Hello, newish airsofters! Today, we want to discuss gear, specifically plate carriers and chest rigs. What is the difference? What’s better?
My name is Tang, and I’ve been playing airsoft for a very long time. I’ve been where you have been as a new player, and when you’re starting out, the stuff that is out there is a bit overwhelming. Plus, you might not have the experience to understand what it is you need yet. I’d like to talk about gear in a nutshell and help you figure out what will work for you and save you money. We'll also be talking about George's gear to get a second perspective. George is a member of Fox Airsoft's sales team, and he has been playing airsoft for six years. Prior to coming to work for Fox, he was also a regular customer.
Lancer Tactical Dummy SAPI Plates
Plate Carriers
Let's start with plate carriers. To make a long story short, a plate carrier is meant to carry protective armor inserts. This has no application in airsoft as it does in the real world, but airsoft is all about looking cool so you can run what you like even if it doesn’t make sense. The cons to this are that it can get a bit hotter since it covers more of your body, it might be overkill, and it is ultimately more expensive than a chest rig. The pros are that they cover more of your body against BBs, look cooler in case you want to be a mall ninja, and have more real estate to mount your pouches and customize.
Chest Rig
A chest rig is very simple in nature, is not really bulky, and breathes really well. Most players will be served well with chest rigs, more so than plate carriers. The cons are that it lacks protection and that some chest rigs are not modular. The pros are it’s very streamlined and feels less encumbered. If you like to be a recon or sniper type player, you should look into these.
George's Plate Carrier
To take us back to a newer player perspective, I’d like to introduce George who also works with us at Fox. While he has been playing for quite some time, he is the type of guy who upgrades as needed and does not go out of control on the cool aid. His kit has adapted over time to match his play style and the events he attends.
"So when I started out I wore a vest, and that was a good starting option. It held everything I needed including my pistol in a cross-draw holster built into the holster. But once I played more and my needs started to change, I needed a modular setup because you cannot customize a vest with fixed pouches.
I later moved up to a plate carrier because I don't like how you have to put on a chest rig. The plate carrier allowed me to add the pouches I needed for the games I played. Up front, I have a triple M4 magazine pouch because I run M4's. This has an open top so I can grab my magazines faster. In front of that, I have some extra stuff like a Thunder B grenade, a pistol magazine pouch where I keep a BB loader, and so on. On the sides I have a general purpose/medic pouch on each side to store my personal belongings. On the top front, I have my team patch and of course, some Fox patches. On the back is my hydration pack."
Tang's Plate Carrier and Chest Rig
Now, back to my own personal gear, I run plate carriers and chest rigs depending on my mood. Because I’m a nerd, and I think it makes me look cool, the setup I run will usually depend on the gun I feel like running for the day. Remember, kids, airsoft is about having fun, so don’t take it too seriously. If you’re having fun and no harm is being done, that’s all that matters. But back to my gear, I have many airsoft guns, so I need to be able to swap my stuff around to use those guns, so that is my preference. Some days, when I just want to get out and play and don’t care about what I run, I throw on a simple chest rig. Most of my guns are M4s, so that kind of makes them easier. A full plate carrier feels nice in the winter but not so much in the summer. I sweat my butt off, but it’s all in good fun. If you don't want to suffer in the heat needlessly, I suggest dressing light using a chest rig instead. Overall, it is exactly what you need for airsoft without going overboard.
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