usgi molle gear??

JeffJ · October 21, 2011, 19:07

Opinions on usgi issue molle II riflemans vest??

RG Coburn · October 21, 2011, 19:50

I have an older woodland camo one. Pretty decent,but I like chest rigs better.

**Thorack** · October 22, 2011, 06:25

Well,

As a Soldier I thought the riflemen set up was garbage and as such it stayed in my duffle over the entire 15 months of my OIF V deployment. For a civilian not wearing IBA it might have some utility but I would only buy it if it was cheap in the extreme.

Thorack

**StG58Freak** · October 22, 2011, 07:15

They can be had very cheap brand new which is good for guys on a strict budget. I used the woodland vest with M-16 pouches for awhile but i didn't like it. I've never been into the vest thing but like i said it was cheap.

I never used it long enough to see how well it would hold up but i know alot of soldiers that didn't like it and bought their own gear. I use the Tactical Tailor two piece MAV (Modular Assault Vest) with the X - Harness and so far i think it's the best combat load rig i've ever used.

The MAV is not a vest as the name implies, it's more like an harness. It's the modern version of the old H-Suspenders and pistol belt.

JeffJ · October 22, 2011, 08:55

Well i found them new with pouches for 50 bucks..but it sounds like they aren't very well liked.

I figured the pouches would be Good for the plate carriers when I get them, is this a bad idea?

vest http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/StoreFront.bok

plate carrier http://www.bulletproofme.com/Photos/...er-PHOTO.shtml

..or is Alice gear still a better option even with plate carriers?

**StG58Freak** · October 22, 2011, 10:58

Quote:

Originally posted by JeffJ
Well i found them new with pouches for 50 bucks..but it sounds like they aren't very well liked.

I figured the pouches would be Good for the plate carriers when I get them, is this a bad idea?

vest http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/StoreFront.bok

plate carrier http://www.bulletproofme.com/Photos/...er-PHOTO.shtml

..or is Alice gear still a better option even with plate carriers?

We have a member here by the name of tacklenut62 that sells MOLLE gear. He may be able to hook you up, shoot him a PM and see what he can do. He had some good prices.

You may want to check out an ebay seller known as militarygearzone as well. They have some good prices and are top rated. Not long ago they had the new vests in Desert, Woodland and ACU for $11. . They also carry all of the other USGI MOLLE II gear. Buy a MOLLE II manual from them as well if you go that route. It'll show you how to assemble and adjust your gear unless you have a bud that is or was a soldier that knows the MOLLE gear.

If you don't have a fighting load system now and your budget is tight then get the USGI stuff, in this case something is better than nothing. The ALICE gear works even though it's old school technology and is cheap as well.

mrf2 · October 22, 2011, 11:25

Having been forced to use the FLC for several years, before putting the pouches on the vest was OK, I have a few things to add. The vest isn't bad if it is properly adjusted used for what it was designed for, to be worn over the interceptor body armor. You'll notice that it mostly replicates the MOLLE webbing coverage on the vest, allowing you to shed the pouches and gear but keep your armor on. But it is hard to adjust, and quality can be hit or miss. Worn with out armor the unpadded shoulders do nothing for you. SDS made a version for a while with padded shoulders but it was never addopted (and it was made in China/Vietnam). The vest is also difficult to adjust properly so if you wear it with out your armor it is most often left too big so it flops around, if you adjust it right then you will not be able to fit it over your armor....

Some of the pouches are ok, the canteen pouches are good and can be used for several different things. The grenade pouches make a great small GPS pouch or compass pouch, they have an internal loop for the grenade spoon that works great for dummy cords. I absolutly HATE the magazine pouches that came with the first generation MOLLE system. They are just like the pouches on the old USGI LBV, they are designed more for rention than the fast withdrawl of a magazine. Some people do like them though. I just don't.

Its not bad gear, it has just been outclased since it was addopted in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

JeffJ · October 22, 2011, 12:17

So what is the optimal set up with and without plate carriers?

mrf2 · October 23, 2011, 20:28

Like one of the other posters has said, I am a huge fan of the Tactical Tailor MAV. Personally, I like the two piece one with the "X-Harness". It is versatile enough to be worn as a vest or an LBE, works well with a pack, and it is not very expensive. I've had mine since '02, still going strong. You can buy it with a set of pouches that work well for most things you would want to do with the vest, or you can buy just the vest and use surplus USGI pouches.

At "work" I put the pouches directly on my flack jacket/plate carrier because I will never not wear it, but if I had the option not to, I would use the MAV.

**Story** · July 17, 2012, 09:33

If you're stuck with surplus ACU in UCP and you need to optimize it for your corner of North America, WECSOG with brown leather dye.

October 21, 2011, 19:07	#1
JeffJ Registered FALaholic #: 5212 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 1,977	usgi molle gear?? Opinions on usgi issue molle II riflemans vest??

October 22, 2011, 06:25	#3
Thorack Acquisition Corp Dude Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 748 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA Posts: 5,629	Well, As a Soldier I thought the riflemen set up was garbage and as such it stayed in my duffle over the entire 15 months of my OIF V deployment. For a civilian not wearing IBA it might have some utility but I would only buy it if it was cheap in the extreme. Thorack __________________ 1. Whenever you are talking to a woman realize this person was born insane and you will never be surprised. 2. Never let Doctors cut on you unless its life or death and ALWAYS get a second opinion.

October 22, 2011, 07:15	#4
StG58Freak banned Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 21043 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Behind You. Posts: 2,332	They can be had very cheap brand new which is good for guys on a strict budget. I used the woodland vest with M-16 pouches for awhile but i didn't like it. I've never been into the vest thing but like i said it was cheap. I never used it long enough to see how well it would hold up but i know alot of soldiers that didn't like it and bought their own gear. I use the Tactical Tailor two piece MAV (Modular Assault Vest) with the X - Harness and so far i think it's the best combat load rig i've ever used. The MAV is not a vest as the name implies, it's more like an harness. It's the modern version of the old H-Suspenders and pistol belt. Last edited by StG58Freak; October 22, 2011 at 07:21.

October 22, 2011, 08:55	#5
JeffJ Registered FALaholic #: 5212 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 1,977	Well i found them new with pouches for 50 bucks..but it sounds like they aren't very well liked. I figured the pouches would be Good for the plate carriers when I get them, is this a bad idea? vest http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/StoreFront.bok plate carrier http://www.bulletproofme.com/Photos/...er-PHOTO.shtml ..or is Alice gear still a better option even with plate carriers? Last edited by JeffJ; October 22, 2011 at 09:18.

October 22, 2011, 11:25	#7
mrf2 Registered FALaholic #: 261 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Quantico, VA Posts: 469	Having been forced to use the FLC for several years, before putting the pouches on the vest was OK, I have a few things to add. The vest isn't bad if it is properly adjusted used for what it was designed for, to be worn over the interceptor body armor. You'll notice that it mostly replicates the MOLLE webbing coverage on the vest, allowing you to shed the pouches and gear but keep your armor on. But it is hard to adjust, and quality can be hit or miss. Worn with out armor the unpadded shoulders do nothing for you. SDS made a version for a while with padded shoulders but it was never addopted (and it was made in China/Vietnam). The vest is also difficult to adjust properly so if you wear it with out your armor it is most often left too big so it flops around, if you adjust it right then you will not be able to fit it over your armor.... Some of the pouches are ok, the canteen pouches are good and can be used for several different things. The grenade pouches make a great small GPS pouch or compass pouch, they have an internal loop for the grenade spoon that works great for dummy cords. I absolutly HATE the magazine pouches that came with the first generation MOLLE system. They are just like the pouches on the old USGI LBV, they are designed more for rention than the fast withdrawl of a magazine. Some people do like them though. I just don't. Its not bad gear, it has just been outclased since it was addopted in the late 1990s/early 2000s. __________________ YAT YAS

October 21, 2011, 19:50	#2
RG Coburn Registered FALaholic #: 27406 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,890	I have an older woodland camo one. Pretty decent,but I like chest rigs better.

October 22, 2011, 12:17	#8
JeffJ Registered FALaholic #: 5212 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 1,977	So what is the optimal set up with and without plate carriers?

October 23, 2011, 20:28	#9
mrf2 Registered FALaholic #: 261 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Quantico, VA Posts: 469	Like one of the other posters has said, I am a huge fan of the Tactical Tailor MAV. Personally, I like the two piece one with the "X-Harness". It is versatile enough to be worn as a vest or an LBE, works well with a pack, and it is not very expensive. I've had mine since '02, still going strong. You can buy it with a set of pouches that work well for most things you would want to do with the vest, or you can buy just the vest and use surplus USGI pouches. At "work" I put the pouches directly on my flack jacket/plate carrier because I will never not wear it, but if I had the option not to, I would use the MAV. __________________ YAT YAS

July 17, 2012, 09:33	#10
Story Old Fart Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 7638 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Right here Posts: 5,210	If you're stuck with surplus ACU in UCP and you need to optimize it for your corner of North America, WECSOG with brown leather dye. __________________ The wartime diary of Kriegsmarine Oberleutnant z.S. Max von Zatorski. https://www.facebook.com/SeeklarDiaries

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