

The bottom of the Courier Bag is unremarkable with no added features to offset the bag’s ability to sit flat when placed down.

The contoured shoulder strap is removable from the sides of the Courier Bag via its 1” slide-release polymer buckles. The shoulder strap is padded via the 1” open-cell padded foam that is tapered on either side.

Internal

The interior of the Courier Bag is divided into two primary storage compartments used to separate flat items (such as a laptop or notebook) from bulkier, everyday items (like headphones, fleece jacket, binder, headphones, etc.). A single nylon band secures the padded, flat storage compartment via hook and loop. Inside the larger storage compartment are two sleeve pockets for additional 1QT Nalgene bottles or other items. Additionally, a nylon mesh accessory pocket is on the interior of the larger storage compartment and secured via YKK zipper.

The Urban Courier Bag (Medium) is available in Coyote (featured), Adaptive Green, OD Green, Black, and a four split color patterns.

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Excellent (5/5): At a list price of $74.90 USD; as a mid-sized, over-the-shoulder satchel bag, the Courier Bag uses predominantly Cordura nylon and minimal polymer hardware to maintain a moderate-profile appearance that balanced abrasion resistance with comfort. In comparison, market alternatives to the Courier Bag would be the Covert Dispatch Tactical Shoulder Bag ($79.99) from Rothco, the Rush Delivery LIMA 12L Bag ($99) from 5.11, the Elite Tactical Messenger Bag ($149.95) from Elite Tactical, or the Skyridge Tech Messenger Bag ($182.99) From Maxpedition. This in contrast per the market, the Courier Bag by Helikon-Tex is at an excellent price point for its materials, function, and design.
• Comfort – Average (3/5): From a comfort aspect, the exterior of the Courier Bag was  appropriately (or of average) flexible and suitable for its 500D Cordura nylon, and the material was still soft enough to serve as an daily use bag or out on the trails as a support bag. The YKK zippers and polymer slide release buckles moved smoothly and did not bind or cross-feed. The shoulder strap had thick, contoured padding and was soft and flexible enough to not significantly chafe when worn for extended periods (1hr+). However, there was some structure to the shoulder strap (due to the thick padding) that sometimes proved challenging to manage when not worn (such as stowing the bag). The bag’s interior’s smooth nylon material was pliable and soft enough to remain functional and the fabric was not abrasive to skin while rummaging around for a desired item. Perhaps the only drawback from a comfort aspect was the extensive hook-and-loop enclosure material to the exterior protective flap was a bit noisy when opening, and could attract unwanted attention. Furthermore, the interior padded dividers were somewhat thin when considering the end-user will likely use them to secure laptops or other high-end electronics.
• Durability – Average (3/5): The nylon exterior, and flexible interior dividing fabrics offered the Courier Bag an appropriate (or average) amount of abrasion resistance and durability despite daily carry to the office or on the range. Additionally, the nylon exterior was good for repelling a minimal level of light water, allowing it to bead off and mitigate potential saturation of the fabric. There was moderate bartack/reverse and X-box stitching at key stress points, and extensively along the shoulder strap for added reinforcement. The supporting material for the shoulder strap was incorporated into the sides of the bag (inside the side pouches) and gave it an overall good degree of reinforcement against pulling/tearing from the weight of items placed inside the bag. It could be a better idea however to make that anchoring material slightly wider (increasing surface area) and further along the sides (increasing overall strength).
• Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Courier Bag did an good job of packing a lot of pockets, storage, and function into the typical exterior profile similar to any other hiking shoulder bags—while still providing immediate access to a off-body firearm if needed. The storage pockets and compartments allowed easy access to any contents (except the elastic bands to the side Nalgene pockets which were so tight it made placing items inside difficult), while the over-molded YKK zippers helped to ensure no moisture saturation along the zipper line. The fold-over exterior flap did a good job to protect the pouches and interior’s contents, and the internal securing flap kept items like a laptop secure. One area of recommendation for improvement to Helikon-Tex would be the fold-over exterior flap itself as it had both hook-and-loop and slide-release buckles to secure, which was a bit overkill as either could easily perform the task alone. Additionally, corner pull-tabs could be added to provide additional grip surface for opening the flap whereas the hook-and-loop made it somewhat difficult to get purchase with the fingers. A drainage grommet on the bottom could also have added benefit for accidental drainage as well as some air movement.
• Weight – Excellent (5/5): Weighing in at 1.73 pounds (empty), the Courier Bag owed a majority of its relative light overall weight to the nylon material of its exterior. While slightly lighter than other nylon-only messenger bags with a heavier denier rating, this bag’s 500D nylon added to the functionality of the overall bag to keep its contents safe and dry while maintaining a comfortable flexibility. In comparison, market alternatives such as the Covert Dispatch Tactical Shoulder Bag (2.20 pounds) from Rothco, the Rush Delivery LIMA 12L Bag (3.0 pounds) from 5.11, the Elite Tactical Messenger Bag (2.0 pounds) from Elite Tactical, or the Skyridge Tech Messenger Bag (2.4 pounds) From Maxpedition all illustrate that amid the market of alternatives the Courier Bag from Helikon-Tex has an excellent light weight for its size and materials.

Overall Rating – Good (20/25)

Product Link: https://www.helikon-tex.com/en_usd/tb-ucm-cd-urban-courier-bag-medium-cordura.html

I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.

The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.

Introduced in 2020 as a lightweight rifle sling, the Padded Rifle Sling (PRS) by Flatline Fiber Company provides end-users with a simple and comfortable rifle sling for long-term use on the range or in professional use.

Made from milspec A-A-55301 nylon webbing, the 1” wide PRS is open-ended on both sides and has “triglides” that allow the sling to be attached to M4/A2-style swivel sling loops, or on QD loop hardware.

The PRS uses TEX 90 bonded nylon thread throughout for its maximum durability against moisture rot and tensile strength.

At the front is a ITW Ladder Loc buckle with a 3” pull tab for sliding adjustment as needed.

The midpoint of the PRS also includes a 1.5” wide, 500D Cordura nylon wrapped pad (tapered on both ends)  behind which is a 1” polymer slide release buckle for emergency release of the sling should the need ever arise.

Specifications:

• Minimum Length: 46” (with the adjuster slide tightened)
• Maximum Length: 51.5” fully extended

The Padded Rifle Sling is available in 16 different colors to include Black (featured), various Multicam patterns, or different camo colors.

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Average (3/5): Listed at $65.00, the Padded Rifle Sling (PRS) reflected the balance between the overall volume of nylon material in the sling, and its included padded element for greater end-user comfort. The PRS’s design is comparable to other mainstream padded rifle slings currently offered by market alternatives to include the Vickers Padded Sling ($64.95) by Blue Force Gear, the Wide (Padded) Sling ($49.95) by  Viking Tactics, and the Contoured Padded Sling ($65.00) by Lunar Concepts. Thus, at its current price the PRS is appropriately (or at average) priced for the current market and its included design/materials.
• Comfort – Good (4/5): With its nylon sling and mid-positioned, closed-cell foam padding, the front-end adjuster to the PRS moved easily and manipulated between the carry/slung position to a combat ready position quickly. Likewise, the adjuster buckle itself slid easily over the 5301 nylon webbing and did not bind. The sling itself was very comfortable while worn with the added padding, thus the thicker material in the middle of the sling did not cut or chafe into exposed skin. Perhaps one suggestion for Flatline Fiber would be to make the pull tab material an offset color to improve visual ease in finding the adjustor buckle on the fly.
• Durability – Average (3/5): Given the PRS was made from dominantly 55301 nylon and 500D Cordura (an appropriate (or average) material within the market) and quality polymer hardware, the sling held up well to continual adjustment and the edges nor material did not fray. The hardware did not involve overly complicated or spring-loaded points, which often pose the potential for failure, and thus the PRS effectively embraced tactical minimalism.
• Functionality – Good (4/5): From a functional aspect, it’s hard to get overly complicated on a two-point sling. The PRS embraced that simplicity; all while offering a functionally comfortable and quickly adjustable design that made it easy to go from a slung position to deployment in seconds. Attaching the PRS to either A2-style sling points, or on QD style hardware (not included) was easy, and multiple M4 or other carbine-style stocks have considered cuts or points for mounting similar slings in various configurations for maximum comfort.
• Weight – Excellent (5/5): At 2.8 ounces (without attachment hardware), the PRS had an appropriate (or average) weight for the minimal amount of nylon material and hardware involved. Even while wet or soaked in sweat the sling’s material (specifically the padding) did not become excessively logged down. In comparison, the Vickers Padded Sling (5.0 ounces) by Blue Force Gear, the Wide (Padded) Sling (8.0 ounces) by Viking Tactics, and the Contoured Padded Sling (5.0 ounces) by Lunar Concepts demonstrate that the PRS is at an excellent light weight relative to other padded rifle slings on the market and its listed competitors.

Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)

Product Link: https://flatlinefiberco.com/product/padded-rifle-sling/

I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.

The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.

In production since 2014, Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 is one of several flagship protective armor plates offered by Spartan Armor Systems. It represents years of development by the manufacturer to bring some of the most lightweight and protective systems on the market.

Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 is a single cut, multi-curve, multi-hit, stand-alone body armor system developed in-house by Spartan Armor employees with over 20 years of combined industry experience. It is made from lab-certified AR500 steel, and consumers have their choice of plates formed on a continual die (i.e. flat), or with Spartan Armor’s patented Advanced Triple Curve (ATC) process. In the ATC process, plates are manipulated using a custom machining tool that avoids “creasing” the steel to form a more anatomical curve. This attention to detail and manufacturing gives Spartan Armor an added advantage over its competitors by extending the life and durability of their products.

Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 is available in three sizes; 8”x10”, 10”x12”, and 11”x14”. This armor meets National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level III specifications, meaning it is rated up to 7.62mm NATO and other rifle calibers as per NIJ 0101.06 standards. It includes either an ergonomic “shooters cut” or “swimmers cut” in the corners designed for improved range of motion (based on the user’s intended use) and to accommodate a variety of gear. For maximum protection, Spartan Armor Systems developed a proprietary Polyurea Coating called “Encapsaloc” to improve moisture resistance, prevent secondary injury from spalling, and reinforce against abrasion/impact damage.

The name of AR500 steel refers to its “abrasion resistance” and its 500 Brinell Hardness rating.  The Brinell rating is used to rate the hardness of steel and various other materials. The higher the Brinell rating, the harder the steel. Higher Brinell ratings also translate to faster velocities and heavier caliber rounds defeated, without penetrating the plate or going beyond the maximum acceptable indentation or deformation. For AR500 steel, the National Institute of Justice has set a deformation maximum of 44 millimeters.

While the Omega includes the industry standard of a 5-year warranty and a 20-year shelf life, this is standard across a majority of body armor manufactures. Engineers from Spartan Armor maintain that, shy of droppage or extreme environmental conditions, the hardened steel has an infinite shelf life.

Specifications:

• 10×12 Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Body Armor
  • Shooters Cut:
    • Base Coat 8lbs 10oz.
    • Full Coat 9lbs 11oz.
  • Swimmers Cut:
    • Base Coat 7lbs 7oz.
    • Full Coat 8lbs 1oz

Video of Spartan Armor Systems Special Threat Testing for Omega: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05n4EC6wA-o

Link to NIJ Body Armor Compliant Manufacturers: https://nij.ojp.gov/body-armor-compliance-testing

• See “Find Compliant Armor” and select Ballistic Resistance, Standard-06.

Featured in this review for the Omega, was the Leonidas plate carrier by Spartan Armor, but it did not play a factor in the evaluation of the ballistic plates themselves.

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Good (4/5): At $151.75 for a set (two plates), $75 for a single plate, $62 for a raw steel plate, or $419 as part of a full body armor package with Spartan Armor’s Leonidas plate carrier, the Omega has a large degree of application and very good affordability. Spartan Armor’s direct competitor for steel protective plates is AR500’s version ($119 per plate) of the same design and same protective level. A simple search on the internet reveals cheaper ballistic plate alternatives, but these are often ballistic plates that are “pending” NIJ certification, or are stated as “meeting NIJ standards” but have never been certified. When your life is on the line, having questionable protective armor is not a place in your kit you want to skimp on. Spartan Armor is proud that all its ballistic armor has been certified by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the gold standard for protective armor, and met or exceeded its standards.
• Comfort – Good (4/5): The weight of the Omega’s steel plates was notable, especially after wearing it in a plate carrier for longer than an hour. The weight pulled on the carrier and on the shoulder straps, so ensure your carrier has sufficient padding in that area as well as a decent cummerbund. Despite that, the ATC curvature of the Omega was very comfortable and contoured to the chest and back, giving the plates a higher than average score. During stressor drills (sprints/lunges) the Omega’s cut and ATC did not impede flexibility.
• Durability – Good (4/5): Given that the root material for the Omega is still AR500 steel, the durability of the plates went without question. And while that means your carrier and hardware will likely wear out long before the plate or its anti-fragmentation coating, wearers should take care not to drop their plate carriers. The Encapsaloc will help ensure some mitigation from impact as well as any potential fragmentation or corrosion, but still care should be taken as it’s entirely possible the plates can still damage other items due to sheer mass.
• Functionality – Good (4/5): As previously noted, the Omega is one of many ballistic products by Spartan Armor Systems that has been submitted to the NIJ, tested, and certified as a Level III, multi-hit ballistic plate. Thus, it will provide protection against some pistol and rifle calibers, at a distance of 50 feet or more (see chart), but not others. There was little in our evaluation process that could deduce anything more that hasn’t already been done to it in a formal laboratory, and under the strictest scientific methods of measurement. The Omega’s rating is readily found on the NIJ database (link above – model AR550) While the Omega steel plates have the industry standard of a “5-year lifespan, 20-year shelf life” this merely covers the wearer in the event of droppage or damage. In reality, the lifespan of the AR500 plates to maintain their protective rating is indefinite provided they remain undamaged.
• Weight – Average (3/5): The one (and only) downside to AR500-based ballistic plates is their weight. The Omega weighed in at approximately 10 pounds per plate, and its weight varies depending on the desired cut and coating. At 20 pounds for the set, the weight of the Omega plates bared on the carrier/body after a time (1hr+). This weight is consistent to other ballistic plate models of similar design and appeared in research to be the average weight for most ballistic plates of similar material.

Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)

Product Link: https://www.spartanarmorsystems.com/steel-core-body-armor/spartan-omega-ar500-body-armor-level-iii/

I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via STL Shooting Enthusiasts, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.

The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.