For anyone interested, Sportsman's Guide (with which I have no affiliation other than being a satisfied customer) has DFLCS H-Harness on sale for under $20, in all sizes as of this writing.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-air-force-military-surplus-h-gear-harness-new?a=2227667

Add 2-4 canteen pouches:
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-military-surplus-canteen-general-purpose-pouch-used?a=2228389
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-military-surplus-abu-canteen-cover-new?a=2229852

and a hydration carrier:
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-air-force-surplus-h-gear-hydration-carrier-used?a=2228650

And you have a pretty dope 24 hour rig for about $100.

They also still have ABU uniform items on clearance.

If this is the version made by Eagle Industries/Tactical Tailor then best bet would be to hold out until the Garret style becomes availible.

The one in the photograph they on Sportsman's Guide website IS a GCS model. I've never even seen ABU MOLLE gear from Eagle or TT. I thought BAE and GCS were the only games in town.

They are out there and the quality was lacking.  BAE and GCS may be the ones with the contract currently.  GCS got the contract and has held it since.  Wore both during my time in.

I can definitely see that. I just received an Eagle Industries H-harness yesterday, and I agree - the quality is less than the BAE gear I own.

Interesting.  I ran the initial versions by Eagle (OD and ACU) back in the day and thought the quality was better.

The GCS versions introduced some design changes that were an improvement but the build quality seemed to be worse.

I know one of the guys that was involved in the initial design and he was kind of a moron, so it seemed like the product reflected that.  I know another guy involved in the GCS redesign and he was a legit dude, so maybe he had direct input to the improvements.

Either way, DFLCS was an improvement in some areas and probably an overall positive.  The H-harness didn't get a lot of love in the field but that was from guys that didn't know or care how to actually wear it.

I used my old OD one for GT when I first joined CAP and it's great but bulky, and covers the orange vest (also traps in body heat).  Now I run one of these with my notebook, nav gear, radio, multitool, and flashlight.

I never cared for the LBE when I was in.  I prefered the old LBV and when I got to Travis the Blackhawk vest I was issued.  I wore both version of the DFLCS and prefered the GCS over the Eagle.  Once I got it sized and set up I had no issues with it at all. 

I worked mainly LE from 2004 to 2010 and had a Army FCS vest set up for the just in case scenario in my car. I dispised the EAGLE DFLCS so much I used a SPECOPS vest for extensively for a deployment. 

I shutter when I see DFLCS...  I hated wearing it. Thankfully we transitioned to plate carriers.


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Which is a huge liability and safety concern for those performing LE.

The key to DFLCS is high and tight, like a chest rig. I always found that wearing it like an LBE around the hips sucked.  I saw a pic of Ranger Regiment wearing the old ALICE LBE around their ribs and gave it a shot. Works better with a ruck
And moves around less.

I cringe when I see LBE's in CAP. No uniformity and look like soup sandwiches. To each his own though.


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Quote from: usaf_defender on June 20, 2020, 10:27:26 PMI cringe when I see LBE's in CAP. No uniformity and look like soup sandwiches. To each his own though.


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The ONLY way to get some sort of uniformity would be if there just one source with just one model available.
I'll let you guess how long that would take...

Or peer pressure. WIWAC, we all had LBE with 2 or 3 mag pouches (grenade loops cut off),2 canteens, butt pack, flashlight and compass. Some seniors had a handheld, but not many cadets did.

Quote from: arajca on June 20, 2020, 11:30:54 PMOr peer pressure. WIWAC, we all had LBE with 2 or 3 mag pouches (grenade loops cut off),2 canteens, butt pack, flashlight and compass. Some seniors had a handheld, but not many cadets did.

This, with an Ontario 499 upside down on the LBE. Still have that rig somewhere, worked well with an ALICE pack. I think 90% of the Cadets and Seniors in the Wing had this setup wiwac.

If you guys don't mind me asking, why is anyone wearing an LBE?  Sincere question. I have yet to see anything in Maine wing that requires it though I know missions change through out the wings. Local SAR teams wear normal backpacks. So I guess I don't get the allure.


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As a cadet back in the last century, that's what we did. Back then, the plethora of gear options we have today didn't exist. Besides, as a cadet, there was the 'tactikewl' factor to consider. Plus for little to no cost, you could carry everything you needed.

There wasn't a directive to use it, just that's what everyone else had so...

Exactly, you could get the LBE, pistol belt, butt pack, 2 canteens and covers and a few mag pouches for under $50 at the surplus store, it was cheap, durable and looked cool with BDU's. If you needed to add 72 hour kit, a large ALICE and frame was also cheap and plentiful and could be worn with the LBE gear without removing it.

I was an Army JROTC Cadet and was issued the pistol belt, harness, canteen and cover. Picked up the rest for maybe $20. Also had the benefit of being able to retrieve your most used gear quickly without removing a backpack.

Quote from: usaf_defender on June 21, 2020, 01:15:11 PMIf you guys don't mind me asking, why is anyone wearing an LBE?  Sincere question. I have yet to see anything in Maine wing that requires it though I know missions change through out the wings. Local SAR teams wear normal backpacks. So I guess I don't get the allure.


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I (and a number of other SMs I know) have back/spine problems.  Distributing some weight off the back is helpful.  Plus, accessibility.  I do primarily use a CamelBak backpack, though.

The best GTM rig I ever wore was. Desert Storm era ELBV that still had sand in it when it shipped from eBay.

Versatile, cheap, and comfortable.
I only switched in a effort towards visibility and have longed for it ever since.

Nothing else has equaled it.

I've got a lot of this gear we're getting from local AF and ANG units. I have a bag of pouches and harnesses for members, all free.

Free.99 is the way to go, especially if it provides some uniformity, durability, and practicality.