Released as part of its new Tactical gear line, the Taculus MX Chest Rig by Viktos provides for a minimalist chest rig that provides a lower profile with adaptability to incorporate additional pouches or accessories.
Made dominantly from 500D Cordura nylon, the central feature of the Taculus is its three-magazine front pouches that include laser-cut slots and elastic nylon bands for attaching additional accessories if desired.
The pouches themselves utilize an elastic band at the sides that can accommodate and secure AR or AK patterned magazines, and a removable over-the-top shock cord pull-tab attaches to the inside of each pouch via hook-and-loop. The Taculus also comes with an optional elastic pistol magazine insert that can be placed inside any of the rifle magazine pouches to add further utility to the chest rig.
Below the rifle magazine pouches is an integrated accessory pouch (otherwise often thought of as a dangler pouch). It has a 3” (H) x 7” (L) hook-and-look panel for attaching identification patches or other similar items. The three-sided YKK zipper allows full access to the pouch’s interior, which includes two elastic nylon bands for securing items, and two drainage grommets that also includes pass-through shock cord loops for attaching a tourniquet, knife, or other item.
The rear of the Taculus uses a 3” (H) x 8” (L) hook-and-loop attached backer (that is removable) and exposes an associated hook-and-loop (male) panel for attaching it to a plate carrier’s front placard, or any other pouch or magazine wing (not included) if so desired. Padded nylon airmesh on the back of the Taculus also ensures heat mitigation and comfort against any exposed skin.
For the shoulder harness, the Taculus uses 1” wide nylon shoulder straps that maintain an X-style configuration, across the rear torso and under the arms, using a separate back panel. Folded foam inserts stitched into the nylon bands provide some measure of padding. At the top, G-hook buckles are used to connect into the slotted nylon segments of the front harness, and can be used to adjust the ride height of the chest rig. At the bottom, magnetic quick-release buckles secure the nylon straps and allow for rapid donning and doffing.
The Chest Rig is available in Multicam (featured) and several other variants, Coyote, M81, and OD Green.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Average (3/5): With a list price of $179.99, the Taculus chest rig is a minimalist design that utilizes many of the same 500D nylon materials as other products. This provides a lighter platform with the basic level of support and function for an afternoon on the range, and with the same abrasive resistance properties as other traditional platforms. In comparison, similar minimalist chest rigs as the Taculus would include; the Training Mini Rig ($149.95) by Helikon Tex, the D3CRMicro ($175 – without shoulder straps) from Haley Strategic, or the DWARF Chest Rig – MkII ($208.30) by Raptor Tactical. And while all these chest rigs have some measure of variance due to materials and/or design, the Taculus Chest Rig still was at an appropriate (or average) price point amid the market and those alternatives identified.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): Once sizing adjustments of the shoulders was complete, and the placard/pouch loaded, the overall Taculus chest rig had a good level of comfort both on the shoulders and around the upper torso. There was minimal padding in the shoulder straps, and 1” wide shoulder straps did not defray the weight well—but not to the point of it being unbalanced or fatiguing. The X-pattern rear design of the shoulder straps and rear placard did a good job of ensuring there was no hinderance in range of motion and the straps themselves did not pinch or slide around between the shoulders. The airmesh material on the back of the Taculus did a good job of defraying the heat and body moisture from being worn close to the body and protecting the torso from chafe or fabric abrasion. The magazine pouches themselves held a solid retention of various magazines, and themselves being affixed to the chest placard had zero excess movement. The integrated accessory pouch itself had an expected level of comfort as a dangler, and did bounce minimally when running (though not excessively once fully loaded with medical items and weighed down). The Taculus chest rig lacked a lower torso strap so that may be the cause in some excess movement to the accessory pouch when bending at the waist. Chinching the shoulder straps would only tighten the placard itself. The magnetic QD buckles as part of the lower shoulder straps functioned cleanly and easily, and the side adjustment buckles in the upper shoulder straps adjusted easily and cleanly.
- Durability – Good (4/5): From a durability aspect, the Taculus was made dominantly of 500D Cordura nylon (which is common for tactical gear given its balance of both durability and flexibility). Also noted throughout was extensive bartack/double-line stitching at all key stress points to include the laser-cut MOLLE/PALS compatible webbing, harness and shoulder connections. All corresponding edges/seams were cut/sealed accordingly to prevent incidental fraying. The associated hardware, shock cords, and mesh padding material showed no evidence of fraying or wear despite several iterations and over 30 days of evaluation. It is most likely these elements may show the initial wear over a greater time, but have historically held up despite extreme handling in other similar products.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Taculus distinguished itself as a micro or minimalist chest rig with good balance in materials and design, a good profile, and minimal bulk. The chest rig’s purpose (for this review as a three-rifle magazine and dangler pouch combo) worked functionally as intended as a stand-alone rig, with easy access to needed items. The inclusion of the integrated accessory pouch (for accessories, medical, or other items) already as part of the chest rig’s design saved the end-user from needing to purchase one separately (as is typically the case) but limited them to the proprietary Taculus design. The shoulder straps and rear placard of the Taculus maintained a low enough profile, and the buckles were either sufficiently padded or to the side, so as not to obstruct other shoulder straps to backpacks, hydration packs, or rucks. Otherwise no restriction in movement, range of motion, or magazine access was noted. The hook-and-loop (female) panel on the back of the Taculus was more ideal for anchoring the chest rig to a slick plate carrier, or something like the JPC 2.0 that allot for chest placards attached via hook-and-loop. The laser-cut MOLLE sections on the front of the placard did fit additional pouches directly to each magazine, pouch, but the ensuing gap between magazine pouches did not allot for bridging MOLLE pouches between them. Perhaps one thing of note for Viktos was the G-hook buckle frequently slipped out of the slotting in the nylon chest straps when placed in a bag or down on a bench when any excess of tension was provided. It would be more ideal to make the chest connection a slide-release buckle as often is noted with other chest rigs and avoid this slippage.
- Weight – Good (4/5): Unlike other chest rigs that are piecemealed together with various components; the Taculus MX Chest Rig comes with the mag pouches, backpanel, and an accessory pouch intergraded into the design. All told, the Taculus weighed in at approximately just over 1lb. (measured 18 ounces without pistol magazine inserts) and its relative light weight was due to its use of Cordura nylon and lightweight airmesh padding. The Taculus’s weight as a minimalist chest rig also put it on par with several other load-bearing chest rigs of similar design Despite this, the Taculus was neither significantly burdensome, nor fatiguing in the shoulders despite several hours of continual wear, and the X-style harness of the backpanel distributed the full load of contents adequately. In contrast, the Training Mini Rig (21.94 ounces) by Helikon Tex, the D3CRM Micro (20.48 ounces) from Haley Strategic, or the DWARF Chest Rig – MkII (7.05 ounces) by Raptor Tactical illustrate that the Taculus MX Chest Rig was one of the lightest weight minimalist chest rigs available on the current market.
Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)
Product Link: https://viktos.com/tactical/chest-rigs/taculus-mx-chest-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.
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.