This one started on a river.
My brother-in-law is a serious fly fisherman. He'd been carrying for years in bear country — because when you're wade fishing in Idaho and Montana backcountry, that's just what you do. But he had the same problem every fly fisherman with a firearm eventually runs into: both hands in the water, waders on, and a belt holster that's either soaked, buried under gear, or fighting with the fly line every time he casts.
He knew I worked leather. He'd seen the holsters I'd made for my father-in-law. So he came to me with the problem and asked if I could solve it.
We sat down together and worked through the design — what it needed to do, where it needed to sit, how it needed to move. By the time we had something that worked the way he needed it to work, I looked at what we'd built and thought: I could make these into a business.
That's The Sportsman. Built for a real person, solving a real problem, on real water.
Why a Chest Rig Instead of a Belt Holster?
The short answer: because your belt isn't always available.
In most everyday carry situations a belt holster works fine. But the moment you add waders, a hiking pack with a waist strap, chest-deep water, or the kind of layered gear that comes with serious backcountry use — a belt holster becomes a liability instead of an asset.
Here's what a chest rig solves that a belt holster can't:
Pack interference. A hip belt on a loaded hiking pack sits right on top of a belt holster. You can't draw from a holster that's pinned under 40 pounds of gear. A chest rig puts your firearm above all of that — accessible regardless of what's on your waist or back.
Wading and water. Wade past hip depth and a belt holster goes with you. A chest rig keeps your firearm above the waterline. For fly fishermen, river guides, or anyone working in and around water in bear country, this isn't a preference — it's a practical requirement.
Fly line clearance. Ask any fly fisherman who's tried to cast with a hip holster. The line finds every protrusion it can. A chest rig sits where the line naturally passes clear.
Weight distribution. A full-size sidearm on your hip all day is load on your lower back and your belt loops. Your shoulders are designed to carry. Let them.
What The Sportsman Is Built For
The Sportsman is the lighter, lower-profile rig in the Spike Camp lineup. It's built specifically for river country — fly fishing, wade fishing, river guiding — where access matters and bulk doesn't.
Full grain veg tan leather, hand saddle stitched, finished by hand in Post Falls, Idaho. The harness sits across the back with a cross-body webbing system designed to stay put during active movement — casting, wading, scrambling over river rock. The holster sits clean against the chest with enough cant to draw naturally without fighting the rig.
It's not a tactical piece. It's not trying to be. It's a working rig for people who spend real time on the water and want their sidearm accessible without compromising their day.
Bear Country Specifically
If you're fishing backcountry rivers in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, or Alaska — bear country is just part of the context. Bear spray is always the first line of defense and should be in the equation regardless of what else you're carrying.
But if you're in water to your chest, both hands occupied with a rod, and a black bear or grizzly decides your stretch of river is worth investigating — you want your sidearm where you can actually reach it. Not on your hip under gear. Not in a pack pocket. On your chest, where your hand can find it without thinking.
That's what the chest rig was designed for. Not tactical scenarios. Not range use. Real backcountry use where the wildlife doesn't wait for you to get organized.
Built With Someone, Not Just For Someone
Most gear gets designed in a vacuum — by people making assumptions about how it will be used. The Sportsman got designed the other way. My brother-in-law had the problem. I had the craft. We worked through the design together until it solved the actual problem on actual water.
That process — building something specific for a real person with a real need — is what turned leather work into Spike Camp Outpost. The Sportsman is where this started. Every piece we've built since has followed the same logic: identify the actual problem, build the actual solution, don't ship it until it works.
My father-in-law has been wearing one of the first holsters I ever made. He still has it. That's the standard we build to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a chest rig used for?
A chest rig positions a holster on the chest rather than the hip or waist. It's primarily used in situations where a belt holster is inaccessible or impractical — when wearing a backpack with a waist belt, wading in water, or working in environments where hip access is compromised. Common uses include backcountry hiking, fly fishing, river guiding, hunting, and bear country carry.
Is a chest holster good for fly fishing?
Yes — a chest holster is one of the most practical carry options for fly fishing. It keeps the firearm above the waterline when wading, clears the fly line during casting, and stays accessible when both hands are occupied. A belt holster becomes difficult or impossible to access in chest-deep water or under layered wading gear.
Why use a chest rig in bear country?
In bear country, accessibility matters more than concealment. A chest rig keeps your sidearm visible, reachable, and clear of packs, waders, or other gear that might block a belt holster. Bear spray should always be the primary defense — a chest rig works alongside it, not instead of it.
Is a chest rig better than a belt holster for hiking?
For hiking with a loaded pack, a chest rig is typically more accessible. Backpack hip belts sit directly over belt holsters, making a draw difficult or impossible without removing the pack first. A chest rig clears the waist belt entirely and positions the firearm where it can be reached with either hand regardless of what's on your back.
What leather is The Sportsman made from?
Full grain vegetable tanned leather, hand saddle stitched and finished by hand in Post Falls, Idaho. The same material and construction standard used across the entire Spike Camp lineup — built to break in, hold up, and outlast lighter carry options.
Can I use a chest rig while wading?
Yes. That's specifically what The Sportsman was designed for. The harness system keeps the rig stable during active movement in the water, and the chest position keeps the holster above waterline in all but the deepest wading situations. It's the primary reason the rig exists.
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