How much gear is "enough?"
 

Apparently I've started the downward spiral into gear-whoring. It was a very short while ago that I thought "Meh, this sub-$100 vest is good enough for me... and I'll just wear civvies outdoors."

Then an even shorter while ago I picked up a set of ACU and absolutely love it. The cut feels good, and despite what the detractors say I really like the pattern. No, it isn't good for woodland, but it feels good and works okay in light snow.

I saw an Eagle vest similar to my cheapie one for sale and decided "Hey, why not try the real thing?" I'm sure many of you have a similar experience. Once you've felt quality, there's no turning back.

Just over the weekend I picked up a set of real MARPAT over at Army Outfitters. **shameless plug!** I have no relation in any way to this place but I remain impressed by the service and selection - the people there are great and they get new stuff in all the time.

Damn if I'm not going to mortgage myself over there... they also had Pantera, ACU helmet covers (I prefer the boonies myself), and if you haven't tried an issue field coat yet I highly suggest it. I've been wearing one in universal since the weather cooled off and just picked up one in black for my father. He suffers from arthritis and year after year has struggled to find just the right coat - warm enough to allow him not to have to wear more than 2-3 layers underneath and yet allowing him to remain mobile. It speaks volumes that he finds this one warm and comfortable.

On the topic of boonies, I highly recommend the MARPAT for comfort. It has an extra lining inside where your head rests and also up front at the forehead. It's incredible how much of a comfort difference this makes. :D

I'm seriously looking into an analog BDU pattern now. What's your favourite and why? Under what conditions do you find it the most effective?

I've also been researching vests/pouches/MOLLE and have yet to find something I really like for outdoors. My issue is that I'd like to crawl around and go prone more but I find that mags stored in pouches up front feel like they get in the way. As much as I love the TT pouches with the cord retention over the pocket flaps, I'm afraid they'd allow the mags to get pretty dirty and worn while crawling. Any suggestions or preferred setups?

This has been a random message from an at-home sickie for the day. :)

Never too much!!
Go Otaku;>

oh ya man, its an addiction, ive been into airsoft for 2 years and ive already bought 5 vests, 4 bdus, 6 guns, countless accessories.... i cant help it.

just like to clarify, i have been trying to cope and manage, ive sold 4 of my vests, 2 of my outfits, 4 of my guns.... im slowly getting help.

No gear is ever enough, and there isn't such a thing as too many guns.

The trick is finding a balance between the two. My balance is more toward guns. :D

When you can't close the closest door or look over the pile of kit it might be enough

can't go wrong with the phantom CIRAS. I prefer coyote brown but its all good.

I have no balance at all. My BDU is a cheap pair of boots, cheap pants, cheap vest and a black shirt from Old Navy.

It's been playing about 6 months and I have ten guns tho, so and still don't care about my gear. :P

More gun = more fun!

rookies

I'm the far opposite. What you see in my picture is pretty much it. Sometimes a DPM jacket gets added. Never had a need for anything else.

You have enough gear when you forget if you've got carpet or hardwood.

gear is cool, but when you carry enough guns that you can't see your gear then it becomes an issue.

DPM...
 

The 95 pattern DPM smocks at Army Outfitters are great.. well designed, effective and functional.

I pair mine with standard CAD OD pants.. and an OD boonie ..
I typically run light so I stuff my mags in the very roomy pockets ( room for 6 mags ) they will even take AK mags. and go with a pistol belt and a drop pouch. You can carry one mage in each pocket.. 4 +1 in the weapon if you are worried about rattle.

Army Outfitters has DPM smocks , shirts and new gortex shells in stock

get in there

2 pairs of Woodland BDUs, jungle an danner boots, camelbak, couple t-shirts an a pair of ALICE webbing an a MOLLE FLC vest with pouches, patrol cap, boonie hat , TT 3 Day Assualt pack, and a ABS helmet + cover plus AEG an 12 mags is all I need for airsoft. Plus a few small pieces of kit for the wet/cooler games.

When I go on tour though... I will be gear whoring pretty good haha.

Sometimes I wish I never found out about airsoft.....

I'm at a point where I have to choose either a gun or the gear. I can't afford to buy both at the same time. I've only bought one replica gear and that was the FSBE vest from G&P. Now it's all SOTech, TRE, TAG, HSGI, or Eagle.

My latest purchase of the Eagle CIRAS and Eagle pouches in RG, is over a grand. I saw it on a Thankgiving sale with 10% off at one of my usual US online retailer. Worse thing is, I had to shop at 3 stores to get all my Eagle RG pouches.

Further more, our team changes BDU patterns like a baby needs to change diapers. Off cause the BDU and gears have to match color.

I like to use MARPAT in the summer and Multicam in the spring and fall.

I'm still at a point where I'm hoping to find the perfect setup. Only way to do that is to buy more! :lol:

Yes Jonas, I've got the same problem, 3 vests, 8 sets of BDU's, 6 different types of combat boots, counting my GBB"s, 10 guns, and lots more accessories on the way as I type. AND THERE IS NO HELP FOR ME.

The worst is when you become a gear whore in a rare and expensive camo pattern. Your wallet never, ever stops crying.

The only thing at thsi time thats stopping me from getting a tonne more gear is I'm a student with no cash..

I just sold my PA stuff for $900 and Ive already got how I intend to spend it planned out... Damn airsoft!

I have one full BHI Kit in OD, it continues to grow and is getting a little over done. I am anxiously waiting for the rest of a second BHI Kit in Coyote Tan to arrive at R.Nicoles. When I have that stuff I'll work on a BHI Kit in Black for those extremely fun night ops.

Add to that a Protec helmet, a few shemaghs, ton of BDU sets, a couple sets of reproduction SAPI plates for my carriers, and then a real SAPI plate set, patrol caps, a Pakol from Afghanistan, knee pads, belts, holsters, radios ... it never really ends.

Yep, gotta love kit.

PS ~ I almost forgot my authentic man-jammies!

It gets bad when you have a lust on for impressions. Especially ex-Soviet or Eastern Bloc ones. You often have to import your kit from countries far off the beaten path. For example, I've had 4 packages from the Ukraine, one from Russia and 1 from Belarus in the last 3 months :P

i've gone through kit and come out the other side. I wear jeans and a surplus austrian jacket I bought off Gish more often than not. an old Chicom rig ($30) holds all I need for most games. having said that, over about 8 years of off and on airsoft I've owned 33 (that I remember) separate airsoft guns... i'm definitely more of a gun whore.

I'm mostly a CADPAT gear whore. I have pieces of cadpat gear that I cant quite find a use for yet. I'm slowly weening myself off cadpat though and gonna be staring a multicam addiction.

I'm less about doing impressions or getting a specific pattern than finding kit that works well.

I've been through about three different loadouts now and I've only been playing a year. Went from an Eagle assault vest to a Phantom CIRAS, and now I just got a set of BHI suspenders and a pistol belt.

I'm always swapping out bits and pieces, and I've been through a few holsters already. I would just get a Safariland but they don't make them for Glock 18s...will be getting one when I get my TM 1911 though.

I do try to keep the same brands though...been using mostly Eagle although I've switched to BHI gear and TAG pouches now.

You know that pic of all the guns I have Bloodsport? Yeah one more pouch to sew and then I WILL be carrying it ALL :D

If you stick to one impression its not too bad; just dont pick a stupidly uncommon one where all you will buy for it is marked 'rare collector item'.
Own just one set of ukrainian cammoes w/ parka, cf goretex suicide boots, vest and 2 guns. Yeah, im pathetic...

Personally, I like systems, ie if You get flecktarn then you need the M84 for the summer, the flecktarn for spring and autumn, and the tropentarn for those pesky desert games. KHS is your friend.
And for the occasional wintergame you'll be needing some winter whites. At least, there you do not have to worry.
There are only so many ways you can do white, or are there?

Then there is DPM. Good choices are to be had as well. Temp DPM, Desert, urban etc. Clearly only one choice of gear. ARKTIS!

Multicam. Good pattern but the cut of the uniforms just does not suit me.


And then of course, when camou gets boring or good old plausible deniability is required: OD.
It is still the best allround colour. Nice thing is that everybody makes kit in that colour.

Wow, I guess I play with a bunch of Barbies! j/k.

For me personally, I don't wear much of anything any more. A drop leg hoster and my hiking vest.

When I use to have all my gear, I find it hard to climb up and down stuff without my chestrig rubing up against the ladder or whatever, and almost knock me over many time, that's why I just wear whatever now.

just get gear that is very available, easy to get, and not expensive. browse on the canadian sites and im sure you can find a set to your liking. And there is never enough gear you can own.

Airsoft + enought = Illegal error!!$?&$&*(/!

Need to get a 3rd jod........


Jixton

Well I'm just starting, but I'm planning on wearing the OD combats that I already have, and a CADPAT vest... Then w/e pouches I need for the vest. I only have a TM MK23 GBB right now, I'm getting an MP5 A4 after Christmas :)

I'm a boot whore.
I have at one point or another, had at least half a dozen different styles of boots.
right now I have two sets of swats (eh not bad for garratroopering, but I won't wear in the field), two pairs of matterhorn USMC Infantry boots (too bad I've got to throw a pair out they're so old), a set of Altama ICB (haven't really had a chance to abuse them yet), a variety of jungle boots from several companies, and lets not forget my corcoran jump boots (god I love them, they reek badass)
and that's just what I own now
I've also owned; danners, magnums, and oakleys
I'm starting to look at vests. but I won't exactly be using it here in Canada either, sigh I just wish I knew what I'd be doing out there so I can drop the cash
Greg

I offer a "Gearwhore Help Course" - in which you mail me all your gear and it cures you (temporarily, but how else can I keep buisness going?)

To Join, mail all your gear to me, along with a US$100 check. I'll send you my guide to gear withdrawls and gear relapse guide - now updated with online merchants...

Please, if you sport XL sizes know that my gearwhore program will not work for you, same with XS... I cant wear those!

Hmm sounds like a worthwhile program. Are you located in Nigeria?:D

Nothing hurts more than LONDON BRIDGE TRADING gear. I love it to death and it will most likely kill me. The best pieces are so damn rare and expensive that is if you manage to outbid the asian collectors/airsofters. But if your looking for some exceptional and unique pieces its unparalleled.