External Carrier Vests

[trailripper06]

Hi All,

My department recently approved officers to purchase external carrier vests (with personal funds) if they so desire. The approved vest is a Safariland Fremont TOC vest, which allows you to place pouches in your desired location via Molle. Also, our safariland panels will slide right into them.

How many of you have migrated from a standard under-shirt vest setup with a standard duty belt to an outer carrier? Pros/cons of real world use? Is it something you'd recommend? Have you noticed a decrease in soreness, stiffness, or any other kinds of aches and pains previously experienced.

Thanks much!

[CH483]

I have both, and our p&p allow for external carriers. I normally choose to wear my duty gear on a nylon belt rig. I find having things like a radio, cuffs, etc. above my waist is less comfortable.

Edit: I will add on a hot day an external carrier is a lot cooler.

[JayTee_IsMe]

I've been wearing external for the better half of the year, and I can say depending on my assignment - I only like the vest because I can take it off when I'm back at the PD doing paperwork. I will occasionally wear my belt for some assignments though. Some people wear the external with nothing on it and still just wear a belt with everything. Some wear the vest with 1-2 things and everything else on the vest.

[omgwtfbbq]

I have both. I started wearing an external carrier about 6 months before the department started issuing them (that's like I was cool before it was cool).

I had one custom made through JG Uniforms in Chicago (http://www.jguniforms.com/)

I still wear my belt with my all my gear on it as I was going for something without pouches. The department bought safariland setups with non-modular pouches and while most of the officers agree they are more comfortable, they don't use the pouches very much and end up keeping gear on their belts.

[DAR556]

I haven't worn under-shirt since I was issued my external carrier. I keep the usual stuff on my belt except my radio. I carry extra mags, my radio, my notepad/phone, and an extra set of cuffs on my external carrier. I feel the external is better in the heat and allows me to carry everything I need while keeping the weight well distributed.