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Hi Guys

As you may or may not know im off to iraq soon however there has been a lot of discussion amongst the boys wether to buy chest/belt webbing given the heat in Iraq you need the bear minimum for patrolling as it gets sodding hot

Ive never really bought extra personal kit believing that the kit you get issued alltho basic does the job however Im sorely tempted to get a chest/belt rig for when I go. The problem being allthough Ive been in 6 years I know absolutely F**k All about webbing and what constitutes a good piece of webbing from bad. Our BQ was trying to sell us some chest rigs in camp for £30 but they looked a bit cheap n nasty so I backed off

Also if you know anywhere where I can buy a good chest rig online it would be appreciated

My brother is in RM, he has just got a chest rig for Iraq, they're excellent for FIBUA to apparently, he got some second hand off his pal, but it looks good it's made by Arktis. Try here for online mate http://www.edirectory.co.uk/penrith_sur ... CEG&cid=55. Best of luck out in Iraq stay safe.

www.silvermans.co.uk

http://www.silvermans.co.uk/Silver/docs/topframe.htm

Wide selection

Get there. Meet an Aussy soldier and ask him to get you the kit you need. (may cost you a few quid mind)

In my time in the Marines the best kit I ever Proffed was from the Aussies. Bang on in all respects.

Lightweight. Comfortable. In other words the Bees Knees!

They kit out their troops with only the best. Boots for starters......Had my OZ boots for nearly 7 years. Just make an Oppo with an Aussy and you'll be right!

Artist

chest webbing is a must mate............isnt it on general issue now though ??

not to my knowledge unless they issue it to you out there but i dont want to risk it

Chest rigs are O.K but you'd be better of with a C.O.P vest. There a little more expensive but it's worth it in the field.

http://www.rigequipment.co.uk/assault.htm

Vests are definately the way to go (in my opinion). The unit I was with in Iraq last year used them in a big way and they certainly seem to be gaining popularity.

Chest rigs have limited capacity, are hard to get on and off quickly, and you can't get fully prone in one.

If you're going to buy a vest, it's worth spending the money on a proper CS95 vest, as it will be IR treated and reasonably well constructed. My advice is to avoid Web-Tex vests (cheap copies of CS95 vest). Karrimor also make a good vest.

The good thing about a vest is that you can get your unit kit repairer to customise it for you by removing certain pouches, and putting new ones on. I replaced one of the upper small pouches on my vest and had a strobe pouch sewn on instead, plus elastic loops for lightsticks.

Vests are easy to adjust over CBA, and are ideal for operating from vehicles.

However, if I was going on a primarily foot-borne op/exercise or operating in the jungle, yomping long distances with a bergen and carrying lots of ammo, water, etc, I'd still use my belt order for comfort and heat reduction.

Belt Order and chest rig was my choice, but never tried a COP vest so aint an expert.
My belt rig was a mixture of old ´58 and PLCE with a RAF rollpin belt, mint it was.
Try and prof a yank poncho liner for me, those things are the dogs doodahs!
Best of luck mate

Doc

Yeah I tried getting hold of jayjays via the web but no joy in the end got the arktis 1601 battlevest from campshop.co.uk (very helpful bloke and he actually recommended the 1601 over the more exspensive types which strikes me as someone who cares about what he is selling)

have to admit i was umming and ahhing but whatever i get its got to be an improvement over the stuff i currently have. As I said I usually find the army supplied stuff adequate for my needs but 6 months out there a little bit of comfort will go a long way.

Many thanks for all your help

A disgrace to MP signs if you ask me