So, without being abrasive....

[emisnug]

How the f*?!ing hell do Tac Vests work?

I've just got one in for NvS and, quite frankly, it's ****. The pod holders dig into my sides, the tank holder flops around like a wet sack of sand (and digs into my back), it doesn't actually fit on my shoulders (even at the tightest setting, there is 3+ inches of slack)

What am I doing wrong?

 

[H]

Depends on the vest, some are better than others. Typically they need a lot of adjusting and faffing to get just right. I keep fancying a vest but then I try one on and after all these years I feel that much more comfy with a traditional pack.

 

[Liam92]

I won a Dye tactical harness which is meant to be really adjustable so i'll get back to you and let you know how it fits if/when it arrives.

If you can't get the thing to fit snug at the chest/back and the tank holder is up the top then it will probably be a bit of a pain. if its molle try moving it down.
Never owned one but these are the sort of things I've heard over the years and I suppose I agree with H that it just depends on the quality of fit on that particular vest.

 

[Gadget]

I had the same problem with full vests, being a beanpole I couldn't get them to snug down tight. I found that going for a half-vest was the best compromise - you get the back half of a tac vest with the waist belt of a tournament pack.

I use a BT Static and can recommend it. The back is MOLLE/PALS so you have to buy pot holders and add them on - it'll take 6 of the Valken V-Tac holders. Team mates run the Valken Echo vest, which is a similar layout but comes with the pot holders fitted already.

I swap back and forth between the vest and a normal pack - depends how much paint I'll be carrying around and for how long. With the vest taking the strain it's easier to lug around 6+ pots. Only downside of the half vest is nowhere to attach pouches on the front.

I tried running remote with a tank holder on the back but hated it and just stick with bottle on gun.

I'm wearing the BT static in this pic - teammate has the Valken Echo.

Front view:

I did a review of it here:
http://www.hqpb.org/292/review-bt-static-vest/

 

[Tash]

Iv a Rap4 molli. Really like it and plenty room for adjusting, plenty options

 

[Missy-Q]

The trick is to get the weight off your shoulders and onto your waist.
It sounds like you got one that's too big for you though...

 

[Liam92]

The trick is to get the weight off your shoulders and onto your waist.
It sounds like you got one that's too big for you though...

So is the only advantage to having something like this go up your chest/back being able to attach more stuff on? Seems to defeat the purpose of the vests like the BT static above and the Dye one i'm expecting which seem to be built for comfort (why not just use a normal harness?) and would only have paint and the odd accessory attached,


I'd compare it to scuba diving where wearing a harness to secure the weight across your whole back is a lot more comfortable in long dives than using just a standard weight belt around your waist.

 

[Tom]

Can you give more detail on your vest? And ideally pictures of how it is

From the sound of it, the vest is too big for you. Depending on how it adjusts you could put on shorter, tighter straps if it is close enough

With the pods and bottle holders, how are they fitted? Are they part of the vest or molle, Velcro or button fitted?

If not correctly fitted that will account for them digging into you etc
(Unless that is just still the vest being too big)

A common error with molle is to not weave the straps properly, this leaves the pouch loose.
Feed the pouches vertical strap into a vest horizontal web, then back into a horizontal on the pouch, vest, pouch etc, then clip into the button
If still loose then fold away the pouches strap and replace with a 'speed clip' weaved in the molle

Another reason for the bottle pouch being loose if is your cylinder is too small. This can be resolved with straps to tighten around the pouch to secure

 

[emisnug]

Hi guys, thanks for all taking the time to get back to me!

It's a newer generation of the BT Static vest (kinda like a combination of the two vests Gadget mentioned) - The pack itself is sewn into the vest (i.e. no elastic to help the pods shoot out) in a 6 +7 configuration, with 3 straps of Molle webbing up the back. Theroectically, it is a one-size-fits-all, and what I've found from today is that yes, it works, but only if you use it like a proper pack. I didn't get a chance to use its full 13 pod capacity, but with 6 - it is like a normal pack, just rather far down and causing a fair amount of back pain (that's probably me though).

In terms of getting it to fit properly, with the pack on like a tourney pack, and the straps tightened as far in as they can, it was still a bit loose. I don't know if it was made for a generic american, but it doesn't seem to fit properly. A good 50mm of wiggle room.

One last thing, the Molle webbing is velcro-clad, the upshot of which is that I can't really weave the bottle pouch into the webbing. If you need any more pictures, just ask!

 

[Adrenochrome]

I bought one but I had mis-heard it as snack vest
was disappointed no mars bars in it