Used by a wide range of professional and casual users, tactical vests can serve many purposes. An obvious benefit is body protection as you can carry armor plates, but there are other great ways you can put these vests to good use. If your activity requires carrying lots of gear with ease, you should consider investing in a tactical vest because you can organize the items more efficiently. Whether you’re a survivalist, hunter, or airsoft gamer, the fact is that this vest represents an essential piece of tactical gear.
How do you select the ideal tactical vest for your purposes? There isn’t a universal answer to this question, but some characteristics usually matter more than others and can play a huge role in your overall decision. When it comes to weight, the vest needs to enable a decent freedom of movement. A high-quality tactical vest should also provide a good number of pockets and the capacity to carry all the items you plan on adding.
Finally, an aspect that can be easily overlooked is the comfort. Lightweight vests usually come out on top in this regard, but it depends on the material used and design. Quickly putting the vest on and taking it off shouldn’t be a lengthy process. With these aspects in mind, let’s see the results of our laborious research. These are the best tactical vests for the money in terms of construction, comfort, and versatility. You might also be interested in our articles about the best airsoft vests and the best tactical helmets.
1. UTG Law Enforcement Tactical Vest
Built to meet the quality standards of law enforcement, this tactical SWAT vest from UTG represents a practical solution for storing all your essential gear. It comes with lots of handy pockets to maintain a good level of organization. Custom fitting is also possible due to lots of convenient ways to adjust the vest.
One of the most important aspects that makes this worth the investment is the durability. When you’re out there in the field for extended periods of time you need a piece of gear you can count on. Those who seek ruggedness won’t be disappointed by the design of this model built with heavy-duty nylon. Finding the best fit needs just a few adjustments from the shoulder and waist. Aside from the useful magazine pouches and tactical compartments on the front, there’s also a roomy back pocket for other accessories.
Some extra features to keep in mind are the thumb break holster, elastic loops, and the radio pocket. The holster is sewn-on which means it won’t sag like Molle attachments tend to do. Overall, the UTG Law Enforcement is a solid tactical vest which brings many valuable features for a reasonable cost. That’s why it represents a top choice.
2. CONDOR Recon Chest Rig
In case you need to hold a lot of tactical gear, you will probably be better off with a powerful chest rig like the Condor Recon. Available in black, tan, olive, and brown colors, this model features swivel push release buckles and a total of three large pouches for storing magazines. It’s crafted in a one-size-fits-all style enabling users to rely on the adjustable straps for keeping it comfortable.
The front pouches are designed in a kangaroo style for holding a reasonably large quantity of M4 or pistol magazines. With the help of comfortable padding and adjustable shoulder straps, you can create a custom fit. The straps themselves feel fairly sturdy so you can safely carry more than your basic gear essentials. One tactical feature that will surely be appreciated is the addition of Molle points on the sides of the central pouches.
This is quite a functional vest which can hold up well over time considering the material choices and tough stitching. The Condor Recon is recommended for many fans of tactical gear. It would be a particularly great option for users looking to store lots of magazines securely in place.
3. Nc Star Tactical Vest
One very appreciated tactical vest is this model from Nc Star which has been specifically designed to give you quick access to your gear in the field. Some of its highlights are the sturdy zipper and powerful buckles which play important roles in wearing this vest with confidence. There are some important tactical features which we’ll take a closer look at.
An essential ability for any hunter or outdoor survivalist is to get quick access to their equipment. Thanks to multiple pocket attachments you can retrieve any accessory in an effortless manner. The back panel inside comes with a dedicated place for storing a hydration bladder. There’s no chance of losing your gun as the pistol belt is securely attached to the vest. The belt’s pouches provide convenient buckle flaps and they can be used for various tools.
Thanks to the three side straps you can adjust this tactical vest without too much effort. Another aspect which helps with the overall comfort is the addition of reliable Hook-and-Loop panels to adjust the vest on the shoulder area. When you also take into account the tough mesh webbing with PVC coating, the final conclusion is positive. The Nc Star is versatile, comfortable, and ideal to be used for lots of tactical operations.
4. Rothco Uncle Milty Travel Vest
While it’s not a military-style tactical vest, the Rothco Uncle Milty could be considered a very reliable piece of gear for storing various equipment. It’s made out of a tough polyester material engineered for durability in the long run. This vest provides lots of pockets for heavy-duty storage needs and it doesn’t seem to make compromises on comfort.
With a total of 17 pockets, this vest can easily cover anyone’s needs for storage. The compartments come either zippered or relying on Velcro closures. You can rest assured that everything stays securely in place and can be accessed in record time. The main large pockets can be great for storing bigger equipment while the smaller ones could be more useful for tactical accessories. One thing you will probably like regarding the weight balancing is the placement of a roomy rear pouch.
While the polyester used is quite sturdy for everyday usage, it’s not waterproof so expect the vest to get soaked in the rain. That’s not a huge issue when you take into account the great comfort provided by the lightweight design of this vest. A solid tactical vest all-around, the Rothco Uncle Milty deserves some more attention if you want a flexible and practical vest to wear everywhere.
5. Condor Tactical Rapid Assault Chest Rig
Condor has a reputation when it comes to the production of tactical vests that are affordable and perform well. This Rapid Assault chest rig is no exception. It’s built with advanced storage needs in mind as it offers a total of six open-top pouches to add all your gun magazines. There’s adequate padding on the cross-back shoulder straps as well as other interesting features.
Getting this tactical vest to fit well will probably take a while, but you will definitely be pleased with the result. The straps need to be correctly tightened for fitting both small and large persons. When it comes to durability, this vest seems built for long-term use while the lightweight design keeps you steady on your feet. There are four elastic loops on the sides and a convenient mesh pocket on the inside of the rig.
A slight downside is that it’s not as flexible compared to other models. Just something to keep in mind regarding this chest rig. The magazine pouches can’t be removed which for some won’t be ideal. If you feel like this model offers the features you like in this kind of tactical vest, there’s no point in hesitating at this cost. The Condor Tactical Assault rig is a valuable piece of gear that mixes comfort with durability.
6. GLORYFIRE Modular Tactical Vest
If you’re into modular tactical vests, one of the first options to consider is this one from Gloryfire. It’s built with a high-strength 1000D polyester providing durability without impairing the user’s movement. The vest has been designed to allow you to add all your favorite tactical attachments thanks to its advanced Molle webbing.
The reason why you should consider a modular vest like this one is that it allows you to tailor it to suit your particular needs. You can take off the shoulder pads and there’s plenty of customization available thanks to the complex webbing across the entire front of the vest. When it comes to construction, this tactical rig delivers professional stitching quality with a nice focus on details such as the strong quick-release buckles.
In terms of body fitting, this vest has been designed with shoulder straps that can be easily adjustable. The nylon Velcro strips allow for precise modifications and another feature that contributes to the comfort is the breathable mesh lining inside. Excellent vest for lots of outdoor activities, the modular model from Gloryfire deserves a mention on this list as you’ll surely get your money’s worth.
7. CONDOR Tactical Ronin Chest Rig
The last Condor tactical rig we’ll be looking at is the Ronin vest which features powerful webbing, Swivi Lockster feature, and great adjustability capabilities. Even taller people can benefit from the tactical abilities of this chest rig as its multiple straps allow virtually anyone to reach a comfortable fit. Among the available color choices, we can count tan, black, green, and brown.
This vest was built for bearing more heavy-duty loads and that’s immediately noticeable from the extra padding on the H-harness. What’s great about this harness is that it accepts numerous tactical tools. Accessories can also be stored inside where mesh pockets enable users to have critical pieces of gear close at hand. Thanks to the dual webbing across the waistline you should be able to add even more pouches and equipment.
Inside this vest, you should find a thick mesh material that offers some much-needed ventilation during hot summer days. Whether you need height or width adjustability, both can be easily managed by this model. Compact and versatile, the Condor Ronin tactical vest can help you be prepared for any situation. Very comfortable setup for the money.
8. GZ XINXING Law Enforcement Tactical Vest
Solidly built with many reliable pockets, this law enforcement tactical vest promises a lot for its cost. Despite its abundance of tactical features, the vest’s construction is kept in a lightweight territory thanks to its breathable polyester mesh. While ventilation is important, this model features a fairly tough 600D material to withstand some abuse over time.
On the front side of the vest, you will discover a nice assortment of compartments for gear storage. Some notable examples are the utility, magazine, and radio pouches. A great accessory is the cross-draw pistol holster with a little pouch. Moving over to the back side, the vest is equipped with two internal zipper pouches and two D-rings. There’s also a mesh pocket for a hydration system and modular Molle webbing.
Whether you are an S size or XXL, this vest can be adjusted to be worn comfortably without too many hassles. There are six tension straps on the side for getting the best fit possible. With the help of Velcro shoulder strips, you can also adjust the girth. Decent tactical vest for the money, this model from GZ XINXING may have trouble with holding large paintball pods, but other than that it promises solid quality for the price.
Recent Comments