An airsoft tactical vest is first and foremost a way to carry your gear on your body. Its MOLLE webbing takes magazine pouches, a radio pouch, a flashlight or an admin pouch, all within reach throughout the game. It is also the piece that gives a loadout a military look the fastest.
In the military, a vest carries ballistic plates that protect vital organs. In airsoft, it does not play that role: it is a carrying platform, set up according to your replica and play style. The MOLLE system, now the standard, lets you place each pouch wherever you want and change the vest's setup from one game to the next.
Velcro panels take unit or identification patches, and most models come in several colors and camouflage patterns to match the rest of the outfit.
A vest is not essential to play, and it is usually not a beginner's first purchase. After a few games, it quickly becomes handy: assault rifle magazines and pistol magazines stay accessible without digging through a bag.
An empty plate carrier has no shape. To reproduce the thickness and outline of a loaded vest, players slip in foam plates or EVA dummy plates, which are light and suited to play. Players looking for a feel closer to the real thing can use metal plates, provided the vest is designed to carry the weight.
The choice depends first on budget and use: playing airsoft, recreating a unit's kit or buying a genuine military vest.
Stitching and reinforcements make the difference between these ranges. Between plates and accessories, a vest can carry up to 20 kg of gear: only models designed for that weight hold up over time.
You can slip ballistic or metal plates into an entry-level vest, but it will wear out quickly. Some vests have no plate pockets at all: they are for looks only. For heavy gear, a mid-range or high-end vest is the better choice.
For advice on choosing a vest, pouches suited to your replica or plates to put inside, our team is available by phone at +33 5 34 27 88 10. To complete your loadout, you will also find our helmets, belt and vest holsters and patches.
A chest rig is a light chest harness, focused on carrying magazines. A plate carrier holds plates (dummy ones in airsoft) and is completed with MOLLE pouches.
No. Airsoft vests are simulation gear with no ballistic protection. They are used to carry the player's equipment.
It is not mandatory, but foam or EVA plates give the vest its shape and better structure. Some models come with them.
Simulation vests designed for airsoft cost up to about €100. High-end military models, built to carry heavy plates, cost considerably more.
Rows of webbing stitched onto the vest, to which compatible pouches attach: magazine pouches, radio pouch, admin pouch or dump pouch. The vest can then be adapted to each replica and each game.
