Rigged For Success

Chest rigs, plate carriers, battle belts, and such come in an endless variety of options.  Which one is best? That's a difficult question to answer. Most agree that there are always trade offs, and the individual rifleman should evaluate the pros and cons to make a mission-specific decision.

As a rule of thumb, the rig or belt should generally be for A) things that make holes, and B) things that fix holes. In other words, just use the rig for mags, pistol, knives, and IFAK materials.  One admissible exception is comms gear.

Chest Rig
There are many sizes and shapes of chest rigs.  However, for the purposes of this article, they shall be defined as a rig worn on or about the chest area. Most can carry 6+ magazines.  Many can hold plates. Some cannot hold plates, so an additional plate carrier should be considered.  Pistols should be worn on the belt if possible, and not on the chest rig. 

Pros -
Generally more space for stuff.
Generally can hold more mags. 
Ability to wear plates as part of the same rig.
Easier to get into and out of vehicles. 
Many can be paired with a hydration bladder.

Cons -
Makes carrying a ruck much less convenient.  Cannot go as flat in prone.
Tendency to over-pack. 
Must be mindful to keep strong side shoulder area clear for better marksmanship.
Can take a while to don/doff.

Best Practices -
These rigs are generally best for urban warfare and clearing buildings. 

Micro-Rig
These rigs usually only accept 2, 3, or 4 mags (with certain exceptions). The limited space helps build in discipline for not over-packing. They can be used in conjunction with a battle belt in CQB scenarios to make up for lack of mags. Micro rigs are often the compromise solution.

Pros -
Can get a lower prone than a typical full sized chest rig. 
Can be paired with a battle belt. 
Better for vehicle ingress/egress than a battle belt. 
Although few accept plates, most are generally easy to put on over plate carriers. 

Cons -
Cannot hold as much as a full sized chest rig. 
Still cannot get as low in prone as a battle belt. 
As they are a compromise, something has to be compromised. 

Best Practices -
If mission parameters are likely to change, this may be the best choice. 
If there are unknowns in the mission, a micro rig may be the best choice. 
For training classes - a micro rig is usually ideal or nearly. 

Battle Belt
For centuries, the American Soldier has been utilizing some sort of battle belt.  Had the system not been effective, something else would have been used.  Only recently have things changed.  Most engagements civilians have been involved in require no more than can be carried on the battle belt. 

Pros -
Easy to don/doff.
Can be outfitted with shoulder straps for heavier loadouts. 
Can be used with up to 6 mags comfortably.
Can be used to get into a naturally low prone. 

Cons -
Capacity. 
Not good for vehicle ingress/egress.
Can block top pocket access on pants. 

Best Practices -
Useful for most missions, either solo or in conjunction with chest rigs.
Great for most recon missions.
Great for most training classes.