High Ground Media, LLC

Designed as an additional pouch for under a plate carrier’s front carriage, the Expandable Hanger Pouch by Emdom USA provides for additional storage of critical necessities well within reach. With its slightly outward, semi-rigid domed design, the pouch’s accordion design can expand to accommodate a variety of different sized objects.

With an overall dimension of 10” (L) x 10” (H) x 3” (D) the pouch itself is made from genuine 1000D Cordura nylon and can expand, thanks to a zipper along three sides, an additional 2” in depth to the overall storage space when needed.

Exterior

At the front, the Expandable Hanger Pouch (EHP) is lined entirely along the outward, domed face with a 11” (L) x 5” (H) field of hook-and-loop (female) material for attaching identification, morale, or other patches. Under either side of the hook-and-loop field is an access slot (secured via hook-and-loop) for the semi-rigid sheet of removable High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This HDPE sheet is what gives the EHP its domed structure and flexibility. The same HDPE pocket can also be used to insert flat objects like money, maps, or data cards.

The EHP attaches by a 9” (L) x 4” (H) dual-sided, hook-and-loop panel that can connect to any carrier that has a forward facing hook-and-loop (female) field (such as on the JPC 2.0), or with a hook-and-loop cummerbund (such as on the T3 Geronimo 2), or with a hook-and-loop plate riser (such as on the Grey Ghost Gear SMC).

Both the top and bottom of the EHP feature a four-slot MOLLE nylon band for anchoring accessories, shock cord, or other items. The top and bottom also feature ¼” closed-cell dense padding to aid in protecting and valuable contents inside.

The interior is accessed via a YKK zipper with dual shuttles at the top with nylon pull cords, sealed in shrink tubing, for maximum grip and security. The zipper material itself also features water resistant overlap to minimize potential saturation along the zipperline.

On the rear is a three-sided YKK zipper (again with nylon pull cord, sealed in shrink tubing) that contains the accordion expansion panel to expand the EHP by 2”. When expanded, the bottom accordion material also includes a single drainage grommet.

Interior

The interior of the EHP’s forward-facing side is again completely lined with hook-and-loop (female) for attaching pouches, administrative, or other organizational accessories with the corresponding hook-and-loop (male) material.

Oppositely, the interior of the EHP has two mesh pockets with an elastic opening for further storage and organization, and two nylon loops for retention of keys or clips.

The Expandable Hanger Pouch is available in Multicam (featured), Coyote, and SDU Grey. Other color options are available for pre-order.  

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Average (3/5): At a listed price of $74.99 the Expandable Hanger Pouch has considerable size and makes good use of materials to provide additional storage space, and some measure of protection for any essential items inside. In contrast, other hanger-type pouches include Spiritus Systems SACK Pouch ($64.95), the Sporran Hanger Pouch ($59.95) by HRT, or the Multi-Mission Hanger ($50.00) by Haley Strategic. While all these alternatives are less in cost than the EHP, each is also slightly smaller and does not have the added HDPE reinforcement to protect the contents. As such, these features balance out with the added cost and translate to an appropriate (or average) cost for the EHP if the consumer is looking for something more than most designs on the current market.
• Comfort – Average (3/5): When attached to a carrier, the EHP hung freely and added only a minor amount of weight to the front carrier (even when contents were added)—one that was minor in comparison to the overall weight of the carrier itself. The pouch did not inhibit or restrict movement during dynamic movements, with very little “flop” while running. There was a little difficulty in accessing the EHP’s interior when wearing a carrier with magazine pouches attached to the front, as the profile of the mag pouches would obstruct the top-opening zipper of the EHP. This is a design aspect that could be addressed by Emdom in later iterations of the pouch, by adopting a three-sided zipper opening or forward-facing zipper rather than the current single zipper at the top (where it is closest to the carrier). While the main zipper to access the interior felt smooth and the YKK shuttle did not bind, the expansion zipper did hang up at the corners where it had to take a 90-degree turn and was somewhat difficult to manipulate.
• Durability – Excellent (5/5): Made dominantly from 1000D Cordura, the EHP was very durable to abrasion from the ground, equipment, or just the general donning/removal of the pouch to the carrier. Bartack, double-line, and X-pattern stitching all was used throughout the pouch and aided in its strength and longevity. The only notable aspect was the hook-and-loop material of the attaching flap to the carrier over time showed some wear just from the number of applications and removals (but this is common to this type of material). Thus, the EHP, much like many of Emdom’s products, held an excellent level of durability for the application intended.
• Functionality – Good (4/5): The EHP offered a surprising volume of storage space considering its overall dimensions. This was especially useful in carrying odd-sized tools or other immediate-needed items. And while the interior’s elastic mesh pockets aided in organization of the contents, the hook-and-loop material on the interior offered the opportunity to further expand on that organization by adding additional pouches with similar backing. The ability of adding 2” of width along the bottom of the pouch helped expand the bottom of the interior to accommodate more bulkier items. However, this expansion was only along three sides (and smaller near the top), so there was a limit to the expansion. Another reason the EHP kept such a large storage volume was the HDPE backing material helped to keep the pouch’s overall structure semi-rigid and open for immediate access. One recommended aspect for improvement for Emdom would be to add a high-visibility color to the interior as the EHP is large enough it actually became difficult to see smaller items inside, and stuck down at the bottom.
• Weight – Average (3/5): At just a menial 11 ounces (empty) the EHP was lightweight despite the choice of Emdom to use the heavier 1000D Cordura material. Although the weight of the pouch can increase rapidly when adding contents, there was a finite limit to what the pouch itself could hold. Yet even at max capacity the EHP’s supportive hook-and-loop panel under the front carrier held the pouch secure, and never sagged or slipped. And while the EHP is slightly larger than its competitors, its weight in comparison to the smaller market alternatives, like the Multi-Mission Hanger (2.4 ounces) illustrate just how the size, materials, and added HDPE all plays into its heavier and appropriate (or average) weight.

Overall Rating – Above Average (18/25)

Product Link: https://www.emdomusa.com/Emdom-Expandable-Hanger-Pouch-p/eu216.htm

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.

Debuted at SHOT Show 2020 by Grey Ghost Gear (GGG), the Shoot, Move, Communicate (SMC) Plate Carrier has secretly been under development for several years. Bringing together some of the most advanced materials, the SMC is ideal for professional application or to bring together a solid training iteration on the range.

Intended to be a modular, and adaptive plate carrier—the SMC brings together a number of elements that make it ideal for a wide range of missions or settings. By itself, the SMC is the foundational piece of gear that allows for a minimalist, and lightweight plate carrier. But when combined with GGG’s new line of laminate nylon pouches and SMC Back Panels (sold separately), the SMC is extremely dynamic.

Made from the new line of laminate nylon material, the SMC fabric has an abrasion rating greater than that of traditional 1000D nylon at a fraction of the weight. In addition, the laminate nylon has the added ability to resist moisture saturation and thus shed any excess weight that may be encountered from sweat or rain. The front and rear carriers have a “one-size-fits-most” capability (or up to 10”x12”) for all SAPI/ESAPI/AR500 protective plates thanks to its elastic tweave side material.

Both carriers feature extensive laser-cut MOLLE fields; while the front comes with an integrated hook-and-loop (female) field at the top for identification or morale patches, as well as a removable 5” (H) x 6” (L) hook-and-loop (female) panel that is secured via MALICE clips.

The rear of the SMC also includes a hook-and-loop secured nylon drag handle, and large YKK zippered shuttles down the sides for the associated Back Panels (sold separately).

The tweave interior of the SMC’s front and back panel feature GGG’s horizontal, closed-cell, padded bands that give the wearer a 4” wide, nylon mesh channel between their body and the carrier—thus allowing for air movement and heat dissipation. The attached hook-and-loop flap inside the front/back carriers enable for ballistic plates, regardless of sizing, to be securely held.

The skeletonized cummerbund allows for easy dissipation of excess heat while still providing pockets for side plates. The MOLLE field along the cummerbund also allows for added pouches or accessories.

The cummerbund itself is secured to the front carrier by GGG’s Rapid Open Connector (ROC) buckles that feature an upwards keyhole locking mechanism that necessitates a three-direction unlocking movement to avoid accidental disconnections. Adjusting the cummerbund is done via two MALICE clips that secure it to the rear carrier and can adjust to any torso size.

For shoulder straps the SMC has an overlapping hook-and-loop adjustable system with included padding that is segmented by additional ROC buckles (or with the included slide ring). This allows for the SMC to be easily slid on or off, or completely released in an emergency. Each shoulder strap also includes front, mid, and back elastic cuffs for strap retention as well as threading various communication cables or hydration tubes through.

The SMC Plate Carrier is available in Multicam (featured), Black or Coyote Brown and is only available in a size Large.

For the purposes of this evaluation, the new Compact Triple Mag Panel 5.56 – Laminate was included in field trials, as well as the Admin Pouch Enhanced Thin – Laminate to determine how the SMC plate carrier would work in conjunction with other GGG accessories. Two SMC Back Panels were also evaluated, but will be covered in a separate review (Part 2).

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Average (3/5): At $322 for a base plate carrier, the SMC had the ability to perform as a quality stand-alone piece of gear—with the added functionality of dynamically meeting the needs of multiple mission sets. Thus, what you are investing in is a single platform with high quality materials that can serve as multiple plate carriers in one. Given that, market alternatives of plate carriers using similar materials and/or design would include the Strandhögg ($486.93) or Assaulter Armor Carrier ($515.02) by First Spear, the Tactical Amatus ($249.99) by LBX, or the Quick Release Plate Carrier ($354.95) by DFNDR. It should be noted each of these alternatives are stand-alone systems and lack the interchangeability of the SMC to fit multiple mission roles. This while the cost of the SMC is appropriate (or average) for its materials and overall design within the current market, buyers are also getting the ability to grow and modify the plate carrier for multiple roles—something few plate carriers can do.
• Comfort – Good (4/5): Once the shoulder straps and cummerbund were appropriately fitted to position the plates correctly, the SMC held a very good quality of comfort with significant padding in the shoulders and on the interior of the front/rear carriers. This made dynamic movements to the side comfortable with no binding or pinching. The ROC buckles held the weight of the carrier (fully-loaded) without accidental slippage and locked securely. The only notable feedback to GGG on the comfort of the SMC would be to consider increasing the thickness of the foam padding directly under the ROC shoulder buckles. In lateral movements the location of the shoulder ROC buckles could be felt uncomfortably pressing into the collarbones, and with some thicker padding (or potentially readjusting the hook-and-loop position of the shoulder straps themselves) the shoulder straps would give the SMC an excellent level of comfort.
• Durability – Excellent (5/5): Grey Ghost Gear has recently expanded its laminate nylon line of products, a material that often boasts an abrasion level greater than 1000D traditional nylon at a fraction of the weight. This translates to products that are stronger, more durable, and more pliable in various products. Added into that as the base material for the SMC, extensive use of bartack in the cummerbund and X-pattern reinforcement in the shoulder stitching all gave the plate carrier a high degree of long-term durability. At no point during evaluations were edges noted to be fraying or deteriorating, most likely due to the laser-cut process to seal the cut ends of the laminate nylon and form a clean cut. Likewise, the plastic ROC hardware proved durable despite numerous attempts at donning/doffing the carrier and always retained a solid lock.
• Functionality – Excellent (5/5): Functionally, as a stand-alone plate carrier, the SMC did a good job at carrying plates and various other pouches while still retaining an extremely light overall weight. Many design aspects, such as the skeletonized cummerbund and tweave interior liner helped ensure heat dissipation so as not to add to wear on the user. The newly designed ROC buckles brought a quick way to don/doff the plate carrier over traditional hook-and-loop enclosures. But really the functional aspect of the SMC lay in the interchangeable rear back panels easily secured to the YKK zippers on the rear carrier, that allowed the SMC to grow beyond just a piece of individual kit and really make it (and the wearer) part of the team. GGG currently offers four different types of SMC back panels, each tailored to a specific mission or need (that will be covered in Part 2), but they allow the wearer to bring additional supplies or functions into the fight that otherwise most plate carriers don’t account for outside of needed a completely separate carrier. Thus, for the sum of its parts and application to multiple mission-sets, the SMC had an excellent level of functionality.
• Weight – Excellent (5/5): At 1.5 pounds (w/o plates) the SMC owes its excellent light weight to the laminate nylon utilized throughout the overall plate carrier. This laminate nylon is quickly emerging as the next evolution in materials for a variety of tactical products due to its high degree of durability, moisture/stain resistance, and weight-saving designs. The SMC is among several manufacturers currently utilizing this material, which places it in the lead for new concepts in plate carriers. But in comparison, the Strandhögg (1.7 pounds) or Assaulter Armor Carrier (1.5 pounds) by First Spear, the Tactical Amatus (2.3 pounds) by LBX, or the Quick Release Plate Carrier (3 pounds) by DFNDR all show that the SMC is among some of the lightest plate carriers using the same designs or materials.

Overall Rating – Very Good (22/25)

Product Link: https://greyghostgear.com/products/gg-smc-pc

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.

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.