Crye Precision’s Structural Kinetic Support System (StKSS)™ allows a wearer to selectively transfer some or all of the weight of their armor vest to their hips. Their new EXTENDABLE StKSS™ allows the user some adjustability in ride height fir the vest. Additionally, the wearer’s shoulders and spinal column to be completely isolated from the weight being carried. Instead, the weight is transferred directly to the pelvis (hip bone) and legs.
Compatible with CPC™, Low Profile Blast Belt™, and AVS™ Belt. (Use Chassis™ StKSS™ Adapter for compatibility with Chassis™ and High Back Blast Belt™.)
Made in the US from US materials and offered in Black or Tan.
cryeprecision.com/ProductDetail/blcx2800000_cpc-extendable-stkss
Tags: Crye Precision
Am I fucktarded or am I just not seeing this for what it should be? Unless the adjusters are of a quality and material to resist bending, deformation, etc., I do not see how they can hold dick off the spinal column and shoulders. I mean, as someone with serious spinal injury and disrupted cervical alignment, I would love for a product to assist in taking the weight from my PC – I just don’t see how this can do it effectively. Any videos, SSD?
And if they are indeed that rigid, what effect do they have on mobility? Seems like the ability to bend or rotate above the hips would be affected.
I used the old version of the StKSS (the one made of metal bars inside some webbing), and honestly it’s quite impressive in that it relieves well weight from the shoulders and back, although of course you’re transferring it all to the hips and it feels like your belt suddenly weighs a ton.
Mobility wise, it’s sure not the same as without the kit, especially when you start leaning on the sides, the bar will dig in your upper leg a bit. Torsion wise no big hindrance though.
Disclaimer: I’m not a professional, just my two cents of running around with it while training for a few days.
Here is some information about the StKSS that MilitaryMoron did years ago: http://www.militarymorons.com/gear/crye4.html
I personally have the Tyr XFrame system with my Tyr PICO, and while I haven’t really put it through anything, puttering around the house with it on, it made a noticeable difference.
Any information from an actual professional and not someone who used it inside their home? I have never been a fan of MM simply for the fact that he is not a door kicker.
Tried TYRs version, didn’t care for it.
Can’t speak for the new system but there is articulation in the old one. If you do it right–by centering the rods on your Coronal Plane (look it up, it’s a thing)–it’s a great system that works as advertised. If you don’t, it’s not.
You have to think through everything you wear, from base layer to pant to underbelt, then not vary from that. The Arc H-150 belt is a great choice. A 1/4″ thick rigger belt is not. The slightly high, lightly padded waist of the Crye Combat pant (usually sized one lower from your normal pant size) also helps. Adjusting a cobra buckle while it’s inside a Blast Belt is for the birds. Set, forget and skip the ice cream counter after chow.
You have to dial in your kit. I have a First Spear TUBES ‘bund on an Eclipse BALCS vest with about 16 hours of work (some done by a pro stitcher) spent getting it right. Of course, Crye kit works out of the box.
The adjustable height cam buckles look like a great improvement (adjustable for sitting, adjustable on the fly) as do the molded (and therefore lower profile) vest interface. Hopefully that doesn’t make it fully proprietary.
Another poster speculated that the adjusters (as opposed to multiple sets of rods) will be a point of failure. I speculate that they won’t be. Time will tell.