This thread is absolutely fanfuckingtastic!
BT, in my first summer playing airsoft. I sold an LBT Chest rig to buy that BLACKHAWK vest. I used it once at returned it. Even then, I kept my goddamn finger off the trigger. Check the Skateboard kneepads and HiTec MAGNUMs. What a cherry!
OP:RO, my first National OP. I had a custom RAV-kinda vest that Mark made me. I wore it on the first day and sweat my ass off. Day2 I donned an LBV88 and SOE 3Day pack.
Badger Springs, shortly after OP:RO. ChiComs are cool. Same SOE pack as above.
Pre-OP:LC3 outing. Yeah, that's a SPEAR BALCS. I wore it on the FIRST day of the OP, at least. 6004, Hellcat Mk2, THE pack.
Florence AO. My SPR was nice. This was right after OP:LC4.
After my two-week Training at Yuma Proving Grounds, I decided I needed a real M4. Here it is. I sold it to a nice Fed that lives out of state. I still have the RAID pack.
The guys and I at OP:Irene. DBT FAPC, IIIa armor cummerbund. Real armor is heavy.
I don't really have any clear pics of me since then. I'll take some and post them, but you can see my transformation. I've always been a gearwhore, just a different kind. When I started, it was all about "looking the part" with uniforms ripped straight from pics of SF guys on militaryphotos.net. Lately, I've just been using what works, but still try to maintain a bit of authenticity with my guns and kit.