Intro
Gear is essential for all who enjoy spending time in the outdoors. Whether it’s
hiking, hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor activity, we all have pieces of gear that we
just can’t live without. Although the individual items will differ from person to person,
I’m sure everyone can point to a few key components of their kit that they never leave
home without. For me, one of those crucial items is the Hill People Gear Kit Bag.
Overview
The Hill People Gear Kit Bag is a small, low-profile chest pack that’s loaded with
features to make your time in the backcountry more enjoyable. If you have a look at
their website, you’ll find a dozen or so different configurations and sizes available to
meet the individual needs of every kind of outdoor enthusiast. The version that I have
been running for years is the Original-Full.
Specs
The Original-Full is one of their largest offerings, boasting just over 215 cubic
inches of volume. It measures 11.5 inches horizontally, 7.5 inches vertically, 2.5 inches
deep, and weighs 1.3 pounds.
Build
The entire pack is constructed from 500d Cordura, making it incredibly hardwearing
and resilient. Large number 10 zippers are used for the main compartment with
smaller number 8 zippers being utilized for the front and rear compartments, providing
excellent strength and offering a snag-free experience. Paracord zipper pulls are used
throughout the bag for added durability. The harness is made of high-quality 1.5-inch
webbing with a mesh back panel for comfortable ventilation. All other loops and
webbing on the pack are made from 1-inch webbing, allowing for multiple attachment
points for adding extra gear. Stitching throughout the whole pack is flawless, and over
the 7 years I’ve been running it, I haven’t had a single rip, tear, or loose stitch.
Features
Harness
Starting on the back of the pack, the harness is attached to two points at the top
of the pack and two points on the side. The two straps on the top and one on the left are
threaded through sewn-on buckles, and the right strap is attached to a large buckle,
allowing the user to easily put on and remove the pack. They also offer a set of
replacement buckles that allow all straps to be removed for those who desire the ability
to completely remove the harness from the pack. All four straps on the harness are
easily adjustable to fit multiple body types and allow for the user to wear the pack tight
to the body or over multiple layers of clothing for use in colder temps. All straps also
have included elastic keepers for management of the excess straps after adjustment.
Exterior Attachment Points
While we’re still on the outside of that pack, let’s take a look at the provided
attachment points. Starting at the top, where the harness straps meet the body of the
pack, there are 2 attachment loops with provided grimlocs. These allow for integration
with all Hill People Gear packs and their load lifter system, which, when in use, provide
the ability to shift the weight of the Kit Bag to the pack’s shoulder straps, taking the
weight off the Kit Bag’s harness. However, when not being used with a pack, they offer a
great attachment point for any small pieces of gear that you want to have easily
accessible on the outside of the pack.
Similarly, on the bottom of the pack, there are two additional loops that were
designed to be used with Hill People Gear’s stabilizer strap for those who wish to use
their Kit Bags for running, as it prevents the pack from bouncing during activity. Like
the top loops, they can easily be used to attach additional items to the outside of the
pack.
Along the entire length of the bottom of the pack, they have also included a single
row of PALS webbing, which is a perfect place to carry a small fixed-blade knife,
tourniquet, or can of bear spray.
Rear Pocket
Moving on to the meat and potatoes of the pack, we’ll start at the back and move
forward. The back pocket of the pack was designed for those wishing to carry a firearm
on their body but not on their belt. For those who spend time in bear country, this
compartment will easily hold a full-sized handgun. The pocket has a slim profile and
includes a single strip of velcro down the center, allowing for the attachment of any
velcro-backed holster, as well as a small loop at the bottom for other attachment
options. For those who don’t use this pocket for a firearm, it is the perfect place to store
a map, pair of gloves, or any other large flat item that you may want to keep separate
from the rest of your gear.
Main Pocket
Moving up to the main compartment, we have a number of features. The entire
back of the pocket is lined with soft-sided laser-cut PALS fabric. This is incredibly
versatile and allows the user nearly infinite organization opportunities for their gear.
You can attach any MOLLE, PALS, or velcro-backed pouches to store and organize your
kit. On the front side of the compartment, they’ve included two large slot pockets with
dummy cord loops at the top of each to ensure you don’t drop and lose important items.
Each pocket is large enough to hold a GPS, smartphone, or fly box.
Front Pocket
Last but not least, we have the front pocket. This pocket is simple yet incredibly
handy. Inside the front pocket, you’ll find two more slot pockets with dummy cord loops
and small, slick clips to make sure you go home with all the gear you came with. Each of
these pockets is also large enough to hold a smartphone, GPS, or fly box.
My Usage and Fly Fishing Application
I generally have a set configuration for my Kit Bag. The way I set mine up is that
the front compartment contains items that always stay in the bag, such as emergency
fire-starting equipment, first aid items like a tourniquet, an emergency whistle, my
GPS/satellite messenger, and some backup water purification tablets.
The rear compartment is where I keep a pistol if I feel the need. Or longer flat
items like a map of the area and gloves. In colder temperatures this is a good place to
store spare batteries as it keeps them close to your body and warm.
The main compartment is for my activity-specific items. If I’m hiking, it will look
different than when I’m hunting, fly fishing, etc.
So, how do I set my kit bag up for tight lines? As previously mentioned, the front
pocket is for emergency supplies, and the back is dependent on the situation. In the
main compartment, I usually have a fly box or two in the slot pockets. If I’m only
carrying one box, then I will likely have my phone in the second pocket. I also carry
some extra leaders here, which I slide behind the fly box. I keep a multitool clipped onto
the PALS panel on the rear of the compartment. In this pocket, I will also usually keep a
snack of some kind and my Katadyn BeFree water filter/bottle.
For me, the magic of the Kit Bag comes from the outside attachment points. I will
often carry a can of bear spray on the bottom row of PALS, and even with that on there;
I can still run my forceps underneath the webbing and dummy corded to one of the
bottom loops of the pack. Then, on the front left grimloc on the top of the pack, I keep
my nippers and my floatant. Opposite that, on the right grimloc, I keep my tippet, and
just above the tippet, I clip a small microfiber cloth to the harness strap. If I am not
wearing a backpack as well, which I rarely do, I will also keep my net clipped to the right
loop on the bottom of the pack. This is the setup that I’ve found to work perfectly for me,
but I encourage you to think about all the different ways you could use a Kit Bag for your
own adventures.
Conclusion
Any time I’m planning a fishing adventure, the Kit Bag is always the first thing I
grab. Its versatility is unparalleled, and the build quality is impeccable. I’ve used many
other fishing packs in the past, and for me, this chest pack is the stand-out. From the
woods to the water, no matter the adventure, the Hill People Gear Kit Bag is one piece of
gear I couldn’t live without.
https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/1/ProductID/71
