Custom Gear Report

If I want it in two days, I end up going with SKDTac. I’m sold on the no-back-order policy, particularly with small arms parts shortages as frequent as they are these days.

I would have to say Maxpedition. They have lots of well built gear for different applications. I’ve quite a few of their products and I’ve never been disappointed in any of them. My only complaint would be that they don’t manufacture in the US.

Hey guys… well believe it or not I’m using BLACKWATER GEAR right now and have to say… so far so good… not using it for anything too hard right now but I can tell that the kit is made very well… and am happy to pick up any pieces I find here and there through friends or online… NO COMPLAINTS!

MSA Paraclete or Diamondback tactical, but there are many choice manufacturers out right now.

I does leave me to wonder how many will survive when the fighting slows down.

I think right now I like TADGear for their innovative designs and basic coolness. I look at them first since I’ve always been more than happy with everything purchased so far.

I’d like to say: cryeprecision… if they sold more than vapor.

I use Tactical Tailor (www.tacticaltailor.com)for Rigs the way…weel made, the stitches are precise.

And Tactics Gear (www.tacticssog.com) that i recently discovered during my tour of duty in the Philippines.. Very well made product for my customized Drag Bag.

and TADGear (www.tadgear.com)for my accessories.

SKD tatical rules. As Does EAGLE!

Diamond Back Tact is rude and unhelpful!

Diamondback Tactical is one of the few shops that sell quality gear in Crye Multicam. Although every order has some items backordered, they always made up for it by throwing in a free hat or other swag for my trouble.

I’m going to throw in another vote for Maxpediton. I’ve been extremely pleased with their workmanship and ingenuity over the years ever since I bought my Thermite years ago. I own nearly 30 different pieces of theirs and they get pretty heavy usage, even from me as a civilian. I have not experience anything in the area of a busted seam, bad zipper or out of spec piece series of webbing. My worst problem is the OD on my most used bag isn’t showroom fresh.

As someone in the civilian sector, I don’t particularly want to look like a ground pounder everywhere I go, so if I cut back on my morale patches, or wipe them off completely, Maxpedition gear can generally slip by sheeple undetected. My Colossus doesn’t even raise many eyebrows, as long as there aren’t many patches on it, and I have a surefire and asp clearly visible.

I know I always look for American made gear first. But crazy lead times, very high price or lack of selection for a specific need may necessitate buying gear built overseas.

Maxpedition also ripped off Tactical Tailor’s MALICE clips and called them their own. Ethics is a big deal when rating a company. If they’re willing to do that, who knows what other shortcuts they make.

How do you know they ripped off MALICE clips

I know for a fact they did not, T.Tang, CEO personally requested I ship over 500 Shorts and long MALICE clips to take care of an immediate customer need.

there is no similarity between their proprietary webbing based units and the polymer MALICE clips.

Tactical Tailor, HSGI, SOE Gear (the real one not the ex wife’s company), T3 and CSM have been some of my favorites so far. My TT assault pack has been chugging along for years and the Shoulder straps are finally showing some real wear on the pack cloth, I’ll probably either send it in for repair or get a new one just like it. The original Blackhawk stuff made in Va. Beach was great kit, I have an adjustable drop leg holster in storage somewhere that was innovative and well made at the time it was current. Hmmm, maybe I should dig that up?! Maxpedition’s cardboard like knock-off cordura is loud, stiff and off color as well. If it isn’t flexible it isn’t gonna survive the abrasion of use too well, especially on the folds.

ESSTAC! American made by people who care that you get EXACTLY what you need. Out of fairness, I give props to anyone stateside kicking out well made custom equipment.

ESSTAC can make anything for any application. My gear needs are more specific that most and they accomodated beautifully – beyond expectation. I’m a fan for life and I’ll stake my life on the performance of their gear anyday. Stu and his people are the best by far.

Being both .mil and .le I have two very separate gear requirements. The first place I look is OSOE, the real one, not his his ex-wife and her current husbands rip off shit. John Willis is a standup dude and he builds real solid kit. My duty belt and all of its add-ons in OSOE except for my holster. The other place I look is Tactical Tailor. The first piece of “kit” I ever bought was a TT 3-Day bag when I joined the Army 6 years ago and I still have it. Its been all over the country, all over the woods and all over Iraq and its still going strong. When I have a holster need I always go to Safariland first for anything outside the belt, anything inside goes to Comp-Tac

In my experience, SO tech is hands down THE BEST. I have been running with my tomcat chest rig/hydro carrier for about a year and a half now, and I havent had one stich bust, and believe me I run my gear hard. I have had experience with less than adequate gear break i.e(Black hawk, Maxpedition). If you want gear that will last, and last , and last, then go with S.O tech. The gear is tailored for the serious operator, and they will fix anything that breaks (which will most likely not happen, unless you take cover in a wood chipper). S.O tech is the enrgizer bunny of tac gear. Other than S.O tech I have had good vibe’s from Eagle and TAG.

@admin
I second that

I haven’t owned any Maxpedition pouches, but when I was in Iraq, we had a Major who had a small pouch of theirs he kept his camera in, and he wasn’t easy on the pouch either. It held up all year to some really crappy treatment. Really didn’t show any wear either. I just got into putting some of my own personal gear together and I’ve got some eagle stuff which seems good. I see more and more stuff coming from small companies and individuals I’d like to invest in though here lately than the bigger companies.