Ergonomics - How to wear gear

[Oborous]

Some of the comments made have lead me to believe that we should discuss how to wear the gear.

Partially for the impressionist crowd, partially for people that are looking at getting into the Forces themselves, partially because after dealing with body armour for five years it just annoys me to see people wearing it wrong

First, this is not to be how to wear clothing, this is to wear First Line, Second Line, Third Line gear correctly.

Second, You very, very quickly start making compromises. I rarely see the duct/gun tape, paracord, carabiners, etc on airsoft load outs that I see on the 'real' gear that I've seen. Mission drives the gear, and most of the time it just sucks for all that you need to carry.

Third, there has been a big trend to lighter gear in the past three years. This means less capacity and less redundancy to actually achieve the primary mission. You'll notice this bias in my posts, and if you're going for a specific year impression you'll need to be aware of this.


Ok, Armour, many people, including actual warfighters wear it wrong. If you have lightfigher access, Read Here, it's fantastic distilled knowledge. What it basically is saying that you need to wear your plates over the parts of you that are most vunerable with considerations for kinestics and probablilty of being hit there. People don't wear their plates high enough, you need to have the plate start no more than 2.5cm (1 inch) from your clavical notch. For plates, and note the Plates, not soft armour, when you are sitting they should be ending no more than 5 cm (2 inches) from your legs; this generally corresponds to your bellybutton.

Soft armour is a whole different can of worms. Logistically the Military uses many less sizings than Law Enforcement (generally), and is designed for maximal coverage due to low velocity fragment effects (IEDs of all varieties). The important thing here is, unless you're just wearing plate backers, that you need to look at your Mission/Model. If you are Law Enforcement, they often give you overlap at the sides. This is to allow you to get a bit rounder in the five years, and to slide and still give you coverage if you're bending over. All you need is your armour to touch the front panel and back panel, no overlap is required. You might notice armour behaves a bit strangely in the last 2.5 cm around the edge, so some manufacturers recommend 2.5 cm of overlap for that purpose.

Basically, set up your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) first. That keeps you alive, that is most important for you personally. I know we're airsofters here, but don't get into sloppy habits incase you do go into a .mil or .le occupation.

Drop Leg Panels/Holsters These are much more appropriate for .le Tactical Assaulters, where you need many contingencies and options on the Use of Force continum for short duration, high intensity shock and awe breaches. They are also useful for direct action missions where you have a very long secondary, or other speciality purpose (such as many 40mm eggs because you have a rotary GL and are dropping mass amounts of smoke, or have specific fire missions already planned).

Basically drop-leg's slow you down more than having the same weight on your hip or your vest. It fatigues you in movement and it shifts around where the items are relative to your arms. If you have something on your hip, you will know exactly where it is at all times (via practice), and muscle memory will allow you to draw the sidearm with good grip easily; you put it on a drop leg, it might be slightly off of where you think it is and may not have that good of a grip on it.

However, if you are going to use a drop-leg, wear it properly. The swivel point is to be as close to your natural swivel point as possible. Do not put your drop leg so low that you're having to bend to get at items, you need to have it as high as feasible and you want the swivel as close to your hip joint as possible, and the swivel needs to be on the outside. Many people run them very much on the front, like a pilots leg board, which is improper for a ground-pounder. Look at this. There is an actual, proper study that said 1lb of drop leg weight increased your fatigue rate by .7%, which adds up really quickly, I cannot find a link for it anymore, if anyone has seen it, could you post it here?

Lastly, Weapon Retention/Slings/Lanyards, how many hunters do you see using their sling when they're about to take a shot? Very, very few (unless you're using something like a Ching Sling to help with steadying the firearm and to deal with recoil). The reason for this is a sling impairs your mobility and ergonomics. Everything to do with this is a compromise, realize this off the bat and that what works for you may not work for someone else because they're doing things differently. I am continually surprised at how many people cheap out on slings in airsoft, I'd argue they're relatively more important to us (airsofters) than the real face-shooters because of how a game goes. You arrive at a field, gear up, stand around listening to the briefing, walk out to your spawn point, play game, have breaks, etc. We are constantly using our sling, the only time that Military uses it more is for long foot patrols.

Airsofters should buy good slings! Often our Airsoft Guns are not as durable as the real thing, so you don't want them failing and droping your expensive Airsoft gun onto rocks.

Don't buy a three point sling, unless you know exactly when it's beneficial (sometimes with SAW/LMG/MMG/GPMG), just don't. One point, Two Point, and One/two point convertable; vest mount one point, yoke style one point, etc. there are lots of options. Basically, look at your options, buy something good, try it out, don't be afraid to buy again. Make sure that when you're transitioning that you don't nut yourself (A problem with many one point slings). Realize that a one point sling is better for high intensity small geographic region operations (i.e. assault a building), two points are better for large areas of operation (playing at Claybank).

Lanyards for sidearms are a very good thing. Airsoft pistols are expensive and not used that much, replica holsters may not have the best of retention, using a lanyard can really save you losing an expensive piece of kit. Many of the gear manufacturers that I know in real life don't make them because they all say 'Buy the Gemtec, I don't see how I could improve on that design, so there is no point'. The madbull one actually is a real GemTec, just sold through airsoft distributors, found this out when I ordered OD from them and it came as FG, I chatted with both companies. I have not seen anything better, but there are a few other ones that are close. The thing is to put the retention far enough away that it doesn't bind when you are moving and then hamper you when you draw. If I'm doing a side, vest mounted pistol holder, there are times that I'll put the lanyard retention high up on my shoulder blade, it allows for easy draw and gives me lots of slack for pointing the pistol, and it prevents the pistol from falling out onto the ground (for the gemtec it'll hang at calf level, which can help preventing a tripping issue).

What else should we talk about? We have the gear forum for what mag pouch to get, etc., I just see improper PPE, Drop Legs, and Weapon Retention causing problems for executing TTP's on an individual and small unit scale. I'm wondering about talking about Radio Placement?

[m102404]

1. THANK YOU...great info summary and write up...especially the note on pistol lanyards

2. Other bits?
A) Frag/DD placement and carry setup...glowsticks/markers/etc...
B) Radio placement
C) Working your 1st/2nd line setup with packs...hydration carriers/sources...etc...
D) Placement of stuff for your teamates/shooting buddies to use (e.g. back mounted pouches)
E) Placement/usage of VIP strobes/flashes
F) Placement of IR IDs/etc..

Really appreciate the layman's translation and reasoning.

[Cleric]

I'm not military, but from an airsoft standpoint, quick access to radio equipment is a must.
I see very many milsim people with their radios placed in a deep pouch, or strapped to their back. I understand that this may be emulating real-world folks who's typical situation is to stay on one channel. However with Airsoft, switching channels, adjusting volume, etc. seems to be a frequent thing.

There comes a point where form becomes way less important than function.

[MaciekA]

Originally Posted by Oborous

What else should we talk about?

To be honest I feel like you're just getting started and there's literally a universe of stuff to cover. This is an awesome topic and I'd love to hear more from someone who knows what they're talking about. I'd personally appreciate it hugely if you and others could simply expand on this thread as an overall series to help people get their stuff "right".

An example of this from my own experience. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why my plate carrier didn't really look quite right until I started to read the thread about filling your training plates with material to weigh them down. Some people were reading those threads because they were interested in getting their plates feeling more realistic.

I was reading those threads saying "damn, so I can put lightweight training plates into my plate carrier to stiffen it up and make it look/fit correctly? Why didn't anyone tell me this??"

If you guys can think of more examples like that, this thread can become a bible of such stuff...

[ThunderCactus]

What I've learned, keep your weapon hand on your weapon!
Have all your mags/anything you need to access in battle accessible to your offhand.
So if you're right handed, have all you're rifle mags, pistol mags, PTT button, lighter (if you use pyro nades) and shells accessible by your left arm. Everything else, frags, shemagh, canteen, entrenching tool, multi-tool, sidearm, secondary, russian throwing shovel, and post combat cupcakes can all be stored on your right side.

If you go prone a lot or if you're a sniper, take a tip from the CF and have breast mounted mag pouches. They're REALLY handy when you're prone.

Don't use open cell foam as fake armor, not only does it load up with water but it grows mold too.

OTV's are called "oven tactical vests" for a reason

A plate carrier and shemagh will help keep you warm in heavy rains. Webbing, cloth vests and chest rigs will not.

[peacekeeper]

i like my otv and vest, lol . but your right mission does dictate the loadout.

[McKee]

Originally Posted by Cleric

There comes a point where form becomes way less important than function.

That's the point all the time. Look cool factor doesn't matter one bit in real life military (can't speak for law enforcement). You make shit work to be practical for what you're trying to do. If it looks ghetto as fuck and is rigged up with paracord, guntape, and zapstraps.. but it works... then it works and thats all that matters. Keep in mind real military doesn't have access to all this crazy gucci form fitting super duper high speed gear. You get issued what you get issued. You might pick up an occasional extra peice of kit here or there, sure, but by and large you work with what you have. To me the most "authentic" gear loadout is the one where every single piece of that gear has a specific practical purpose, and nothing more than what is necessary is used.

[ThunderCactus]

Originally Posted by TaroBear

Maybe you could discuss mag placement more in-depth?

I've only got experience doing this with M4 mags, but essentially, you need to place the mag in the pouch in such a way that when you remove it, it's already in the right spot in your hand to do a 90 degree mag swap.
I explained this more in depth in another thread.... somebody link to it lol

[Ballcancer]

I especially liked the part where you touched on how to properly wear drop leg kit. Drop leg panels are there, becuase you don't have enough room on your belt. Bottom line. I can't say the same for leg holsters (though sometimes it is because you have too much on your belt), because, that is personal preference, for some part, on how one draws, unless you have a unit/LE/department SOP to wear a leg holster. I do know that with CSC, their ERT team marksmen that do carry a secondary, have their holster as far up the leg as possible, but not so high that it restricts movement/or crushes their nuts. This in turn reduces the fatigue set into the leg (as orborous stated), and also keeps the pistol as close to a belt draw as possible.

If you have a pistol in a drop leg holster set properly on your leg, you will notice that the grip is not that far from the belt itself, unless your really tall. I have also found that having it this high reduces the holster/sidearm from shifting on your leg. Personally I hate having a sidearm on my belt, I find (because I have a short torso, and longer arms) that with a belt draw I have to contort my arm to reach the pistol. With a leg holster I just drop my arm to my side and the pistol is there.

my 0.02

[Rickshaw]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

I've only got experience doing this with M4 mags, but essentially, you need to place the mag in the pouch in such a way that when you remove it, it's already in the right spot in your hand to do a 90 degree mag swap.
I explained this more in depth in another thread.... somebody link to it lol

It depends on the way you're reloading though, I know I myself have the feed's pointed up, and have the fronts facing my right hand side, so I can keep my rifle shouldered, tear out a mag, and only have to twist my hand slightly to get it to line up to the magwell of my weapon.

Pointing them downwards works as well, so I don't feel there's anything there that makes one better than the other aside from personal preference. Unless the magazines can get damaged a lot easier one way, or (like I've heard people say) you lose rounds easier from jostling them one way.

[ThunderCactus]

Right! Anyway you can reload your weapon quickly and efficiently without having to think about it!
I've got my mags upside down, bullets facing away from my weapon, I'll beer can grip the mags, do my 90 degree mag change, now it's reloaded and ready to start shooting again as I put the empty mag back in the pouch, and the empty mag happens to be facing the opposite way of the full ones so I can easily check what's empty and what's full.
The whole reload process on an M4 should take you less than 5 seconds and your sights should never leave your target

[vondnik]

What work for you is whats best period. Try different things and once you found the best compremise then stick to it. Personnaly I have zero gear on my legs or hips. Everything is on the wasatch. Rifle mags are offcenter with my pistol centered ( had the internal pouches modded with a holster. ). Pistol mags are at 90 degres exiting left bullet facing right and up. Rifle mags are bullet down facing right. Drop pouch is on my back at 45 deg facing left. Radio is top right shoulder and ptt left shoulder with earbud on the right. Water supply is on the right side on the armor with a utility pouch to balance things out. I often drive during airsoft games so anything on the leg or hips have resulted in many wedgies or other unpleasant situation. Also try to draw you pistol from a dropleg or hip holster sitting down in your car. Keeping my back a free as possible for the same reason. With this setup i carry 10 m4/ak/sig/g3 mags, 3 extra pistol mags, my pistol, radio, 1.5 liter of water, xl bb loader, some food, compas, gps, flashlight and the quite essential kill rag. This setup has been evolving for the past 10 years and i use it for both airsoft and rs
Competition. Is this the finnal form.... Probably not but this is where I am
Actually. Time to get some training done as the back mounted dump pouch is something new im trying. So far does not seem to bad of an idea....

[Grudge]

Originally Posted by vondnik

What work for you is whats best period...

This is one of the best pieces of advise. Function over form. I've been messing with my pouch placement over the last couple of months and still don't have it quite right. You've got to try using the stuff to see if its placement is correct.

Looking good is alright but if it interfeers with getting done what needs to get done then something has to change.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by vondnik

What work for you is whats best period. .

Yes and no.. many people don't know what they don't know..

I see lots of new players running around with their drop leg holster hanging at their knee.. for months and months .... That and slinging their rifle to the strong side obscuring their secondary.

these people obviously think that their set up "is working for them" but they just don't know that there is a better way to wear their gear.

A thread like this helps with that.

[pugs144]

Whether you're running a belt-mounted or drop-leg mounted secondary, ensure your pistol will clear your plate carrier/chest rig/LBE. This might mean having to leave several columns of PALS webbing empty in order to create a "channel" for your pistol to travel through.