Released in April 2023, the Recce Rig by newly established Onward Research provides for a simple design that many traditionalists, who prefer the lower profile of chest rigs over a plate carrier, will appreciate. While Mike Jones (aka Garand Thumb) did provide much of the input into the Recce Rig, the intent was to provide a platform than can provide a wide range of adaptability, as well as basic carbine support.
Made dominantly from 500D Cordura nylon, the central feature of the Recce Rig is its four-magazine front pouches that have enough excess to allow the end-user to carry up to eight 5.56 magazines (as many as two magazines per pouch).
The magazine pouches themselves utilize an elastic band at the top to secure each magazine, and an over-the-top flap that attaches to the front of the rig via hook-and-loop. The flaps also have a nylon loop for added tactile control when opening/closing each pouch.
For added longevity, a layer of rubberized material has been added to the inside of each flap to prevent wear against hard/sharp edges of the magazines or ammo. Additionally, the bottom of each magazine pouch includes slit-openings on either side for drainage or debris removal.
Both sides of the Recce Rig include a flap of excess material that include three rows of MOLLE-compatible nylon segments stitched into two spaces each. This is specific for attaching additional pouches (not included) and increase the number of magazines, attach a hydration pouch, general storage pouches, or any other pouch utilizing a compatible MOLLE-attachment.
The rear of the Recce Rig uses a 6” x 10” hook-and-loop attached backer (that is removable) and exposes an associated hook-and-loop (female) panel for attaching a “dangler” style pouch (not included) if desired. In addition, a map pouch is stitched into the rear of the rig and is accessed via a 6.5” long hook-and-loop opening (with pull tabs) at the top.
For the shoulder harness, the Recce Rig has 2.0” wide nylon shoulder straps that maintains an H-style configuration across the rear torso. Hook-and-loop segments and nylon bands on both shoulder straps enable for the passage and retention of hydration tubes or communication cables.
Simple nylon straps connect the shoulder harness via an angled connection, and around the waist to the front of the Recce Rig via slide-release buckles.
The Chest Rig is available in Ranger Green (featured), Coyote, M81, and various versions of Multicam.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): Priced in at $179.99, the Recce Rig offers to accommodate a broader number of possible magazine types and count than most other chest rigs on the current market. Made from the widely-accepted 500D nylon, the Recce Rig has many of the elements end-users are looking for in a base chest rig. In terms of the market, the Recce Rig falls at the upper end of the range in cost as alternatives like Crye’s Airlite Convertible Chest Rig ($228 without magazine pouches or any accessories), the X Chest Rig ($180 not including shoulder harness or any accessories) by Haley Strategic, the Micro MOLLE Chest Rig ($235) by Dynamic Principles, the Spear Chest Rig ($215) by T3 Gear, or the 10-Speed SF Chest Rig ($267) by Blue Force Gear illustrate the high cost to similar products. Other, more inexpensive alternatives do exist, such as Aglite’s Reaper Rig ($109) or G-Code’s 3Zero Micro Chest Rig ($90), but often these come with fewer magazine pouches or are minimalist chest rigs with no spaces on the side for expansion.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): From a pure comfort aspect, the Recce Rig wore very comfortable across the shoulders and back, with no notable strain on the upper torso or back. The 2” wide shoulder straps are atypical for most chest rigs, but reflected the intent of the design to expand and support heavier loads than normal. The elastic magazine openings did a good job at retention, and the over-the-top flaps helped ensure both single-stack, and double-stack configurations remained secured. The shoulder and waist strap (once adjusted to fit) ensured the Recce Rig did not flop excessively while worn and running or during dynamic movement. The H-pattern style of the shoulder straps helped ensure the shoulders and back were free of any pinching or folds in material, thus offered greater range of motion that other X-pattern styles. The angles of the front shoulder straps into the magazine pouches are angled (as opposed to straight up/down) that allotted for a more comfortable wear of the chest rig over the shoulders and around the neck. The lack of padding in the shoulder harness offset the comfort of wearing the chest rig in conjunction with a laden pack or backpack, thus the shoulder straps did not create pressure points or heat spots.
- Durability – Good (3/5): The durability of the Recce Rig was appropriate (or average) for most of the tactical gear on the marketplace, leveraging 500D nylon for its blend of soft flexibility, and abrasion resistance to most sharp contacts or surfaces. The use of bartac and X-pattern stitching was noted at high stress points and predominantly within the magazine flaps and H-harness for longevity. What little hardware was present (slide release buckle), continually functioned as intended without any failure or breakage. The addition of a rubberized layer of material on the inside of the magazine flaps was a nice inclusion as it prevented the hard angle edges of steel magazines from wearing excessively against the flaps and potentially damaging the material.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Recce Rig had a great deal of mission flexibility, accommodating as many as eight 5.56 magazines, with MOLLE sections for still adding more pouches as needed. The ability to grow the Recce Rig to include a dangler pouch for medical, and side GP pouches meant that a simple rig could be a full mission kit. The inclusion of the flat pocket inside the chest rig also allotted for carrying notebooks, maps, compass or other necessary items that could be of benefit on the range. The pass-through slots on the shoulder straps were ideal for passing of communication cables or hydration tubing (worn separately). One recommendation to Onward Research would be to include an airmesh open-cell padding to the rear of the Recce Rig to improve comfort as well as allot for some level of airflow and mitigate heat away from the body. The current panel on which the magazine pouches sit does little to defray heat, sweat, or moisture so any improvement in the design to address this would improve the overall product. Otherwise no restriction in movement, range of motion, or access was noted. It would also be more ideal if Onward Research would add drainage grommets to the bottom of each magazine pouch as (aside from drainage) it would allow for shock cord to be passed through for attaching a tourniquet or other support item. The side slits do function well for drainage of debris in the magazine pouches, but their non-reinforced material edges make them less than ideal for threading shock cordage through.
- Weight – Average (3/5): Unloaded, the Recce Rig weighed in at 1lb. 1 oz. and that is solely attributed to the use of the 500D nylon material used for most of the chest rig. The other elements, such as hook-and-loop fabrics, and hardware were minimal. This appropriate (or average) weight was also due to an absence of padding along the shoulders that is found in other heavier chest rigs. The Recce Rig’s weight also put it on par with several other larger load-bearing chest rigs with three-magazine design intended to carry magazines, radios, and other accessories. In contrast, chest rigs like the Micro MOLLE Chest Rig (1lb. 4 oz.) by Dynamic Principles and the Spear Chest Rig (1lb.) by T3 Gear illustrate the lightweight nature of using laminate nylons, while other brands, such as Crye’s Airlite Convertible Chest Rig and Haley Strategic’s X Chest Rig are sold as individual components and allow for the end-user to configure an number of alternative means (and associated weight to the end configuration).
Overall Rating – Above Average (18/25)
Product Link: https://shop.onwardresearch.com/recce-rig/
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, 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.
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