Post by bobbunny on Apr 8, 2012 21:46:02 GMT -5
Just a word out to the people coming into airsoft, and are just starting to pick their gear from everything...
(Note: I have no personal experience with any of these items, and I am just speaking from reviews and personal open opinions from the description and prior knowledge)
(I also do not expect an A-Grade guide out of this. You should not as well. No flaming though)
DO NOT GET CROSSDRAW VESTS
(Within Reason/at least retail)
They all retail for around $50-60 for the average vest. A cheaper MOLLE system chest rig for around half of that. A plate carrier for a little more. Granted, these are all from companies that are more budget friendly than quality, but they should still serve you better in the long run. Mag pouches (Of at least 3, given that that is how many most crossdraw vests have), are only around $10-15 retail. Now, obviously, it doesn't come with a holster. That is for later.
The only thing that would be worth getting one for, is if it is extremely cheap. I'm talking around $10. Because then, it's a thrifty nifty sort of thing that came cheap, and you use it only because you're starting, and don't want to dump a bunch. It is only ok in my opinion, if it is a small amount (<$10).
Say, you argue. All these other things for my MOLLE is really expensive and is adding up! Guess what, the price tag for usefulness is worth it. Although I'm talking about how it should be more efficient money wise, it still is.
Buying used. This is the big sucker for cost. If you buy used, yes. You can get a crappy crossdraw for around the price. However, for the price of retail, you can literally get a fairly loaded (Although it may be a bit lacking) chest rig of sorts. Not really a full plate carrier, unless you get lucky.
ALICE gear is the other point. Seeing as the military does not use ALICE anymore, it is amazingly cheap at surplus stores, and with other people. ALICE gear is inexpensive, and resilient. Most of, if not all, ALICE gear used in airsoft is military surplus.
I will divide this into a few sections for better understanding.
Standard crossdraw has:
3x Mag pouches (3/6 held)
3x Pistol Pouches
1x General pouch/shotgun shell holder
1x Velcro Holster/ another 3x mag pouches.
Although the amount of ammo you can take may seem good, placement of the pouches themselves can be a problem. Usually, it's alright, but 3 mags will not do unless it's a REC CQC match. For those, you can usually run a single hi-cap and be good though.
You really do not need spare pistol mags. Hell, if you do have three, you shouldn't even need a crossdraw. That being said though, there are a few other uses for it (Storing BBs, Batteries, Nature Valley bars...)
General pouch is small. You can't hold much with it. Sometimes it's made for something else, like pens or shotgun shells.
Shotgun shell holster. An entire vest is not worth that. Just get a buttstock holster for it (Or jury rig something)
The velcro thing is really different. It is not rare in the comments and such of reviews on crossdraw vests to criticize the velcro. Facts are facts. Crappy velcro cannot effectively hold a decent pistol or mags very well when running or such very long.
Along with that, it prevents access (Thank you Knief) to your primary mags, in exchange for something you should never be really using.
Re-Cap: It's alright for maybe a CQC game if you don't use much ammo and want to use it as a BB sponge. Not much use outside of that. Only though, it if comes really cheap.
3.5/10
I put ALICE in there because it's still the general thing. Nigh infinite customization is a plus. Things are also cheap when bought used. Need more mags? Add more mag pouches. Need an admin pouch to hold stuff? Go for it. The list goes on. You can even put a MOLLE holster for your pistol. Affordability in retail is a little higher, but it is higher quality and again, efficiency/customization. Not exactly a sort of vest/rig/plate carrier, but it's a general thing towards usability.
Premade ones that is. This is essentially a middle ground given their price. The most cheapest ones are the ones by NcStar (Their M4/M16 version has MOLLE, as well as a built in 6-Magazine holder shingle style) and the 7 pocket ones by Condor.
3x AK Mag style Double Mag Pouches
2x Accessory Pouches
1x Large Central Pouch
This has it's own pros and cons>
The 6x base amount of magazines it can hold out in front is a plus over the base 3 by crossdraw vests. This should usually hold you out if you're careful with your shots for a good game.
The accessory pouches are so-so. I'm sure you could use them as a dump pouch for best effort, given that I doubt you will be using them to hold other accessories. Other uses would be an admin pouch or general pouch or even more mags
The Large middle pouch has the largest amount of use. You can toss mags in it when you're done, store lots of stuff (Valuables, food, money, BBs, etc.), Hold a sidearm, etc.
Now, the thing with most chest rigs is that they don't cover much. If you're the kind of person who needs these vests because it hurts like a mother when you get hit, either wear something thicker, or get something else because this will not protect everything (Middle/lower area of chest only).
6x Double M4/M16 style magazines shingle style (12 magazines total)
MOLLE/PALS on Back and the magazine area.
Hydration Bladder Compatible
Having the ability to have 12 magazines at once is a big thing. You can literally use this many mags, probably less, for most games. They are shingle style, so it's open top.
The fact it has MOLLE is a bigger thing though. It has enough space to add whatever you really need. More mag pouches, some General pouches, dump pouches, magazine pouches, etc.
Hydration carrier is also a plus. Keep hydrated! Not really needed, but definitively recommended.
Just your usual plate carrier with a little less MOLLE space and it's made by Condor.
As for plate carriers go, not the best. For it's price? You probably can't be beat. Remember though, it's from Condor, so it isn't going to be that amazing piece of $200 gear.
This one is all for the MOLLE, but no protection really. It does feature 2 built in mag pouch near the sides, no MOLLE on the back, and circular clips on the back (1 on each side, plus the buckles) to help with flexibility.
Condor gear, so it's pretty average in build quality, but fantastic for your wallet. It has a fair amount of MOLLE space (Can hold two 3x2 mag pouches, which means 14 mags if you want to load it up), and like most chest rigs, light and mobile.
It'd be good by itself, or on a plate carrier.
(Note: I have no personal experience with any of these items, and I am just speaking from reviews and personal open opinions from the description and prior knowledge)
(I also do not expect an A-Grade guide out of this. You should not as well. No flaming though)
DO NOT GET CROSSDRAW VESTS
(Within Reason/at least retail)
Cost
They all retail for around $50-60 for the average vest. A cheaper MOLLE system chest rig for around half of that. A plate carrier for a little more. Granted, these are all from companies that are more budget friendly than quality, but they should still serve you better in the long run. Mag pouches (Of at least 3, given that that is how many most crossdraw vests have), are only around $10-15 retail. Now, obviously, it doesn't come with a holster. That is for later.
The only thing that would be worth getting one for, is if it is extremely cheap. I'm talking around $10. Because then, it's a thrifty nifty sort of thing that came cheap, and you use it only because you're starting, and don't want to dump a bunch. It is only ok in my opinion, if it is a small amount (<$10).
Say, you argue. All these other things for my MOLLE is really expensive and is adding up! Guess what, the price tag for usefulness is worth it. Although I'm talking about how it should be more efficient money wise, it still is.
Buying used. This is the big sucker for cost. If you buy used, yes. You can get a crappy crossdraw for around the price. However, for the price of retail, you can literally get a fairly loaded (Although it may be a bit lacking) chest rig of sorts. Not really a full plate carrier, unless you get lucky.
ALICE gear is the other point. Seeing as the military does not use ALICE anymore, it is amazingly cheap at surplus stores, and with other people. ALICE gear is inexpensive, and resilient. Most of, if not all, ALICE gear used in airsoft is military surplus.
Efficiency
I will divide this into a few sections for better understanding.
By itself
Standard crossdraw has:
3x Mag pouches (3/6 held)
3x Pistol Pouches
1x General pouch/shotgun shell holder
1x Velcro Holster/ another 3x mag pouches.
Although the amount of ammo you can take may seem good, placement of the pouches themselves can be a problem. Usually, it's alright, but 3 mags will not do unless it's a REC CQC match. For those, you can usually run a single hi-cap and be good though.
You really do not need spare pistol mags. Hell, if you do have three, you shouldn't even need a crossdraw. That being said though, there are a few other uses for it (Storing BBs, Batteries, Nature Valley bars...)
General pouch is small. You can't hold much with it. Sometimes it's made for something else, like pens or shotgun shells.
Shotgun shell holster. An entire vest is not worth that. Just get a buttstock holster for it (Or jury rig something)
The velcro thing is really different. It is not rare in the comments and such of reviews on crossdraw vests to criticize the velcro. Facts are facts. Crappy velcro cannot effectively hold a decent pistol or mags very well when running or such very long.
Along with that, it prevents access (Thank you Knief) to your primary mags, in exchange for something you should never be really using.
Re-Cap: It's alright for maybe a CQC game if you don't use much ammo and want to use it as a BB sponge. Not much use outside of that. Only though, it if comes really cheap.
3.5/10
Vs. MOLLE/PALS/ALICE
I put ALICE in there because it's still the general thing. Nigh infinite customization is a plus. Things are also cheap when bought used. Need more mags? Add more mag pouches. Need an admin pouch to hold stuff? Go for it. The list goes on. You can even put a MOLLE holster for your pistol. Affordability in retail is a little higher, but it is higher quality and again, efficiency/customization. Not exactly a sort of vest/rig/plate carrier, but it's a general thing towards usability.
Chest Rigs
Premade ones that is. This is essentially a middle ground given their price. The most cheapest ones are the ones by NcStar (Their M4/M16 version has MOLLE, as well as a built in 6-Magazine holder shingle style) and the 7 pocket ones by Condor.
The NcStar AK version (No MOLLE, but plenty of room)
3x AK Mag style Double Mag Pouches
2x Accessory Pouches
1x Large Central Pouch
This has it's own pros and cons>
The 6x base amount of magazines it can hold out in front is a plus over the base 3 by crossdraw vests. This should usually hold you out if you're careful with your shots for a good game.
The accessory pouches are so-so. I'm sure you could use them as a dump pouch for best effort, given that I doubt you will be using them to hold other accessories. Other uses would be an admin pouch or general pouch or even more mags
The Large middle pouch has the largest amount of use. You can toss mags in it when you're done, store lots of stuff (Valuables, food, money, BBs, etc.), Hold a sidearm, etc.
Now, the thing with most chest rigs is that they don't cover much. If you're the kind of person who needs these vests because it hurts like a mother when you get hit, either wear something thicker, or get something else because this will not protect everything (Middle/lower area of chest only).
The NcStar M4 Chest rig (With MOLLE) has
6x Double M4/M16 style magazines shingle style (12 magazines total)
MOLLE/PALS on Back and the magazine area.
Hydration Bladder Compatible
Having the ability to have 12 magazines at once is a big thing. You can literally use this many mags, probably less, for most games. They are shingle style, so it's open top.
The fact it has MOLLE is a bigger thing though. It has enough space to add whatever you really need. More mag pouches, some General pouches, dump pouches, magazine pouches, etc.
Hydration carrier is also a plus. Keep hydrated! Not really needed, but definitively recommended.
Condor Special Operations Compact MOLLE System Ready Plate Carrier
Just your usual plate carrier with a little less MOLLE space and it's made by Condor.
As for plate carriers go, not the best. For it's price? You probably can't be beat. Remember though, it's from Condor, so it isn't going to be that amazing piece of $200 gear.
Condor MCR4 Chest Rig
This one is all for the MOLLE, but no protection really. It does feature 2 built in mag pouch near the sides, no MOLLE on the back, and circular clips on the back (1 on each side, plus the buckles) to help with flexibility.
Condor gear, so it's pretty average in build quality, but fantastic for your wallet. It has a fair amount of MOLLE space (Can hold two 3x2 mag pouches, which means 14 mags if you want to load it up), and like most chest rigs, light and mobile.
It'd be good by itself, or on a plate carrier.
Condor Battle Belt
