Contact PPI and ask for Delia. She will be able to assist you with any armor inserts you may need for our products.
There is a substantial price difference between the regular CIRAS and the LE Non-Releasable Model of approx. $200 in retail price.
The Maritime CIRAS is what the LE version is based off of. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Reference the question of why we offer a Maritime Model of the CIRAS. It was requested by a particluar organization. The Land and Maritime are both releasable vests. The difference is the Land has two release points, with one being at 0600 on the vest and the other being at either 0300 or 0900. The second point is set up based upon user preference. The Maritime only has one release point that is located at 1200 under the neck line.
I find the Land is better suited for large loadouts, but it is slightly more difficult to put on because of the large external cumberbund as well as adding some bulk to the vest. The Maritime is more streamlined and easier for a person to put on quickly. The Maritime is my personal choice when using an armor carrier of that nature.
Utilizing a Plate Carrier gives the end user more flexibility in their overall options. It will also make your overall profile SLIGHTLY more compact versus using a CIRAS. For people that are not assigned to a detail which is responsible for dedicated tactical operations, I almost always recommend the Plate Carrier with Cumberbund. That system will allow you to quickly upgrade threat protection over your existing soft armor based on the current situation unfolding in front of you. You do lose the cutaway feature of the vest, but the PC W/C is still more than capable of carrying just about anything you need.
Having worn both systems for real I personally prefer the soft armor with PC over it. It allows me better mobility and still offers outstanding overall protection.
The plus and minus catagory for both CIRAS models is about the same. It allows you to put on the entire armor package at one time, vice having to put on soft armor and then the PC. You will naturally have more bulk with this system though as a result of the necessary materials, sewing, and load carriage capability.
If you were to get a Low Vis Carrier for the BALCS soft armor inserts, pull them out of the CIRAS and into the Low Vis Carrier, put on a Plate Carrier, then your overall “thickness” if you will is diminished. That Low Vis Carrier isn’t going to have nearly as much material as the CIRAS, and the PC obviously is smaller than a CIRAS. This package though will give you the identical protection that a CIRAS would. You are using the same soft ballistics and hard plates that would be in the CIRAS, but they are being suspended differently. That is where you get your added mobility from.
Don’t get me wrong. If you are doing true tactical operations, then the CIRAS can’t be beat and I am not just saying that because I run the LE Division for Eagle. The added bulk is worth it, as you are locked into a stable system that is capable of carrying anything you could need.
That is one slight downside to the Soft Armor with Plate Carrier option. The two units have a tendency to slide around a bit on eachother. A CIRAS isn’t going to do that. The issue is minimal, but it is still there.
I hope that answered your question. If not please let me know.
Thanks for all the great information and insight. Pat, Ben and Darrin you are a wealth of first hand information and I really appreciate your taking the time to share your expertise with us all.
I have BALCS armor and I just received the Eagle PC with Cummerbund. The only issue that I have with the 2 systems together is due to the overlap on the sides of the BALCS armor, I have had to add more 550 cord to the cummerbund in order to get it to wrap completely. When I let the cummerbund out the eyelets at the end of the elastic are semi-exposed.
I have the XL BALCS and the L/XL Plate carrier and am 6’3, 238 lbs.
Other than that, I am more than happy running this set-up.
Steve:
This is a confusing and complex subject. Try bulletproofme.com for a little primer on body armor. They also sell Police surplus kevlar vests and new plates at reasonable prices. Once you have your armor suite figured out, then look at a carrier. The optimum choice is an integrated unit, such as a Paraclete RAV, Eagle CIRAS, TAG Spartan, HSGI Centurion, etc. Eagle makes a LEO version of their rig at a substantial savings over the mil-spec releasable vests (mostly a water ops feature). These units are the best because you can run hard and/or soft armor as required and also have PALS webbing for hanging on your pouch load out; no separate ammo vest required.
Wow. First let me say this thread has been very educational and thanks to the variety of expertise that has supplied that knowledge. Especially want to thank Ben Lenett for his time in doing so.
I have been using Eagle gear for years and they continue to impress with their dedication to both present and future customers.
I have long considered the purchase of a CIRAS but presently use a simple SKD chest rig seeing my day to day requirements are not HSLD. That was a long time ago as a much younger man.
This thread has served to identify the advantages of both the CIRAS all in one and a seperation of Vest and PC.
Thanks,
Johnny
EDIT: Seeing my day to day job does not require the use of Body Armor, what would be the best of both worlds for Tactical Classes, 3 Gun Matches. Assume the SKD is just fine.
