Hey everyone!
Welcome back to the blog! Today I have another loadout post for you (really cranking these out)! In this post, we'll be looking at one of my ride or dies - my Ranger Green loadout!
Let's start from the top, to give myself a bit of protection against headshots and keep my head warm in the cold weather I'm wearing the WX beanie.
For my hearing protection, I'm wearing the Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff. I use these for both airsoft and also firearms on the range because of their noise-cancelling feature. When you flick the switch and turn on the electronic ear protection, it uses the built-in directional microphones to amplify ambient (background) sounds to 82dB - well within safe hearing limits. This allows you to hear important commands on the range and crucial environment sounds when hunting or playing airsoft. For additional shooting hearing protection, it also actively listens and automatically stops amplification when loud impulsive sounds like firearm discharges exceed 82dB.
The Air Flow Control technology means they utilise a slim earcup design that ensures your stock has clearance while shooting (no bumping your earpro on the stock like with some cheaper options). It has a padded headband which is comfortable and it does adjust. It also has an external audio jack that lets you connect the shooting earmuff to music device or scanner or another audio source which is perfect for airsoft. The battery delivers approximately 350 hours of usage, and the automatic shut-off feature engages after 4 hours to help save battery life.
The glasses I'm wearing for this loadout (and the ones I wear for most of my loadouts) are the Wiley X Saber Advanced. They're made from Shatterproof Selenite Polycarbonate lenses that meet the MIL-PRF-32432(GL) ballistic standards: ANSI Z87.1-2010 high velocity and high mass impact standards. I opted for the set with amber, vermillion and tinted lenses but I usually wear the vermillion lenses. They feature a T-Shell Lens coating that prevents scratches. They also offer 100% UVA/UVB protection with distortion-free clarity. I've been using these for around 3 years and they've never let me down. On the Wiley X EMEA website, you can get money off by using the code 'AFAIRSOFT' (affiliate code).
For my BDUs I'm wearing the Crye Precision Combat Shirt AC and the AC Combat Pants, both in Ranger Green. This set has become one of my favourite set of combats to wear because of how comfy they are. The AC stands for Army Custom, but chances are these are Gen 2 as all of the Gen 2 Crye clothing sold commercially has the Army Custom labels in. The shirt has a torso made of cotton and lycra whilst the sleeves are a nylon-cotton mix. It has a quarter zip on the chest, a pocket on each arm and openings for the AC combat elbow pad which I don't use. The torso is quick-drying and quite lightweight whilst the arms feel more durable and weighty.
The Combat Pants are made from the same material as the sleeves, has openings for knee pads (I use the Gen3 knee pads in mine as you can buy them separately) and has a bunch of pockets - hip pockets, a pocket on each thigh, a pocket on each ankle, butt pockets and a pocket on each side of the leg too. They are quite generous pockets.
This new chest utility rig from Viper is apart of their new VX range, and what drew me to this product is that it closely resembles another high-end load carrying system - the Spiritus Systems MK4, but for a fraction of the cost. It works in a modular system with the VX range of inserts to suit your weapon magazines (if required) in the main pouch that is located at the rear of the rig to completely customise your rig to your playing needs. Both compartments are Velcro-lined to be used with these inserts too and the front lid is removable for easy access to inserts placed in the front compartment. It has front and rear Velcro ID panels that are quite sizeable meaning plenty of spaces for patches or adding extra VX inserts/holsters. It is also VX Buckle Up compatible meaning it can be used with the new VX plate carrier and has quick-release buckles throughout.
The rig is completely adjustable via the sizing adjustment side and shoulder straps and ‘fits most’. I found it was easy to adjust and fit my frame well on one of the smallest strap configurations (if you’re extra tiny, you may need a hand in adjusting it so it’s nice and tight to your form). The buckle tidy systems throughout are really handy to all the excess straps squared away - meaning they don’t get caught and your kit admin looks in check, if like me you’re quite small, there’s always a fair bit of extra strap that needs to be usually taped up if there is no tidy system but these little elasticated fixings help with that!
The interchangeable inserts mean I can use this with my AR platforms, ARP9, Scorpion Evo and AKs by just swapping the insert being used, and in turn hold 40mm grenades, medkits etc in the pouches. Even when the rig is loaded up it is super lightweight making it awesome for woodland games, MilSim ops and other long games where you don’t want to be weighed down by a tonne of kit. It’s low profile to so it can be worn under a jacket for covert ops. For the price, it is hella versatile and I can’t find any faults with the construction - the material feels durable and the stitching is straight and tidy.
For my backpack I'm using the Viper VX Buckle Up Charger Pack, what drew me to this product is its similarity to the HSP FlatPack, but for a fraction of the price. The pack itself consists of one main compartment and one front compartment - both of which have the capability of expanding. It has adjustable/removable shoulder straps and also MOLLE attachment which means it can be used with the VX range (and similar systems) and most plate carriers that have a MOLLE back. It is made of 700D Polytech material and is really lightweight - weighing in at just 0.54kg but has a huge carrying capacity of approximately 4-14ltr! As for other features, it has D-ring attachment for chest rig compatibility, a bladder/comms outlet, a huge Velcro id panel and a grab handle.
I’ve been using the VX Charger Pack in place of the straps for the VX Buckle Up Chest rig to give my back more protection from BBs especially when playing indoors and the straps on the pack seem to be a little shorter than those on the CR as well so it gives me a closer fit. The pack also gives me the option to carry essentials onto the field - including BBs, speed loaders, a water bladder on hot game days etc which in turn can help balance out the weight of the CR when it’s fully loaded up! Although I don’t run HPA anymore, I reckon this pack is a good size to carry a small HPA tank. Thanks to the Buckle Up system, the straps are really easy to swap out for the charger pack - just unclip the straps and clip in the pack and you're good to go! It can be used on other brands gear as it also has the MOLLE back.
Photography: Stuart Manks
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