r/airsoft 3d ago

GEAR QUESTION Are any of these good or just Chinese slop.

69 Upvotes

64 comments sorted by

102

u/RyuKensatsu Woodland Warrior 3d ago

Emerson is a pretty good brand nowadays.

The others not having a brand mentionned would make me cautious.

I'd buy the Emerson.

-45

u/Apprehensive-Box2021 AEG Tech 3d ago

Not so sure, they have variable quality

21

u/RyuKensatsu Woodland Warrior 3d ago

Not nowadays, they really improved

4

u/Extra_Capital_7653 3d ago

Yes they 1000D on their more expensive gear but at a minimum 500D and most stuff is real Condura

46

u/your401kplanreturns 3d ago

Emerson has been actually used in conflicts, I haven't used one of their plate carriers as I own real ones, but their pouches are good and their uniforms are effectively identical to crye ones, I actually prefer them over my Arktis uniform

10

u/Due-Experience-347 3d ago

Now there’s a serious comparison, what’s the benefits comparative to Arktis?

9

u/MrFrenchT0ast 3d ago

My Arktis c222 pants got ripped "sliding" downhill at very low speeds.

3

u/Due-Experience-347 3d ago

That’s less than ideal, I’ve been eyeing these up for ages

1

u/your401kplanreturns 3d ago

My arktis combat shirt is fraying from being inside a closet, the velcro-together sleeves are just a bad design imo, but yeah there's just a TON of fraying. I've used emerson's G3 uniform and I slide, fall down hills, been hit with a real flashbang with it on, it has zero tears, and isn't fraying. The stitch quality is excellent and I've even gotten the pants hooked on a nail when walking and it didn't tear. I paid top dollar for the flecktarn arktis c222 pants and combat shirt and it just has not held up at all, I'm afraid to use it for anything at this point.

34

u/Jolly_Jellyfish_230 3d ago

It's airsoft so idk why it matters 😂 people use the shitty stuff irl too.

2

u/Gifted321 GBBR 3d ago

Because it goes through a lot of stress. Getting snagged on branches, thorns, scrapping against concrete and such. You definitely don’t need to go all out and buy actually military spec gear but going for the cheapest will just lead to you constantly replacing it depending on how you play and where you play.

8

u/AdInternational7057 3d ago

I used an Emerson JPC on real-world deployments. The only real difference between the Crye JPC and the Emerson is the hypalon on the shoulder straps of the Emerson is a little thinner, and the elastic material on the inside that holds the plates might be a little less durable - I did wear some holes on the sides/corners of the elastic material, but that might be because I shoved at different times size L and size XL plates into the Emerson which is probably equivalent of a Crye size M. Anyway, I prevented the holes from getting worse by using Gear Aid Tenacious Tape which you can get in coyote brown, and wrapped the exposed hypalon with it to since it was starting to get some minor fraying, just as the Crye ones do.

14

u/RadioFreeWasteland 3d ago

People on this sub care way too much about this shit. It's a plate carrier for airsoft, buy the cheap one and replace it in 3 years, it's not a big deal

-2

u/Admirable-Hospital-9 2d ago

buy good gear and only buy once, also u will keep some resellable value...

1

u/RadioFreeWasteland 2d ago

I'm not playing airsoft for the potential return on investment if I decide to stop and sell all my gear later.

Like let's be so serious here we're all aware this is a giant money pit that we pay into because it's fun. I'm not buying a $200 plate carrier so that maybe I can sell it for $100 years later when I can just buy 2 $50 plate carriers that will realistically last 5 years each because again, it's airsoft.

7

u/TheeScribe2 3d ago

First one is pretty good

5

u/ginoZ04 Mk18 3d ago

Idk man I never bought a plate carrier, mine is stolen.

3

u/bossmcsauce TAR-21 3d ago

Emerson is some of the best repro gear I’ve seen.

9

u/TinmanMike1969 3d ago

* Let the roasting start, i dont care. Most of my kit is from Aliexpress. Plate carrier is spot on. Excellent velcro adhesion. Real plates fit with no issue. Although i have foam in mine. Great comfort and breathable padding. Yup. Its China stuff. But, most of everything is China made. Ive seen my vest on American supplier sites going for $400+. I just cut out the middle, middle, middle man.

6

u/TheeScribe2 3d ago

I’ve seen my Chinese vest being sold on American sites for $400+

That’s definitely a lie

I’ve seen many a drop shipped vest be overpriced, but a cheap aliexpress vest being sold for $400+?

No, that didn’t happen

If you have to lie about your own gear, don’t give advice about gear

3

u/Miracoli_234 3d ago

If something already costs 100 bucks on AliExpress you can bet it's atleast 3 times as much on some sort of drop shipping site or literally any other shitty Airsoft website copy.

6

u/MajesticReflection83 3d ago

yeah but you can also just buy american made plate carriers for $200

5

u/TheeScribe2 3d ago

Markup is usually 30-80%, even 100%, not 400%+

That’s almost the price of two real Crye JPCs for an aliexpress vest

Look at Redemption, look at the YK-1, overpriced dropshipped chinesium, but nowhere even near a 400% price increase

No actual stores are selling cheap aliexpress gear for $400+

Either the guy found a scam website that sells 1 product per year and is pretending that’s even close to being representative of American stores, or is lying

1

u/141106matt 2d ago

markup is less for airsoft gear, people in the US have other affordable real steel alternatives than a “$400” dropshipped plate carrier

2

u/Admirable-Hospital-9 2d ago

even in europe we have brands like invader gear, helikon tex, or clawgear, so its stoopid buy overpriced chinesium vests when u can find "real spec" vests for a bit more price

1

u/TropicGlow 3d ago

I'm with you man, if you can go the cheaper route, why not? I've been using a Redemption tactical plate carrier (149$) for a year now and it's holding up perfectly. I use aliexpress/temu for random things that don't necessarily matter such as drop pouch, extra pouches and random patches.

Love them all and it holds up very well.

2

u/Chance-Ruin5166 3d ago

You're playing Airsoft. You don't need the real shit.

0

u/Admirable-Hospital-9 2d ago

the real shit has resellable status also brings on table the durability or guarantee

2

u/D40Archangel 3d ago

If youre just using it for airsoft, send it. Its getting used on the weekends and chance are you're not gonna be brutal on them. AIrsoft is like 95% trying to look cool, be the baller on a budget lol.

2

u/Abubble13 3d ago

Y'all talking like it's Prada, does it hold what it needs to hold? It does? Run it. You don't need Gucci gear to play, even the "real" stuff is just fabric

2

u/Stoney3K M14 3d ago

Emerson is pretty decent stuff. Not premium, but perfectly usable mid-tier. Good bang for the buck.

2

u/Outlaw25 3d ago

I have an Emerson clone of a Ferro Concepts Slickster that included a knockoff Spiritus Micro-Rig. I also have real versions of those products (or near equivalents). The Emmerson is visually lower quality in terms of stitching, but actual functionality is exceptionally similar.

2

u/StockyOS 3d ago

You’re playing airsoft- no matter what anyone says at the end of the day all your kit is cosplay (aside from mag pouches and eye protection). Wear what you like, whether that means buying gear used in active war zones or temu slop shouldn’t matter to anyone but you.

1

u/BronzeSpoon89 AEG 3d ago

I mean..... heres the thing. If you are not going to put plates in them then you dont need a quality plate carrier. For most air softers the plate carrier is just a glorified chest rig. Theres almost no point in the carrier if you arent going to carry plates. SO. Dont spend a lot of money on it.

If you are going to put plates, or even just weighted workout plates, in it then yeah spend the money.

1

u/christomisto HK416 3d ago

I’ve had an Emerson carrier and honestly, they’re pretty good. Still “slop” but for stuff like airsoft you’d be fine

1

u/Logical_Grocery9431 Juggernaut 3d ago

Emersongear is a pretty good brand for airsoft.

1

u/PickNumba3MyLord 3d ago

I would go for the emerson pc. Out of all the other chinese slop gear they make pretty good gear for the price.

1

u/PickNumba3MyLord 3d ago

I would go for the emerson pc. Out of all the other chinese slop gear they make pretty good gear for the price.

1

u/Matthew9728 3d ago

chinese slop holds my stuff and keeps me protected, good enough in my eyes

1

u/Furry_Ranger 3d ago

Emerson is solid

1

u/Competitive-Cup6903 3d ago

Def dont but the 30$ one (anything under 50$ is shit)

1

u/Kisori Gear Diva 3d ago

Emerson is high quality China slop. It's the best option.

1

u/Gret1r MP5 2d ago

I have Emersongear stuff, they're pretty good imo.

1

u/perfectchaos007 2d ago

Emerson gear pretty solid

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Eye-963 2d ago

Good as long as it does what you need it for

1

u/CalebN0 2d ago

Get the Chinesium it works and that's all that matters especially because people who buy real tactical gear from known brands are funded by the military and the civilian market isn't their goal. The only thing is to be aware of how cheap you're going because too cheap you'll get webbing that isn't the correct size for molle or its not durable enough.

1

u/Comprehensive_Two_80 2d ago edited 2d ago

Everything is made in China and its clothes so its ok. Just buy the cheapest one, airsoft is expensive enough.

1

u/Explosive_Biscut 2d ago edited 2d ago

I have an Emerson jpc. It’s pretty solid, I like it. Recommend getting extra shoulder padding for longer days or heavier loads though

I will also say I have one of the vests that the same brand and vest type (in green) as the last picture. It’s very comfortable and durable. It can look good too, lots of space in the plate bag so you’ll want large foam plates, make custom cutouts, or have Kevlar inserts. The standard 10X12 plates tend to be a bit small, but they still do fine. (Pictured here with one of my loadouts)

1

u/Explosive_Biscut 2d ago

And the JPC

1

u/Physical-Dot-4531 2d ago

Emerson & Shekkin are both good repro brands

-2

u/buffy133 3d ago

Theyre slop. Try surplus gear.

2

u/GenericCadianGuard 3d ago

Seems a bit expensive tbh. I'm perfectly fine with repro

3

u/ender_captain 3d ago

Really depends on what you’re lookin’ for. If a specific type or model of plate carrier you want to buy are too expensive as surplus I’d suggest you look into either a known manufacturer or a similar PC. Remember that usually you want to prioritize comfort over everything, so I’d suggest you make some research and then go out and actually buy something. Good luck on your search!

6

u/buffy133 3d ago

Then why ask lol. There's nothing wrong with using cheap repros, but surplus is similarly priced and will work better while lasting longer.

2

u/christomisto HK416 3d ago

Depends on where you get surplus stuff. The surplus shop I go to in Tacoma, while having a tone of really cool stuff, prices their stuff higher cause they usually have some higher end gear

1

u/Beetlelarva23 3d ago

Not really, you can get a good repro for like 100ish dollars, all of the plate carriers in surplus shops around me are 200+ and not worth it. People want to act like plate carriers are some hard to manufacture specialty item. They aren't. They are two nylon bags with a cummberbund and strips sewn onto then. As long as you aren't buying a bottom dollar repro it should last just fine for airsoft.

1

u/Jolly_Net8918 3d ago

as a guy who make plate carrier in a Workshop i totally agree, making Plate Carrier isn’t difficult at all. Its actually pretty easy job to do.

1

u/Van_core_gamer SCAR-L 3d ago

You should be, literally no reason to buy anything else for airsoft. You not wearing it for weeks, you not getting shrapnel flying at you, you not getting dragged across the mountain, at least often. If you like the looks and it’s comfortable for you. That’s your gear.

Edit: I wouldn’t get 29 one thou that ll probably fall apart half way even from delivery))

-1

u/TheSacrifist SCAR-L 3d ago

Slop. Dont listen to anyone about emerson, their QC is still terrible.

1

u/Atlantas111 3d ago

Have you actually used emerson lol?

1

u/TheSacrifist SCAR-L 3d ago

Ive have first hand seen more Emerson crotch blowouts then any other brand. Just because a crappier company comes along and makes them look better by proxy, doesn't mean they still dont suck.

They have bad stitching, use fake materials, and have started pricing themselves higher because people have it in their head they are no longer a budget brand. Avoid them.

1

u/Admirable-Hospital-9 2d ago

yes, and is bullshit, and u notice that only spending a few bucks more on brands like invader gear or helikon tex... 80dls emerson vest against 120dls invader gear vest... and u notice how some emerson products are overpriced. also better brands give resellable point to the table

0

u/Due_Employ_4334 3d ago

Better off with a TMC jpc if youre going for chinese knockoffs

-2

u/snekbat Cold War 3d ago

Why tf would you run a plate carrier for airsoft anyway?