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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Condor...Yea or Nea (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/9/2013 4:39:44 AM EDT
| Just curious. Was in a little Army Navy store yesterday and they carry a metric ton of the stuff. Looked decent (even though made in China). |
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Here is my take on Condor or any other knock-off gear...if you get a cheap pouch and it breaks, you're only out one pouch and whatever was in it. If you get a cheap chest rig and it breaks, you've lost your entire load.
My core pieces of gear (chest rig, plate carrier, holster, back pack, sling, etc.) are all quality and items I like to think I can count on. I happen to be in a position to get quality pouches as well but if you are not, I think you can skimp on the pouches and not be at a huge disadvantage. |
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For clothes, who cares.. You aren't going to get any extra utility from a coolguy jacket or pants that you couldn't find at Target for 1/3rd of the price and 80% less velcro.
For equipment, If you like to collect things or dress up, buy whatever the hell you want. If you are using it for work, or you truly want to count on putting your equipment through some rough shit and having it still work some day, pay the premium and go with proven models from companies with a solid reputation. If you aren't "dressing up", running your balls off and drenching your equipment in sweat at least a few times a year, you're wrong. |
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My go-to-gear for work is mostly tactical tailor or HSGI, expensive I know, but it holds up.
I do have a Condor summit jacket, and it has held up so far, so for clothing it works. Last year, I did buy a Condor chest rig to check it out and surprisingly it has held up as well. I have only used it for training, and left the more expensive stuff for work. |
| IMHO...it depends on what you choose to use it for. I have stuff by SDS, SpecOps and Condor. Condor's not the best of the three but, considering the price...if it fails, it's cheap to replace. Don't get anyone else's opinions...buy it and try it. If it works for your particular applications, good. |
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IMHO...it depends on what you choose to use it for. I have stuff by SDS, SpecOps and Condor. Condor's not the best of the three but, considering the price...if it fails, it's cheap to replace. Don't get anyone else's opinions...buy it and try it. If it works for your particular applications, good. THe only thing I would add is that yes, if it fails at the range, it is cheap to replace. If it fails in the field, you could be in for a long day of frustration. |
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IMHO...it depends on what you choose to use it for. I have stuff by SDS, SpecOps and Condor. Condor's not the best of the three but, considering the price...if it fails, it's cheap to replace. Don't get anyone else's opinions...buy it and try it. If it works for your particular applications, good. THe only thing I would add is that yes, if it fails at the range, it is cheap to replace. If it fails in the field, you could be in for a long day of frustration. Or worse... OP, I'd encourage you to spend more money and buy better quality gear if this is going to be for serious social use. |
| Its ok for what it is. But think of it this way, good quality American stuff that is vastly supperior to Condor is around the same price or only 10-20% more expensive. Why not buy the better stuff from the get go? Army surplus stores and "tactical" stores like Condor because they get a much higher margin than the American stuff (i.e. more money for them). Some brands, such as Tyr, stores sell it for the price they pay (no profit at all). |
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I like my condor gear, others hate it I like my Condor gear too. I have some Condor gear and so far they've held up well. YMMV. I'm not a hardcore operator by the way, just a veteran. By the way, none of my clothes are made in America, so to hate Condor just because its not American made is just dumb. Condor is an American company who is smart enough to have sweat shop employees make their stuff. As a business perspective, they pay out lower wages to sell it for cheap. As long as the quality and construction is there, I will continue to buy Condor products regardless where it is made. My condor backpack has been on dozens of hikes in Colorado alone, the thing finally is starting to get worn in after years |
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Just curious. Was in a little Army Navy store yesterday and they carry a metric ton of the stuff. Looked decent (even though made in China). My local suplus store is like that too, that's why I tried them out. I was very skeptic on buying them because of low retail but it is too early to judge because the stuff I have from them is 2 years or less old. |
. Otherwise, it's chinese made crap. Save your pennies and buy quality gear.
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True fucking story. I had a Condor pouch on my warbelt and the zipper broke on me and dumped 2 M67s on a 6 man R&S in Jalaleh, Afghanistan in Kunar at like 2 in the morning. Searching for frags under NVGs in Taliban country has made me loath the assholes at Condor more than the Taliban themselves.
Buy once cry once. |
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Quoted: Buy once cry once. My main cold weather jacket I have been wearing in Afghanistan was one of the Condor softshells (the thicker one), with fleece underneath. It sucked. Zippers got all fuckered up, and I finally had to stop using it in December/January. Several other guys have Condor gear, varying from pouches, soft shells and plate carriers. I've decided to no longer waste my money on substandard gear.
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I purchased my Condor Summit softshell jackets three years ago now and it's been going strong. The only issue I've had with it was when my wife tossed it in a dryer (my fault for not standing guard near the washer) and the heat caused the glue that joins two parts of the rubber cuff adjuster to fail so that it split. I re-glued it though with some good stuff and it's been fine ever since.
How hard do you I use my jacket? I Shutzhund train with a 95 lbs GSD that jumps up on me with his bear claws and not one single snag has ever developed. I wear it in snow, rain, and other crappy weather here in the freakish weather State that is Michigan. I take it the range and cake it mud going prone into rocks and grass and so far she's still going strong. So the Summit Jacket has been "good-to-go." For me and I wouldn't hestiate to recommend it to other folks. Also, not all their gear is made overseas. A growing number of their tac gear is made here in the USA. They have a plate carrier coming out that looks very promising that is a 500 Denier plate carrier ver similiar to the Banshee, but with a few key differences like multicam webbing, hydration routing loops, slightly different shoulder pads, and multicam printed webbing (not the wrapped webbing like they've done in the past). |
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IMHO...it depends on what you choose to use it for. I have stuff by SDS, SpecOps and Condor. Condor's not the best of the three but, considering the price...if it fails, it's cheap to replace. Don't get anyone else's opinions...buy it and try it. If it works for your particular applications, good. THe only thing I would add is that yes, if it fails at the range, it is cheap to replace. If it fails in the field, you could be in for a long day of frustration. Or worse... OP, I'd encourage you to spend more money and buy better quality gear if this is going to be for serious social use. My take also. The heavier the load on the Condor, et.al. item, the less I would trust it. |
| Condor products are hit or miss. Some are actually decent products made for a cheap price because they use chinese labor. It make come down to whether or not your piece of gear was made by Mr. Chen at the start of his 16hr. shift or the end. From what I've heard their war belt stuff is garbage. Ive owned one of their chest rigs and it held up through a few strenuous training sessions before I ended up getting a better rig. I also have a pack of theirs that holds some bail out supplies. Haven't put it through anything but the construction is surprisingly decent. All said and done though if my life depended on my gear I would invest in higher end kit. |
| I have a short condor case that my ksg fits in perfect and another for my m4. I like them, the zippers are good and padding is adequate, I don't see the need in spending a boatload of money on rifle cases because in my opinion they are not really hard use gear (with the exception of a drag bag) for their rifle cases I say goodto go. For vests and mag pouches I would recommend spending a little more money on tactical tailor or another reputable brand because they will be used harder, same goes for back packs. Just my .02, YMMV |
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Quoted: Here is my take on Condor or any other knock-off gear...if you get a cheap pouch and it breaks, you're only out one pouch and whatever was in it. If you get a cheap chest rig and it breaks, you've lost your entire load. My core pieces of gear (chest rig, plate carrier, holster, back pack, sling, etc.) are all quality and items I like to think I can count on. I happen to be in a position to get quality pouches as well but if you are not, I think you can skimp on the pouches and not be at a huge disadvantage. Pretty much sums up how I feel. |
| Nea. If you have to go cheap there are much better ways to go than crappy Chinese stuff. USGI surplus will at least be durable/rugged and tends to be fairly cheap. I have had good luck with surplus carriers, pouches, and some protective items as long as they are new like my ESBI side plates for instance (surplus from missiontactical). The arent always the coolest, lightest, or have the most features but USGI stuff at least is made to some standards and tested to some degree even if certain items leave a bit to be desired (like the large Molle ruck system). The only condor item I have considered buying is the shotshell pouch because I like the design. |
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Be well rounded and purchase what you can afford. Unless you're an operator your gear should compliment your life not dominate it. Civies have things like mortgage payments, retirement, kid's college tuition, and so forth to put money toward. To be fair I have all that stuff too, and most of us deploying to harms way are buying our own gear. But I see your point. |
| I have purchased two pieces of Condor gear and both came apart at the stiches. The first piece came new with the stiching seperated. They will not get any more of my money. I try and buy USA whenever possible. I would rather pay more for American goods. But thats just me..... |
It really depends what you buy from them the 42" one leaves something to be desired. The 28" bags from Condor are good to go for sub guns and SBR's. The Drago brand actually makes a pretty decent 38" double rifle bag. I'll make a thread one day when I have some time to photograph each bag in detail and explain the advantages or disadvantages each bag has. I for one don't travel halfway around the world on wetworks details or Delta operations, these bags should be bought with the intention of light travel to the range or outdoors for some fun while being a little discrete.
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Most American high end gear makers have a warranty and some, if not most, a lifetime warranty. Just sayin' Lifetime warranty is only good when the company is still in business. I do not trust warranties anymore as you are at the discretion of the company on when they get around to fixing it. |
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The message here is "your mileage may vary".
I've got a Condor padded double rifle bag and it is holding up very well. The stitching is tight, no frayed ends, the buckles are solid, the nylon is heavy gauge, the padding is firm and the zippers are robust and strong. I'm not dragging it all over Afghanistan, but it's doing what it was designed to do with zero sign of poor craftsmanship. A great value piece of kit in my opinion. I think for a lot of stuff, you pay for the brand name. There are some legitimately "next level" brands, like Eberlestock, but for my purposes, the Condor gear is fine. |
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I haven’t experienced Condor being any better or worse than Blackhawk or Maxpedition gear.
I’m pretty hard on my gear (not combat, but hiking and other rough outdoors work - I dont really baby stuff). Some stuff breaks some doesn’t; just luck I guess. I'd buy it again. |
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I just bought a $50 ATS(US made) small med pouch and a $15 Condor med pouch. I first of all was dissapointed that the ATS was only 500d just like the Condor. The stitching on the ATS was no better than the Condor but maybe a bit straighter in some spots. The ATS has a much beefier zipper and also the strips for threading into the PALS is sewn the full length of the bag and will never fail. The Condor is just sewn into a seam at the top of the bag. I prefer the ATS for its beefy zipper.Both can be ripped open like a bag of chips(not using pulls) but I think the little Condor teeth would be likey to fail from such treatment. |
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depends on your intended use. I have a condor chest rig for shtf only. I'm not using it day in day out in harsh condiditons. I leave it loaded with 6 full mags for emergency use only. it fits this purpose just fine. Yes, until a real, honest to God SHTF. Then you put on your craptastic Condor, the seams bust, and your magazines fall out. Have you tested your kit in a real emergency? |
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depends on your intended use. I have a condor chest rig for shtf only. I'm not using it day in day out in harsh condiditons. I leave it loaded with 6 full mags for emergency use only. it fits this purpose just fine. Yes, until a real, honest to God SHTF. Then you put on your craptastic Condor, the seams bust, and your magazines fall out. Have you tested your kit in a real emergency? I know everyone hates on condor , but Its(this one anyway) actually a very solid rig. http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Modular-Chest-Set-Tan/dp/B0037MOFTU/ref=sr_1_114?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1361024501&sr=1-114 |
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Well,
The way I see it there is two schools of thought. Buy cheap, if it works, great, if not, not out much. Buy quality, it will work. Now, I ask you this question, you are jumping out of an airplane, do you want the quality chute, or the cheap one? Or, you need brain surgery, do you shop for the cheapest price? Now, I'm all for buy us...but that is second to quality... Quality first, bar none for me. So, you bought a cheap holster for your g23 now, your running from the idiot shooting up the grocery store, well, your sidearm is now laying under a car cuz it fell out. If there is room for improvement then improve. If you can't buy two good holster get one good one...or save to get the quality item. There are many quality items from china as well as the us...but both have crap as well. Same goes true for lots of items. My 2 cents Bret |
| AR-Bret...you make a good point on quality first. I believe there are plenty of quality USA manufactured companies out there to choose from. If at all possible, I will pay more for made in the USA, than foreign. Just buy quality for Gods sake. Your life could depend on it. |
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Just curious. Was in a little Army Navy store yesterday and they carry a metric ton of the stuff. Looked decent (even though made in China). Let me guess the one by MIA, on 36 st. ? Nope, but I've heard heard of the one down off Flagler??? Is that the same place? |
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depends on your intended use. I have a condor chest rig for shtf only. I'm not using it day in day out in harsh condiditons. I leave it loaded with 6 full mags for emergency use only. it fits this purpose just fine. Yes, until a real, honest to God SHTF. Then you put on your craptastic Condor, the seams bust, and your magazines fall out. Have you tested your kit in a real emergency? I know everyone hates on condor , but Its(this one anyway) actually a very solid rig. http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Modular-Chest-Set-Tan/dp/B0037MOFTU/ref=sr_1_114?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1361024501&sr=1-114 No it isn't. A quality rig will use better thread, better attention to detail on the stitching and won't have a tag that says Condor. That's his point, its not a solid rig, it's a questionable rig that is not known for it's dependability. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Condor...Yea or Nea (Page 1 of 2)
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