I haven't used NcStar's vest(s) but I've bought a single-point sling, a thigh rig, and a holster and luckily I have a nephew who can take them off my hand and they're inexpensive enough not to make me really hate myself for buying cheap. The quality on all was a joke. It's airsoft gear, meant for playing airsoft. The stitching was loose on the sling, the sling was a single skinny piece of nylon not meant for the weight of a 10/22 practice gun, the large-frame holster doesn't fit a 1911 without some significant help, and the velcro attachment for the holster surprised me in that it held the holster to the panel for a jump test but about 5-10 jumps in with an (unloaded and mag free) polymer 9mm, the stitching on the panel gave up. I absolutely got what I paid for and never trusted anybody again when they found a "quality" producer at costume prices.

I'm also not a huge vest-vest fan, though. I keep going back and forth between a plate carrier and the old LBV we had when I first deployed. The problems with a vest include:
-No room for upgrade/rearrangement
-No possibility for plates in most
-Lose a fair bit of the useable space in the front of the body
-Many lack useable space on shoulders/shoulder straps

I won't suggest all the way up to HSGI or Blue Force Gear if you don't know exactly what you want out of a rig, but you might want to look into picking up an old surplus LBV for $20-30 and saving up for one of the somewhat better to decent brands like condor, blackhawk or 511.

The LBV has about the same capability as this vest, if you get a holster for drog leg or waist to put on the belt, and you can add other pouches to the belt easily. The difference in cost between a camelbak with just the bladder or with the pouch is pretty negligible around here, easily within the 10-20 USD range (about the same you save between this vest and a used US load bearing vest).

You could also look into a basic chest rig at about the same cost for the NcStar vest. Some come with an inner row of magazines so that's still covers, and the external sections are MOLLE compatible and with some fiddling (with and without carabiners and 550 cord and old gear slide pins) you can attach pretty much anything you want to that outer ring. In the meantime, a gun can still go in one rifle mag section, several pistol mags in another, and you have 2-3 left for rifle magazines and a Ziploc of maps. Plus you have loops for a water bottle, drop pouch, gathering pouch, zip ties, 550 cord, and flashlight(s). And, again, MOLLEE straps everywhere to upgrade to "real" pouches and the ability to loosen them up enough to wear over a plate carrier or ballistic vest.

And although it certainly lacks a certain cool factor, there's always the lunch bag option. Picture your little red lunchbag:
http://www.outdoorpros.com/Prod/California-Innovations-5-75095-00-04-9-Can-Soft-Collapsible-Cooler-with-Expandable-Insulated-Top/82066/Cat/53
Mine actually has an extra zip section on front and two side pouches of mesh, and a 6-can big area and a flip-up 1.5-3" "lid" with its own section, came from Wal-Mart.
-Less attention grabbing
-Less time to get into
-Strap easily supports the bag and a water bottle when the sister version goes fishing (also my compact fishing kit, in blue) or foraging (also my foraging kit, in green) and the green supports a pretty sturdy hooked knife and digging spade as well as mini first aid kit and water bottle
-Good mags or speed loaders in center section with handgun, flashlight clipped to strap, one has a belt slide for shotgun shells on the strap, one has the shotgun shells in the front pouch
-One has rifle mags that are sectioned off by two pieces of duct tape pressed together and to the sides (makes like a little interior row) and another has a little line of pouches screwed in for the stripper clip gun, then either semi or revolver appropriate stuff for the semi or revolver attached or inside it
-Spare battery and flashlight with blue lens rigged into a side pocket but visible
-Charged prepaid phone (for 911) in another of the mesh pouches
-Cleaning kit inside, with oil, and with first aid kit

Everything I need for creak in the night in one spot, near the foot of the bed, where it doesn't attract attention from people in my house or from people on the street as those guns go back and forth to the range, and where it is unlike to attract attention even in my plate carrier because now I don't need access to my plate carrier and can wear it under a coat without notice (except for summer, when I have to get more creative or just look fatter than I am).

NcStar is rather renowned for selling cheap junk. They might do for kids playing Airsoft (or to compliment your SWAT officer halloween costume I suppose) but if your life depended on it, you would be better off spending an extra $100 to get better quality (Blackhawk comes to mind).

Cross draw holsters work well if you sit a lot (helicopter, tanks or maybe a police car) and may have to draw from a seated position but you would be better off with a drop leg holster with proper retention devices. Keep the room available on you vest for storage : ammo, first aid gear, small survival items, maps, etc...

Lastly, just my opinion, but why would I want more pistol mag pouches than rifle mag pouches? If I'm wearing a LBV it's because I'm in a crappy situation and I need a LBV. If I need it, then I want lots of big bullets for my big gun instead of lots of small bullets for my backup...

Oh, PS : a better option would be just a plain molle rig where you can put pockets that suit your needs. I doubt that you have 30 round mags for an AR (if you do, good on you but definitely don't advertise it!!!) so these pockets on that vest are pretty much useless to you and awkward to use for anything else. Again, a feature for Airsoft folks.

I looked at the Blackhawk website. Looks like I will probably get my vest from them. They had some great gear.

the xdraw vest is a great entry level for the airsofters.
What you may need is a different animal depending on what you want this vest to do. The Canadian Army made a Vest of tough Canvas in OD green to hold 4 m4 mags and then a Bayonet 2 medical pockets. Hydration and three low large pockets for grub, gear, and raingear. A high on the back pocket in place of a backpack. also has 1inch strap attachments for more kit like compasses or Molle pouches and the D-rings for a dump pouch. If you wear soft and or hard armour this vest will accommodate both. That NCStar Cross Drawvest will draw the attention of anyone looking for someone. The CF OD Engineer vest will look like a hikers vest, so you can practice your bug out with it on. minus the pistol of course.
Cheers

May I suggest something a little less conspicuous? Unless I'm part of an organized militia for, say, the defence of my village, I would rather stick to the grey man principle. You can still get camouflage-like colours that blend in to your local environment (grey, black in a city, green, brown in a forested area, tan, brown and green in the prairies) without screaming "I'm a Ninja-Rambo" threat if dressed in combat clothing. Remember that depending where you are your best camouflage may be a business suit with all your gear in a nice leather attaché case. Or wearing hobo clothes, and carrying your stuff in a shopping cart...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/511reg-Taclitereg-Pro-Vest/1155268.uts?WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products is an example of a vest that will carry all you need but looks much less conspicuous. That way, you're the grey man just walking by on his way, but if things heat up, you still have all you need at hand (ammo, medical...). I would just be afraid that the suggested vest would draw too much (negative) attention.

From what I have seen and having handled this piece of..... gear.... I am of the opinion that this vest is only good for playing games.

When I've had to do any "low profile" taskings, kit selection was a very important consideration. Unfortunately, the gear selections I would recommend, while very effective are also not cheap and in some instances, hard to acquire.

In any case, you have to ask yourself what you want this kit for, what the likelihood of violence is and whether or not it matters if you want to keep the kit hidden, or openly worn. You also have to consider how well it will stand the test of time in your operating environment. Getting the coolest thing on the planet to wear for the summer may not help worth a hill of beans in the winter, make sure that you plan on working within your chosen profile.

The gear I have chosen for use in the case of SHTF is selected for its ability to.

1). Provide protection against ballistic incursion. (if possible to acquire, TL4 SA/MS)

2). Minimal visual and audio signature. (so as to be indistinguishable as a PC at distances of 10m or greater when worn under a coat)

3). Carriage of secondary weapon.

4). Carriage of extra ammunition. (3 spare primary, 2 spare secondary)

5). Carriage of communications gear. (FRS with 5km open space range on civvie side)

6). Carriage of BOK/IFAK.

7). Carriage of 2litres water.

In addition you have to consider your extra support kit such as clothing, footwear and your bergen pack when doing this, anything that has a camouflage pattern will stand out, as will any long arm that is not carried in a discreet fashion.

The Walter Mitty Fishing vests are pretty conspicuous. They were the choice of PMC's in the early days of Black Waters activities in the sandbox.
They were good for concealing the CQB items and not looking "armed" at the same time. But its become more of a "uniform" than they intended.
Unless you get the 5.11 versions you wont be carrying any of your gear very far. the regular commercial ones you'll find at the sportsmen's show will not be built strong enough to support a couple boxes of 9mm. The vest in the pic above will carry all the afore mentioned items and be non descript enough that when you go hiking it won't look out of place.
just my opinion.

True enough that when you take a non-issued, off the shelves piece of kit and every one around uses it... it kind of end up looking like a uniform. Reminds me seeing a group of very fit but scruffy looking dudes with beards all decked in Arc'teryx from head to toe. Gee, wonder who they might be...

I 've looked at those vests an see the cool factor too. Yet I couldn't imagine wearing it outside the house without feeling that I'm painting a target on my back. If I had all them pockets, I'd feel obligated to fill them. Then I'd be lugging around alot of junk that I wouldn't need immediately while sporting a "shoot me 1st" sign. Most of us here where I live only wear camo while hunting to not be seen by game wardens, not to hide from the animals. We sport orange roll up vests and reversible hats for a reason too. They have an easy On/Off switch built in!

Even in the event of SHTF, I want to look like a nobody so they focus on Rambo over there instead. Camo won't be on my back unless I'm hiding in the woods. And if so, my pockets will likely be full of stripper clips instead of mags as their lighter. I usually carry a fanny pack which is stuffed with things I do need and no more. The most important item I carry requires a bigger pocket than that vest has...a folded roll of white(unscented) toilet paper. Other than its main purpose, it is the best trail marker money can buy when your trying to follow your back trail. And I put 1 square on each blood sign when tracking wounded game...and since you can spot a single piece in the blackest of night, it deserves it's own pocket!

When I go to the shooting range, I always note what others wear, what they shoot, carry and practice with. I presume they do the same with me. We often swap weapons and I get to try their setups. I rarely change my selection as I've sold that which I felt unneeded to switch to what best suits my needs. I've noted some others switch after testing my choices. I stay away from restricted weapons nowadays so they can't try my sidearms while I try theirs. I would like to train tactics there but town folk gossip too much. In other words, I wouldn't likely wear that vest there either.

And since I couldn't find a use for the vest, I don't own one!

We avoided the use of the "tactical vests" and PLCE vests in favour of molle plate carriers. When fitted correctly it left a smaller profile, allowed us to set up a slick rack and still haul what we needed to get around in the SOA as per our tasking. This was gear that allowed us to move in Non-Permissive Environments with very little friction. Let alone places where there would only be mild curiosity. But the old saw still applies, the rest of what you're wearing will make or break the deal.

-S.