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R&B Wide Mouth "Step-In" Gear Bag – 5,700 cu. in. Firefighter Storage

Save $8.58 Save $8.58
Original price $122.60
Original price $122.60 - Original price $122.60
Original price $122.60
Current price $114.02
$114.02 - $114.02
Current price $114.02
SKU 194MC-ZIPPED
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped

Instant Access for Rapid Response The R&B Fabrications Wide Mouth Gear Bag "Step-In Style" is engineered for the firefighter who needs to dress out in seconds, not minutes. Designed with an expansive zippered top opening, this bag creates a wide target for packing and a stable platform for deployment, allowing you to organize your bunker pants pre-staged around your boots for a true "step-in" experience.

Key Features

  • "Step-In" Ready Design: The massive wide-mouth opening allows you to store pants bunched around boots, enabling immediate donning straight from the bag when the alarm sounds.
  • 5,700 cu. in. Capacity: Spacious interior dimensions (24" L x 17" H x 14" W) easily accommodate a full turnout ensemble, helmet, and extra tools without crowding.
  • Full-Wrap Reinforcement: A heavy-duty 1.5” webbing strap runs completely under the bag, cradling the load and preventing bottom blowout during transport.
  • Ergonomic Carry: Dual webbing handles are equipped with a Velcro closure grip, keeping straps together for a comfortable, balanced carry.
  • Rugged Materials: Constructed from industrial-grade Red Cordura® nylon to withstand abrasion, moisture, and the rough environment of the fire station.
  • Professional Branding: Emblazoned with the Maltese Cross logo for instant identification on the rig or in the locker room.

Why It Matters In a fire station, speed is survival. Traditional duffels can be narrow and clumsy, forcing you to dump gear onto a dirty floor to get dressed. The "Wide Mouth" design solves this by functioning almost like a portable locker—giving you the space to see, grab, and don your gear efficiently while keeping it protected from station contaminants.

How to Use Unzip the heavy-duty #10 black zipper fully. Place your boots in the center with bunker pants pre-loaded (pants down over boots). Place your coat and helmet on top. When deploying, simply unzip, step directly into your boots/pants, pull them up, and throw on your coat—all without your feet ever touching the ground.

Technical Overview The bag measures 17 inches high, providing excellent vertical clearance for modern structural helmets with face shields. The simple, single-cavity design minimizes failure points and maximizes usable volume.

  • Structural Firefighters
  • Volunteer Responders (POV storage)
  • Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT)
  • Technical Rescue Gear
  • Winter/Cold Weather Gear Storage

Dimensions: 24” L x 17” H x 14” W

Volume: 5,700 cu. in.

Weight: 30 oz (approx. 1.9 lbs)

Material: Red Cordura® Nylon

Zipper: #10 Heavy-Duty Black Zipper

Handles: 1.5” Webbing with Velcro Grip

Logo: Maltese Cross

MPN: 194MC-ZIPPED

📖 Official Resource
Step-by-Step Field Manual
Learn how to properly deploy and stage this equipment in a crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the R&B 194MC gear bag use a wide-mouth zippered design instead of a traditional top-loading style?

The wide-mouth zippered opening on the R&B 194MC provides superior access compared to traditional top-loading bags. Firefighters can quickly load and unload their complete turnout gear set without having to dig through layers of equipment. The #10 heavy-duty black zipper runs the full width of the 24" opening, allowing you to see and grab exactly what you need during rapid deployment scenarios. This design is particularly valuable during shift changes or when responding to multiple calls, as you can verify your gear is complete at a glance.

How does the 5,700 cubic inch capacity of the R&B Wide Mouth bag compare to standard station duffel bags?

At 5,700 cubic inches (24"L x 17"H x 14"W), the R&B 194MC offers significantly more organized storage than typical 3,500-4,000 cubic inch station bags. This capacity accommodates a full set of turnout gear—coat, pants, boots, helmet, gloves, and hood—plus additional accessories like flashlights, hand tools, or spare air bottles. The reinforced 1½" strap running completely underneath distributes weight evenly, so even when fully loaded with 40+ pounds of gear, the bag maintains structural integrity and won't sag or tear at the seams.

Can the R&B 194MC Maltese Cross gear bag withstand exposure to diesel fumes and apparatus bay conditions?

Yes. The red Cordura nylon construction is specifically chosen for fire service environments. Cordura is resistant to abrasion, punctures, and the petroleum-based contaminants common in apparatus bays (diesel exhaust, hydraulic fluid, gear cleaning solvents). Unlike canvas or standard nylon bags that absorb odors and degrade from repeated exposure, this bag's Cordura fabric can be wiped clean and won't break down from contact with turnout gear that's been exposed to smoke or fire suppression chemicals. At only 30 oz, it's also light enough to carry on apparatus without adding unnecessary weight.

What makes the Velcro handle system on the R&B Step-In Style bag better for rapid gear deployment?

The Velcro strips that hold the handles together create a single, unified grip point—critical when you're carrying the bag with one hand while opening doors or climbing onto apparatus with the other. In traditional bags with separate handles, the straps can slip apart, causing the bag to twist or drop. The R&B system keeps the bag stable and balanced during transport from your locker to the rig, and the handles release instantly when you need to dump your gear for donning. This is especially useful during nighttime calls when visibility is limited.

Is the R&B 194MC gear bag compatible with SCBA cylinder storage or just soft goods?

While the R&B 194MC is primarily designed for turnout gear and soft accessories, the 5,700 cubic inch capacity and reinforced bottom strap can accommodate a spare 30-minute SCBA cylinder (approximately 7" diameter x 18" length) alongside your gear. However, for dedicated SCBA transport, R&B offers purpose-built cylinder bags. The 194MC excels at organizing helmets, hoods, gloves, boots, hand tools, webbing, rope bags, and personal accountability tags—keeping your ready-to-respond gear separate from contaminated or backup equipment stored elsewhere.