Disclaimer: This item was provided free of charge by Platatac for testing and evaluation purposes. There has been no exchange of money, and the terms of the item being provided are that if I like a product, I review it, if I don't like a product, it gets sent back. With this is mind I … Continue reading Review // PLATATAC PEACEKEEPER MK.5
This review has been a very long time coming but for once the delay hasn't been due to my laziness and more due to my lack of knowledge on the subject as a whole. A few years down the line however I'm finally in a place where I feel like I actually know sort of what I'm talking about, and have other frames of reference to draw on to make this review more valuable than simply "I like it so therefore you should too".
I ended my Chameleon review with a message of "this might not be for everyone" purely down to its original function, but the Fulcrum is another story altogether.
Disclaimer: This item was provided free of charge by C2R FAST for testing and evaluation purposes. There has been no exchange of money, and the terms of the item being provided are that if I like a product, I review it, if I don't like a product, it gets sent back. With this is mind … Continue reading REVIEW // C2R FAST CHAMELEON
Back in May we visited Stirling Airsoft's the Trees site for Op BARHAIL, and due to the inherently "Lone Survivor-esque" feel of the place I decided to stick a cheap, £6 Cyma suppressor on the BD carbine to make it feel more like a Marksman's rifle and behold, the 723 build had begun.
I've been aware of C2R for a number of years now, tracking back to mid 2018 when I ordered some of their excellent flashbang pouches. At the time these were highly sought after during the boom of the UKSF inspired kit scene, so being able to order 12 of them at once was a pretty big deal. Given the company's long standing habit of being somewhat closed off to the masses it was also a privilege to make the connection with them, which I am glad to say is still open to this day.
nd have been mulling over the best way to write about them on the blog. While there are a lot of pouches in the line they share a lot of the same features and so 10 individual articles would be a bit of a waste. The choice I've gone with is two separate blogs, part one covering the ammunition/munitions pouches, and part two covering the utility pouches.
It's been a while since I last sat down to recap an event, or to write anything for that matter, and once again it's an unusual trip out to Stirling Airsoft's "The Trees" site that's given me the strength to cringe while writing words like "enemy" and "callsign" in reference to what is simply a bunch of men running around with toy guns.
Cutting around camp, travelling, going on classroom based courses or even being used as the duty BOO/BOS daysack are all tasks that the likes of the Camelbak Motherlode are all used for but are a long way from designed for. The PlatyPlus leans the other way, with loads of internal features to make in-camp admin easier, but still retaining the toughness needed to chuck 1000 rounds of link into it and tab up the nearest high feature in an emergency.
One of my life's many bug-bears has been an obsession with finding just the right pouch for each tool, which has led to many instances of buying, selling, chopping and changing a setup in order to find the "perfect" home for each item. In a military context this is often just a case of shopping around, and being prepared to fork out for the rare niche items that command a premium because they're well sought after. But what happens when you start trying to find a pouch for something that isn't an accepted standard, especially not in the military world?
If you have ever wondered what it looks like to both love something with all your being, and despise it in equal measure then you should have been present for me opening my SADF Pat. 83 rig for the first time. Everything about the chest rig itself screams sideburns and short shorts and I'm convinced is the answer to most of the world's problems, until you look at the fucking harness.
With the black magic of how the jacket is held together out of the way, it's time to discuss it as a piece of clothing. The first question most people will have is: "is it warm?". Short version? Fuck yes.
COLOUR CODE YOUR SHIT.
Piss off huh.
This is one of those weird products that is SUPER niche, and as such has a very specific background. The mind behind the camo plate is Chris; author/creator of thefull9.net, serving crab and all round Ian McCollum equivalent when it comes to tactical clothing and equipment. On top of being the most boring man on the internet, he's also a solid bloke who has some good ideas rolling around in his head.
Night vision systems are by far and away one of the most expensive responsibilities an infantry soldier will be entrusted with on a regular basis, and the advantages they provide you can be the difference between dominating an enemy and being caught in a fair fight, somewhere you do not want to be. Despite both of these facts however the humble NVG is something that is often neglected both by the Army, and the soliders carrying them.
We can't stress enough the clarity and vision they give you when using compared to the HMNVS. Overall its great to see the Army moving towards new kit and equipment to keep us in line with other Armies and more importantly potential enemies.
Disclaimer: This item was provided free of charge by Tactical Kit for testing and evaluation purposes. There has been no exchange of money, and the terms of the item being provided are that if I like a product, I review it, if I don't like a product, it gets sent back. With this is mind … Continue reading Review // T.Rex Arms Ragnarok
It’s a simple upgrade, but if you’re running a mid ride UBL and don’t want to be castrated by a sudden movement then it’s a necessary one.
Before we get started I’m just going to get the disclaimers out of the way. I am in absolutely no way associated with HAO, and I also didn’t pay for the rail. It has been on loan to me from Rich (the author of The Reptile House) on a totally no strings attached basis, and … Continue reading Review // HAO MK16 9.3″ Handguard
After a couple of months off I’m getting back into writing, and so it’s time to address one of the most requested articles that I’ve got left to do: dems kits. Getting it out of the way now this is a purely airsoft blog, but if you like things that go bang then stick around … Continue reading Kit Breakdown // Remote Pyrotechnics Kit
I’m back motherfuckers. Well, I was never really away, but after 4 months of not actually writing anything I decided it was time to sit down and get back behind the keyboard. The reason for this short-turned-long break was down to a few different factors, one of them being laziness, but the other being I … Continue reading In Depth // Primary Weapon System // Systema PTW
Where to start with this one? Well to get a good idea of the background of these pants I recommend you first take a read of my write ups on the Mk2 and Mk3 Tac Dax and see the foundations on which the V4s have been built. Before we start I would also like to … Continue reading Platatac Tac Dax V4 Review
For the last few months I’ve been toying with the idea of ditching a plate carrier altogether and just sticking to my woodland and bad guy gear. Every time I’ve tried to go through with it the little voices in my head have thrown up objections, leading me from my AVS to a JPC 2.0, … Continue reading Trident Gear Co. Heavy Swimmer Plates
This is one of those items I wanted for years, but could never justify owning. I’ve always liked the helmet pack/Yote style of daysack and started where many of us Brits tend to do; with a Warrior Ass Systems helmet pack. I didn’t have it long though, and got rid of it while in basic … Continue reading Platatac Bullock Echo Mk.3 Review
This is another guest blog kindly written by TS over at @skull_collectors_club, a fellow Infanteer who's unit has been blessed with receiving the first round of the Army's new KESTREL BNVDs. The only edits I've made are noted in italics and mostly only to add the industry standard names for items that the Army has … Continue reading First look: The Army’s new KESTREL BNVDs
Something I’ve been meaning to set up for a good year or two has been a dedicated MP5/future subgun rig. So far I have simply been using my standard rifle kit and while this works, it doesn’t quite fit the reasoning behind me having an MP5 in the first place which was to have a … Continue reading Mods: Eagle Industries MP7 Chest Rig
It’s been over a year since the last time we took a look at how to improve the steaming turd that is the Source STV, or Virtus plate carrier. I’m sorry to say that in that year the Army has made no move to improve this bag of shit rig into something befitting the century … Continue reading Polishing a Turd Pt.2: Further Virtus Improvements
This is something I’ve been pretty excited about for several weeks now, and am glad to say I finally have it in my hands to bring to you. Back in October Spiritus Systems dropped a photo that had a very special item hiding in plain sight. Originally dubbed the “Crye’teryx” this jacket is a mashup … Continue reading The FaceHof Jacket – My first impressions
Something which always bugged me about my C2R Fast flashbang pouches is their ride height. While it doesn’t make any functional difference, as an absolute perfectionist not having the bottoms of all my pouches line up has always been something I get pretty psychotic about. Looking at the back of the pouch, the original Molle … Continue reading Mods: C2R Fast Flashbang Pouch
Having done the full write up of my Good Guy kit, it’s time to look at the gear I use a lot more and change around a lot less. As time has gone on my friends and I have found ourselves avoiding the ever prevalent sea of Multicam and instead spending more time dressed up … Continue reading My “Bad Guy” Kit Breakdown
After doing my packing list for Op Atar I had a few people asking what I pack just for a normal skirmish. While this is a much simpler list everything on it is more subject to change so I’ve decided to write it in three parts: CQB / "Good Guy" Woodland / "Bad Guy" Night … Continue reading My “Good Guy” Kit Breakdown
Since we’re all stuck inside and unable to socialise I’ve missed spouting my shit to people who sort of listen, and so have decided to start writing it down for you to read. I’m sorry in advance if you die of boredom halfway through. Introduction. Before I get started though, I’m just going to lay … Continue reading Cloning: when it’s good, when it’s okay, and when it’s a complete dick move.
As you may very well have realised, a big part of what I enjoy about running this blog is taking nice photos of gucci gear. Photography is well on the way to becoming my "primary" hobby, and to achieve this I'm always looking for inspiration from other guys out there who know how to frame … Continue reading The Pizza Surfer Interview
I’ve been sitting on doing a review of these boots for several months now as I wanted to really get a feel for when they would wear out and have to be replaced, but with this week’s outbreak of hysteria and everyone being confined to the indoors I’m now faced with A) having a lot … Continue reading Altama OTB Maritime Assault Shoes
After leaving the army you quickly realise just how expensive all the cool shit you’re used to using is, and one big chunk of this for me is my Garmin Foretrex 401. We’re not going to get too deep into the “what do you need a GPS for in airsoft?” argument, mainly because fuck you … Continue reading Luminae Design GPS Mount
Fuck your fidget spinner. This is better. Before I start it’s worth mentioning how I ended up with these items. I had honestly never heard of Hub creations, but after posting a picture of the kit I would be using for Op ATAR they got in touch and basically called me a poor for still … Continue reading Hub Creations Roto-Loader
By popular request I’m doing my first overview/review of an event rather than a piece of gear, so bear with me. To begin with, this won’t be a blow by blow account of every second of the weekend, but the highlights of what made a highly unusual and extremely good event. N.B. It turned into … Continue reading Stirling Airsoft The Trees – Op Littlewood
Op ATAR is round the corner, so I thought I’d share a detailed rundown of the gear I’ll be using. One thing all squaddies hate is kit checks. It’s part of the bullshit that led me to leave the Army. As a grown man it is quite frustrating to have someone the same age, or … Continue reading OP ATAR – My Kit Breakdown
It’s 2020, and I think it’s time we addressed one of life’s greatest injustices; cold hands not being allowed in warm pockets.
Before we get started, I’d just like to say to the owner Oregon Trail Defense that having half a thumb and being a legit hero for getting over your injury in a way that has given you a successful business is no excuse for spelling “Defence” wrong. Sort it out. Yours sincerely - England. If … Continue reading Oregon Trail Defense Nub Mod Review
2019 is drawing to a close, and so this year I've decided to do something a little different. Instead of talking about the shifting attitudes in the community, and fretting about what new threats will face our hobby in the future, I decided to put together a more positive outlook on what has happened in … Continue reading 2019 in review – and what’s to come in 2020
It’s December, it’s cold, and no matter what your Platoon Sergeant says, it’s okay to admit it. I’ve had the old Mechanix Insulated Originals for years now. They were one of the first bits of kit I bought specifically for the Army, and they’ve always been in my bergen ever since. They remained a mainstay … Continue reading SKD PIG Insulated Vs. Mechanix Cold Weather Insulated
This review is a little different, as I’m not focusing on a piece of gear in itself, but in how it works in a setup.
Background British squaddies are obsessed with ally kit, and there is an unofficial list of kit to buy to establish yourself as an ally SF Geoff in the platoon. This list includes items like claymore bags, tailored bergens, and the ubiquitous “SAS Smock”. This last item is somewhat controversial, as the units who arguably need … Continue reading Platatac Badger Smock Review
Its 2019, and bum-bags are back in fashion. Well that's not strictly true, but it certainly is in the tactical gear industry. For quite a while now tactical fanny packs and danglers have been growing in popularity, and the competition has been too. Background The trend of having Molle pouches attached to abdominal armour panels … Continue reading C2R FAST Dangler
"If it’s not broken, don’t fix it" done right. For years now I have been a big fan of Blue Force Gear products. They’re at the higher end of the cost spectrum, but you get what you pay for. To this day I have yet to find a wide utility pouch that can top … Continue reading Blue Force Gear Stackable Tenspeeds
When I was first approached about the Thyrm Vari-angle mount I wasn’t too sure what to make of it. Having a dedicated white light on my helmet has never been something I’ve needed as I’ve generally had night vision for the majority of the time, and now that I’m a full blown civilian I’m scared … Continue reading Thyrm Vari-Angle Helmet Mount
Let’s start with some honesty, I was sent the MED1 by Tactical Kit for review, along with the 1110 Gear tourniquet holder. Since leaving the forces, I don’t have a huge need for a personal medical kit any more, but the beauty of tactical gear is that you don’t need to listen to the manufacturer, … Continue reading T-Rex Arms MED1 Review
If you think of the term “combat pants”, you might automatically picture a pair of trousers made by Crye Precision. This isn’t without good reason, since the early 2000’s Crye have led the market for over-engineered uniforms. With this success comes the Apple effect, where charging extortionate amounts of money for your label becomes acceptable … Continue reading Platatac Tac Dax Mk3 Review
I’ve been sitting on this write-up for a few months now (and by sitting on I mean forgetting, and by few months I mean over a year), but I think it has given me a good knowledge of the SKD PIG Delta gloves. How did I end up with PIGs? The first pair of tactical … Continue reading SKD Patrol Incident Gear Delta Gloves Review
Why did I choose the MCMR? Recently, Airsoft in the UK has seen a huge new trend emerging. After Angrygun’s release of the L119A2 rail in 2017 there has been a huge surge of interest in the platform, with many people gravitating towards UKSF kits. I was one of those who pre-ordered the rail and … Continue reading BCM MCMR 10 MLOK by Angry Gun Review
So what makes the Platatac LW Silks Smock any different? In short, just about all the features I didn’t like in the Crye Windliner, and the one that I did.
Every tactical gear company have their own "flagship" product. This may not necessarily be their most popular product, but the one they are known for across the industry. For example HSGI and their 'Taco' pouches, C2R with the 'TacPad' and in my opinion Platatac's chest rigs. The running theme throughout Plat's line is the focus … Continue reading Plat-Off: Peacekeeper vs. VM
My love for the Platatac Peacekeeper started in 2017, bored stiff in South Sudan and scrolling endlessly on social media. The guys from Stirling airsoft’s Sabre callsign had been wearing them for a while and had uploaded lots (and I mean lots) of photos displaying the Peacekeeper in a variety of “ally” situations and aiding … Continue reading Platatac Peacekeeper Mk.4 M81
I was approached by Ryan at Whiskey Two Four a few months ago about getting some gear sent over to take a look at. I had heard of WTF before through their WTFix malice clip alternative, and so was excited to see what would turn up in the post. I should point out that although … Continue reading Whiskey Two Four – PIMPS Turnkey Chest Rig – First Impressions
There is now a second article in this series: Polishing a Turd Pt.2 - Further Virtus Improvements. Head over and check it out for the up to date method of making a VIRTUS rig just that little bit less of an aids riddled piece of steaming roadkill. A few years ago the British Army got … Continue reading Polishing a Turd: VIRTUS improvements
Following on from my last post on the HSGI Suregrip Battle Belt, I thought I'd try out the T-Rex Arms Orion, as it seemed to be the more streamlined and lightweight little brother. The only worry I had on buying this belt was in the integrity of the laminate webbing, which is something I definitely … Continue reading T-Rex Arms Orion Belt
Having not written anything for a while I thought I'd finally get around to talking about one of the pieces of kit that I've been using extensively at work both in the UK and overseas. Being in the British Army means that belt kits are an essential part of your loadout to invest in, as … Continue reading HSGI Suregrip Battle Belt
Bang pouches have always been a bit of a gripe for me. When I first got my TRMR I fell down the usual trap of just getting a Warrior (urgh) 40mm pouch and had to deal with my grenade bouncing around all over the place. Over time I found better solutions, the mainstay being from … Continue reading C2RFast Flashbang Pouch
Sit down and grab a brew for this one as there is a lot to go over. Ever since I've started this blog I've been after interesting bits of kit that aren't really seen too much online to try and keep it unique. This may be one of the most rare pieces I'll ever get … Continue reading Velocity Systems SCARAB Prototype Review
For quite a long time now I have been searching for the "perfect plate carrier", a struggle which I'm sure a lot of us in the community feel the effects of, and have always found myself being drawn to the gloriously expensive delights of Crye Precision. The JPC was a steadfast part of my gear … Continue reading Mayflower R&C APC by Velocity Systems Review
LBX is a relatively new company who I have been eager to try out ever since a military colleague of mine bought a pair of their Assaulter trousers for use in harbour area/field exercises. I was wary at first of a specifically airsoft orientated company, even though it is marketed as a division of LBT, … Continue reading LBX Speed Draw Magazine Pouch
Uncle Travis brought out an M81 version so naturally I threw all my convictions out of the window and changed to a D3X
I've been after a pair of these for a very long time after a couple of my friends ranted and raved about how they were so much better than the Crye equivalent, and for the last couple of years I've been bouncing around between pairs of G3's, AC's and fields of all colours and sizes, … Continue reading Platatac Special Projects Tac Dax Mk.2
Not just an overpriced Baofeng
Real and truthful reviews.
Tactical Gear Reviews, Analysis, Opinion
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