I’ll add my .02 here. What are your uses for your gear? Deploying, LEO work, straight training rig? If you just need gear for training/ocasional use, then look at the Blackhawk route. If you need gear that you can depend on , there are other options out there as already mentioned. I am not a Blackhawk hater. I have an Omega style vest and ammo pouches that were made back in 1996-97 time frame when they were made in the USA. They have held up to some fairly abusive use over the years and are still running strong. With that said, the majority of the current gear I would not buy for duty use. If you get a chance, look at the product in person, look for the signs that it wil last. Bartacks, double stiching at the wear points, etc.
probably not a blackhawk issue, but I always have shipping problems whenever the product being ordered is from blackhawk. either they sell items faster than they can stock them or the companies I order from are just disorganized. either way, hopefully no one else encounters this frustrating issue.
Jeez…first Blackhawk started making crap gear, and now Eagle Industries is owned by the same company and will be outsourcing to the Carribean?
Looks like I’ll be saving money to buy LBT stuff.
Before you rain praise on LBT, take a look at their new rigger’s belt…and then look at the one that 215 Gear has been making for a few years. None of the big companies have clean hands.
Jeez again! And I’m looking for a new rigger’s belt! I’m using a SOE Gear rigger’s belt (from 2004) that’s still functional…
You were saying something about “clean hands?” 
It’s like a friggin’ soap opera.
It really is unbelievable. If I was looking to buy a rigger’s belt right now, the 215 Gear one would be at the top of a very short list (for reliable gear and innovation). OSOE is a close second (for a long history of reliable gear).
Full disclosure - I own Ares Gear, so everything I say about the nylon industry should be verified. Trust, but verify.
From the get go Blackhawk came off to me as an indoor retail shopping center Ninjitsu emporium.
Their full page color ads always reminded me of a promo poster for a Steven Seagal flick. :rolleyes:
Blackhawk manufactures their products with a sub par material called NyTaneon™, it doesn’t hold a candle to DuPont’s 1000D CORDURA® .
Just to dog pile onto everyones comments, Blackhawk was cool back in the day, but really turned me off when I found out its all made in the Nam…We were given tac vests by blackhawk at work, and I hated it. Quality wasnt so great, and uncomfortable. My go to company for tac gear is Tactical Tailor. Great stuff.
My uses are really just training. If there were a SHTF scenario though I’d like to know every last piece of gear can be counted on to perform its job. While such a scenario is unlikely (at least I hope), I do prefer to buy right the first time. A warranty on things is great but not ever needing to use that warranty is better.
I just put together a TT 2pc MAV with an extended X-harness from the custom shop. OMFG!!! Why didn’t we have this when I was still in? This will be me SHTF/Zombie/Training rig. Unbelievably comfortable, 8 mags, 3L water in hydration carrier, strobe, compass and 2 large misc pouches. 1 will be replaced with a BOK and I’ll add an E&E pouch under the hydration carrier. Maybe mount my G17 on the side, we’ll see how it works out. I’ll post pics when I’m done.
That sounds pretty badass… any idea as to what the loaded out weight will be?
I am throwing the BS flag. That stuff is made off shore.:eek:
read the whole thread before posting something that has been already been addressed.
How do you know that I did not read the whole thread?
I did not know you had a crystal ball and were moon lighting. BTW, I did read the whole thread.
I was reinforceing that Emdom product is not made here. I have personal knowledge of this, as I have met the owner’s of Emdom personally and own some of their product. You are not the only person on here with knowledge of Emdom.
I see nothing in the House Rules that says anything about reading, or not reading a whole thread, in order to post within that thread. Or, reinforce a comment that someone else made, that’s called corroboration.
Clearly, you took your cheap shot because Emdom puts MONEY in your pocket. I personally would have excused myself from the discussion, as you are clearly compromised.
cheap shot? your logic doesn’t hold water. by me stating that emdom makes their nylon goods in hong kong rather than sitting quiet without saying anything shows that MONEY is less of a concern to me than ensuring that customers have the correct information. i could have sat quiet and allowed folks to think otherwise, but i didn’t. if anything, my post would take money OUT of my pocket, but it’s the right thing to do.
what are you corroborating? all someone has to do is visit the emdom website on the ‘about us’ page:
“Currently, Emdom USA works conjunction with a local sewing workshop for production of our modified uniform line, and Emdom Industries in Hong Kong for our tactical nylon line.”
it doesn’t take any personal connection to the company - just an awareness that the info is there.
by the way - i’m not ‘moonlighting’ or have a crystal ball. the tactical gear, lights/lasers and knives, and precision rifle sections are actually my mod areas of focus (the mod list at the bottom of each section has not been updated in a while - it needs to be). i’m supposed to be keeping up on all threads in those areas.
You’re right, the rules don’t mandate you to read a thread before posting on it. You can look as clueless as you want, and still be in compliance…
Just to clarify… I really don’t care where the gear is manufactured, although I would prefer the profits to benefit an America company. I don’t bother concerning myself with such things anymore since its nearly impossible to find any product that is 100% American made by American workers, utilizing American materials and by an American company. Hell half the fresh vegetables at your local grocery are from foreign farms.
I don’t like it, but at this point there is little we can do about it. Doesn’t even matter who we elect. There isn’t such a thing as a politician with balls anymore and none of them would ever consider removing their lips from the collective asses of foreign governments long enough to create American manufacturing jobs.
/rant.
I’d like to throw in US Grunt Gear. They make some great stuff that is made here (in Florida) and he does a lot of custom stuff. I ordered one of his Mule gun packs for CCW, and I had it tweaked here and there to suit my needs. He charged me a big fat zero to do the custom work! Unbelievable! Give it a try, I think you’ll like what you get.
I think I just might give him a ring and order that modular leg rig… yep I think I am gonna since its available in Multicam.
I don’t think you’ll be disappointed Dale. I’m not on his payroll, but I sure am a fan now. 