Obviously you wouldn't be wearing a CIRAS if you're driving the vehicle, you'd be wearing some form of PACA soft body armour and you'd slip the CIRAS on once outside of the vehicle. It's nice because everything is on there, there's no fussing with straps or clips or any of that nonsense, it's just a matter of slipping it on and you're good to go. This is done easily if you adjust it to fit loosely.

Mind you, I'm not in the forces so I don't know how much the troops are permitted to customize their equipment. I'm assuming that if you can wear a vest of your choosing then the armour may be as well.

Thanks a lot guys, this is a huge help.

I'm starting to get an idea of what I need. I never thought of asking the zipper heads though. Pride thing I guess. heh.

The canteen issue is just giving people an idea of storage and space. Its how I have my Tac Vest laid out now, so i figure why change what works? But I'm assuming it'll be wasted space once I incorporate the Camelback. But hey, over there you can never have too much water.

From what i've seen, and read, molle is definatley the direction I'm going. It offers so many options and configurations for any type of op, and it doesn't limit me in any real way. The problem is, what vest do i use as a platform?

Thanks again for all the info, gonna hit up Full Spectrum Gear here at base and see what they got to work with. Last time I was in they had a weestach, and it fit nice, but I wasn't wearing my armour.

Oh and as an aside, any companies to avoid? Blackhawk, or crazy chinese knockoffs?

Wilson you are talking out of your lane on this one.

You do not get to pick an choose the Armour you have. You always wear your issue body armour(soft armour an plates). You can't decide you don't wanna wear plates just because you are in a vehicle an decide to roll with only soft armour.



As for the Black Hawk stuff, some stuff they got is decent. Some Snipers an Inf Recce guys wore Black Hawk webbing over there; don't think they had any issues with it. Black Hawk makes some decent gear an other gear they make is junk.

Theres a kitshop in KAF called Black Ops, it's all chinese knock off stuff so stay away from it. Unless you are going in just to buy one of those butt stock mag pouches(if you didn't get one issued when you get kitted out in theatre).


TAG, HSGI, Tactical Tailor and SO Tech are pretty much the top gear makers an I'd recommend staying with them.

What about something like the BHI Strike Webbing? Its like the Riverine/ISSAK rig from LBT, only completley molle, easy to pull on or off (closes with 3 fastex buckles, or in a pinch you could probably tie the webbing straps together), allows for a LOT of load carry, and stows up pretty small when not in use...

Learn something new every day! :) Well in that case, I'm sure almost any vest on the market can be adjusted to fit over the armour (as most are made to do).

You don't need to have served to understand the principles of clothing yourself.

I would love to sit down with someone actively in Infantry right now and pick their brain. Been contemplating it for a while now.

Yea, I'am pretty sure thats the black hawk webbing the guys were using.


Aslong as it's a stand alone rig, ie just a tac vest or chest rig, etc. Some chest rigs also act as plate carriers, some work over armour, some are kinda awkward.



Not really IMO, atleast when it comes to recommending kit for a Soldier about to deply.
If you are currently serving/prior service you have a better understanding of what is allowed, what kit you actually need to carry, whats practical, etc.


What do you want to know; theres a few guys on the boards who are Reg Force Infantryman. I'am a Reg Force Signaller in an Infantry unit.

Hey MikeL, over there, how practical are dropleg holster? I figure they would be avoided because of the dust, but I keep seeing a lot in use.

What's your opinion on them, especially the open one?

When dismounted, is there a lot of laying prone and/or crawling or everybody stay on his feets most of the time?

For the dropleg, depends on what you're doing. For just walking about KAF or the FOB they're fine or I guess if you're always gonna be in a veh. But for dismounted stuff, it's not the best. Most people find that it gets uncomfortable an chafes when walking a lot, plus the heat, sweat doesn't help. Most guys just put their pistol in a rifle mag pouch on their rig.


As for going prone, etc depends on the situation and area. From my own experiance I never went prone, just always took a knee. An there was enough cover to do that, ie low walls, ditches, fields, etc. For me personally I like just dropping to a knee since it's faster to get up an go again. But if theres poor cover or you're in the open I'd go prone; there was a few areas out there that if we got in a firefight I'd have to go prone to get cover/protection an just pop up to fire a few shots than back down again, etc.



Also, anytime that I dropped to a knee was just when the patrol stopped either to observe something, talk to locals, search people, etc I never got into a firefight while on patrol; least on the ones I went out on... only really shot at an mortared our Strong Point occasionly an do the IED thing.

Blackhawk STRIKE LBE is good shit.

Seriously tho, go see Farmboy.

Everything. I want someone with current information to just talk at me about everything CF that crosses their mind until they are blue in the face!

I had the chance to try one of my teamates's Eagle RRV, I found them very comfortable with or whitout plates and with or without armor underneat. You can add a back panel for more molle space or use a MBSS for it. Very nice piee of gear IMO
http://www.eagleindustries.com/produ...&cat=49&page=1

lol, kinda vague an crosses a lot of subjects


I can probably fill you in with a good amount of info; I've been with the Patricia's for almost 2 years, gone on deployment, etc An my brother was a Patricia/Infantryman(Afghan tour too) so I got a fair bit of info. Yeoman would be a good source of info too, but he's on tour right now an isn't online all that much. An I believe there is another RCR Infantryman on the boards, just can't think of his name. An I know theres a few ex-Patricia's on here aswell.

me as well if you want pm me and id be glad to give ya a call ive served with both 12 rbc and 3 vandoo

Would they let you wear a pat 82,or does it have to be a vest?.
I hate the vests.:cool:

A WO in my unit wore 82pat webbing; just attached some extra pouches to it.