ACM C.I.R.A.S. Review by 64k1
The C.I.R.A.S. as it came out of the bag.
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_141943.jpg[/IMG]
Let's start off with the basics. This CIRAS plate carrier is available from Evike for $130 USD, not including tax of course, and shipping for you guys who aren't buying from their walk-in store. Sizewise, it's configurable up a 33 waist to a 38 waist according to Evike, but it feels like it could go at least to 40 comfortably. Recommended for people 5'7" to 6'5", but it fits just fine on me (5'6"). Can't test it on anyone taller at the moment, so I can't vouch for this.
Front of the plate carrier, no pouches
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135509.jpg[/IMG]
Rear of the plate carrier, no pouches
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135518.jpg[/IMG]
The main thing to take notice of with this vest is that it's not true to the scale of normal CIRAS plate carriers. On both the front and the back, there's only six rows of webbing across instead of the typical eight. This is going to limit the amount of things you can attach, but so far this hasn't limited any of the loadouts I'm currently using.
The way I've got it set up.
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/64k1CIRAS3.jpg[/IMG]
Either side panel is velcro-attached to the cummerbund that's running through the vest. To put on, you pull up on the tab located at the bottom of the side panels, then there's a tab that's inside that you pull to can wrap the cummerbund around you. Since I typically use a t-shirt instead of BDUs, I ran into problems here. The velcro really likes to stab you in the side, but it's really nothing more than an itching sensation. I'm thinking of getting some more velcro patches to cover up the area so I don't have to stop in the middle of the game to scratch my sides.
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135547.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135600.jpg[/IMG]
The padding for the shoulder is rather nice. Granted, I'm not carrying anything that's heavy enough to really need them, so I could remove them if I wanted. They stay in place with more velcro, both on the straps and the padding themselves and can be configured wherever the hell you want them. Recently moved them on mine to be a little further back - didn't touch them when I first bought the vest so they were literally acting as more protection for my chest.
Shoulder portion opened
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135740.jpg[/IMG]
Shoulder portion removed
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135751.jpg[/IMG]
Velcro that keeps the shoulder portions secured
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135803.jpg[/IMG]
I found the reason this plate carrier was holding it's shape better than my previous one - there's already foam padding when you get it. It's easy enough to get inside of the vest too to change it up if you wanted with something else. Just unfold the rest of the vest, pull the velcro-attached internal mesh up, and there you have it, access to the foam. The rear will require you to undo a tab first.
Foam pads
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135708.jpg[/IMG]
Inside of the front
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135646.jpg[/IMG]
Inside, on the back. You can see the button at the bottom you have to undo
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135639.jpg[/IMG]
The stiching of the entire thing feels very solid. It's on par with my Condor Spec Ops plate carrier, and Condor already makes really good stuff. You'll really have to break in the MOLLE webbing though, I feel sometimes as if I really have to fight to get all of my pouches on properly.
The nice thing about the MOLLE webbing being so tight is that I don't have to worry about ripping the mag pouches off when I put a mag back in or pull a mag out. The elastic they used for the pouches really need to be broken - getting the mags in is a real fight, but pulling them out is a lot easier. As much as I like these pouches, I think I'm just going to use them for carrying spare ammo and use an open top (maybe a fast mag) for primary reloads. I already do this as it is from my belt. I guess I've been watching too much of the Magpul videos. Anyway, with this plate carrier you get a triple mag double stack mag pouch and a double mag double stack pouch. That's enough for ten magazines without adding anything when you first get it.
All of the magazine pouches
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140229.jpg[/IMG]
Inside of the double M4 double stack pouch
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140246.jpg[/IMG]
As for the other pouches - the Admin pouch is your basic one. Lots of velcro space, more than enough for flags or anything else you decide to slap on. I think there's space for a flag beside the O POS patch I have there right now. Has two pockets.
Admin pouch
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140336.jpg[/IMG]
Front pocket
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140345.jpg[/IMG]
Rear pocket
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140351.jpg[/IMG]
The medical pouch is pretty big. I'm not carrying any medical materials in there right now, so it's just holding my goggles til I actually play. Good as a multipurpose pouch if you don't want to carry medical supplies. Lots of elastic straps inside to secure whatever you have inside.
Medical pouch with my goggles inside
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135943.jpg[/IMG]
Inside of the medical pouch
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_135956.jpg[/IMG]
Radio pouch. Forgive the blurry picture.
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140406.jpg[/IMG]
Also two pistol magazine pouches. Fits hi-capa mags just fine. Also fits my Five-seveN mags just fine as well, so I don't have an excuse not to buy mags for it anymore.
Pistol mag pouch
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140107.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140114.jpg[/IMG]
Five-seveN mag inside
[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b211/64k1/IMG_20110115_140131.jpg[/IMG]
Pros:
-Price point - $130 for the plate carrier and the pouches isn't bad
-Build is pretty damn solid
-Good weight distribution
-Foam padding included, holds its shape nicely
-MOLLE means you can do whatever you want with any pouches you have
-Lots of real estate abound despite missing two columns
Cons:
-Manufacturer isn't known
-Velcro on the sides itches
-Only 6 columns of MOLLE webbing, not the typical 8
-Elastic in magazine pouches really needs breaking in. I can only imagine the pain that would occur if you were using G36 magazines during the break-in period
Build: 8/10
-Docked off a point simply because I don't know who the manufacturer is. It's not listed anywhere on Evike, so I'm simply chalking it up as ACM. Another point off because it's not a true CIRAS - 6 rows instead of 8, so this'll drive off some people.
Price: 10/10
-It's cheaper than the only alternative I could find or getting the base plate carrier and then adding in all of the pouches as well as the padding to hold it's shape (unless you make it yourself).
All in all though, I'm happy with this purchase. I was in need of a plate carrier with more space, not to mention I've been taking more shots to the side than I'd like so the cummerbund providing some protection is very welcome. It feels really solid too, I don't think it's going to be falling apart any time soon. I recommend it if you're in the market for a plate carrier.
Link:
OD: [url]http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_165&products_id=27771[/url]
Tan: [url]http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_165&products_id=27758[/url]
Black: [url]http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_165&products_id=27770[/url]
Well, shit, this looks like exactly what I need for my heavier loadout. It looks like it comes with all the pouches I'd need, as well. The fact it has less rows of MOLLE doesn't really deter me much, if anything it'd be better for me, since it seems a bit smaller than the regular CIRAS.
Nice review, I got everything I need to know. I might just end up getting one in the near future. Thanks bro!
Glad to help out. :3:
Those M4 mag pouches, can you tuck the cover flap behind the magazines?
duh
Yeah, you can. It didn't make it as hard as I thought it would to get the mags back in either.
I know in some pouches the flaps are too wide to fit properly behind the magazines, and I like open top pouches. :)
[QUOTE=venom;27472725]I know in some pouches the flaps are too wide to fit properly behind the magazines, and I like open top pouches. :)[/QUOTE]
Same here. UTG pouches had that problem. They also got in the way and made it a pain in the ass to put mags in or take them out. They were absolute shit.
Why do mag pouches need velcro AND a buckle anyway?
niko just buy the shingle pouches
since i have the ones by SDS, which doesn't have those elastic covers, but instead 2 flaps that button together, mines like
super hispeed
woo just ordered this along with a black recon wrap and some hat for my Pieuvre loadout.
:)
Nice, hope it works out for you. Did you get the tan version?
Nope, I'm getting the OD one.
Just need to get some OD pants, and some sort of large headset and I'm all set.
Got my CIRAS today, shit's sexy.
is this compatible with BALCS soft armor? just curious.
My god are these mag pouches tight, barely able to pull the mags out.
tats wat she said ;)
yeah i inserted both my mags into her
was a tight fit ;)
if i was able to grow an extra limb i'd get a 3rd dick
uh ye
anyway what is best way to stretch mags? i put my mags in a couple of them and put soda cans in the other ones
[editline]11th February 2011[/editline]
i meant stretch the mag pouches
dur
Just leave the mags in for like a week, keep popping them out every once in awhile to test it.
[img]http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/9380/img0513bd.jpg[/img]
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(shitty evike patch ye)
ye the thing is damn tasty
only problem so far is the mag pouches, i'm still stretching them. I can also fit an AK-47 mag into these pouches though, which is prty cool
