Vest?

[spectre1]

I'm looking to update my loadout a bit, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a good vest, not crossdraw and preferably tan or CB. I should have a paycheeck in two weeks that would determine my budget, but something preferably under $60 is the best choice for me. And I have a few patches that I would like to put on the vest, so if it has velcro, that would be evn more awesome. Thanks for the help. Spectre out.

[Dean]

Here's an OE TECH Elite Tactical Vest found on Airsoft GI for $59.95. In my opinion it seems like the best bang for your buck because of its storage capacity and price, which is within your preferred budget.

www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=3831

EDIT: Just realized it is out of stock, sorry about that. But I do still think it seems like a good vest based upon your preferences,

[Knief]

Those tactical vests aren't the best option anyway. You really want something modular. It gives you a lot more flexibility in pouch configuration, which is invaluable. It also allows the vest to grow as your game does with minimal cost. For instance, if you're using an M4 now, then you're going to buy something with M4 mag pouches. But if you buy an M14 next year, those mags aren't going to fit in your M4 pouches. If you bought a non-modular vest, then you need to buy a whole new rig. If you bought a modular vest, then you just pick up a couple of pouches. You can also add and remove pouches to fit what things you want to bring to different games. For a longer game, you might want to add a pouch to carry some snacks or extra water in. For a rec game, that's less of an issue, so you can ditch that stuff and roll lighter.

In your price range, something like this is a great start:

www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_96&products_id=4634

It lets you carry all your mags right away, but offers room for expansion as your budget allows.

This is a bit cheaper, so it gives you some extra money to pick up the pouches you need:

www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_96&products_id=1637

This is the first time I've seen this, but it could be a decent option:

www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_96&products_id=8309

It looks like Tru-Spec's take on a light weight RRV style vest.

[Thor]

What Zombie linked to is basically a crossdraw vest, just without a holster. In fact, it even says that it's a modified crossdraw vest in the description. I wouldn't get that simply for the fact that what's on it right now is pretty much what you're stuck with.

As for the rigs Knief linked to, they're better, but you're still going to have to buy pouches too for the most part.

Unless you find something used, you're probably going to have to spend more than $60 to get anything decent. If I were you, I would plan for a budget of at least $200 for a vest and pouches to get something you really like.

Some of the more popular/common designs are going to be one of the following: RAV, MBSS, CIRAS (land or maritime), FAPC, SPC, and RRV. Some of these you may be able to find new with pouches, some you'll have to buy pouches. The two best airsoft gear makers right now are Pantac and Flyye, and they really are almost on par with the real gear they replicate. Stay away from Condor, OE Tech, or any other no name brand. Like all things, you get what you pay for.

[Knief]

I'll add to my earlier statement that I do think Thor is right regarding brands. FLYYE and Pantac are top notch, and I would recommend saving up for either of those over buying any of the vests I linked to above. But if $60 is your absolute limit, you're not going to do much better than OEtech unless you get lucky on a used deal.

[spectre1]

Thanks Thor/Kneif, I'm looking into MOLLE stuff now, since it seems to be versatile enough if I ever want to change my loads. I

[Knief]

For used stuff, this is what you're currently looking at in the commerce section:

miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=commerce&action=display&thread=38839

miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=commerce&action=display&thread=39864

As you can see, you're looking at a fair bit over your budget for an MBSS from a quality brand, which tends to be one of the cheaper vests out there.

[Dean]

I'm glad Thor and Knief corrected me, because I seriously didn't even think about putting you in the right direction . Sorry about that

[Thor]

No worries Zombie, that's part of what we're here for.

I will also say that if your absolute budget is going to be $60, your best choice out of what Knief linked is going to be that OE Tech MPS simply for the fact that as long as your gun has magazines that will fit in the pouches built into it, it is completely useable as-is. The other ones you would have to buy pouches as well.

Just food for thought, those of us who have been around for a while tend to have gone through a bit of gear, and those of us especially that have become or are on our way to being geardos have a pretty good eye for picking out what's good and what's not.

[spectre1]

One last question for this topic. Is there any good setup/nummber of puches you guy recommend? I don't wanna look like a Juggernaut from Modern Warfare, or like an unprepared person. I have an AK as my primary, but I'm thinking of switching to an M4 soon, so a suggested number of pouches would be nice for both those guns. Thanks again.

[Knief]

Just enough pouches to hold 6 or 8 mags for your primary, a few for your sidearm if you have one, a radio poich for your radio (this is a subtle hint that if you don't have a radio, you should get one) and maybe a utility pouch or two depending on what extras you like to carry like bbs, a kill rag, small tools, snacks or whatever. Then you just have to worry about water. Some sort of hydration pouch and bladder is almost a necessity.

[spectre1]

www.airsoftmegastore.com/Diamond_Tactical_Modular_StrikeForce_Plate_Carrier_p/dt-v-312dd.html
I was thinking something like ths, since my friend has a similar vest, and it fitls at least 5 or 6 mags and is MOLLE compatible.
I would have to switch my camo to something tan though, since digital desert doesent go to well with woodland

[Knief]

Getting a vest in any camo pattern is a mistake, but getting a vest in that camo pattern is a sin. For starters, a vest in a camo pattern will only look good if you're wearing BDUs with a matching pattern. That limits you to exactly one pattern of camo that you can wear with your vest and not look like a fool. And trust me, that's a dangerous way to limit yourself. Somewhere down the line, you're going to want to go to an event with your friends, and they'll all be on the green team and you'll have two options: Either play on the tan team without them or look like a fool on the green team with your desert digital vest and your woodland BDUs. Beside that, eventually you'll just want a new set of camo because it's fun to have options. But if you do that, you'll need a new vest to go with them and you'll be kicking yourself down to the bank to withdraw another $80 bucks for a new vest, this time in tan or green because you learned your mistake from buying this one.

But the real reason you shouldn't buy this vest is because it won't match any camo pattern. That thing is way too white to match any Desert MARPAT or replica Desert MARPAT that you'll buy. So even when you are wearing the "right" camo, you still won't match. And then you'll look like the guy who bought a really stupid vest all the time, not just when you want to be on the green team.

You've either got to find that vest in a solid non-black color or find a different vest. That thing is not an option.

[spectre1]

They do have it in black, regular plain tan, and OD, so thats just a model I was looking at.

[Knief]

Get it in tan. OD is ok too, but tan is more versatile. Just not black or a camo pattern. I can't tell you whether that specific vest will be decent or not. It looks ok, but not great. That's just something for you to take a chance on.

To understand why not to get black, and why tan is the way to go, read my response in this thread:

miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gear&action=display&thread=40124