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About 5 months ago, I bought an Eagle Industries Chest Rig/ Universal Tactical Vest (also known as the Eagle UCR), and since I've had it for quite a while and used it a good bit, I decided that I would write a review about this piece of gear.
The UTV is a great lightweight rig, and at $75-$90 shipped, it's a great option for anyone who is on a budget but still wants real-deal gear. It is made entirely out of 1000D Cordura, like all Eagle products.
It's got four mag pouches that will each hold two M16 mags, one G36 mag, one AK-47 mag, one M14 mag, or four MP5 mags. However, it's a tight fit if you put four MP5 mags in each pocket, but three fit nicely. Other magazines will probably fit, but these are the only ones I've tested. Each of the mag pouches have an elastic band 4/5ths of the way up the pouch that make sure that the mags inside the pouch are secure.
The two mag pouches on the outside also double as holsters, and they have a strap that folds over them and velcros in front, securing your pistol. I personally have fit both a 1911 and a MAC-11 in these pouches comfortably, so they can probably fit pretty much any sidearm, you just have to adjust the strap.
In addition, there are two larger pouches outside of the magazine pouches. These pouches will each fit a large MBITR-type radio, or a bottle of water, or whatever else you want.
In front of each of the middle two mag pouches, there are two smaller pouches, for a total of four. In these pouches, I usually carry a folding knife, a Surefire G2 Nitrolon, a set of hex keys, and spare AA batteries for my radio or a bottle of silicon oil. However, they will also each fit a pistol mag (I know a 1911 mag fits, but most other pistol mags will probably fit). They can also each fit a single shotgun shell and five 30-06/.270 shells. These pouches also have a piece of Cordura that can fold over them and velcros in front of them, protecting whatever is in the pouches. The ability to carry pistol mags as well as a sidearm in the UTV makes it a pretty versatile rig.
Behind the front pouches, there are two other pouches. The first is a very large pouch that velrcos shut. The pouch itself runs horizontally the entire length of the rig, but the opening only runs about halfway. There are two Cordura tabs attached to each side of this pouch, allowing you to open it rather quickly. I sometimes use this as a dump pouch, but you can use it for whatever.
Behind that pouch, there is another pouch. This pouch is made out of a mesh material. However, the mesh is very durable, and I think that it is also made out of some sort of woven Cordura. I personally carry a pair of binoculars in this pouch.
Every pouch has a heavy-duty metal ring on the bottom that functions as a drain, which is really nice if you decide that you have to go swimming or lay in a puddle. Since 1000D Cordura is completely waterproof, it is possible to seal up the rings on the large pouch in the back that velcros shut, creating a waterproof pouch. I personally have no need to do this, but if I did, I would probably just sew another piece of Cordura over the drainage ring on each side.
The two shoulder straps are also made out of 1000D Cordura, and they contain a soft padding that is pretty comfortable on the shoulders. There is also a strap that goes around your back, made out of 1000D Cordura. All of the straps are attached to heavy-duty buckles at both ends. The buckles are made out of a thick ABS, and have proven to be very durable. Because of the buckles, it's extremely easy to take the rig on and off.
The rig is also extremely adjustable. It easily fits my 6'5 200lb frame, and it will also fit my 11-year-old brother.
The rig has proven to be extremely durable, and it has a lifetime guarantee from Eagle Industries just in case anything ever goes wrong.
As far as usability goes, it's a very simple-to use rig. All of the pouches are in a position so you can get whatever is in them out very naturally. I personally love this rig, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.
The UTV is a great lightweight rig, and at $75-$90 shipped, it's a great option for anyone who is on a budget but still wants real-deal gear. It is made entirely out of 1000D Cordura, like all Eagle products.
It's got four mag pouches that will each hold two M16 mags, one G36 mag, one AK-47 mag, one M14 mag, or four MP5 mags. However, it's a tight fit if you put four MP5 mags in each pocket, but three fit nicely. Other magazines will probably fit, but these are the only ones I've tested. Each of the mag pouches have an elastic band 4/5ths of the way up the pouch that make sure that the mags inside the pouch are secure.
The two mag pouches on the outside also double as holsters, and they have a strap that folds over them and velcros in front, securing your pistol. I personally have fit both a 1911 and a MAC-11 in these pouches comfortably, so they can probably fit pretty much any sidearm, you just have to adjust the strap.
In addition, there are two larger pouches outside of the magazine pouches. These pouches will each fit a large MBITR-type radio, or a bottle of water, or whatever else you want.
In front of each of the middle two mag pouches, there are two smaller pouches, for a total of four. In these pouches, I usually carry a folding knife, a Surefire G2 Nitrolon, a set of hex keys, and spare AA batteries for my radio or a bottle of silicon oil. However, they will also each fit a pistol mag (I know a 1911 mag fits, but most other pistol mags will probably fit). They can also each fit a single shotgun shell and five 30-06/.270 shells. These pouches also have a piece of Cordura that can fold over them and velcros in front of them, protecting whatever is in the pouches. The ability to carry pistol mags as well as a sidearm in the UTV makes it a pretty versatile rig.
Behind the front pouches, there are two other pouches. The first is a very large pouch that velrcos shut. The pouch itself runs horizontally the entire length of the rig, but the opening only runs about halfway. There are two Cordura tabs attached to each side of this pouch, allowing you to open it rather quickly. I sometimes use this as a dump pouch, but you can use it for whatever.
Behind that pouch, there is another pouch. This pouch is made out of a mesh material. However, the mesh is very durable, and I think that it is also made out of some sort of woven Cordura. I personally carry a pair of binoculars in this pouch.
Every pouch has a heavy-duty metal ring on the bottom that functions as a drain, which is really nice if you decide that you have to go swimming or lay in a puddle. Since 1000D Cordura is completely waterproof, it is possible to seal up the rings on the large pouch in the back that velcros shut, creating a waterproof pouch. I personally have no need to do this, but if I did, I would probably just sew another piece of Cordura over the drainage ring on each side.
The two shoulder straps are also made out of 1000D Cordura, and they contain a soft padding that is pretty comfortable on the shoulders. There is also a strap that goes around your back, made out of 1000D Cordura. All of the straps are attached to heavy-duty buckles at both ends. The buckles are made out of a thick ABS, and have proven to be very durable. Because of the buckles, it's extremely easy to take the rig on and off.
The rig is also extremely adjustable. It easily fits my 6'5 200lb frame, and it will also fit my 11-year-old brother.
The rig has proven to be extremely durable, and it has a lifetime guarantee from Eagle Industries just in case anything ever goes wrong.
As far as usability goes, it's a very simple-to use rig. All of the pouches are in a position so you can get whatever is in them out very naturally. I personally love this rig, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.
Last edited by Admin on 09.06.11 0:06; edited 7 times in total
