A No-Nonsense Guide
Look, if you’re carrying a sidearm in the backcountry, it shouldn’t be a pain in the ass to get to. Our Guardian Chest Plate was built to put your holster right where you need it, but not every bino harness is built the same.
Before you pull the trigger on a Guardian, you need to make sure your current setup actually plays nice with it. Here is the straight talk on how to check your gear.
The Basics: Straps and Webbing
The Guardian doesn’t just hang there; it locks into your existing chest pack.
- The Fit: It uses straps that can stay tight to the plate or stretch out to 1 foot wide.
- The Connection: It hooks into your pack’s shoulder and torso straps. If your rig uses 1-inch or 3/4-inch webbing, you’re good to go.
The Holster: Don’t Get a “Hip” Version
A lot of guys make the mistake of using a standard hip holster. Those are designed to ride low on your leg. If you put that on your chest, the grip is going to be buried behind your bino pack.
The Fix: Look for a holster where the mounting holes are in the middle or near the bottom. This pushes the gun out to the side so you can actually get a full grip on it when you need to draw.
The Pack: Check Your “Wings”
The sides of your bino pack (the “wings”) determine how much room your gun has to breathe.
- Wide Open (The Easy Wins): If you’re running a Marsupial, FHF, or Alaska Guide Creations, you’re golden. These are wide open on the sides. No interference, no problems.
- Small Wings (Eberlestock Recon): These work great too. The only time you’ll run into trouble is if you’re carrying a massive hand-cannon or a big tactical light on the rail. Just check your clearance.
- Big Wings (Stone Glacier Sentinel): These packs have a lot of fabric on the sides. The Guardian will still strap on, but those big wings might get in the way of your draw. If you’re using a pack like this, try to strip off any extra side pockets to keep the area clear.
The Bottom Line
If your pack has standard webbing and you use the right holster, the Guardian is going to be a game-changer for your kit.
Still not sure if your specific rig will work? Hit us up.
- Email: deadfalldesign@gmail.com
- Instagram: @deadfall_design
