KIT & GEAR
VIPER VX UTILITY RIG
IF YOU’VE LUSTED AFTER EXPENSIVE MICRO-RIGS, STEVE T TESTS A
BUDGET ALTERNATIVE FROM
VIPER TACTICAL.
M
icro chest rigs seem to be the
latest du-jour accoutrement
amongst airsofters too savvy to
saddle themselves with cumbersome plate
carriers for a Sunday skirmish. The problem
is that products from the likes of Spiritus or
Haley cost hundreds of pounds, which is a
bit rich for most of us to be rolling around
in ditches just dodging BBs.
Luckily for us, Viper Tactical has come
out with a solution that costs a fraction of
the price but performs every bit as well as
we might need on a Sunday - the VX Utility
Rig.
LIGHTWEIGHT AND
MODULAR
This airsoft solution shares common
inspiration with its firearm forebears,
in that it’s designed to be a lightweight
modular solution that can be used
to address a wide range of mission
parameters. The idea is that you buy the
central rig for about £30, then add the
components you need.
It comes with a detachable cover over
the front pouch, which I’ve removed to
make room for two rows of three STANAG
magazines, using the separate sleeves at
around £6.50 each. Now I can carry six
mags up front - but I could just as easily
swap either sleeve out for a 4x1 SMG mag
insert, or a pistol and double pistol mag
sleeve. It’s a truly modular system.
The sleeves are a snug fit in the rig to
say the least and take some time to seat
properly with enough room for all mags.
They’re secured inside the rig with velcro
fore and aft, which has proven to be both
secure (and an utter pain in the proverbial)
to fit. Our tip is to use a sheet of thin card
(or even paper) to isolate the sleeve from
the rig on the way in, to avoid the velcro
taking hold. Once you have it
inserted to your satisfaction, pull
the barrier out of the way and
squidge to secure.
THE UNIVERSAL
With its velcro back panel, you could
always slap the VX Utility Rig onto a plate
carrier, but it comes with a semi-H harness
and straps around the torso as standard
with a wide range of adjustment that
secures it well once properly set up. I’ve
added a Dangler pouch for added utility.
Further investing in the modular
ecosystem, Viper has also created the
Charger Pack which readily clicks into place
using the Rig’s buckles. You can also wear
it as a standalone backpack or attach it to
other items using the Molle straps. It’s a
small backpack but expandable and should
be big enough to carry supplies for a full
day’s game without weighing you down
as much as a full-sized pack with separate
straps. You could also use it to hold a
water bladder for longer games.
CONCLUSION
Does Viper’s VX Utility Rig have the
measure of more expensive micro-rigs? No.
But it does offer most of the same benefits
for a fraction of the price. For an affordable
option that offers true modularity for your
loadout, the VX is hard to beat. AA
Being a universal system, some
mags fit better than others but
pretty much every STANAG mag
we’ve tried has worked just fine,
including slightly chunkier EPMs.
You might experience issues if
your mag has odd protuberances
though, such as the Sig 500
series.
The elastic used on the sleeves
keeps the mags good and snug
so they won’t fall out, but there’s
a pay-off because inserting
them takes some work. This is
not a set-up that enables you to
re-index part-spent mags and
that’s probably the main demerit
compared with more expensive
platforms.
www.airsoft-action.online
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