SAR Chest Rig (Getting started in Search and Rescue)

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Chest Rig Components

Camera Gear

[mrmicro]

In our Sheriff sponsored SAR, we were issued back packs and fanny packs on harness. Both of these require a buddy to access anything on the move. A chest rig like that iS what most people moved to. Critical items in your working space. Support items in the rear. SAR is rewarding but rarely results in a happy ending. That may be the toughest part. Thanks for your contribution.

[WRND]

What's with the haters? I don't get it. Nothing wrong at all with striving to be a competent and responsible person. Keep up the great work, and thank you.

[CiaranMillar]

Just started volunteering with SaR in the UK. So glad I found your channel. Some good advice. Keep up the good work.

[chrisb]

15:18 Nice video with some good ideas like the headlamp positioning. I am not active in Search and Rescue but as a first responder in Germany. If possible exchange the black gloves by some blue or purple ones as used in ERs or by EMS. In bad lighting conditions (e.g. at night) you can not distinguish between blood or other fluids with black gloves, e.g. if you swipe the body in rain, or the body is full of sweat. With blue or purple gloves you can recognize blood immediately by its darker color. Greetings from Germany, Christian

[nk]

Wynex offers a lot of molle stuff at more affordable prices. I just ordered a chest rig to add to my SAR kit. Thanks for the video, will be using to build my rig

[ZakCiotti]

Jarrid! I think the most useful thing that you described in this video is one of those tips that we wouldn’t know, unless we were actually doing it, and that is the experience you and the team have had flashing the headlamps at each other, and how you decided on a workaround for it to have an attachment on your chest rig instead of on your head. If you have more insight like that, I think that would be a fantastic way for you to share and again a lot of attention! I myself just subscribe to you so that I can watch for them.

[emp]

Stop hating on the guys video. He is on here sharing content all of you that have negative comments should help support him if you actually have experience in SAR. The best way to get better is to have the support and experience of the guys that came before you. I have been doing SAR for 25 years in my department and we spend plenty of times in the mountains. Way more than what we used to have to for some reason. Carry what works for you. When we did our NASAR training we all carried these huge pack that would break your back. Didn't take us long to down size alert that. Our deployments are always less than 24 hrs so we have be÷n able to stream line quite a bit. Not going into a huge list of what I carry but gone is the big pack that I have to take off to access anything that I need. Now I use a chest rig for the things that I need to get to often, a tactical waist pack for things that I don't need as often (I refuse to call it a fanny pack lol), and a molle 3 liter hydration pack with my radio pouch and ifak. This set up distributes the weight well and works for me. After that hit the woods test your gear and tweak your set up. Great video. Keep it up.

[JCo]

Thanks!

In Australia, if you’re wandering around in the bush, a snake bit kit might be important to have close at hand.

[Rabbitears]

Thank you, you gave me some great ideas

[Pursc]

Great set up. Love the knife and the placement. Also great idea with that head lamp on the bag. I'm going to use that knife place ment and that light idea. Very smart.

[Jay_Fry]

Gloves, eye protection, chapstick, bandana, sunscreen, bug repellent, and find a new group that will let you protect yourself from wild animals bears and wolves aren't in every state, but feral hogs are.

[philliesblunt]

Soo, the mountian 600, I have the suede with red laces. I gotta say it fits so amazing. I've never had boots like sneaker weight and be so comfortable on long distances. Literally, no break in and no foot fatigue. Made is usa. Under 200. Comfort 10/10 durability 10/10 must have.

[johnsarangel]

i’ve been using the CONDOR MCR3 Modular Chest Panel which has 8 vertical by 4 horizontal MOLLE real estate. the shoulder strap in the back is an X harness and a waist strap. then got an accessory for the chest panel when i learned it can be attached with a hydration bladder carrier called the CONDOR Hydro Harness. i put a 2 or 3 liter water bladder on the carrier. when using the hydro harness, the X harness that came with the chest panel will be replaced by the integrated shoulder straps of the hydro harness and essentially makes it into an “H” harness which i find more stable and comfortable. the waist strap that came with the chest panel will still be used and will be routed through the lower part of the hydro carrier. the nice thing about the Hydro Harness’s shoulder strap is it’s padded so it’s comfortable and has D-ring to clip things and 2 horizontal MOLLE to add additional pouches if you want to. i use it to clip the radio’s speaker mic which is conveniently near my mouth. in addition to what i mentioned, there is also 3 velcro straps on the side of the shoulder strap of the carrier to route both the water bladder’s tube and radio antenna cable to make things streamlined. i too do not like those whip antennas whipping my face. besides, it is taught in radio comms that antennas should be in a vertical position to be more effective. in my experience in SAR operations, i find the dual band ABBREE 43 inch tactical antenna effective than whip antennas. i then put the antenna in the lower back MOLLE of the Hydro Harness using an antenna relocation pouch and a 35 inch antenna relocation cable. the antenna is now behind me so no more antenna in the face. when on transit or transmitting where people are quite close to each other, i use the antenna folded. and deploy the full length when longer distance is needed out in the field. if you still want to use your antenna, i suggest get the 20 inch relocation cable and antenna relocation pouch then zip tie the relocation pouch just behind your left or right shoulder strap. you’ll have better transmit and receive signal using your antenna.

the admin pouch i use for the CONDOR MCR3 Chest Panel is the CONDOR T&T Admin Pouch. the pouch has an adjustable drawstring on the inside to limit the pouch from opening all the way that may cause to drop items from the inside and i use this feature as a flat “battle board” for viewing maps, GPS or cellphones using map apps like ATAK. the pouch also includes a removable see through map protector in the middle. with the dimension and space of the pouch, you don’t have to stick things outside of the pouch, although there is a lot of MOLLE at the front of the pouch too if you choose to add more pouches, but i don’t. the pouch’s width is thin, so is not bulky. but you could put a lot of things inside surprisingly.

the next pouch i attached to the chest panel is the radio pouch. so that’s 2 pouches on the panel. i’ve been using this set up for 10 years :)

[garywheeler]

Nice informative video. Will utilize some of these ideas. Thanks 👍🍻

[eizlan]

You should have a look at the TOPTACPRO Chest rig. Cheap but awesome quality. Uses Cordura fabric, YKK Zippers and UTX buckles. I bought mine for around 20 USD with shipping direct from China (to Malaysia).
Is has the velcro backing as well to attach the dangler pouch.

Btw. Awesome idea with the headlamp mounted onto the webbing.

[Check_your_head]

Thanks for the review and your time volunteering with your search and rescue team!!! Have you been on a search yet where you had to spend the night out in the field?

[joshberry]

Friend had that same lighter. The top part broke in his hunting bag.
I like the Exotac bic Lighter case.

[ossoliz]

For your knife get a shock cord to make an additional retention device for it. When you need a knife and realize you dropped it is not a good thing.
A sawyer mini with some gorilla tape wrapped around it and the dirty water bag for your chest rig might be better than the leatherman that you can wear on your belt.

[huskyrider]

Having a small rangefinder or binoculars would be helpful. Also medical shears.

[WRND]

Something great for knowing where you've been for grid searching is a Garmin 801 GPS compass. For a basic but good pocket utility knife, I really like the newer (since '09) Victorinox SAK Solder knife. They have a locking blade with serrations for cutting through fabric and rope quickly and a locking light-duty pry bar. For more traditional SAKs the Ranger and Deluxe Tinker are great. I have found the little pliers on the Deluxe Tinker to actually be very useful for fine work like pulling hooks, slivers, etc. For radios, I really like the Yeasu FT-60R and VX-6, which are FCC certified for Armature radio and perform really well and reliably. You can order them MARS modded, if needed, which is nice.