Tactical vests Invader Gear

Heavy plate carriers

The vest to start with, as has been said many times, must be chosen with care and discretion. It will be the cornerstone of your equipment, facilitating access to most of your gear on the battlefield and serving as body protection. If you carry a lot of gear, you'll probably reach for something larger and sturdier, like the 6094A-RS from Invader Gear.
We also offer vests from the manufacturer conqueror, which supplies vests to the Spanish armed forces.

           

 

Light plate carriers

On the other hand, if you like to be light and carry a bit of gear but still want a vest, a smaller model like the Reaper from Invade Gear or the cheaper JPC type will do. You'll also often see what are known as "fisherman's vests", which tend to have zippers or plastic overlays. It is not possible to insert any kind of plate (bulletproof or imitation) into these vests, they are only used to store equipment in tightly sewn pouches, this makes these vests not modifiable in terms of the equipment on them. 

 

Balistic vests and plate carriers

The last small group are vests serving only for inserting the plate into the inner pocket, (plate carriers) for example the PBA model, which serves only for protection and does not allow the addition of any other equipment, because it lacks the entire support system for attachment.

 

Gear attachment system

Another important parameter is the binding system, which we distinguish between MOLLE (PALS) and the more modern LASERCUT. These systems will help you with the correct and firm attachment of all equipment to the vest.
 

Molle system

The MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system, as the successor of the ALICE system, consists of a very strong PALS lattice binding, which forms one complete lattice through which the straps of pouches and other equipment are threaded. The main advantages of this MOLLE are easy handling, modularity and above all availability.

 

           

 

Lasercut system

The LASERCUT system is a newer method that burns the individual slots directly into the fabric of the gear, so there is no extra material added, resulting in less weight. This also tells us their advantages or disadvantages.

 

What is better, lasercut or molle system?

LASERCUT is lighter but more difficult to repair. MOLLE is more common, lighter to repair, but the weight of the vest or other product will be greater, due to more material.

 

               

 

Our recommendations for you:
We always recommend that you physically test the vest. You never know if your shoulders or hips will be pressed, so care should be taken to select one according to your physical proportions. We also recommend paying close attention to the padding of the vest, especially in the shoulder area, where the right padding can give you a lot of relief, but also, for example, the back padding, which you will appreciate in the case of backpacks. Take into account that you probably won't take your vest off for hours, often days, at an event, so your comfort is essential.

Fastening and modifiability of vests

Vests also differ in their fastening and options. As already mentioned there are more robust types of vests, but also smaller ones. The most widespread fastening is velcro (JPC, CIRAS, APC and others) on the front of the vest, but more modern types already have quick clip-on / clip-off clips on the side, quite often made on a magnet for easy and quick handling (e.g. Reaper - Invader Gear or PC-01 from ASG). Then there are the already mentioned zippered vests or plastic overlays, which serve mostly less demanding users or are widely used by players of larger sizes. In some models of vests we can also find a loop in the back top for quick unfolding and dropping of the vest by means of a steel cable that is intertwined with the inner part of the vest. When the rope is pulled out, the vest is disassembled into several pieces. Probably unusable in airsoft, but in real combat invaluable, especially in case of injury to the vest wearer or a fall into the water.

 

              

 

Material and quality of vests

As with clothing, the material is an important factor in the vest. Whether we are talking about the quality of the stitching of your MOLLE binding, or the quality and permeability of the vest material. Nowadays, comfort is already a major consideration in modern models and therefore proper ventilation is an integral part, especially on summer days. Vests are usually made of Nylon or Cordura, which ensure low weight, long life, but also high strength of the material.

 

Vest or chestrig?

If you're thinking about choosing a vest or chestrig and you're not sure, we'll try to advise you. The Chestrig is a much lighter system with less space for equipment. It is more suitable for the woods and is much more mobile. In contrast, vests offer protection and room for plenty of gear or ammunition. Vests are also recommended for CQB (built up areas) where a chestrig probably won't be enough about ammo or protection. However, in natural conditions, a chestrig may be a better choice.
 

         

Airsoft vests for children?

Don't worry, there is a way for your little ones too. Most lower and mid-range vests are made in a universal size, so your child shouldn't have a problem either. For ours, we can recommend lighter carriers like the JPC model or the straightforward kids vest from Conqueror. Heavier and larger vests could already be a big burden for a smaller child, not to mention that they would be highly unlikely to adjust in size. We recommend not to underestimate the choice and to be sure to size test the vest so that it will fit the owner after adjustment. When trying on the vest, do not forget to take into account the clothing that can play a big role in the correct sizing of the vest (blouse, sweatshirt, jacket).

We have a whole category of little warior products for your kids! 

 

Bulletproof vest / Balistic plates

Plate carrier or ballistic vest is a vest that has a pocket for inserting a ballistic plate. Ballistic plates are not commonly used in airsoft, but with the beginning of the war in Ukraine we also learned how important they are.

 

Steel plates

An older and cheaper option is steel plates, which are fundamentally cheaper. Their biggest advantage is undoubtedly their price, durability and reusability in the event of a hit. The disadvantage is clearly the weight, which is usually around 4-5kg per plate.

 

                

 

Ceramic plates

The other option is the more modern and nowadays used ceramic plates, which are considerably more expensive than steel ones. The biggest advantage is the light weight (around 2-3kg) and higher ballistic protection in case of first hits. However, the disadvantages are the high purchase price and the impossibility of further use in the event of a hit, as the ceramic is damaged and does not have proper protective properties.