FS-1 Ranger wildland fire pack reviews

 

"Dear Coaxsher, Inc.:

My name is Stephen Levitt and I work for the Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District in Reno, Nevada as a Fire Engine Operator.  I recently bought your FS-1 Ranger wildland fire pack and absolutely love it.  Thank you for the great thought and craftsmanship that went in to the pack.

I am currently going into my 7th season as a wildland firefighter with the BLM.  During my past seasons I have tried fire packs from Thielsen, Nimrod, Eagle Pack and my current Ranger Cougar pack.  All of these packs hang real low and the fire shelter hits my butt when hiking.  I found a way to prevent the fire shelter issue with my Ranger Cougar pack but my arms fall asleep within 30 minutes and the main pack is too small.  Last year I bought a Wolfpack Mack Daddy fire pack but the waist belt was coming unstitched out of the box.  I returned it the next day.

When I saw your FS-1 Ranger pack on the internet it caught my attention instantly.  After receiving the pack, I loaded all my gear into it (40 lbs worth) and adjusted it to what I felt to be the most comfortable fit.  I hiked for an hour out in the hills with it and love how the load was carried.  The fire shelter sits in the perfect spot, there is plenty of room for my gear, the craftsmanship is superb and I didn't feel any pain in my shoulders whatsoever."


Stephen Levitt

Fire Engine Operator, BLM, Reno, NV.


"I have been very pleased with the FS-1 Ranger wildland fire pack. Its quality is outstanding in both workmanship and materials. The features included in the pack have provided me with the essential abilities I needed from a pack and then some. It's versatility in allowing me numerous options for ways to set up the pack, has allowed me to customize it to fit my needs. Definitely a product that lives up to the expectations."

 

Brad Vosburg

Training Officer, Renner Fire Rescue


"The FS-1 Ranger pack proved to be a very comfortable/spacious fire pack. After purchasing it last spring I used it on several fires in Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. The pack was very comfortable in all aspects of those fire assignments. Overall Excellent Pack !!!"

 

In Service,

Brandon Watkins

Maryland Fire Crew

 


"Kyle- Just to let you know. We got the first 15 Coaxsher wildland fire packs and I used mine for the first time on an Rx burn yesterday. I loved the versatility and design.  Great job, it fits our needs perfectly."

 

Amy Haas

Black Hills NF

 

 

SR-1 Endeavor search and rescue pack reviews


"Just shooting an email your way to say thank you for creating such a wonderful pack. I used it (
SR-1 Endeavor & RCP-1 Pro) for the first time this past weekend on a training/mountain hike, it was wonderful! It felt comfortable the entire time & I felt confident that I was able to carry all my essentials in one place. I must have passed your company name on at least 5+ times to people inquiring where such a nice pack came from; a true testament to your quality and workmanship. Thank you again!"

 

Nick Z.

Stafford Volunteer Ground Search & Rescue


"I had the opportunity to put the SR-1 Endeavor search and rescue pack to use this past week. I taught a Wilderness Search and Rescue course for local fire and rescue members. The modular system works great for organizing the different equipment for different types of operations. I had many positive comments on how well constructed and thought-out the pack is. Great job!"

Jeff W. - Rescue / WSAR Instructor.


"I've been a K9 handler for Search and Rescue for over 5 years and I have to say that your pack and it's ability to quickly adjust to the needs at hand (whether I just need a small urban pack or need more supplies to handle the PNW wilderness conditions) is the best I've seen. It's so easy to organize equipment and either add or subtract units as needed for a search without having to completely pull apart a backpack. Very user friendly. Thanks for your great product!

 

Mary Rioux-Forker

Certified K-9 Handler, K-9 Special Teams


"I really like the SR-1 pack; we are using it for a deployment bag for the USAR team. It is a great size and is so adjustable for configuration that the guys can take as much or as little as they want with them.  Thanks for making a great product that is holding up really well."

 

Captain Andre Straubhaar

Black Jack FPD/ St. Louis USAR 3


"I am a now a Coaxsher fanatic. I serve on a Wilderness Search & Rescue Team and also spent three years in the Airborne Infantry so I have logged quite a few miles with a pack on. I never knew what true comfort was until I purchased an SR-1 Endeavor search and rescue pack. This is a very well thought out pack with more than enough features to get the job done. I am truly obsessive about quality gear and components that I carry, because I may have to bet my life on them. The load distribution and balancing of your pack system is awesome. As anyone who has spent many long hours under a poorly designed pack knows, most of the outdoor packs and military rucksacks (new) are designed to carry the load too high to do any good in dense undergrowth or on hazardous terrain. Your pack solved every issue I was having with the many other packs I have purchased over the years. I am very impressed with your product and you have gained a loyal customer for life. I recently added the RCP-1 Pro radio chest harness to the pack system and love it. No more issues with trying to get my radio off my belt or my GPS out of my cargo pocket, or leaning against a tree to write on. I am amazed at the thought your designers have put into your products. Coaxsher all the way!!!"

Jared W. Blankenship

Franklin County Search & Rescue Team

Ozark, Arkansas

 


"So far I have been able to explore the SR-1 Endeavor search and rescue pack and I think you guys did a great job in designing the whole thing.  I've been able to fit all my SAR gear into the pack and have room for additional stuff if needed.  On Sunday I took the bag on its first SAR mission and it passed with flying colors. Just some observations, comments etc.

  • A suggestion I have is to maybe sew some reflective tape onto the top handle of the main pack, the black on black design makes it hard to see when trying to reach for it.  (think dark trunk at night or back seat of car) 

  • Another suggestion would be to incorporate some sort of key clip inside one of the packs.  I can understand the modular design making it tough to decide on which module to actually put the clip in, perhaps the main pack and the smaller coloured pack or perhaps all three modules just to cover off all configurations?  I find the one in my Camelbak to be handy to use and always provides me with peace of mind when opening and closing my pack, that I will not lose my keys or have them accidentally fall out. 

  • Something that would be a nice to have, a bit more loop material for the flaps with the Coaxsher symbol on the main pack.  Currently when they are closed they are not closed tightly as the loop material is only on the top part of the opening, if it was extended down further, perhaps inside the bottle sleeve it would allow for a very closed pocket, preventing it from catching on branches, or debris getting inside. 

  • I love the harness, I wore it for 6 hrs today and did not have any issues with my shoulders getting tired, or my back getting sore.  The distribution of weight is excellent.  Granted the pack was not fully loaded but I had the majority of my SAR gear in it and to really test it out I had all 3 modules on.

  • Design of the pack is great for maneuvering through the thick bush. I didn't have any problems with my pack catching on trees material slides great.

Flagging tape dispenser lived up to my expectations.  No more mucking around with flagging tape and having it unravel on me.  Just pull and rip.  I think anyone that uses flagging must have this.  Such a simple design yet it gives me the greatest enjoyment out of all the stuff I received from Coaxsher. 

Scout radio chest harness worked well, I utilized it with a GPS and I had no worries of it falling out, zipper pocket was handy for my notebook, keys, cell phone. Very nice design that worked excellent with the pack. 

Overall great products, I am really happy and will definitely recommend.  I'll keep you updated if I have anymore suggestions or observations."

Sherman Louie, ERSARA


"I've been involved in search and rescue for many years and have experimented with just about all types of vests, backpacks and bags you can think of for search and rescue. I've had products custom made tailored and adjusted. I've used all of these products as a ground ponder, as part of incident command, as a trainer and

certified canine handler. Laughably I have a closet full of SAR gear gone wrong. I also have a truck full of SAR gear done right. Coaxsher SR-1 Endeavor and SR-1 Recon from the SAR line are at the pinnacle of SAR gear done right. Its flexibility to expand for larger carrying capacity or reduce for regular duty and hasty missions allows me to work longer more efficiently and more effectively in the field. I consider it one of my 11 essentials for wilderness search and rescue. Great product!!!!"

 

Jeff Isaly

President/Co-Founder, K-9 Special Teams

 

 

RCP-1 Pro radio chest harness reviews

 

Mindy - K9 Search and Rescue handler with Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs


"On my many quests to find a perfect way to hold my radio, after a late-night search on the Internet I finally stumbled upon the Holy Grail of radio chest harnesses made by Coaxsher. The units are comfortable, functional, durable, affordable, and flexible. Everyone who checked out this radio chest harness said it felt great."

Mark G. Hopkins, Chief, Greater Philadelphia Search and Rescue
"Product Preview" AUG/SEPT 2002 Issue, Advanced Rescue Technology


"Just thought I would drop you a quick note to let you know I received the radio vest I ordered from your company in the nick of time- I got it Friday afternoon, dropped it off at the fire base with my  wildland gear Saturday morning, and that afternoon, got called out for a 100+ acre wildland fire.   The radio chest harness worked great, no problems with the Kenwood radios that our fire department uses- last week I borrowed a Motorola radio harness from our assistant chief, for some live fire wildland training, and I had continual problems with the radio wanting to fall out of the harness.  No such problems with your pack!  In and out of a Type-6 engine all afternoon, and running around fighting multiple flanks with no problems of the radio wanting to leave my company!  The vest was very comfortable to wear, and everything worked fine.

Thanks for a great product in the nick of time!"

Dayle Flynn

Firefighter with Columbus, MT Fire-Rescue Department


"To Whom it May Concern - I would like to take a moment to say thank you for making such a great product as the RCP-1 Pro radio chest harness.  Prior to purchasing the RCP-1, I had owned several radio harnesses and the RCP-1 is by far the best radio harness that I have come across.  It's many pockets and large storage pouch make it an ideal harness for our search and rescue activities.  And the price cannot be beat.  Several members of my team have taken notice of your product and have purchased a harness for their personal use.

I will not hesitate to recommend your products.  Thanks for making a great product at such a reasonable price."

Louis Villa - Unit Coordinator, Sonoran Search and Rescue


"Unbelievable!  That's the only word I can think of. Kind of makes the regular ones look wimpy. I love it, my crew is looking at it and are wondering how I found it. The quality is better than anything else being made today."

John Maynard - Deer Mountain Fire Department


"Sir,
Today's society lack many things such as the basic concept of "do your job." Your e-mail is why I will continue to purchase from you, in fact you probably have received other orders from people at my facility because I gave them your business address. I told them that your products are excellent and the service is fantastic. Thank you very much for contacting me to inform me of the back order. My wife and I have to go out and drag information out of companies that we are doing business with. It is a relief to receive quality service every now and then and your company is one example. Kevin, copy this e-mail to your boss because you did not have to "do your job" and follow up on the back order notification to me. Once again, thank you."

Kanji Thomas


"Hey Guys,
I've been using your product for years and nothing else comes close!!! I'm writing to see if it would be possible to get your RCP-1 Pro radio chest harness within the next 7 days. Reason being is that I lent mine to a team-member and it "magically" disappeared!! Actually, he says his dog ate it and that I believe!! ha-ha Anyway, we've got a mock search and rescue mission coming up along with a local summit, and I'd like to have it to use and to show all of the participants that will be attending. I'd be grateful beyond belief as I can't go into the field without it!!!"

Jason - SAR K-9


"I received the RCP-1 Pro radio chest harness about a week ago and to be quite honest, it surpassed all my expectations. You guys have an extremely well designed product with exceptional attention to detail. Thank you! Products such as this make a tough job a lot more manageable."

Thanks again,

Bruce Wall - Vail Mountain Rescue Group


Dear Kyle:

I am writing to express our satisfaction with your product.

In 2003, the Ephrata Fire Department received funding from the Washington Wildland Fire Assistance Grant Program to add portable radios to three of our wildland engines to improve firefighter safety and tactical coordination.

To support the project, the Ephrata Fire Department selected Coaxshers' RCP-1 Pro radio chest harnesses. The decision on Coaxsher was made after evaluating several products from different manufacturers. All products were assessed on the merits of their durability, comfort, storage capacity, functionality and price. We were also impressed with your customer service abilities demonstrated by your personal interest in meeting our needs.

As you know, Eastern Washington wildland firefighting is an aggressive task which requires equipment which can survive under demanding conditions. I am happy to report the RCP-1 Pro chest harnesses have performed exceptionally, and our firefighters love them. We have yet to discover a way to damage or break one of your RCP-1 Pros, and believe me, if there was a way to make one fail, we would have found it by now.

A quality product at a great price backed by excellent customer service makes Coaxsher RCP-1 Pro, in our eyes, a best buy. We look forward to purchasing more of your products to support our fire control efforts.

Best regards,

Kyle Foreman, Battalion Chief Ephrata Fire Department

 

 

RP-1 Scout radio chest harness reviews

"RP-1 Scout - Review - This is the finest low profile radio chest harness. It holds all the SAR essentials (pen, map, radio, GPS) and is comfortable to wear. Navigating through heavy brush while wearing the RP-1 and a pack is a K-9 handler's next best friend... Thank you for a great product and our whole team will have them soon."

Kurt Hornicek, Team Leader, Thurmont K-9 SAR, Frederick Cnty. Maryland.


"I received my new RP-1 Scout radio chest pack. I fitted my radio to it and it fitted perfectly, so all I am waiting for is my new Garmin 60CSx to arrive and I will be ready to give it a good test thrash Kiwi style. With the summer season approaching we might get a few more callouts so I will give you feed back as soon as it has had a good trial period. Many thanks for your time and helpfulness."

Brent Percy - Biomedical Technician, New Zealand


"Goods have arrived and we are very happy with them. We will be using them on the ski slopes as volunteer Ski Patrollers. Once again thank you for your prompt service."

John Staniforth - Perisher Blue Ski Patrol
Australia


"You folks are OUTSTANDING...  I got the radio chest pack today, it is very well made, and I love it. Thanks very much. Best wishes for a happy Holidays to everybody there."

Bill Pirtle


"I will certainly be pushing the group members to check out your radio chest pack. The pack has been the best piece of equipment that I constantly use for any SAR activity. Again, let me say that you've got a great product and I'm extremely pleased with mine! Good luck in the future."

Steve Sperry - El Paso County Search & Rescue, Colorado Springs, CO.


"A few weeks ago I spent about 6 hours on a search and rescue training exercise, wearing my standard radio chest harness the entire time. I won't go into details about the discomfort that caused (oh, what the heck, you all know I will, so just stand by), but as soon as I got home that day I started researching radio harnesses for women. It will not surprise you that no one makes a radio harness just for women, but by a lucky chance Coaxsher happened upon a design that not only makes it easier to wear a radio chest harness while carrying a backpack, but also makes it easier to wear a radio harness while carrying a backpack and being female."

Read full review here...


"I was looking for a good radio chest harness and did a search on Google, fortunately for me I came across your site. It will be perfect for the type of job I do. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

Grant - Forestry Industry

 

 

"First of all I want to thank you for making a pack that fits the needs of outdoor industry personnel so well. Your FS-1 is the closest thing I have found to perfection in a world that does not cater to conservation work gear. In the trail work industry I have never found a pack that carries loads more comfortably or that has been able to organize gear more thoughtfully. I bought your FS-1 Ranger about three years ago and it has performed wonderfully.
I work at a non-profit that hires youth from around the US to do conservation work throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Northern California; a lot of it being trail work. As soon as I received the pack it was crowned as the king of "sawpacks" (that is our traditional name for this kind of pack in our organization) by my coworkers and was envied by many of them. In fact, I raved about the thing enough after a field season that two of them have bought FS-1 Ranger's for their own use. As you can imagine there have been many instances where your pack has been a lifesaver, dealing with youth crews and field staff, hauling gear and supplies into project sites many miles in, and quickly being able to switch gear and having the right gear at the right time is important.
!"

- Brian S.

NW Youth Corps
 

 

 

 

 

 

"My name is Jeff and my k9 is Juneau. We are members of Search One K9 Detection.  I love the RP-1 Scout radio chest harness model! Simple, not bulky, and comfortable.  Keep up the great work!"

- Jeff F.

Search One K9 Detection
 

 

 

 

 

"Just shooting an email your way to say thank you for creating such a wonderful pack. I used it (SR-1 Endeavor & RCP-1 Pro) for the first time this past weekend on a training/mountain hike, it was wonderful! It felt comfortable the entire time & I felt confident that I was able to carry all my essentials in one place. I must have passed your company name on at least 5+ times to people inquiring where such a nice pack came from; a true testament to your quality and workmanship. Thank you again!"

- Nick Z.

Stafford Volunteer Ground Search & Rescue

 

 

 

 

Customer wearing RCP-1 Pro radio chest harness

"The RCP-1 Pro radio chest pack worked wonderfully the day I used it.  I used it during the Inaugural Parade and was busy moving in and out of a vehicle and the pack really never bothered me. With the placement being high upon my chest and not on my waist, putting on a seatbelt was not a problem. The pack kept me looking professional in my uniform. Most of my coworkers looked envious of the pack and wanted to have one of their own.  Thank you for your great product!"

- John Leo

 

 

 

 

Customer wearing RP-1 Scout radio chest pack

"Not sure if you remember me but I purchased a radio chest harness from your company for Soloing Big Walls In Yosemite. Well here it is in action.  Sorry for the tough guy face (I had a mouth full of water when my buddy snapped the photo).
Thanks for the great product. More pics to come."

- Tim Tuomey