User Panel
Posted: 4/21/2014 11:36:26 PM EDT
It used to be that Shellback Banshee was a solid recommendation for anybody looking for mil-spec, yet inexpensive plate carrier. But with the latest price hike, the Banshee has really moved out of the "budget" category and into "mid-priced". I've been struggling to think of a replacement. What do you suggest to somebody who wants more than what Condor/Voodoo provide, but can't pay the Mayflower kind of pricing? Let's say $100-$120 for a reliable, comfortable plate carrier with a cummerbund.
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Are you looking for one or just wondering what the new reliable budget carrier will be?
If you search around good deals can be had. I just got a brand new old stock FirstSpear for $140. Quality is well above the price at that point. |
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Are you looking for one or just wondering what the new reliable budget carrier will be? If you search around good deals can be had. I just got a brand new old stock FirstSpear for $140. Quality is well above the price at that point. View Quote A bit of both, really. I don't need to get one right this second, but possibly in the near future. |
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A bit of both, really. I don't need to get one right this second, but possibly in the near future. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Are you looking for one or just wondering what the new reliable budget carrier will be? If you search around good deals can be had. I just got a brand new old stock FirstSpear for $140. Quality is well above the price at that point. A bit of both, really. I don't need to get one right this second, but possibly in the near future. If you foresee needing a plate carrier, I would jump on the discounted/discontinued ones from First Spear. I'm not sure how much stock they have left. They are top quality, and about the same price as the banshee. |
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What's your price range? This looks solid and is sub $200 http://www.skdtac.com/FirstSpear-STT-Plate-Carrier-SKD-Exclusive-p/fsr.550.htm
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Been perfectly happy with the Condor MOPC and their other plate carriers.
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What's your price range? This looks solid and is sub $200 http://www.skdtac.com/FirstSpear-STT-Plate-Carrier-SKD-Exclusive-p/fsr.550.htm View Quote About $100-$120, what old Shellback Banshee used to be. |
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Maybe I'm just being a gear snob, but I still have a hard time putting "Condor" and "mil-spec" into the same sentence. I know some units procured Condor PCs during early stages of OIF and people were quite unhappy about it. Perhaps they did turn the corner, but I would've liked to see reports of sustained hard use before buying.
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Maybe I'm just being a gear snob, but I still have a hard time putting "Condor" and "mil-spec" into the same sentence. I know some units procured Condor PCs during early stages of OIF and people were quite unhappy about it. Perhaps they did turn the corner, but I would've liked to see reports of sustained hard use before buying. View Quote Here is the thing....hard use is hard use no matter what way you cut it. I have used the "mil-spec" shit like the old school flak jacket, Interceptor vest, and the IOTV. The only one that never torn or was damaged was the old school flak vest that I am sure had been in service since the 70s. Interceptor: Side plate pockets tore out, stitching was coming undone, and the Velcro wore out. IOTV: Stitching was starting to come undone and the Velcro was wore out. The point? Shit wears out if you use it hard. There is a member on this forum that used a Condor carrier for his Afghan tour as a dismounted Infantryman and it performed just fine. I am sure as a civilian a Condor PC will work just fine. I swear, some of you people will pay 5 times more for things just because it is "mil-spec". |
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The point? Shit wears out if you use it hard. There is a member on this forum that used a Condor carrier for his Afghan tour as a dismounted Infantryman and it performed just fine. I am sure as a civilian a Condor PC will work just fine. I swear, some of you people will pay 5 times more for things just because it is "mil-spec". View Quote Ordinarily I would agree with you, but in this particular case I really was looking for gear that will last for weeks and months of continuous usage, not just monthly trips to the range. |
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I have always regarded the Ares Armor Aspis carrier as superior to the Banshee. Cost is ~125.
http://www.optactical.com/ararasplca.html |
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Ordinarily I would agree with you, but in this particular case I really was looking for gear that will last for weeks and months of continuous usage, not just monthly trips to the range. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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The point? Shit wears out if you use it hard. There is a member on this forum that used a Condor carrier for his Afghan tour as a dismounted Infantryman and it performed just fine. I am sure as a civilian a Condor PC will work just fine. I swear, some of you people will pay 5 times more for things just because it is "mil-spec". Ordinarily I would agree with you, but in this particular case I really was looking for gear that will last for weeks and months of continuous usage, not just monthly trips to the range. Read the my post again. Guys have used condor PC's in Afghanistan and they work just fine. |
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Read the my post again. Guys have used condor PC's in Afghanistan and they work just fine. View Quote I'm sure they have. I'm sure you could take a random chinese airsoft vest to Afghanistan and it may hold up just fine as well. What makes a quality brand is that it's products will do so consistently. With Condor, my impression is that you may get lucky and it will hold up. With Mayflower/First Spear etc, my impression is that you'd have to be unlucky for it not to hold up. |
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It does look good, but I'm not familiar with this brand, to be honest. Who are they? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I have always regarded the Ares Armor Aspis carrier as superior to the Banshee. Cost is ~125. http://www.optactical.com/ararasplca.html It does look good, but I'm not familiar with this brand, to be honest. Who are they? Not familiar with ares? |
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so far I'm happy with my Minimalist PC from Grey Ghost Gear for $78 shipped on black friday. it's $115 on their site now
it's good quality but it is truly minimalist. good for low profile if kept slick most of the time it sits tucked away with my Guardian IV plates for $164 shipped FOR BOTH from Highcom |
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These guys make great gear - I have one of their carriers (Aspis). They are legit.
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so far I'm happy with my Minimalist PC from Grey Ghost Gear for $78 shipped on black friday. it's $115 on their site now it's good quality but it is truly minimalist. good for low profile if kept slick most of the time it sits tucked away with my Guardian IV plates for $164 shipped FOR BOTH from Highcom View Quote Link please and check ebay OP, i scored a velocity OAV for 180. |
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no longer available at that price. beginning of March Highcom had their 'Active Shooter Kit' with 2 single curve plates listed for $218 but I was also able to apply a 25% discount code bringing it down to $163.50 with free shipping
I'm pretty sure it was a mistake on their part because the next day Highcom upped the price to $298 my apologies; I haven't been able to gloat about it much |
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Have you looked at AWS, Inc's plate carrier for $150? Looks practically identical to LBT's 6094. Here's a review that compares AWS's PC to the 6094. Plus, it's made in the USA.
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I'm sure they have. I'm sure you could take a random chinese airsoft vest to Afghanistan and it may hold up just fine as well. What makes a quality brand is that it's products will do so consistently. With Condor, my impression is that you may get lucky and it will hold up. With Mayflower/First Spear etc, my impression is that you'd have to be unlucky for it not to hold up. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Read the my post again. Guys have used condor PC's in Afghanistan and they work just fine. I'm sure they have. I'm sure you could take a random chinese airsoft vest to Afghanistan and it may hold up just fine as well. What makes a quality brand is that it's products will do so consistently. With Condor, my impression is that you may get lucky and it will hold up. With Mayflower/First Spear etc, my impression is that you'd have to be unlucky for it not to hold up. The Tier One manufacturers have great gear. I prefer US made stuff too but I didn't have the budget so I bought a Condor carrier. I spent the money where it counts though - my Kevlar and my plates. OP - if you have the money, by all means get Mayflower or Eagle or whatever Tier One manufacturer you like. Whatever you do, just get good armor and run it through some courses. |
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Here is the thing....hard use is hard use no matter what way you cut it. I have used the "mil-spec" shit like the old school flak jacket, Interceptor vest, and the IOTV. The only one that never torn or was damaged was the old school flak vest that I am sure had been in service since the 70s. Interceptor: Side plate pockets tore out, stitching was coming undone, and the Velcro wore out. IOTV: Stitching was starting to come undone and the Velcro was wore out. The point? Shit wears out if you use it hard. There is a member on this forum that used a Condor carrier for his Afghan tour as a dismounted Infantryman and it performed just fine. I am sure as a civilian a Condor PC will work just fine. I swear, some of you people will pay 5 times more for things just because it is "mil-spec". View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Maybe I'm just being a gear snob, but I still have a hard time putting "Condor" and "mil-spec" into the same sentence. I know some units procured Condor PCs during early stages of OIF and people were quite unhappy about it. Perhaps they did turn the corner, but I would've liked to see reports of sustained hard use before buying. Here is the thing....hard use is hard use no matter what way you cut it. I have used the "mil-spec" shit like the old school flak jacket, Interceptor vest, and the IOTV. The only one that never torn or was damaged was the old school flak vest that I am sure had been in service since the 70s. Interceptor: Side plate pockets tore out, stitching was coming undone, and the Velcro wore out. IOTV: Stitching was starting to come undone and the Velcro was wore out. The point? Shit wears out if you use it hard. There is a member on this forum that used a Condor carrier for his Afghan tour as a dismounted Infantryman and it performed just fine. I am sure as a civilian a Condor PC will work just fine. I swear, some of you people will pay 5 times more for things just because it is "mil-spec". Or because we like stuff to fit right. Their one size fits all doesn't fit everybody.. |
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If a man were to do just that, what sort of AR500 plates would he need? I can't seem to find any dimensions on what fits... View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Grab that LBT 6073A on eBay If a man were to do just that, what sort of AR500 plates would he need? I can't seem to find any dimensions on what fits... He wouldn't. He'd need a good set of Level IV ceramics from Highcom, or Appalachian Training |
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He wouldn't. He'd need a good set of Level IV ceramics from Highcom, or Appalachian Training View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Grab that LBT 6073A on eBay If a man were to do just that, what sort of AR500 plates would he need? I can't seem to find any dimensions on what fits... He wouldn't. He'd need a good set of Level IV ceramics from Highcom, or Appalachian Training or bulletproofme |
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Grab that LBT 6073A on eBay If a man were to do just that, what sort of AR500 plates would he need? I can't seem to find any dimensions on what fits... He wouldn't. He'd need a good set of Level IV ceramics from Highcom, or Appalachian Training or bulletproofme Great. What size? |
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I don't know if its been brought up yet because I haven't read the whole thread but a friend of mine is purchasing a PC from Beez combat after doing a fair amount of research. I haven't gotten to try it out yet but I'll admit that I'm always excited to try out new gear. Might be worth checking them out.
Beez Combat Systems |
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Grab that LBT 6073A on eBay If a man were to do just that, what sort of AR500 plates would he need? I can't seem to find any dimensions on what fits... He wouldn't. He'd need a good set of Level IV ceramics from Highcom, or Appalachian Training or bulletproofme Great. What size? Level 4 lightweight triple curve shooter's cut Also, for the same price, LBT > Beez |
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Well, looks like I lucked out - turns out Brits are surplussing their Osprey Mk4 plate carriers, in Multicam no less (or their version thereof). These were just released in 2010, too. Midway has the carriers in small and medium for $60 (minus the pouches), CTD has XL with pouches for $100. I think that's an insane deal (so I got 2).
Doesn't really answer my question the way I thought about it, but I guess until they run out - Osprey might be the new Banshee. Except even cheaper. |
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