I will be shortly replacing all of my gear with new stuff. I will also be doing a plate carrier for the first time.
What is the general consensis on the Eagle ciras. For those of you that have them do you like them?
If you pull the cord to release the armor is the vest done after that?
Thanks rob.
Ciras (Maritime) is what I am using now. It is a great system. Once you pull the cord, it is a real pain in the butt to put back together. So I would only pull the cord if you have no other choice. It is a good carry system that offers great protection. If you are going to run side plates, get the Land version with the cumberbun.
Thanks!
Anyother real difference between maritime and land?
Also I noticed it’s cheaper on skdtactical.com, they gtg??
SKD is the shit- if it’s in stock, you will get it faster and cheaper than most anyone else.
A CIRAS is not a plate carrier. It’s an armor system carrier…meaning BALCS armor and plates. If you want a plate carrier, to carry plates, get a plate carrier.
Difference between the Land and Maritime CIRAS vests: Land has an external cummerbund that allows users to hang more crap on the vest and look like a Tactical Michelin Man. The Maritime has a thinner profile, but can’t carry as much.
The front of the Land has a flap under with the external cummerbund hooks via Velcro. The Maritime’s front doesn’t have this flap, so pouch placement/size isn’t quite the issue it could be with the Land. I have a Maritime.
Does anyone actually use these without the ballistic armor? I just can’t figure out why you would.
I’ve read of people planning to use them as a plate carrier because, well, real plate carriers don’t carry as much equipment as the people who want a CIRAS seem to want to carry.
Thanks for your help guys.
Im only looking at carrying 8 rifle mags, 2 pistol, a small personal medical pouch, and maybe a fixed blade knife on the vest which isnt a heavy load at all, so maybe ill be ok with the maritime.
For the question about using armor, yes i will purchase the armor to go with it at a later date. as you’ve probley noticed im not very intelligent when it comes to diffrent armors and what to put in it. I knew there was soft armor to place in it from PPI, and heard you could place hard plates in as well.
Timw thanks for the good laugh about the “Tactical Michelin Man”. Also thanks for your your information.
I’m running an Eagle Plate Carrier with Cummerbund- LOVE it!
Best one I’ve used so far. I would sweat my nuts off in a CIRAS. I have the one piece eagle mag pouch that holds 6 mags in 3 pouches 2 deep. I also have 1 M4 FB pouch and the FB pouch that holds 2 G17 mags also. Twin Frag pouch, G-Code G19 RTI Molle holster.
I ordered the soft armor from Triad Tactical- they have the stuff that fits.
I also have Level IV Ceradyne Plates.
Very versatile system.
Because if you have the right plates, they do the lion’s share of the work at stopping stuff, and the ballistic panels are basically just padding. Nice, but unneccessary with the right plates. I can speak only for myself and my little band of happy cutthroats, but…
Pounds may equal pain, but bulk is something I’ve found to fatigue me more in the long run, because padding = bulk, which means I have to force simple movements and full range of motion is a freakin’ pipedream. Less bulk = more mobility, and I prefer having a chance to get the hell out of the way BEFORE letting the plate get tested by a bullet smack. Mobility hurts less, and fatigue brought on by bulk and weight further reduces what mobility the two allow. Admittedly, it’s a gamble in threat areas where shrapnel is a possibility, but is that your environment?
I don’t use ballistic panels. I’ve taken a hit in the front plate with a Dragunov round, and an AK shot later the same day, so I already know that stand-alone plates work without the padding, and mobility is roughly the same plates-only as it is with panels-only, whereas plates & panels = stupid slow. It felt like the Jolly Green Giant hit me with a ball-peen hammer (D’OH!) and the bruise was positively HDTV-color, but that’s any hit you take.
I can imagine a lot of folks tossing their hands up in horror at the thought of plates with no ballistic cloth, and I understand why, but it works with stand-alone plates. Which may justify somebody’s “use-in-conjunction-with” plate purchase
When wearing true stand-alone front, rear, and side plates, there is NO need to wear underlying soft armor.
I far prefer the Eagle MAR-CIRAS to the Land CIRAS (as well Paraclete RAV or BAE RBAV for that matter) for an integrated armor carrier. However, I am most often using a low-profile armor/plate carrier like the BCS NIJ carrier or Paraclete Concealment Cut Vest w/SAPI plate pockets and simple LBE like the TT 2-piece MAV or ATS chest rig.
FWIW, 8 mags is considered a lot of mags to carry on the LBE these days…