Invader Concepts RECON vs Kenai vs Cloak Chest Holster – Which Rig Earns Your Strap Space?

The Gunfighters Inc. Kenai is the chest rig most hikers know first, yet popularity doesn’t always equal top performance. In recent seasons, Alien Gear’s Cloak Chest Holster has earned a broader reputation for its one-hand draw and shell-swap modularity, while Montana-made Invader Concepts RECON offers a custom-molded, screw-tuned alternative for shooters who dislike elastic harnesses.

Each rig clears backpack straps and winter layers; where they split is weight, retention hardware, lead-time, and day-long comfort. The table below lists verifiable numbers—price, ounces, harness design, optic compatibility, warranty—so you can compare without marketing smoke.

Scan the data, weigh the trade-offs, and match the holster to your terrain, pistol load-out, and draw style.

At-a-Glance Comparison — RECON vs Kenai vs Cloak

Feature	Invader Concepts RECON (specs)	Gunfighters Inc. Kenai (specs)	Alien Gear Cloak (specs)
Price (USD)	$159.95	$159–189	$149.99
Weight	≈ 21 oz	≈ 16 oz	13.3 oz
Shell Material	Kydex	Kydex laminate	Boltaron + TPE
Harness System	Sewn elastic / Cordura webbing	Elastic shoulder/torso straps	Non-elastic ballistic nylon
Retention Type	Adjustable screw	Friction only (no screws)	Dual tension screws
Optic / Light Ready	Yes (optic & suppressor-sight cut)	Up-charge for light/optic	Included (model-dep.)
Lead Time / Ship	Custom build 30-40 biz days	3-4 weeks (busy)	4-8 days
Heavy-Pistol Support	Yes (10 mm / magnum)	Elastic can sag on magnums	Rated 2 lb+ revolvers
Color Options	Black, OD Green, Gray, White	Multi-color (up-charge)	Black
Made in USA	Kalispell, MT	Leavenworth, WA	Post Falls, ID
Modularity / Shell Swap	No	No	Yes — 800+ shells

 

1. Fit & Comfort in the Field

• Invader Concepts RECON mounts its Kydex shell on a sewn-elastic/Cordura web harness. The elastic absorbs shoulder movement and distributes the RECON’s heavier ≈ 21 oz mass, but under a pack the rig can creep upward, prompting many users to snug the torso strap one notch tighter.
• Kenai keeps the same stretch concept yet at a lighter ≈ 16 oz. Elastic give makes the first mile comfortable; by mile five, some shooters brace the holster with the support hand to stop bounce on downhill trails.
• Cloak replaces elastic with non-stretch ballistic nylon and cushions the body side with a full CoolVent™ neoprene pad. The result is a firmer ride—no upward crawl in steep country—and a noticeably drier contact patch on muggy days.

2. Retention & Draw Speed

• RECON (Adjustable Screw) – Dial tension once, then draw is a clean two-step: grip, pull. The extra ounce of Kydex adds friction, so many users back the screw out a half-turn for winter gloves.
• Kenai (Friction-Only) – No screws, no strap; rely on shell tension. Elastic bounce means many magnum shooters steady the rig with their free hand before clearing.
• Cloak (Dual Screws) – Two steel screws let you run competition-loose or bear-country tight. The rigid harness holds angle, so even a 2-lb revolver clears with one hand and no counter-pressure.

3. Weather & Durability – Science Lens

• Cold Impact – Standard Kydex (RECON & Kenai) can lose up to 90 % of its impact strength at –20 °F; a hard fall on ice risks lip cracks. Boltaron in the Cloak retains high impact rating below zero.
• Heat & Sun – All three polymers resist warp until ≈ 170 °F. Cloak’s neoprene buffer keeps hot plastic off skin; RECON’s bare Kydex sits directly on clothing.
• Moisture – Kydex and Boltaron absorb <0.5 % water in a 24-hr soak. Elastic webbing on RECON/Kenai can wick sweat; CoolVent™ drains fast and dries overnight.

Verdict – Match the Rig to Your Terrain

All three chest rigs end the same core annoyance: fishing a sidearm out from beneath a hip-belt or frozen parka. From there, the choice comes down to trade-offs you feel on the trail.

• RECON is for shooters who want a made-to-order shell, dial-in retention, and don’t mind extra ounces or a month-long build queue. If you pack heavy‐recoiling pistols and prefer to “set and forget” tension with a screwdriver, the weight penalty may be worth it.
• Kenai keeps life simple: open-top Kydex, stretchy webbing, and a decade of field use behind it. The bounce is tolerable with mid-size autos but noticeable on 2-lb magnums, and adding a weapon light or optic bumps both price and wait time.
• Cloak splits the difference—lighter than RECON, firmer than Kenai, sweat-wicking CoolVent™ on the body side, and shells that swap as your gun safe grows. The faster ship window is handy if your hunt is next month, not next quarter.

Think through your own challenges: Do sub-zero temps threaten Kydex? Is every ounce on your altitude chart? Will you change pistols next season? Answer those, and the right rig usually reveals itself.