5.11 Skyweight Utility Chest Pack

[cosermann]

Saw a thread on chest packs recently and of course, the Hill People Gear Kit bags are well known and were mentioned. However, a bag I haven’t seen/noticed before, the 5.11 Skyweight Utility Chest Pack, was also mentioned and caught my eye.

Long story short, I picked up one of the 5.11 packs during their President’s Day sale for $48 (plus ship). Since 5.11 stuff is generally passable quality, I figured if was 80% of the HPG bag for a 1/3 the cost it would be a win.

In terms of volume and size, the 5.11 Skyweight pack falls somewhere between the HPG Original Kit Bag Medium (HPG OKBM) and their Snubby bag (HPG OKBS).

Comparing some specs (since I don’t have a HPG bag to physically compare):

OKBM – 10”w x 7”h x 2.5”d, 175 cu. in.
5.11 – 10”w x 6”h x 2.5”d, 120 cu. in. (as listed by 5.11, calculated is 150 cu.in.)
OKBS – 8.5”w x 6”h x 2”d, 102 cu. in.

The HPG bag uses heavier 500d material vs. 330d of the 5.11.

Harnesses: Similar harness systems, although I think I’d prefer the HPG’s more standard buckle vs. the 5.11 weird/proprietary buckle for the torso strap (see below).

[cosermann]

Strap length: I’m not a large guy, but IMO 5.11 should have provided more strap length for adjustment of the bottom/torso straps. Likely a bit too short to go over a large/bulky coat or around the more rotund individual. I have them as long as they’ll go. The shoulder straps are of adequate length (barely). This will work for me, but I’d like to have more strap length. If you’re large or want to put over a bulky coat, I’m not so sure. Also, not sure if this is a 5.11 thing or not, but I also have a 5.11 messenger bag from some years ago and my chief complaint – the shoulder strap is too short. Both have elastic keepers to capture loose strap ends. A question for HPG Kit Bag owners - How is the strap length?

From back to front:

Concealment pocket – from the online pics, the HPG pocket looks to have a Velcro loop strip down the middle approx. 2” wide whereas the 5.11 has a full loop panel on the back of the pocket. Both have a loop tab to which a minimal trigger guard cover could be attached (ex. Fricke Zacchaeus, Raven Vanguard, etc.).

The admin/organization pocket of the 5.11 is pretty nice, with plenty of loops and pockets for things. Could be fitted out as a decent IFAK. From the pics online, the HPG bags have less in this area (2 pockets and a couple of loop tabs), although they have a pals field on the back so you can add your own admin panel (customizable, but more cost unless you already have one).

There’s a zippered slash pocket, and an open top “dump” pocket of woven material on the front.

Other stuff:

Bottom loops: HPG has a row of PALS along the bottom. 5.11 just has 4 narrower loops closer together (a bit too small to tuck a wide TQ in unfortunately, but available for tying off stuff, etc.)

Both have a few other loops to clip things onto. The HPG bag also has grimlocs on the top tabs.

The 5.11 has a tunnel along the back that allows the bag to be used as a waist pack with a regular belt or a wider pack belt (maybe a battle belt). The tunnel is held closed with Velcro when not in use.

Size-wise, something like a Glock 17 or SIG P220 is about the size limit of the 5.11 bag (tight/stuffed). IMHO it is better suited for something a bit smaller like the G19/P229 as, in my experience, bumping up to the size limit can put pressure on the zippers can impede the quick opening of those zippers (depending on the bag). Having a little room between the pistol and the perimeter of the CC pocket is usually a good thing. It’s too small for something like a 4” K-frame revolver. A 3” revolver will fit with the right grips. I’d say the 5.11 is a G19/3” revolver bag. 5.11 says the Skyweight is "compact" sized with which I'd agree.

The full-size HPG bag, OKBF, would handle full size autos better. Maybe HPG owners could chime in.

Overall I’ve no doubt the HPG bag is probably more ruggedly constructed and I like the row of PALS along the bottom. OTOH, I like the 5.11’s org pocket for which I don’t have to buy an additional admin panel to put in there for org (increasing the cost of the HPG bag more).

At $48 for the 5.11 vs. $140 for the HPG, I think it’s a good value proposition for lighter duty use. At the $60 regular price, while less of a "deal" it’s still less than half the cost of the HPG bag while being way more than half the bag.

I also like the full loop panel in the 5.11’s concealment pocket better than the HPG's 2” strip. Should hold a hook backed holster more securely. The rear tunnel allowing waist use is a nice option although I don’t plan to use the bag that way.

My biggest criticisms of the 5.11 pack (things I’d change) would be that they need to have MORE strap length, and the use of the weird clips vs. a more standard design on the lower/torso strap ends. Hey 5.11, don’t cheap out on the strap length!!

HPG - https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/1
5.11 - https://www.511tactical.com/skyweigh...hest-pack.html

[ssb]

Specific to your questions about gun fit, the HPG original size kit bag comfortably fits my 4” N Frame. This is to be expected as that is apparently the firearm the bag was designed to accommodate. It fits a G17 and a 5” 1911 just fine as well. HPG generally recommends against an additional holster in their bag, though they recommend a trigger sheath if protection of the trigger is a must have. For me, the drawstroke with a holsterless revolver is just fine using HPG’s recommended method (there’s about a 10 year old video tutorial on YouTube) and I am comfortable carrying that way.

[Tannhauser]

I have two HPG Kit Bags, an old standard and a newer Recon Lite. The Recon Lite is set up as a dual purpose chest holster/bino carrier with the addition of a bino pouch to the outer Molle.

I also have a HPG Snubby waist pack in a blue color that I use for suburban rucking/walking.

I do with the HPG bags had full velcro inside the interior pocket that is the "holster" pocket. At least on my waist pack I do use a soft hook & loop attached holster to hold my pistol in place. Waist pack moves around a lot more plus I've found the draw from the waist often completely opens the pocket and if your hand placement isn't just right you could fail to have your grip developed before gravity takes over.

[Tannhauser]

For reference, what I carry in my HPG Kit Bags:

Snubby sized =M&P Shield or P365

"Standard" sized Kit Bag = M&P 10 with TLR-1 & Holosun 407 or M&P40 5" with TLR-1

You can definitely fit a very "long" handgun in the standard size Kit Bag