Plate Carrier assistance

[puck117]

Ok so I am looking to a get a new plate carrier but need some input.

I have this http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_171&products_id=1460

and needless to say it is a piece of junk that allows for little mobility and is extremely heavy when loaded

So I want to find a "PC" that is lite, distributes the load very well, and allows great mobility. So I am asking for suggestions. I would prefer Coyote Brown or ACU if that factors in at all to the findings. (also I'm a large guy so nothing average is gonna do for me size wise  :?  ) Thanks for any suggestions yall give.

[azsarge]

Two questions.

1.  What is your price range?

2.  What do you need to carry, equipment wise?

If you are ready to fork out some cash and buy some real gear, I have some suggestions for you after you answer those questions.  Keep in mind that quality gear not only last forever, but also retains value.

[puck117]

i would like to stay under $300 and its mostly M4 mags, radio pouch and extra pouches for batteries/utilities/camelback bladder

Thanks!

[oldgamefreak]

do you want an airsoft PC or will you be using REAL plates? If it's for AisSoft what do you have in it for plates?

[puck117]

No im not going to be using real plates or anything. maybe some fakes made ones like cardboard or a book to stiffen, but it is really not that important. Basically I want that plate carrier look, but just light and packs what I need it to pack.

[oldgamefreak]

The reason I asked about the plates is that it limits mobility. The same thing that you want to avoid. I don't really see how another place carrier will do what your looking for. I have an Eagle CIRAS and with plastic plates it's not easy to move in and YES it weighes a metric SHIT TON when you load it out. you might want to look at a good chest rig...... they allow for more movement and flex.
Just my .$02

[dirtnapper73]

woops your looking for a PC not a tac vest nvm.

[puck117]

so the ciras would essentially allow for better mobility without plates then? If so I might look at a ciras replica. Any suggestions on a good one?

[azsarge]

so the ciras would essentially allow for better mobility without plates then? If so I might look at a ciras replica. Any suggestions on a good one?

Do you want to go in that direction, or are you looking for a plate carrier?  The CIRAS is a great vest, I wore one in Afghanistan, but it's a complete armor system not a plate carrier.

For a budget of 300, that allows for most anything.

Now, I'll ask again, are you looking for a plate carrier, real or airsoft knockoff, or do you not know what the hell you want?

And as for plates limiting mobility, I would recommend against using ballistic protective plates for airsoft unless you're trying to squeeze some training value out of shooting BB guns.

[puck117]

Ya I guess I would like to go with a ciras type vest. I just hope they got ones that can fit larger guys. And no I'm not going to use any plates then.

[azsarge]

Ya I guess I would like to go with a ciras type vest. I just hope they got ones that can fit larger guys. And no I'm not going to use any plates then.

How large?  

If you're a muscular guy, you should have no problem finding one to fit;  I've seen guys with arms as big as my head fit into a XL MARCIRAS.  They are very adjustable.

If you're just fat, go to the gym and rethink your loadout after you drop below 20% BFI.

As for brands, I haven't seen any fake ones that are any good.  You can find an Eagle CIRAS now and then on ebay for less than 300 slightly used.  If you ever want to sell it later on, you can make your money back - if you buy a fake one, not so much.

[Beazer]

Why not try a denali?
HSGI makes some good stuff, alot of the CF guys use it.

Can always find deals on it up here and its pretty adjustable and you don't need plates to make it look the part.

[axisofoil]

Just technically a plate carrier... pretty cheap... don't plan on using the 'integrated m4 pouches', though. they'll just make the thing pop off.
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/ind ... ts_id=3130

the SMALLEST this thing can adjust is ~34 waist.
it's very high mobility, the one sacrifice being the amount of molle room you're giving up from a traditional plate carrier. you could fit a maximum of a triple m4/m16 mag pouch on each side of the front, vertically and horizontally, plus the center chest-piece (perfect for an admin pouch or pistol mags)  the chest piece also has a snap-button secured map pouch with two layers of loops that can hold pistol mags (anything more than a row of 1911 single stacks, and maybe a speed loader makes it dig into your chest though).

Leaves you lots of room in your budget... so you can get some good, quality pouches, and maybe a drop-leg holster or drop-leg with more molle real estate if you want to go that route. all in all... looks nice, plays nice... and I have yet to find a time when it limited my mobility any more than preventing me from going through the super-skinny tunnels in sasco (only because I filled my camelback + front pouches at the same time. lol)

[azsarge]

Just technically a plate carrier... pretty cheap... don't plan on using the 'integrated m4 pouches', though. they'll just make the thing pop off.
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/ind ... ts_id=3130

the SMALLEST this thing can adjust is ~34 waist.
it's very high mobility, the one sacrifice being the amount of molle room you're giving up from a traditional plate carrier. you could fit a maximum of a triple m4/m16 mag pouch on each side of the front, vertically and horizontally, plus the center chest-piece (perfect for an admin pouch or pistol mags)  the chest piece also has a snap-button secured map pouch with two layers of loops that can hold pistol mags (anything more than a row of 1911 single stacks, and maybe a speed loader makes it dig into your chest though).

Leaves you lots of room in your budget... so you can get some good, quality pouches, and maybe a drop-leg holster or drop-leg with more molle real estate if you want to go that route. all in all... looks nice, plays nice... and I have yet to find a time when it limited my mobility any more than preventing me from going through the super-skinny tunnels in sasco (only because I filled my camelback + front pouches at the same time. lol)

That's not a plate carrier.

[busta_cap]

Just technically a plate carrier... pretty cheap... don't plan on using the 'integrated m4 pouches', though. they'll just make the thing pop off.
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/ind ... ts_id=3130

the SMALLEST this thing can adjust is ~34 waist.
it's very high mobility, the one sacrifice being the amount of molle room you're giving up from a traditional plate carrier. you could fit a maximum of a triple m4/m16 mag pouch on each side of the front, vertically and horizontally, plus the center chest-piece (perfect for an admin pouch or pistol mags)  the chest piece also has a snap-button secured map pouch with two layers of loops that can hold pistol mags (anything more than a row of 1911 single stacks, and maybe a speed loader makes it dig into your chest though).

Leaves you lots of room in your budget... so you can get some good, quality pouches, and maybe a drop-leg holster or drop-leg with more molle real estate if you want to go that route. all in all... looks nice, plays nice... and I have yet to find a time when it limited my mobility any more than preventing me from going through the super-skinny tunnels in sasco (only because I filled my camelback + front pouches at the same time. lol)

That's not a plate carrier.

Just how 'big' are you? if you are like a 54 waist I doubt much is going to fit you well. What about suggesting a low vis rack, Christian? I was always partial to the DBT Low vis v3, Since it has the ability to carry 6 mags already, and has expandability with the MOLLE.

http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/BattleLab-LV3-Low-Vis-Rack-With-Molle-P2933C90.aspx
Then if you want some expandability add some of these:
http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/Modular-Mag-Pouches---MOLLE-C249.aspx