If you have been following JTT for long, you know I’m a sucker for modernized versions of historic gear. The Esstac Chicom 7.62 Triple AK Chest Rig certainly scratches that itch.
This chest rig has a shape that clearly invokes the Chicom Type 56 chest rigs. However, canvas, buttons, and flaps have been replaced with modern laser-cut laminate materials, open-top magazine pouches, and plenty of MOLLE-compatible surfaces. The pouches feature Esstac’s well-known KYWI insert for retention.
Esstac has been busy churning out new handgun magazine pouches including options for the Glock 43X, Sig P365, and 40° Angled Single Pistol KYWI. These feature the same KYWI construction that you know and love with a Cordura outer pouch with an internal tensioner.
The G43X and Sig P365 pouches are identical. It fits G43X magazine, Shield Arms S15 magazines, and P365 magazines. There is a gap between the pouches that makes grabbing a single magazine a bit easier. These pouches are intended for belt use (not recommended for use on PALS webbing).
The 40° Angled Single Pistol KYWI is built like the standard Single Pistol KYWI with the addition of a section of One-Wrap that allows the pouch to be belt mounted at an angle. It is available with either the standard double-stack magazine insert or an insert specifically for 2011 magazines.
Find them at Esstac.com:
Reloading from Esstac’s KYWI magazine pouches is very fast. Reloading from a horizontal magazine pouch can be fast. So… reloading from a horizontal KYWI will likely break (or at least tamper with) the laws of physics.
Esstac recently shared an image of a micro chest rig they are testing that features 2 horizontal 5.56 KYWIs paired with 2 vertical pistol KYWIs. The rig may see production if there is enough interest.
Training company Vertac and nylon gear producer Esstac have collaborated on a number of new gear items that are only available from VerTac.
The VerTac Swift Action Panel and Swift Action Panel V2 are placcards designed to dock on a plate carrier with SwiftClip attachment system. Both versions offer an IFAK pouch, 2 M4 magazine pouches complete with KYWI inserts, and a way to carry a tourniquet. The V2 adds a multipurpose/pistol pouch.
The VerTac Wingman Chest Rig has all the features of the Swift Action Panel V2 and then some, but in a stand-alone chest rig design. It has additional sections of PALS webbing for adding your own pouches and integral wing pouches for radios or additional magazines.
The line also includes the VerTac Cummerbund and VerTac IFAK. You can check out the entire line of VerTac gear and a selection of other Esstac items at VerrettsTactical.com.
Esstac’s new 2+2 Side BY Side KYWI Pouch is the result of a customer request. The single pouch combines 2x rifle KYWIs and 2x pistol KYWIs into a single MOLLE mountable panel. The rifle mags are currently only available for 5.56 magazines while the pistol mags are available for the user’s choice of single or double stack.
