Berry Pouch - CP Gear..

[chrisf]

So a new piece of kit has appeared on the CP Gear website... the berry pouch... anyone buy it? Is it an effective low-key addition to the tac vest, or just another piece of nonsense produced by CP gear to be bought by cadets and to eventually end up in their discount bin?

 

[Matt_Fisher]

I'd say from the fact that we've barely been able to keep these things in stock (http://www.cpgear.com/default.asp?mn=1.19.56&f=pd&pid=574) and the amount of positive feedback we've received from troops that are using them, I would say it'll be a long time coming (i.e. the CF stop using the current tac-vest) before this one ends up in the discount bin, but I'm biased (obviously).  Anybody that's using the thing is more than welcome to post their evaluation, either positive or negative.

 

[Old and Tired]

I'd say from the fact that we've barely been able to keep these things in stock (http://www.cpgear.com/default.asp?mn=1.19.56&f=pd&pid=574) and the amount of positive feedback we've received from troops that are using them, I would say it'll be a long time coming (i.e. the CF stop using the current tac-vest) before this one ends up in the discount bin, but I'm biased (obviously).  Anybody that's using the thing is more than welcome to post their evaluation, either positive or negative.

So a new piece of kit has appeared on the CP Gear website... the berry pouch... anyone buy it? Is it an effective low-key addition to the tac vest, or just another piece of nonsense produced by CP gear to be bought by cadets and to eventually end up in their discount bin?

Hi Matt

I picked up one of these when I was in Gagetown this summer.  I was in a couple of times when we were talking about various bits of useful kit.  I used mine constantly.  It's great for the stuff that we have to carry, but the Current TAC VEST has no room for, or that you have to ignore tactical reality in order to carry.  So far it has proven to be a very useful, "LOW-KEY" addition.

 

[noneck]

Just a Sig Op- "or just another piece of nonsense produced by CP gear to be bought by cadets and to eventually end up in their discount bin?"

Bit harsh and unjustified isn't it? I personally have a bunch of CP Gear products that I am quite happy with, to include the new gaitors and the 64 pattern ruck set up. I have an old ops pack that I bought used that is still in great shape and is used daily as a day sack.

CP Gear has obviously moved in a forward direction since Matt moved over. I guess the proof is in the positive feedback on this site and others. A blanket uninformed opinion such as yours.....is merely that!

Noneck

 

[Franko]

Take it to PMs troops

Back on topic.

The Milnet.ca Staff







Edit: pruned the thread.

 

[DirtyDog]

If I was stuck having to use the TV (which i may be...) this definitely looks like a great addition.

 

[PJOsborne]

I was in Gagetown recently for my IODP 1.1 course, and this pouch was worn by nearly every single officer candidate (myself included). Some bought only one while others purchased one for each side. The pouches are slim and low profile, designed to fit between the TV velcro squares and the C9/Canteen pouch and hold either a blackberry or FMP or whatever else you want.

Pros:
a) slim profile and location allows the pouch to be attached to the TV without alerting any standard nazis.
b) makes stowing and retrieving an FMP much easier and more comfortable than the TV Map pocket ot the thigh pockets.
c) easy to attach to the TV (although removing and replacing the issued pouches are another story).
d) makes a good place to stuff admin items (FMP on one side, odds and sods in the other) to keep the other pouches free.

Cons:
a) Cost - arguably a little pricey, but for many of us, it was worth the expenditure. Even the cash strapped RMC guys bit the bullet.
b) the small profile does make it difficult to jam the larger or more full FMPs into the pouch.

 

[brihard]

I got two of them today, and will be trialing them in Wainwright for Ex Maple Defender.

They're a tight squeeze under the pouches, but they definitely fit if you place 'em carefully. It'll hold a pretty full FMP (my intended use for the one) and I'm quite sure that if I get handed a box of C9 the other oughtn't have any problem holding my gloves and whatnot. A rather cleverly thought out pouch, IMHO. One issue is that the zips are pretty high up, and you have to contort your arm a bit to get at it- but if you loosen the shoulders to drop your vest a few inches, it's no problem- plus doing so makes it easier to get at everything else on the vest anyway.

I'll give some actual field feedback late in August after the ex.

 

[brucekie]

It seems like a good idea for those that need or like to carry a large notepad. Like UMPs on exercises. I think cpgear should come out with a whole line up of differently configured pouches that would replace the c9 of canteen pouch on the tac vest to help make the vest a bit more modular. Things like certain eis that is still designed for the webbing like 521 pouches, c9 barrel bags. As well as additional mag pouchs for the TV and other items to help addresse some of the problems with it.
It won;t make the vest perfect but it with certainly help improve it more that CTS has tried.

 

[Matt_Fisher]

It seems like a good idea for those that need or like to carry a large notepad. Like UMPs on exercises. I think cpgear should come out with a whole line up of differently configured pouches that would replace the c9 of canteen pouch on the tac vest to help make the vest a bit more modular. Things like certain eis that is still designed for the webbing like 521 pouches, c9 barrel bags. As well as additional mag pouchs for the TV and other items to help addresse some of the problems with it.
It won;t make the vest perfect but it with certainly help improve it more that CTS has tried.

I've got a MOLLE/PALS adaptor panel for the Tac-Vest that will velcro/strap on to the sides of the Tac-Vest that should be online in the next week.  There's as well as a pouch similar in concept to the Berry Pouch, which holds 2 mags that are secured via bungee retention, allowing the user to double his mag capacity on the tac-vest.  One for the 521 is also being worked on.

C9 barrel bags are a bit more problematic, due to the melt/flame retardant material used as the lining, in that asbestos which is used in some of the older bags is extremely toxic to work with, and other materials such as Kevlar or Nomex are extremely expensive.  There gets to be a point where in doing something like a C9 or C6 spare barrel bag where the cost would push such a piece of kit well above $100, not something that alot of people are going to spend money on.

 

[chrisf]

Bit harsh and unjustified isn't it? I personally have a bunch of CP Gear products that I am quite happy with, to include the new gaitors and the 64 pattern ruck set up. I have an old ops pack that I bought used that is still in great shape and is used daily as a day sack.

Harsh but not unjustified, they've produced plenty of silly and useless equipment, though as of late, they've been producing more and more actually useful stuff, plenty of good stuff too. I've returned as much stuff as I've kept, being unsatisfied with the quality or design. It's why I ask first.

 

[PJOsborne]

I've got a MOLLE/PALS adaptor panel for the Tac-Vest that will velcro/strap on to the sides of the Tac-Vest that should be online in the next week.  There's as well as a pouch similar in concept to the Berry Pouch, which holds 2 mags that are secured via bungee retention, allowing the user to double his mag capacity on the tac-vest.  One for the 521 is also being worked on.

C9 barrel bags are a bit more problematic, due to the melt/flame retardant material used as the lining, in that asbestos which is used in some of the older bags is extremely toxic to work with, and other materials such as Kevlar or Nomex are extremely expensive.  There gets to be a point where in doing something like a C9 or C6 spare barrel bag where the cost would push such a piece of kit well above $100, not something that alot of people are going to spend money on.

I would be very interested in this PALS panel you're working on. Sounds like a sober bandaid solution to a bad product, which might actually turn the vest into something useful.  Rough price?

 

[NL_engineer]

So a new piece of kit has appeared on the CP Gear website... the berry pouch... anyone buy it? Is it an effective low-key addition to the tac vest, or just another piece of nonsense produced by CP gear to be bought by cadets and to eventually end up in their discount bin?

I picked up one on a recommendation from some of the guys I work with; and have to say it is great.  It gives more room on the vest, and also holds my FMP, without taking up half of a C9 pouch.  The best part is that its zippered, so those things that you don't want to loose won't fall out under the flap.

 

[brihard]

Post Wainwright review on the Berry pouch.


Sweet merciful crap, thank you Matt.  This should have been part of the TACVEST from the start, once they committed to that abortion of a piece of kit. I did Maple Defender with one on each side of my vest. The pouch will hold a stuffed FMP, and at times I had the other one filled with three 30rd mags and a compass while still able to zip closed. Fair work indeed. When not zipped, the pouches are cinched enough by the C9 pouches that things will be retained. The velcro held securely; my pouches never shifted once.

This pouch significantly improves the capabilities of the TACVEST. While it doesn't properly address ammunition carriage, you can nonetheless stuff a few more mags in it if necessary- although there's also an alternative pouch designed for that. It seemed to me to function exactly as I anticipated; the extra crud that hangs out in my spare C9 pouch made its way into there and freed up those pouches for ammo/pyro as necessary.

Very very solid and well thought out design. Thanks for making it a reality. I'll certainly be considering the magazine panels as an additional accessory to the TACVEST if I'm not issued alternative load carriage for TF 3-08.

 

[Fusaki]

Personally, I'm more inclined to something like this:

http://www.cpgear.com/default.asp?mn=1.19.56&f=pd&pid=578

Once you add pouches on it's a bit more expensive then the Berry pouch, but it pays off in flexibility, I think. A couple triple mag pouches on one side, a real IFAK pouch on the other and you're good to go.

Speaking of IFAKs,

Matt, is CP gear looking into a releasable IFAK similar to what ATS and ESSTAC have produced? It seems to be a popular design...

 

[Matt_Fisher]

Personally, I'm more inclined to something like this:

http://www.cpgear.com/default.asp?mn=1.19.56&f=pd&pid=578

Once you add pouches on it's a bit more expensive then the Berry pouch, but it pays off in flexibility, I think. A couple triple mag pouches on one side, a real IFAK pouch on the other and you're good to go.

Speaking of IFAKs,

Matt, is CP gear looking into a releasable IFAK similar to what ATS and ESSTAC have produced? It seems to be a popular design...

You can use the Berry Pouch in conjunction with the Modular Adaptor actually, or the WIMP with the modular Adaptor, or all 3 together (although that would result in quite a bulky sandwich of pouches).

As far as a releasable IFAK, the ATS and Esstac are quite different concepts in that the ATS pouch completely comes off, whereas the Esstac's has a removable insert.  I am working on a releasable panel that will retro-fit onto the CP Gear IFAK and there may be a 2nd gen pouch that will come out sometime down the road.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[Fusaki]

I am working on a releasable panel that will retro-fit onto the CP Gear IFAK and there may be a 2nd gen pouch that will come out sometime down the road.

Cool beans! Just a thought... I'm not too keen on TT's Tear Away Panel because I don't think velcro and buttons would provide strong enough retention. Maybe something like that, but with an added strap and side release like the retention on ATS's IFAK would be better.

I'm not about to tell you how to do your job, but if I had to guess at what you had in the works it would be something along the lines of the TT Tear Away. Just thought I'd share a bit about what I don't like in their design...

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=281

 

[JDMCRX]

Been looking at this pouche too. So just remove the canteen pouche prety much and attach this one?

 

[Matt_Fisher]

Been looking at this pouche too. So just remove the canteen pouche prety much and attach this one?

Just remove either the Canteen or C9 pouch, attach the Berry pouch via the Velcro, then re-attach the Canteen or C9 pouch and you're good to go.

 

[JDMCRX]

Yeah if i get the camel Pack im going to remove the canteen and the C9 gunner pouch cause i will never be using a C9 nor a gernade pouch in my career well so far.