I have a military IFAK and want to pick another one up. In know it is cheaper to set up your own, but time is kind of a factor. Can anybody point me in the direction of an affordable complete IFAK? AR500 has one that is affordable and looks to have most everything I need.

Blue Force Gear has some options

Here’s the deal, medical components vary very little in price, so if you take the time to figure out the individual costs of each component in the kits you’re looking at, you can tell if it’s a good deal or not.  Most of the “cost” of these kits is the variation in pouches and overhead to the company selling it, not the components, as they’re made by a very limited number of manufacturers.

Spend a day doing research for yourself rather than trusting the internet to find it for you and I guarantee you’ll have better results and for a reasonable price.

Thanks. I found a Sirk gen 2 IFAK refill for a good price. Got a surplus IFAK pouch, couple extra packs of quick clot, extra Israeli bandage, and trauma shears. All said and done it was still cheaper than any complete kit.

Very Strange double tap...

Anyhoo, good deal, I’ve spent at least $3K in medical supplies over the last two years, maybe more.  The only reason to buy anprebuitk kit is if it’s on such a significant sale it’s a no brainer, or it comes with the exact correct pouch you intend to use for a good value (that you couldn’t otherwise buy on its own.).

Secondly, most folks go for kits because they’re vacuum sealed.  Well fuck, a food saver and a small dessicant pack and you’ve saved yourself $5-10 dollars or more of markup.

Same here.  No NODs yet but the mount/rails option is the way to go if the group price is right:

https://www.protectiongroup.dk/en/bullet-proof-helmets-c-5/arch-bullet-proof-helmet-khaki-tan-p-12

The cheapo chinese knock-off ballistic helmet I was planning on getting from Kota Outfitters is out-of-stock.

Back face deformation is a thing, I'd avoid the chinesium helmets. Are they cheaper than the Danish ones?

Thanks for the advice. My medical experience is lacking (Army CLS a handful of times and some LE oriented equivalents). I've always been issued IFAKs. Once I get this set up, I'm going to start putting together a bigger CLS type kit for the truck.

Yeah, you’re right hence the reason I was gonna go with a Large for a bit more room for deformation, but it’s out of stock now.  I waited too long.

$132
https://www.kotaoutfitters.com/product-page/ach-fast-high-cut-iii-a-ballistic-helmet

and I could be wrong but I think it’s this Badger helmet (ETA: fixed link)
https://midwestarmor.com/products/badger-ach-high-cut-iii-a/

The Danish one you found looks legit.  I assume it meets NATO standards, etc

I'd be in on a helmet but it doesn't look like they make one big enough

Tag

So glad I caught this thread.  I just started chatting with CAKEPWNER to figure plate type and fit for me.

+1 on looking at RMA, III+ multi curve SAPI with their VA promotion is $240ish for a medium.

That's what I ordered. I think my PC will be too big. Who knows if they will arrive by 20 Jan though.

I doubt it, I'll probably be plateless.

As an alternative I'd suggest the 3M Combat High Cut. U.S. made, known quantity manufacturer, good shell geometry. Price is still reasonable, actually lower than the "Danish" helmet.

ETA: Be careful on those PGD helmets. They're "designed" in Denmark, doesn't say "made" in Denmark. I'd question their origin.

To be equivalent with the Danish helmet, with rails and NVG mount they're $567.17.

A $187 price difference for a U.S. made product from a top manufacturer with U.S. made accessories from another known U.S. manufacturer vs. a foreign "designed" helmet whose actual place of manufacture is obscured along with the place of origin for every single one of the accessories on it?

Sounds about right. The 3M helmet is also a touch lighter, for what it's worth. You'll also get better fit out of the 4 size shell system offered with the 3M vs. the 2 size system offered with the PGD.

I'm not saying the PGD shell or the company is bad, but there are some questions I'd like answered first before I would place an order for one.

@longhunter09
@Ben

I've been shopping around for IFAK pricing based on the BFG Micro Trauma Kit Now and the Medium Trauma Kit Now. I missed BFG's Christmas day deal on the Micro.

I wanted to compare pricing for the Micro complete from BFG or the Pouch only with purchasing supplies separate. I also wanted to compare purchasing the SIRK Gen 2 IFAK refill kit component separately or as a kit online.

ETA: Sorry - Apparently my formatting when I typed this changes once I hit submit

Micro Trauma Kit Now - Complete w/Adv. Trauma Kit from BFG  $199.95

Micro Trauma Kit Now - Bare - $69.95
QuickClot Combat Gauze - $42.89 - Contents Priced from http://www.1110gear.com/med-supplies/
HyFin Vent Chest Seal - Compact (2 seals included) - $11.99
Cleer Medical Trauma Bandage 4” Flat Pack - $9.49
Decompression needle - $9.50
Six 2” x 9” Frog Tape - $3.10
Size 28F Nasopharyngeal Airway - $5.50
Heavy Duty Medical Gloves in tan (1 pair) - $1.50
Total - $153.92

Note: Micro Trauma Kit does not included TQ's

Trauma Kit Now - Medium - $79.95
TyTek Medical Piranha Trauma Shears 5.5" - Black - $8.99
NAR Compressed Gauze - $2.99
QuickClot Combat Gauze - $42.89
NAR ETD (Emergency Trauma Dressing) 6" Flat Pack - $7.99
HyFin Vent Chest Seal - Compact (2 seals included) - $11.99
NAR Heavy Duty Medical Gloves in tan (2 pairs) - $3.00
Fox Aluminum Eye Shield (qty 2) - $3.00 - https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
1" x 10yds 3M Durapore Tape - $1.50 - https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Decompression needle - $9.50
2 x Gen 7 CAT Tourniquets - $60.00
Contents only - $151.85 - Based on Skinny Medic's YouTube Channel
Complete - $231.80 - Pouch w/ above contents

NAR Gen 2 SIRK Kit (Venture Surplus 3/2022 exp.) - $74.99 - https://www.venturesurplus.com/products/north-american-rescue-gen-2-sirk-kit/
2 x Gen 7 CAT Tourniquets
1 x 4" Trauma Dressing
1 x Quikclot Combat Gauze
1 x NAR Compressed Gauze
1 x ARS Decompression, 14 gauge
1 x Nasopharyngeal Airway, 28F w/ lube
1 x Fox Eye Shield
1 x Twin Pack, Hyfin Chest Seal
1 x Minin Duck Tape
1 x Permanent Marker
1 x Benchmade Model 7 Rescue Hook
1 x Casualty Documentation Card
Add - TyTek Med.Piranha Trauma Shears 5.5" - Blk - $8.99 http://www.1110gear.com/
Add 1 - Fox Aluminum Eye Shield (qty 1) - $3.00 https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Add - 1" x 10yds 3M Durapore Tape - $1.50 https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Add - NAR ETD (Emergency Trauma Dressing) 6" Flat Pack - $7.99https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Contents Only - $96.47
Trauma Kit Now - Medium - $79.95
Complete - $176.42

BFG also has their Tourniquet NOW! Strap Tourniquet Holder for $9.00 that will mount on top of the Trauma Kit Now - Medium pouch or Molle on a war belt or PC

I think purchasing the SIRK Gen 2 Refill from Venture Surplus may be the best deal by far.  You can even supplement a few items from 1110gear.com to match BFG's contents for the Micro and still come out way ahead plus the 2 additional Gen 7 CAT TQ's.

I have 3 Surplus Scott M95 Gas masks without filters I picked up from the thread the other day, free for my Virginia brothers. Buy yourself a canister and you're set. Located in Hampton.

First of the med bags finished up. Attached File

Does anyone have a line on a decent used medium battle-belt setup, or recommendations on an affordable rig?

I've never used one, since my PC was set up as an active-shooter rig to be worn with my duty belt. As I'm adding gear, I don't have room on my PC for everything.

You're looking for used and not new?

Either

Really, you can put together a cheap warbelt using an old LBE belt, and some pouches. It doesn’t have to be whiz-bang.  But id hit Glenn’s Army Surplus.com for cheap gear in good condition.

I looks like we both missed us-elitegear.com's sale on the HSGI Sure Grip padded belt for $28.  I'm assuming it was a Black Friday/Christmas sale.

I ended up finding a used one for a pretty good price

I have a 511 plate carrier used for work outs, not armor, and various non trauma first aid kits.  Would be interested in upping my gear and training.

Back in the Clinton era I spent way too much on what turned out to be crap, and have been wary about repeating the same mistakes again.

You can find all kinds of excellent quality plate carriers for around $200.  OCPC, JPC 2.0, etc

Sent an inquiry email to RMA.  Short version of the response is the VA 10% off is the best they can do unless we can generate over $4k and then they'd re-examine how they can help.

So to do better than their current promotion, we'd need to order 20 plates or better.

This is definitely a deal worth checking out if you need plates.

At least on its face that doesn't even sound hard to do. At 2 plates per person that's only 10 people buying in.

I'm about to pull the trigger on new plates from them...

Esstac also has these for $170 shipped per plate.  https://www.esstac.com/product-page/hesco-l210-sh-sc-l-special-threat-shooters-cut
Delivered in two days.

I ordered L210 plates from Infidel Armor with a plate carrier back in December for $400/shipped. Granted it's a crappy Condor carrier but it fits around my beer gut. The beer gut / barrel chest make the single curve less cumbersome.

Serious question;  Is there something deficient with the 511 plate carrier?   It's marketed to the crossfit crowd these days,  but was originally designed for the military.

I picked it because I want to eventually scale it up to about 100 pounds,  which it should be able to handle.

There has been lots of bad advice floating around about gear over the years targeted at non .mil guys like me. After wasting a bunch of money on crap in the past,  I've mostly taken the philosophy of start with what I know works from camping and go from there.  But we're getting pretty far outside my area of experience,  hence the desire to up my training too.

I was just about to post this exact question. I happened to pick two up for a great price a couple years ago. They’re comfortable, and all those CrossFit weirdos seem to have actually proven they hold up, and can be used during physical activity. I’m sure arf has thrown some hate at them just because they were somewhat associated with CrossFit, but I’d like to know as well if there is a legitimate reason these aren’t better liked?

I have no experience with the 5.11 carrier.  I've been soaking up the carrier advice from guys like Daemon734 and demoMouse in the Tactical Gear section who use their gear hard overseas.

I just read this whole thread. This looks like a great price. Maybe too great. Is this a good helmet or airsoft stuff? Recommendation?  Thanks!

I’d be interested in an ECH or similar rifle-rated helmet, if a group deal is available.

I'm not aware of any rifle rated helmet on the commercial market available to Civs., excluding a couple appliques which are helmet specific anyway.

Which rifle rated helmets are you aware of not on the civilian market?

@CAKEPWNER

#madeinChina

3M Combat II, the ECH obviously, and Diamond Age developed the Bastion (really a standard ballistic helmet with an applique system) and that's pretty much it.

There is one more, the Armorsource AS-600 which can be bought from Security Pro, but Armorsource as a company has a history that makes me extremely wary of their products.

Their AS-600s that we tested held up to what they claimed it would.

They are awful to deal with as a company though.

Good info / guidance in this thread.  Thank you.

I still need a helmet.

I still need an IFAK.  Going to StopTheBleed training on Wednesday night.  Hope to get a better understanding of what to include in a kit and how to use it if needed.  Then refer to the suggestions posted by BigD18.

I still need a gas mask.  Anyone have any insight into pros/cons with the Swedish option below?  E.g., I wonder if the buckle locations would interfere / preclude its use with a helmet.

$84 Gas Mask: A4 Forsheda Gas Mask Respirator with Filter

And a pair of standard NATO 40mm filters for $59: 2 Pack Of CBRN Gas Mask Filters

Ordered some new plates for my carrier from RMA, their 3+ multi-curves.  My old ones will go in a carrier for my wife.

From discussions on Sunday, I'm squared away on IFAK, still need to schedule training.  Looked at a few battle belts in person this week, didn't find anything that fit or worked for me, so that's a work in progress. I did upgrade the sling / hydration pack so that should help the whole gear flopping around issue.

Given budget and other constraints for where I'm at personally, I don't think I'm going to focus on gas masks & plates right now.

Been looking for a helmet to fit my noggin that will get here in time and coming up short.  Any ideas?

We can lend you a helmet.

Thanks

Who needs plates? Have a guy that got new plates today and didn't like them- he wants thinner plates made of steel.

PM me if you are in the market for a large set of plates.

Squared away on everything except helmet - anyone know a source locally to pick one up/ borrow one?