Retro vs Modern Taps Rig Setup
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- Опубликовано: 9 май 2024
- The taps rig has a ton of very nice features. But it also is distinctly showing its age. It's hybrid design limits its ergonomics and comfort significantly. What would a ground up TAPS inspired rig look like?
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I love venture surplus bc they tolerate my dumbass jokes in the order notes.
tolerate? makes the team smile/laugh every time. don't stop.
@@VentureSurplushaha
So that's what order notes are meant for
@@VentureSurplusI'll order a Taps in a bit, someone please play Taps for my wallet.
@@CyberKatzeand asking for stickers 😅
My $60 taps kit has about $300 worth of pouches and mods on it 😂
It's cheaper than a lot of alternatives out there.
This is the Way
now imagine a 250 to 350+ rig that still needs pouches and mods lmao
@@jonwebsterabbottthis is the way
This is the way
I was issued one of these chest rigs before deploying to Afghanistan in 2011. When we first got them, most of the grunts rocked them in our predeployment training in 29 Palms, but a lot of them dropped the rig before going overseas. I liked the setup since I was a photographer attached to the grunts and it allowed me to carry a good amount of stuff while not adding bulk further away from my body like the issued double mag pouches did. It allowed me to keep my mags on the plate carrier, and the pouches for my camera on a belt. Also allowed me to carry a little bit of extra stuff without having to get extra pouches. Mine was mounted directly to my plate carrier with the velcro straps in the shoulder straps and the buckles on the side. I got into the habit of only unlocking the buckle on side and opening the same side of the cummerbund to slide in and out of the whole kit.
As I looked down, left to right I had, a pack of smokes (was recommended as a POG for a fast way to make friends with the grunts, and it worked since I didn't smoke so I always had a pack ready for sharing), CAT tourniquet, 4 EMags (bought them myself back when no one cared about them and my unit never issued me mags), Gerber multitool, another CAT tourniquet, SOF-T tourniquet (IEDs and amputations were our biggest threat where I was at in Afghanistan). In the inside pouches I kept a can of dip (again made making friends very easy), a small flag, a translation notebook, and a couple of cliff bars.
I still have the chest rig and plate carrier I deployed with since my unit never put them on the sheet of items to return when I left the unit. I keep the whole thing on a little wood armor stand I built.
Current service member here. I just recently changed duty stations and they gave me a taps that wasn't on my clothing record. I modified it by cutting off the shitty mag retention straps and replacing them with some bungee retention. I have it set up as hand out gear since trust me you want numbers and handout gear is just something smart to have. The way I have it set up is bare bones Ifak and canteen pouch with room to expand. Funny enough that same taps rig saved my PSG's ass on my last deployment because private joe snuffy soaked him in JP8. Long story short I loaned him my Spare IOTV and TAPS for a week until his CRYE JPC came in. (Yes believe it or not its in regs) My personal opinion I would only get a taps IF you can find it for $40ish or under since you are gonna spend some money on modifying it and you are gonna be roughly close to better options you don't have to modify. I'll be blunt the Parashooters gear pathfinder is the taps but way better and its $100. You can make the TAPS rig BAD ASS but you will spend around roughly $60 - $80 to do so, for a little bit more I would suggest just getting the Pathfinder. But if it makes ya happy why the fuck not.
I've been in a constant state of reworking my kit for years now.
It was simple in the Marines, you wore what you were issued.
Back then we had our Interceptor vests, attached our pouches to the Molle, and wore our assault packs - Molle was cutting edge tech and we were going to use it!
Now, as a civilian, I've gone through so many different iterations that I just can't seem to get it right.
I've gone through all sorts of plate carriers, chest rigs, and front and back panel combos.
I was never issued the TAPs rig, but I recently got one to try it out.
It's amazing to have lived long enough to watch as these cycles come back around.
I think I'm finally going to settle back into a modern version of what was issued in boot camp - a chest rig over a plate carrier with a backpack, just like we'd wear our ALICE LBVs over our Interceptors.
Keep it simple.
Get a FLC, take the belt portion out, get some replacement buckles, and find you an H harness “yoke”. Apply molle pouches, wear under armor. The Limeys had it right. 8 mags, 2 1qts, 2 m60 pouches with optics, NV, admin, and my iron rations (oatmeal, pemmican, dried fruit, hard tack). I don’t feel top heavy, don’t have to wear armor all the time, and honestly it’s the best for weight distribution.
@@fathead8933 I'm glad that works for you, but it's not wise to assume that what works for you will work for others.
@@Johnny_Cash_Flowright on. I’ve also made the circle. Started with Alice LBE ta50, went to LBV88, actually wore it in combat, went to multiple different rigs in country before we got RFId FLC, then I’ve ran the same circle you’re claiming, but you looped back to LBV88. The weakest link in the entire chain I just provided to you. But by all means expect you’re some different use case.
@@fathead8933
You told me what I should do, not knowing jack nor shit about what I've tried and what works for me. You read my abbreviated summary and assumed that you know what will work for me, and instead of being an intelligent person and sharing your personal experiences, you, instead, just straight told a stranger online what to do, as if you know more about me, and my body, than I do.
Bodies are not the same. This might come as a mighty shock to you, but there are large differences between body shapes and sizes, so what works for you, won't necessarily work for someone else.
You are not omniscient. Hell, given the way you just assumed you knew what you were talking about, I'm questioning if you're even scient.
But, by all means, continue thinking you know more than everyone else while demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of basic human biology.
The Doom circle of reworking your kit
Honestly surprised that the Spiritus TAPS upgrade kit didnt make an appearance.
I personally think, that as neat as the taps is. It's fundamentally flawed by being designed to mount to a plate carrier, and if yo want a chest rig only. You need to start fresh.
@@BrassFacts That depends on your SOP. I've never ran mine with a plate carrier and see no reason to replace it. I use it for TAG and MAC rounds, in which it is ran as 8 straight mags, everything else (pistol pouches, immediate reload rifle pouches, IFAK, Dump pouch, mid ride holster) on my gucci belt. I folded the flaps in and then did the normal paracord loops with some brown duct tape we had laying around.
For the adjustment, I adjusted it once (using a two finger slack for cold weather adjustment) and then unclipped the TAPs, and stapled the harness down to keep it from sliding. Those staples were going to be covered by my camelback anyways. So for prep I lay the harness minus TAPS over my shoulders, throw my hydrocarrier on, clip the taps in, and then throw my gucci blue-alpha belt setup on.
As far as the "it's big criticism", there is a work around. Regardless of wether you are drawing off from some high speed tacos or kywi's on your belt, or your front pouches, if you use the 1 and 8 pouches for mags, move them to the front when you have the convenience. Otherwise use them for things you need to carry but don't need to quickly manipulate. Radio is one, first aid IS NOT. If you aren't using it for a mag, use it as a GP i guess or ignore it.
Finally the middle pouch is pretty easy to use for admin stuff that doesn't require a handheld or hard covered zipper note book. It's quick and simple to access.
I think the TAPS is the best bang for the buck and will meet the needs of even well trained enthusiasts when you mod it using bungee retention and an H-harness.
-USGI TAP (no harness): $40 eBay/VS
-USMC Assault Pouch: $10 offer-up
-Unobtainium Gear H Harness $39
-USGI Double M4 Pouch: $12 (VS)
-HSGI Bungee Kit: $8.99 (VS)
-USGI Pistol Pouch $9.99
-OCP Molle II Canteen Pouch: $15
=$135 all in
Glad to see Beez getting some love, they are very underrated.
I been looking at their low profile pcs
Love Beez !
Love beez. Have 2 chest a sling and other shit too.
Their helmet and pack scrims are great
My issue with beez is they refuse to sell armor to civilians and made that statement public
Every day we grow closer to Chicom rigs
Beez has some amazing and well thoughtout gear for a decent price, love me some Beez
Did you get good customer service? My FakeSpot app just lit up big time when I went to the site.
I would still be recommending the TAP panel if venture started selling the "kit" with panel, bungee kit, and pouches again. It really was about the best you could get for the cash it went for.
The secret to the one handed mag re-index is aluminum GI mags.
yes, but it doesn't work with a lot of the tight cell chest rigs.
@@BrassFacts That was my issue with the TAPS tbh. I wanted to love it but I found that the 2 most outboard mag cells on both sides went from tight to too tight to reindex a mag even with 2 hands when properly adjusted to my body size.
@@_Art.Vandelay
Did you try it with a esstac kywi installed in the outer mag slots to help the taps mag pouch hold its shape?
I havent tried this yet but I know what youre talking about and had been thinking this would "fix" this issue.
All things lead back to the gwot. 550 under the floor plate and paint marker the side and you're good to go
You literally read my mind, been fixing my issued rig
I built out an OG Tactical Tailor MAV. No regrets, it is exactly setup how i need it.
I love how honest he is about Sponsorships and how it might affect his review.
Good on you man.
Got my first TAPS from Venture awhile ago (Thanks, Burt!). Great starting point for setting up a chest rig. Don’t be afraid to modify it.
Army 68W line medic here and I love the TAPS system for my job but I can see where dudes filling other roles may not like it. I replaced my garbage issue Y-harness with and H-Harness and it made a world of difference. I very much like the abundance of molle workspace on the front that I can use for mission gear while not having to worry about losing room to add mag pouches like I did on my old FLC vest. I can fit my IFAK, 2 large admin pouches for my first line medical gear (4 CAT TQs, chest seals, hemostat, and ACE bandages) as well as a canteen pouch that i usually use to carry my poncho and gloves. The inner pockets are great for small admin stuff like my notebook, pens, 9 line card, chem lights, etc and I keep a separate inner pocket for keeping a shit ton of extra nitrile medical gloves. I dont bother clipping it to my IOTV I just wear the whole kit with the harness on over it. Medic lyfe™️
FLC is what i prefer because it is a lot more versatile and can be pushed into a long range sustainment role and it can carry all the things
I want to try cutting the mesh off an flc and turning it into a split rig.
I did basically all the mods they mentioned (and a couple they didnt) on their video years before they put it out, so the fixes it needs are pretty well figured out and out there to find.
Its my go-to rig (plate carrier, "patrol belt" or chest rig) and it also layers decently well with the first two.
I bought a ucp/acu taps about a year ago, rit dyed it and threw on an h-harness. I've worn it to a bunch of airsoft games and done a fair amount of flat range larping with it, and I think it is a great chest rig for ballin on a budget. I 100% agree with what you've said about it:
It is far too wide, as a skinny dude I can't even reindex mags in the outermost pouches, because the rig will scrunch itself closed.
I actually don't mind the velcro flaps, although I swapped the center 4 with bungees. With some practice I got decently quick with them, and I they are better for radios or grenades or what have you
Overall I think it is a great, infinitely customizable (I think mine is on like v4), and affordable way to carry a shitload of stuff on you, but there are definetly better options on the market.
What better rigs are on the market?
Found one of these slightly used in multicam last fall for $11, been slowly doing upgrades. As always thanks for sharing!
I remember on my first deployment when they showed this off to us. I thought it was dumb, but we had a few guys running them. Looking back now. I wish I had run it too. Great rig looking back now
@3:52 this is why i also love 3 day packs like the kelty 80liter that has waist straps that pull and make sense, not making you do adjustments that are not self use.
I dig it!! Good video
I've had the Taps for a very long time. It's been so long since I think I paid $35 for it. It really is decent for what it is. If you want to do super fast, cool guy reloads on the flat range, look somewhere else. I find it works well if you are hiking and want to carry some items in a comfortable and convenient way. My setup has changed multiple times but is very similar to how Brock currently has it set up. Binos, thermal monocular, radio, maps, snacks, etc. It is basically set up very similar to my bino hunting chest harness with a little bit more supplies and AR mags. I am actually planning on throwing on a couple of AR 10 pouches for nighttime wild pig hunting.
Yes, it sucks to adjust, but I haven't had to adjust it multiple times. I have pretty much got the straps set and really haven't messed with it much since.
Nova loves Hop so much... it's a lovely Romeo and Pupperette love story.
Ooh yes this is perfect! I just got one and it arrived a couple days ago! I sadly already spent the money on the Venture version, so I am going to have to make do, but I love your recommendation!
I have a lot of time in a taps… a lot. It’s great when you need it, in the army I was a 13f so having the interior pouches worked really well for conformal batteries, maps, licky-chewies more batteries and lots of gp pouches and cable routing. Now that I’m not in the army and I’m not carrying a zillion pounds of radios and batteries I don’t use one… but I do like them for nostalgia sake :^)
Brassfacts Friday 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I paid $14 for mine on sportsman's guide on Black Friday lol. I use it for 2 gun to hold all my ammo and shit
I had a taps chest rig when I was in. I loved it for one thing and one thing only, I spent about a year as my squads m240 gunner, naturally I was still issued an M16 so in some situations I was carying that and in others I carried my M240. If I had the 240 it was way more convenient to have my plate carrier slick and it was nice to be able to just unclip my mags rather than de-molle all the pouches or leave flappy empty pouches on my flak.
I love my TAPS because I use it with my issued kit. I got it to where it sits mid-to-high on the chest when not on a plate carrier. Then clips on easy to the plate carrier and I made it look small. Just gotta figure out what works and what you actually need. I don't usually use all 8 mag pouches. I had all eight mags in Afghanistan, but I really only need 6 on my chest and the additional mags (if i want more) can go in my assault pack. I was a JFO, so I really didn't need a ton of ammunition. My weapon was my radio and the grenadiers smoke shells for marking tgts or the laser.
I have a Parashooter Gear Pathfinder 5 Cell and it fills a very similar role. Currently I only have an admin pouch (Amazon special for $20) installed on it, holding some odds and ends. I intend to build it out over time as my needs reveal themselves, but a basis of 5 AR or AK mags in a super slick carrier is a good starting point.
I think it's worth noting that the TAP can fit a medium SAPI plate in the map pouch, making it functionally similar to an RRV. Few know this.
The TAPS was the best & most flexible kit I was ever issued. Works at a rig or stuck to a carrier.
I like the TAPS more than a FLC because I can clip it to my IOTV when I need it and take it off when I don't. It definitely works well in terms of Armyisms where you cant take off your body armor, but dont actually need any of the attachments. It also makes it easier to swap from MOPP0 to MOPP4 because you dont have to resize your body armor to fit over the chem suit in order to have accesd to your pouches.
I have both a TAPS rig and an FLC from Venture - I actually think I prefer the FLC. Having a molle belt that runs all the way around is handy to let you put stuff on your back that you might not need immediately. You can also unzip to let yourself go fully prone, which is hard with the bulky TAPS. TAPS rig is great though- with a little work (replacing the horrible velcro flaps with bungees) it becomes super useful and it can hold a ton of stuff in a fashion that’s relatively comfortable for long term wear.
Padded harness and pull forward straps are the way to do it for Beez. Awesome features that I'm not sure most people are using.
I've been running a TAPs for years. I used to run a TacTailor 2-piece MAV. I'm a bigger dude so I like the extra storage while staying flat, only real gripe is it won't fit .308 mags. The attachment kit that comes with the TAP, I used it to hook on to my camelbak, so it's a little bit more integrated.
That is good to know for us autistic SCAR 17 owners.
This is why I like the 1 piece MAV. Mine is the OG version from 2004. Just mod it a bit so you can have extra buckles for easier donning/doffing. You can also mod the waist strap from the single buckle version to two buckles so you've got more adjustment leeway without a super long strap to contend with. Then just use nice BFG or TT double M4 mag pouches. That way you can hold .308 mags. Granted, the old Eagle 2x2 pouches hold 308 mags as well....but with SR25 PMAGs it's tight as fuck.
@@DZ4295DBW Sold the 2-Piece MAV to some airsoft kid for more than I paid for it years ago. Played with a lot of different rigs, ended up just going with a BDS V-OPS plate carrier if I need armor, and either a TAP if I was doing vehicle stuff, or a belt kit if I was on foot. Lately if I'm just doing rifle work, I just use a M855 bandolier.
@@highdesertdrew1844 Yeah I hear ya. I like my MAV because I know exactly what I need and what I don't. So I just tailored it to my needs. I may slim it down a tad, width wise. However, we shall see.
The best part was the very end. Everything else was perfectly good, too. My local surplus has em for $60 and I’ve been tempted before.
Sportsman’s Guide had these things on sale for 15$ in December y’all make sure to look there every once in a while
I replaced the straps with a condor hydro harness. Pretty comfortable, water, few mags, med, knife, radio load out.
Honestly, the old USGI tactical vest (dont know the exact name) is great. Can hold a ton of equipment was comfortable to wear. Used it during OPFOR work and always enjoyed it
Tracer tactical makes an AMAZING chest rig in various sizes. Yes they are a bit more pricey than a taps but it's made in America by a vet company by hand.
pull forward to adjust is how most hip belts on proper camping and hiking bags work in my experience, d, and even most baby carrying things
My taps I got for 23$ at Mcguire Army Mavy Co.
I think they're out of stock now, but I do love it. If I knew how good it was, I would still pay 60$ for it.
Got my taps from an unknowing marine on eBay for $21, replaced the harness immediately, and stuffed the mag flaps into the pouches for a little extra retention. Three big GP pouches on the front, one with batteries and notetaking, one with snacks and misc, one with my cheapo First Aid equipment
I have the beez chest rig setup for 308, its freaking great being able to carry six 20 rnd ar10 mags
The beez split front rig is awesome if you get the adjustable one and use g hooks instead of the buckles to keep it tighter
Upgrading to an H-harness launches the taps from not ideal to actually pretty good
it's okay, I have a H harness on mine atm, it's much better, but it still massive.
@@BrassFacts i have a spare slit-front rig still in its wrapper (the one the army just started issuing) if youre interested
I own a ton of rigs and just end up going back to taps lol. It does most things pretty good and is just handy as hell.
Beez helped modify my iotv gen 4 so it actually fits and doesnt destroy my shoulders. In the futute if i was to build a chest rig im gonna go beez
5:34 YES! take my moneis now!
Edit: I'm really digging the soundtrack, major campfire in the nowhere vibe.
Big CONUS Stalker GAMMA vibes in this b roll
Check out the Tracer Tactical SCOUT line.
BEEZ NUTS! AHA, got 'em
I got us army and usmc surplus taps rigs for 10$ and 20$. Can't beat that. I'll deal with the flappiness
Perfect timing. I have a trex chestrig sitting in the cart but the quad double mag carriers is crazy. (Who is that for??) Couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger.
I have the beez radio pouch and it's awesome. Somehow I completely missed the fact they have a chestrig!
TAPS is solid and has its place with some upgrades. Make your own spiritus systems taps upgrade kit for example, snip that noisy zipper tab off, etc.
Finally another brassfacts video. It seems like forever waiting on the next drop! When are you and Hop going to collab again?
I release a video every friday.
@@BrassFacts it’s a compliment bud. Thank you for the content. Sorry I’m ruined by instant access to your whole catalog. Once I ran out of your videos I didn’t have anything to do, but wait for the next drop each week.
What do you think about the 34a split chest rig? Beez combat make something similar too.
Didn't like taps when we got it in rfi and just directly attached 8 single mag pouches. Mostly cause I wasn't going to not wear armor and it interferes with the pull tab on the armor.
Then I was given a eagle rhodie which is similar and I fell in love with eagle. I use a h harness.
Rocking it FUPA style
My taps is completely slick, adjusted as high as possible, using normal harness (it's called a Y harness btw, ALICE used a very similar style) and stock retention. 6 mags, side pouches empty.
Now for the real question Brass Facts (if that is your real name), the defective venture surplus TAPS or a condor rapid assault chest rig? My preparedness rests in your hands...
Used the taps professionally. It's really not too bad. I swapped the harness for a spiritus one and it was good to go. I use better stuff now that fits my role better but I know dudes who use the Beez rig and the Unobtainium mini taps.
The esstac pig rigs are nice too.
I'm hugely interested in chest rigs as that's all I run, but I've yet to find anything better than a Tactical Tailor one-piece MAV and their Fight Light X-Harness, which I've been using a pair of for close to 20 years now. You just need to get it modded for some QR buckles on the back so it's easier to put on. I also added some 1/4" high density padding to the interior pocket which helps with any MALICE clips or pouch edges that might overhang the vest so they don't rub on your torso. It'll hold more gear, more comfortably than a plate carrier and being totally MOLLE you can scale it to your needs and whatever platform you're running.
Have you looked at the Strike SMC bravo I’d love to hear your thoughts on it
What options did you choose for this rig on the site?
What cobra style ghillie hood are you running?
Would you recommend it for a designated marksman/observer over a normal cobra hoodie with local fauna or something like a ghost hood? Hows heat management in it?
Disregard on the first question, its a beez cobra hood. However my latter questions still stand, especially at the price
What handguard are you using around 4:55?
Just got a TAP from them last week.
Ass Fax, have you tried the Parashooter pathfinder rigs? If not I highly recommend them as a minimalist style chest rig
Pollen is indeed back, I have been sneezing my brains out all morning 😂
I mean, I’m back to using an RRV sometimes. They made some great stuff back in those days
Hey Brass Facks, if you can find some local (non grocery store) honey from a farmer's market, dosing about a tablespoon a day may help you out immensely with that pollen allergy. I didn't believe it would work, but by god it's worked for me this year. The mass produced stuff won't work, as it's heavily doctored for mass production.
Been running taps rig with krydex h harness too
I've tried a couple different styles of chest rigs the lbt taps is the only one I actually kept and it was the cheapest one I bought.
Hey man, nice watch
I don't really like the internal mag pouch arrangement of the taps. I put together a tactical tailor mav with mostly surplus pouches and that thing is basically everything I could ever want in a chest rig for less money than an unmodified recce rig or similar
Used TAPS when I was deployed. It wasn’t fantastic but it worked well enough and it’s affordable.
Is that the 5 or 6 mag Beez Recon rig?
You should review the Nixieworks rig.
FWIW Spiritus makes a TAPS modernization kit. The problem is that it's fucking $160 for a special SACK pouch, a modern H harness and a pile of shock cord and buckles. Oh and currently it only comes in MultiPuke.
just after i bought and builtout a FLC LOL such is my life
Q do people hate there shoulder blades thous the H harness?
I missed the bundle waiting for payday...anyone got a gear list?
What's the song used in the intro of this video?
What rifle sling is that?
I ran a TAPS in Iraq just as ISIS was becoming a thing and the State Department wanted more security near the Embassy and airport (the Marines were too busy eating crayons, so they sent the Army). I ran it slick 90% of the time, with mags up front, IFAK on the left (unit SOP) and a radio on the right; it isn't small, but it was smaller than body armor and fit in an assault pack pretty well.
Once again taps rules
I think you actually wanted the ATS Slick Front Chest Harness (SKU: ATS-0099) with some Esstac Kywi quads.
This week on Brass Straps:
Just bought an acu taps from Amazon 39.99
Has Brock talked about the ghost chest rig from the barrel and hatchet guys?
I've mentioned it. It's neat. Can't run everything.
Oddly funny how the Army’s trying to modernize the Airborne TAPS already, and it’s essentially the LBE pistol belt/suspender combo…
TAPS is the Beez's knees.
Where do you keep your nods?
in my bag or on the helmet.
I don't really see the need for quick deploy nvg.
Midwest armor has a modernized taps rig that I’m probably going to get. I don’t understand why people limit themselves to 4 mags tbh.