Opinions on IDF web gear

[2ndssnco]

I've been looking around and am thinking I'd like to pick up some IDF gear for myself. Looks to be well made and combat tested. I specifically like the special forces combat vest on http://www.zahal.org/gear/p4.htm but it sure isn't cheap. Before I drop that kind of dough, does anyone have any experience with IDF gear?

Thanks

[EMDII]

Excellent.

I bouhgt mine from SGT Elijah Wong, Member and sadly KIA 9 Feb. I have the A11. See my pics in Events (just search for EMDII). The EPHOD gear is quite good, and the A11 is useful raid/shoot gear. Lots of folks have seem me wear it at the RBGC shoots and FAL-Borg invasions of the SC shoots.

[SHARPSHOOTER]

The Israeli LBE is possibly the finest LBE on the face of the earth. Well designed and very very comfortable and copied by nearly everyone. I love mine. It and my SA PAT70 are my favorite pieces.

[Teleplayer]

I have the older style with the thinner shoulder straps, but even with that it is comfortable, roomy, VERY practical....paid about $140 for it about 2 years ago...

[BroncoMafia]

I have a Blackhawk ISAAK which is an enhanced version of the Izzy gear.
http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=1139&d=1

It is AWESOME.
Very comfortable way to cary lots of gear.

Many people see the price and choke.
If you consider the cost of all of the pouches that come with it, and how well setup it is, I think it's a bargain.

[2ndssnco]

How does this stuff handle .308 mags? The Blackhawk one looks nice but for that price, I'd probably go after an original IDF one. I know you get what you pay for, but where's the best place to find and IDF vest for under $180?

[Mad Dog 7.62]

I can't remember the designation of mine....A10 or A11, its this one.....extremly well made, well designed and well thought out. Purpose made pouches for everything from parachute flares to multi-tools....knife pocket, pen flare holder, flashlight holder, grenade pouches, rope loops, etc.
As far as mags, mine will hold two .308 or three .223 in each of the 4 mag pouches. You have two pouches on the back that will hold more ammo if you need it, I usually put first aid/survival gear in the lower pouch and food, spare clothing, etc in the upper.

[EMDII]

That is the A10- IIRC: a 'survival' LBE, as you can pack some sustainment gear into the packs, et al. The A11 (mine) is stricly a fighting/raid rig.

[mparrish]

I dropped the ball by not ordering a Recon vest (Izzy style) from Eli before he left. It was a kick butt vest that was good for work up here.

[donker]

I just wish there were mag dividers in them, then they would be perfect. I have the A11.

[FAL4ME2]

On the A10 THE UPPER BACKPACK is it a buttpack moved up or
a real day type pack?
I'd like to add one like that to my Danish LB Vest.

FAL4ME2 :)

[milhol]

Is the A10 the Special Forces Combat Vest for $185 on the website? Starting to get confused.:confused:



:beer:

[EMDII]

A10 is NOT the same. Look at that flash pic of theirs and you'll see the SF (ST) is a VEST, not a harness. The Commando harness two below below the SF vest appears a derivative of the A10.

A10 vest:

[BroncoMafia]

Originally posted by 2ndssnco
How does this stuff handle .308 mags? The Blackhawk one looks nice but for that price, I'd probably go after an original IDF one. I know you get what you pay for, but where's the best place to find and IDF vest for under $180?

Sorry I didn't respond till now.

The mag pouches handle FAL mags perfectly (2 per pouch, with or without magpuls) or 3 AR 30 mags per pouch.
They also have elastic sewn into the middle of each pouch to eliminate rattle.

[EMDII]

Go look at the pics of the RBGC or CSRA DPL shoots (Jan, Mar "Events") and see me wearing the A11. I use it specifically for the FAL/L1A1.

[donker]

I'm trying to figure out if the Special Forces Combat Vest is the same as sold at http://www.assaultvest.com/. Either the Reconnaissance Vest (most likely but not quite) or the EOD vest.

Oh Evil One, do your mags scrape much in your A11? Mines in storage or I'd try it out.

[EMDII]

When I shoot (1x or 2x a month) the A11 doesn't seem to bother the mags much. I whip them in and out. I do fold the cover inside the pouch then push in the mags. I then 'stack' the mags so that the outside one is 'on top'. When pulling Inch mags, this ensures I only get ONE!

[FranzLiebkind]

Do you think the A10 would hold 40 round HK33 mags?

[donker]

Probably because they are made for 35 rnd Galil mags. They might stick up about an inch or so higher though, the Galil mags just fit length wise.

[cessna-pilot]

Other than specific SWAT and Military reasons to buy this load bearing Equip., what would the average person do with this really expensive gear?
I'm just trying to see the need in it...no flame intended...:)

[donker]

Other than specific SWAT and Military reasons to buy this load bearing Equip., what would the average person do with this really expensive gear?


Lets ban it all. They serve no sporting purpose! Do it for the children.
Mr. and Mrs. America turn it all in. Fabric/nylon has been used in drive by shootings and has been implicated in the death of several police officers.



Rant off. Some people collect it. Some people use it for day hiking. Competition uses. Some places you can use it when shooting, lets you walk around and shoot instead of being tied to your car to reload. Some people buy it for survivalist reasons or bug out bags.

[cessna-pilot]

Hey Donker.....you might try switching to decaf man.....:biggrin:

[donker]

Decaf? Never heard of it. :biggrin: :beer:

[mparrish]

Actually, something like the latest version of IDF vests makes good sens e for back country day or weekend hiking. I know a few folks who challenge themselves to go really light with all the gear they can carry in a vest. High speed, low drag backpacker types.

It serves a purpose with some folks, a CDI factor for others.

I just think it makes me look studly. ;)

[wonderful_one]

I can swear by the IDF rifle slings.
Comfortable with heavier rifles if you have to carry them all day.
As for LBV, can't really say, I just use a light ranger/camera vest with lots of pockets and a duty belt to hold extras.
Never had to hump anything major around all day.

I got my slings back in Sept from Eli Wong also.

His business partner has everything you would want or need at the sites below.

Practical Tactical, LLC and
Assaultvest.com

20280 N. 59th Ave, #115-432
Glendale, AZ 85308 USA

Tel: +1 (602) 402-7385
Fax: +1 (623) 486-8945

www.practicaltactical.net
www.assaultvest.com
"Tough Life. Tougher Gear."

[TimW]

As mentioned above, Eli was KIA in Mosul in February of this year. I had been helping him run Assaultvest.com last year while he was TDY at EOD school. When he got out and arranged to get deployed, he and I discussed many things...and he ended up selling me the business before he left. It was a sad day when I read the news he'd been killed. For what it's worth, the funeral was very well attended, with full military honors.

FAL4ME - That is a permanently attached day pack. Will hold a lot of stuff...easily 3 fully packaged MREs with a bit of room left over. When empty, it collapses enough to wear an assault pack on the back w/o any problems.

The A-10 shown is my favorite of all of them and, were it not for 2 small issues, would be my LBE of choice...I would likely not have designed the MESA vest.

I am left-handed and a little on the portly side. On the upper chest area, on the left side, is where the compass pouch is...right in the "pocket" where one shoulders a rifle. In addition, unless all the other vests and the A-11 harness, the A-10 is not adjustable for girth beyond what you can get from the closure straps. All the other equipment has 1" adjustment straps in the kidney area. So, if you're much beyond 38-40" in your waist area, an A-10 is not for you.

The A-11 is a good "starter" LBE...basic, no frills, carries some ammo and other items. The Recon Vest is closest to the SF vest shown here, but is that vest on steroids. If you can't find a place to put it in the Recon, you likely don't need to be carrying it. Hold plenty of mags (8-12 depending on how you stuff them into the pouches), and will work with FAL mags.

If you're looking for something that will carry a boatload of FAL mags, take a gander at the MiniMi vest...you can hold about 16 FAL mags when fully loaded. Been there, done that, walked around like the Michelin Man. :)

The vests are all the same on the back side (A-10 is a little different and the A-11 had no backpack). The difference is the front-side pouches.

On a final note, I got in another order of slings, so I have plenty of those....

Feel free to give me a call or drop an email if you have other questions.

[RickD]

Why would someone want an LBE or LBV?

I'm supposing that not all people have an AR, AK, SKS, FAL, M1A or Garand for the sole purpose of competition. Others, I hope lots of others, have these rifles because they want to defend their rights.

I see dozens and dozens of such rifles at the local ranges. People popping off rounds for fun, others printing to paper and adjusting sights. Range bags full of 20 and 30 round mags.

I wonder if they have LBEs or LBVs for the purpose of carrying fully loaded magazines for such situations as the South-Central LA riots? The LA Bank Robbery? Name your poison.

If you consider your rifle just a toy, as so many trap & skeet shooters do (I refer to them as "Golfers with Guns," then so be it. That is a narrow viewpoint which I don't wish to share.

Rick

[mparrish]

Well Rick, not sure of the direction of your thread but let me add some input.

Some folks like vests as gear junkies or collectors (not that different from folks who collect other things, such as old books (me)). Others have a practical need. I personally see that a AssaultVest Recon vest is actually very handy for a short, go light pack trip. Everything on the body. I have LBE left over from my military days. Was handy at a couple of 3 gun events I attended (stripped down, of course).

Then of course, there are those who have a vest handy, "just in case." Whatever the case may be.

Don't really see a problem here.

[FNSam]

I use an old IDF Uzi rig to carry a few tools,flashlight and a radio at work. It seems to work just fine and doesn't pull on your back like a tool pouch does. I guess there as many uses for this stuff as your imagination allows.
FNSam

[FALx2]

HEY, it's not made in America!

[Gunga Din]

Originally posted by mparrish
.....Don't really see a problem here.
Rick doesn't either. He was replying to someone earlier who wondered about us.

[RickD]

Problem? :bigangel:

The worry was that someone might think that a person having an MBRifle and having an LBE for the purpose for which it was designed was somehow a bad thing.

Rick