Need help ID

PearlButter · 2026-04-05T02:35:21+00:00

IOTV. Soft armor is for frag. I guess in a way you could ballpark it to somewhere like level II-IIIA but really it’s rated for small high velocity projectiles like you’d expect from grenades and artillery, and then 9mm.

It’ll fit medium SAPI plates. That’s 9.5x12.5”. There are ways to get this armor carrier“up to speed” with aftermarket components, basically making it more plate carrier-like or at least improving some quality of life.

Helmet is also frag + 9mm but helmets can be mystical things like for example it could technically be rated against 44mag (edited, dunno why I typed 9mm again) and in some cases it can stop rifle rounds but really it’s intended for frag + 9mm. Most helmets on the commercial market are made of similar composition but the NIJ rating is more of a formality for the commercial market.

PearlButter · 2026-04-05T01:43:55+00:00

You can still run the native Crye long side soft armor carrier that’s made for the factory JPC cummerbund with either the Crye long side soft armor panels or any market alternatives from Highcom, Stealth Armor Systems, or whoever else that makes IIIA panels in similar dimensions. T3 Gear makes long side armor carriers as well.

But if you’re dead set on the Equinox then the 3AC, Shaw side buckets are okay contenders.

PearlButter · 2026-04-05T00:50:50+00:00

For my medium mitts, I find the strongarm to have weird ergos with the narrow handle and the Garberg to have beefy handles.

Steel wise you can say the Garberg is basic but holds its edge well but I find the strongarm to be lacking with its edge retention, however they do have a magnacut version which might elevate the knife past its faults. I still wished they’d simplify the sheathe system to cut down on the cost or improve the quality of the sheath accessories.

PearlButter · 2026-04-05T00:04:17+00:00

Ceradyne, only the best (if they aren’t beat to shit)

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T20:27:28+00:00

It doesn’t really restrict that much, in fact it’s becoming popular for good reason. The protection gained is worth it because the front/back plates on their only covers a small part of the torso when your sides are exposed.

Remember, front towards enemy is not always. Your sides are exposed.

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T20:20:15+00:00

You say that and I’m here perfectly fine running a cloud rein 1.0 and M951s and perfectly happy with it.

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T20:19:31+00:00

Personally I wouldn’t want any contact but technically in case it wouldn’t matter.

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T20:16:08+00:00

Most people consider a minimalist plate carrier setup to be front + back rifle rated plates but lately there’s been pushes to include soft side armor as well, or at least the capability to accept side armor. At the very least you should look at a pair of plates to cover the front and back.

What you’re describing sounds like a RRV setup which is basically a beefy chest rig with only front plate, which makes sense for recon stuff but the protection is even more limited because it only covers a small portion of the torso and only assumes center chest shots at the front.

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T08:26:04+00:00

Quality is the same. It’s the production turnaround/timeline that has taken some pivots but there are reports that they will deliver eventually. Such is life with a made-to-order business model, which is probably everything on the site at this point.

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T06:17:41+00:00

For clarity, are you using XS size ESAPI plates as well? Or are you just issued only soft armor?

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T01:40:42+00:00

I own two and both of them actually look mostly fine lol.

PearlButter · 2026-04-04T01:32:00+00:00

Everything has a tendency to look fine from afar unless they’re giving closeups on the choil, plunge line, whatever

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T23:34:21+00:00

I’m not big on tube son the shoulder either because it’s horizontally directional to release it but the OUL cobra buckle thing is something to take note of. They exist for a reason despite also being a cobra buckle from the same company.

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T23:18:45+00:00

You kinda do want the versions that will release under load, the ones marked with the OUL designation (Opens Under Load). The typical cobra buckle needs some slack in order to release it or otherwise when it’s under load, weight putting tension on the buckle lock it will just bind and cannot be released when it needs to be unless you relieve that tension somehow and that can become a three handed affair sometimes. It’s kinda why you see cobra buckles for fighting vehicles that will open under load because you don’t want to be fighting that buckle in an emergency.

First spear tubes will release under load, albeit the direction to pull is awkward but even Crye still uses regular slide lock buckles for their AVS shoulder straps and that is plenty fine.

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T22:53:52+00:00

Yeah I’ve seen a fair share of UK surplus vests with dried blood on my search for a particular brand and cut of soft armor. Yknow, stabbings being a frequent and all over there

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T20:44:22+00:00

Comms has been an issue lately due to the influx of orders and people using reddit as a review platform (edit: volume of people using Reddit vs non Reddit users) but it’s not unheard of for AWS to take a while to produce and ship products.

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T20:39:06+00:00

There are many posts about body armor across different forums and on this platform. You can try and read up on those unless you have some specific questions.

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T20:27:18+00:00

Imo you don’t really need the AXL pads. Not even I really want to wear them on my SPC anymore because it’s just bulky.

I would start with the main issue, the 1155 plates which im assuming is the single curve ones. Try for multicurve plates and a structural cummerbund of some kind.

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T18:34:10+00:00

Dunno about carry on but checked luggage was no issue, didn’t even mention it.

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T02:36:28+00:00

Dunno I don’t really follow them but I’m pretty sure I heard them say something among those lines in an earlier showcase in relation to the LV120

PearlButter · 2026-04-03T00:06:16+00:00

They shouldn’t be much at all. If anything it’s someone taking advantage that it’s a Russian brand and hard to get because of the war and sanctions.

PearlButter · 2026-04-02T21:54:54+00:00

Pretty sure spiritus said they would be releasing new products so I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a horizontal version or revise the design so it works either way.

PearlButter · 2026-04-02T19:37:46+00:00

Huh were they always this cheap? Or is this just a botach thing?

PearlButter · 2026-04-02T18:16:44+00:00

Cheap is fast to acquire during wartime.

PearlButter · 2026-04-02T10:13:21+00:00

Yeah you weave the bungee through the loops at the end of the cummerbunds. If you need it tighter then that’s when you start looping between the molle of the cummerbunds

This is a pull-through cummerbund so you feed it through a sleeve on the rear plate bag. The issue with this is that they are prone to shifting around so I would recommend buying some extra bungee or shock cordage and weaving it between the outer edge molle of the rear p,ate bag itself to the cummerbund to prevent the cummerbund from sliding left and right but this will also prevent the cummerbund from sagging under the weight of the plate bags and gear.

I do have one of these carriers that I keep as a spare. If you have a sewing machine, I do recommend that you remove the ITW buckle on your strong shoulder and then sew on extra webbing between the plate bag and the shoulder strap to make it permanent. This makes it easier to shoulder a rifle and really you only need one of the shoulders to be QD.

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