Tactical vest is one of the essential equipment for soldiers or soldiers on the battlefield. So how to choose a cost-effective tactical vest?
Bulletproof plate
When it is mentioned that it is often used together with a tactical vest, it must be a bulletproof plate. Bulletproof boards must first have bulletproof capabilities. In the past, there was a simple bullet bag vest, which was used to be called a bullet bag or carrying tool in the army. It is a simple tactical vest composed of a layer of MOLLE fabric, loaded with bullet bags and attached bags. In actual combat, it is necessary to wear a layer of body armor inside. Some troops are also accustomed to attaching satchels and water bottles to it, but this is very bloated overall, which is not conducive to most operations. But if it is only used as a simple bullet bag without additional pockets, it is similar to the usage of chest hanging, and it is enough to perform simple casual escort tasks.
The second is other bulletproof layers. Consider whether the bulletproof layer on the side and crotch is needed, and choose according to the specific action. Generally speaking, only one layer of Kevlar can be hung on the crotch to block fragments. The military and police in some countries are accustomed to close combat with heavy armor and will use heavy full-protection tactical vests, equipped with steel helmets and bulletproof masks for operations. However, most special forces operations still pay more attention to flexibility and mobility and also emphasize frontal contact with the enemy in most tactical activities. In this way, a lightweight tactical vest with front and rear steel plates can meet most operational needs. Especially overseas operations that require long-distance marches and infiltration tasks require carrying a large amount of combat equipment and wearing heavy armor to travel across mountains and rivers, which will be difficult for operations.
Finally, quality issues. Inferior tactical vests will have a poor ability to fix the bottom of the bulletproof plate, and it is easy to fall off when worn on a long-distance march. The most reliable is a tactical vest with double protection, such as an additional fixing strap at the bottom to ensure that the bulletproof plate will not fall off easily.
Modularity
One is the MOLLE webbing. For tactical vests, the most basic requirement is to have a complete MOLLE mounting system on the front and back. In order to save fabric and reduce the overall weight, some tactical vests will abandon the MOLLE webbing on the back or even the front, or cut a wide range of hollows for ventilation and ventilation. This kind of vest can be used for simple conventional combat tasks. However, its mounting capacity is relatively weak, and it is difficult to adapt to high-intensity and highly professional special operations. MOLLE webbing is the foundation of all tactical mounts. Different personnel and different professions have their own special needs, so they need to flexibly configure their own tactical vests.
The second is the chest hanging module. Most tactical vests come with three or four parallel pistol magazine bags, which can meet the needs of most situations. But if it is a sniper or a heavy fireman, they carry sniper magazines of different specifications and machine gun drums and magazines, then this standard rifle magazine bag is very difficult. They need to choose a module with a completely "clean" chest and install the magazine bag they need to meet their operational needs.
The third is the waist joint. Generally speaking, more than three MOLLE connecting straps can meet most loading needs, such as placing communication equipment on the side and rear, configuring additional magazines, or inserting bulletproof plates, etc. There are also lighter-weight vests that only have one strap, making it difficult to attach gear to the side. Each has its own advantages, and the specific choice must be based on actual needs.
The fourth is the backplane. There is a MOLLE system on the back, which can actually meet most of the loading needs. For example, install a grenade bag on the back, hang a dagger upside down, carry rescue tools, and directly connect to the MOLLE backplane, etc. But if there are zippers on both sides, it can be more convenient and secure to connect the tactical back panel, so as to better carry the required equipment.
Quick release system
Quick buttons on both sides: Modern tactical vests can basically be put on and taken off normally, and can be opened and worn by simply pulling the Velcro. Some new tactical vests need to be passed back and forth many times before they can be put on. This wearing method has its own considerations, but overall, it is not flexible enough. The latter also has an obvious problem, that is, there is no way to install a quick-release system. Install quick-release buckles on both sides of the waist to achieve quick putting on and taking off, which has a certain tactical value. When it is necessary to enter an extremely narrow space, the tactical vest cannot enter and needs to be released. On the one hand, the Velcro is too loud, and on the other hand, the speed is too slow. But there is a quick-release buckle to solve this problem. In pursuit operations, wearing heavy body armor cannot maneuver quickly and requires light pursuit. At this time, quick release is a very prominent advantage.
Shoulder quick-release buckle: the shoulder is combined with the quick-release buckle on both sides, which can realize instant detachment. This instantaneous disengagement requirement is for more extreme situations. For example, in some tactical operations, soldiers are forced to jump into the water and need to leave quickly, so they need to get rid of their body armor instantly and swim lightly to leave. Another example is that when a soldier is evacuating from the line of fire, his tactical vest is hooked and there is no time to check it. He can directly pull the quick buckle and leave the line of fire quickly.
Based on the above factors, we can definitely know how to choose the tactical vest that suits us.
