Ivan Tactical REVIEW

 

rat.bastard.reviews: Ivan Tactical Review

Disclosure: Id like to start by thanking Ivan Tactical; these guys have been excellent to work with and didn't hesitate to send me goods to review all the way from Russia so thank you guys so much for that. I do hope we can work together again in the future and wish you the best of luck moving forward. Now, if you don't know by now I begin every review with a disclosure statement letting my readers know that I received (almost) all Items listed below to be reviewed free of charge, This NEVER does effect my review and NEVER will. And if you don't believe that statement then you're a pussy fart, get chudded loser!

  Initial Impression: Okay my little queefs; Ivan Tactical sent me 1x Pantsir plate carrier SPOSN (Size Large), 3x SPOSN AK-74 mag pouch's, 2x single 9x19 pistol mag pouch's, 1x SPOSN zipped utility pouch, and 1x SPOSN TT first aid medical pouch (IFAK). I purchased the Grom hanger with my own money. The quality is downright amazing, I would put it above any American plate carrier companies level of quality for the price (currently on sale for less then $100). If you are a fan of my low-brow shenanigans you probably already know I really like SSO/SPOSN products and that's not because of my affinity towards my ancestral Eastern European brothers and sisters, it's because they do more with less. The craftsmanship is comparable to products that cost 3-4X more on the American market AND I see initiative being taken on areas of design that simply aren't being done domestically And I like the result more.

  Breakdown:  The fit, I will say is better then a lot of the minimalist rigs I've had the pleasure of using, I like that it sits slightly lower towards my hips. This isn't enough to restrict motion, however, is enough to make me feel a bit more encompassed than with other carriers. And to be fair It really doesn't matter from a protective standpoint because you are only protected within the parameters of your Armor not the material from the carrier itself. That being said, you do have big padded and reinforced shoulder straps that not only remind you of a mans strong and loving embrace, but hold all this weight exactly where it should be and I fucking love it! Sprints, up-downs, low crawls, it moves with you not on you. This in turn means my armor is always right where it should be, protecting my vital organs and making sure I make it home on time for the next round of Sonoran dogs. The cummerbund is a bit snug, that is likely because I am a fat-ass, because by all definitions it is supposed to be snug.....moving on, The one and only real legitimate complaint I have with this product is the fabric covering the chest, Jesus I'm not some 90lb starved Warsaw Pact factory worker; The chest shouldn't cut in so far that my nipples are peaking around the corner of the plates! I need a little more then that boy's; I'm a modest man And don't want the local Publix Sub shop workers gawking at my perfect little nipples when I drop in for a 9pm chicken tendie sub in full kit.

  The Cordura carrier material itself Is very high quality Its very Durable, the stitching quality is exceptional, the pattern feels ergonomic and the placement is very natural. Overall the design is really well done and I'm not left with feeling that because I didn't pay over $300 for a plate carrier that I'm fucked or I wasted my money. I will say the Drag Handle feels obligatory, which I have noticed with other SSO products like the SMERSH however after a drag test of about 25 yards it did hold up to 220lbs of man plus kit weight. I really like the re-enforced padded shoulder straps they are hands down the most comfortable out of any plate carrier I have experience with and they preemptively solve the issue of directing the hose from a hydration system If you so choose to add one by creating a channel for its travel and securement.

  The colors match very well I've found most of the products from SSO match pretty well if you order the same color or pattern from different products, the only real deviation I ever see is when comparing different material; which is understandable from a manufacturing standpoint and even then they are still very close. For this kit I ordered everything in Olive Drab (OD) Green, I'm just going to come out and say It; this is not OD Green, and if I wasn't reviewing this I wouldn't have thought twice about it but its an approximation of OD Green. I've Seen surplus in this color, I've seen other military equipment in this color but its just too Saturated to call it Olive Drab if anyone actually gives a shit. 

  The accessories, I requested 3x of SPOSN AK-74 mag pouch's from Ivan Tactical and that's exactly what I got. Unfortunately at this time I do not own an AK 74, However I do own a Galil AR which takes 35 Round 5.56/.223 Galil Mags and they are a pretty perfect fit. The mags leave about .5" from the top round to the enclosure flap of the pouch, they don't rattle, shake, or slide they are held firmly in place by a simple and well executed design. These are probably my favorite part of this kit I absolutely love the enclosure system its quiet, fast and efficient. This is what I was talking about earlier when I mentioned design differences, These proprietary pull tabs are so intelligent and outperform the 2 standard western variations available in mass here being snap tabs and hook and loop Velcro. Not to mention they are damn durable and stand up in quality to the priciest of kit that I own. I also requested 2x single 9x19 pistol mag pouch's these are pretty standard they showcase the same level of attention to detail and durability I'm seeing through the rest of the kit, these don't showcase any exceptional features like the rifle mag pouches however are sold for just dirt cheap pricing without sacrificing quality which is why they would still get a serious recommendation from my greasy keyboard fingers. Now, before I continue on with the pork n' beans of my accessory review I think I should explain that when I requested The Items that I did I had a specific idea for this kit build, that being one that you might leave in your car as part of a "Get Home Kit" which would encompass everything you might need for an overnight stay in a hostile territory. That being said I do always carry other items in my car such as water, canned food items, jacket, medical supplies, emergency blanket etc. And this is my vision of a long-gun and armor addition to that. So with that out of the way I specifically requested 1x SPOSN zipped utility pouch and 1x SPOSN TT first aid medical pouch; both of these have had their contents spilled onto the floor and documented with pictures to show you what I was able to fit without cramming.

     SPOSN TT first aid medical pouch (IFAK): 1x Israeli pressure dressing, 1X Tourniquet, 4X Gauze pads,1X Wound packing, 4X Sterile Wipes, 1X Tweezers, 1X Travel Size Pain Reliever, 2X Medical Wrap, 2X Gauze Wrap, 1X Snake bite Kit, 1X Insect Bite/Sting Medicine. 

         SPOSN zipped utility pouch: 1x Survival in a can kit, 1X bundle of cordage, 1X toothbrush, 1X travel sized toothpaste, 1X can opener, 1X Steel Spork/Multitool, 2X Lighters, 2X Stormproof Match's, 3X Moist towelettes, 7X Uses Toilet Paper, Drier lint (great Firestarter),1X Fishing Line, 1X Fishing Hook.

    

  Normally, I would never recommend packing survival equipment into a pouch on your kit unless in a detachable backpack, However, in this circumstance it's an extremely purpose built kit and wont be used outside of those circumstance. Both pouches were extremely well built with multiple corded zippered compartments to hold goodies. The IFAK Pouch even came with two elastic securement bands that fit the Tourniquet and Israeli pressure dressing perfectly, neither of these deviated from the same durability and attention to detail I've been talking about the entire review. I'll just touch briefly on the Grom hanger, I purchased this Item myself It is also SSO/SPOSN it is Hook and look detachable featuring a corded zipper medium sized and matching in color. I got this to fill with Black Licorice, JuJubes, and Vodka Miniatures; I'm a disgusting human being I know.

  What didn't I like?: Well we talked about the mysterious case of the peek-a-boo nipples and the slightly ever to snug cummerbund, so lets dive into this carriers method of securement. I'm not talking about the MOLLE, that's battle proven and well executed here; I'm talking about the Hook and loop fasteners that hold in your plates and attach/encase the cummerbund. It just doesn't feel as secure as it should, It hasn't unattached itself for me, or lost its grip, or shown any sign of being defective; But it bothers me. Why couldn't they just add more? why couldn't they just add snap tabs? I just don't understand they were so close to a 10/10 perfect score, and for just a few cents more per unit they could have had a $100 plate carrier crush any of the $300-$400 plate carriers I've trained with. Now it's not a deal breaker, I still believe for the money its hands down THE BEST plate carrier you can buy, NO SHIT I feel that strongly about it. Now, do realize as I say this if we are talking about a hand made plate carrier in America by comparison, that is the reason for the price difference at a similar quality. That in itself is something to consider when purchasing from companies like SSO/SPOSN if it even matters to you, which it may not and that's fine.

  Final Thoughts: Ivan Tactical has tons of super rad goodies on the site please do go check these guys out and see what's coming stateside from our brothers to the....like pretty much entire North East. They are pushing out just top of the line products for so cheap it's insane. Knowing Russia these are probably made by prison workers which is kind of hardcore as well. I really can't say enough good things about this kit, I just recommend finding a shirt that hides those little ice cream titties if you're a bashful boy. I cant thank our sponsors enough and look forward to working with them again in the future. Lets all take a moment of silent prayer in hopes that SSO/SPOSN can overcome its learning disability and figure out colors. Until next time, Fuck off.

-Rat Bastard

@medved_ivan_store

https://ivantactical.com/

RUSSIAN COLD CAMO REVIEW #2 SSO SMERSH

 

rat.bastard.reviews: Russian Cold Camo (RCC)#2 SSO SMERSH

  Disclosure: I have risen once again to drop knowledge on the fucking dome piece of every boy, girl, and androgynous space creature interested In load Bearing equipment(LBE) with the force of a 9lb hammer. With that being said a very good friend of the bastard has hooked up with me to sponsor a second review, this time focusing on the ATACS FG SSO SMERSH available from Russian Cold Camo (RCC).This Item was received free of charge in exchange for an HONEST review, If you are new here and have any doubt on the authenticity of that statement I encourage you to read past reviews; I fuckin' call em' bud. Cheers!

 

  Initial Impression: Anyone who's anybody in the Tacticool fashion scene knows that Load bearing equipment is the new hotness, microrig's are out, and vintage kit is way kitch. Don't believe me? take a look at all the phat-bottom boys on the gram running rhinestone LBE and bedazzled SKS'. That's right finally all the Dad-bod Dilf's like myself have a moment to bask in the lime-light with RCC's availability of the SSO SMERSH. First things first this has been a sexy fucking look since its introduction even on curvy boys like myself, but they are also practical, functional and high quality kit you should feel good about using in a real world scenario or showing off for the boys at the weekly 7-11 midnight gag n' rally.

  Breakdown: The Smersh is based off of equipment used by  special forces units of the Russian armed forces, the interior Ministry, the FSB and other law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation and holy fucking shit fellas, SSO has hit it out of the park again with this one. its a functional system compromised of several pieces including the Shoulder straps PLSE MOLLE mount, MOLLE base belt with hip platform attachment, the Tactical belt " RS-31", A Food belt bag SPP Mall, Pouch for relief, PRG1 MOLLE - 2pcs, and AK 2 MOLLE - 4pcs. The fit and finish is of the absolute highest quality; the materials are very nice and the design is intelligent. When I first felt the polyamide straps I was thinking that I was going to be a bit underwhelmed since the thickness didn't match the experience that I have had with military grade webbed nylon/Cordura straps however by design the strapping doubles over on itself several times making it very durable and secure. Every other piece of this system is overbuilt to the point I think outside of spine snapping snag the SMERSH will likely outlive it's owner. The camo pattern and coloration hold well on the 100% polyamide material and there are several camo variations available for purchase through RCC, I went with the ATACS-FG but the Olive was honestly the most appealing aesthetically.

  Storage, I managed to ranger roll an entire 3 day away kit into my dry sack with extra socks and underwear and closed her up tight. The 2 side saddle mag pouches both hold 4 STD 7.62x39 AK mags and 2 grenades totaling 8 mags and 4 grenades. Believe it or not, I don't own that many grenades and have in turn packed those areas with essentials like Whopper jr's, hand sanitizer, shit-tickets and a unique cocktail of Dramamine and hard candy. The PPI/First aid kit was taken off mine, Its well built but not a conducive size to its purpose and its intended placement is downright fucking bananas; I highly recommend finding an alternative way to carry medical supplies. The traditional SMERSH configuration leaves high ride space up towards the shoulder straps to potentially add a small backpack or hydration bladder, which will likely be how I end up rigging mine; solving my medical kit dilemma as well as allowing the addition of a tarp, small food items, and a bedding solution. This would be a perfect rig for grab and go if you had to hit the woods on foot in 30 min or less.

   Performance, I love It. I think LBE is often overlooked in exchange for a minimalist rig because that's the flavor of the week, and honestly a minimalist set up has its place but most of us in a situation where we need to be kitted are not going to be running corridor sweeps and clearing rooms, we are going to be hunkering down in concealment and avoiding confrontation and then evading once we do make contact. You need a kit that can accommodate those more realistic scenarios or you are not properly prepared for them. The SMERSH is light weight enough to sprint while in full kit, and holds enough goodies to keep you out of the shitstorm for a few days, it's also durable enough to not leave you looking like a busted ass Wish.com warrior and holds enough ammo to at the very least clear Nakatomi Plaza on your own. And Jesus H. Christ I cant forget about going prone! Oh my Goddess, there is absolutely nothing between your dickydo and mother earth herself with the SMERSH; this allows you to get as flat against the ground as physically possible and just lie and wait with an unobstructed path of reach  to your spare mags AND Whopper Jr's(which is how I will be spending my hypothetical SHTF Scenario)remember kids no contact is good contact.

  Complaints, We already mentioned the PPI/First Aid kit; additionally I'd like to add that as over built as the shoulder straps are the drag handle on the harness feels like a fashion over function decision and im uncertain of its effectiveness on any person over 130lbs. My only other complaint for this rig would be that the belt buckle plastic doesn't feel cheap but doesn't really feel super durable either, and like I said by design If I needed to use this and low crawl over cement or asphalt I wouldn't want to look down later and find my main buckle is terribly deformed and needs replacement after 2-3 recon outings, that should have been steel construction honestly; The belt is the mechanism that props and distributes your kits weight onto your hips for this rig.

  Special Mentions: I'd like to use this section to highlight the real champions of this review Russian Cold Camo They have been so fantastic to me since I started this review page and I really cant thank them enough, They are a family run US business that offer tons of great gear with really honest product descriptions and reviews available on their site. I certainly Do hope everyone takes some time to go check them out the sales they run easily put products at the lowest price point on the web. Second, id like to use this platform to say definitively that ATACS FG is the camo master race and all of SSO' Camo patterns blend seamlessly and look amazingly professional together. If you live in the South Eastern portion of the USA please do yourself a favor and ignore the MC Tropic recommendations and give the old ATACS a try RCC carries a lot of good in this pattern and it blends so well with natural light and foliage, small pattern camo like Multicam just looks like a solid color at distances past 50 yds. there I said it, you don't like it? suck a dick. 

  Final Thoughts: If you don't already have a solid piece of LBE just get the SMERSH, honestly at the price point what excuse could you really have? how many chest rigs can you actually justify having? If you are looking for a cheaper time proven option you can always get the ALICE pack from a surplus store, but prices fluctuate and your pieces are going to be plug and play which is rad for you if you can make it work but can also become difficult to make a functional kit from if you don't have a wide availability of accessories to choose from. My choice hands down is the SMERSH because the configuration works for me, Its likely what I would put together for myself. However The important thing is that you become familiar and proficient with the kit that you are using and honestly the best example that I've seen in a long time would be @_angel_of_verdun and the set up of her ALICE kit, check her out for a real world example on a proven kit and be inspired to create what works for you if you don't think the SMERSH would be a good option. I'll be posting below an instructional piece for putting together the SMERSH on your own, I'm also posting a link to @_angel_of_verdun' video here as it is a fantastic example of fitting your kit to work around your own needs.

-Rat Bastard

@russiancoldcamoreal

https://russiancoldcamo.com/

RUSSIAN COLD CAMO REVIEW

 

rat.bastard.reviews: Russian Cold Camo (RCC)

  Disclosure: I will start this review by stating that I can not thank Russian Cold Camo enough for providing these materials to me for review. On this occasion I was provided three items from RCC's Website; the Russian Army Boonie Hat A-TACS FG, Arctic Leopard Urban Pants A-TACS FG, and the Arctic Leopard Urban Pants Multicam. The materials being reviewed by myself today were provided to me free of charge in order to reach a larger collective audience with a fair and critical review. My analysis however, will not be effected by receiving these items free of charge. Lets begin!

  Initial Impression: RCC has been excellent to work with, they have been approachable and informative and I find it extremely refreshing that this is a company that markets gear towards the average Joe, stating in product descriptions if gear is applicable and effective for things like hunting, camping, fishing, airsoft or tactical applications. I have to admit, they shaped my view very early on taking this approach as it fostered an atmosphere that felt honest and didn't hype every piece of equipment as a necessary addition to your kit. I also found this both humble and humorous as the items felt much better quality and more durable right out of the box then a lot of big name US competitors I've had experiences with.

  Breakdown:  I did two separate rounds of testing, in two different types of terrain, performing multiple tasks in order to gauge effectiveness the best way a broke fuck can; by analyzing effectiveness here at the Homefront, and by disguising an alternate series of tests as a family vacation. Did I drink while testing this equipment? Yes. Did I annoy my wife with the frequency I wore Camouflage pants during the testing cycle? Yes. did I perform an area study before traveling to my second testing location? You bet your sweet bippy I did. My first round of testing was performed in the sandy scrub-brush of the Goethe State Forest in North Central Florida and my second round of testing was performed in the Mountainous Unicoi State Park in Northern Georgia both occurring from late July-early August.

Russian Army Boonie Hat A-TACS FG, what can I say? It's nicely built with attention to detail, it's  camo is correct and not overly vibrant or dull, It has everything you would want from a Boonie hat. It has effective vegetation mounts including a gridlock top mount for help with camouflage and breaking the silhouette of your head. It has both chin and quick adjustment straps for fastening to your dome piece, Its fairly water repellent, made of durable ripstop material and the price is right! It does claim to be IR Remission which I don't have the capability to either prove or disprove at this time, so from my point of view the only thing you could possibly complain about is comfort. It's not an uncomfortable hat but I will say the material can feel scratchy on a bald/shaved head, especially once you factor in the heat, sweat, sand and dirt. However, this is a byproduct of its durability and tough material so if you are putting in enough work to facilitate the conditions for this discomfort its Inherent worth at that moment far outweighs the alternative of not having it.

Arctic Leopard Urban Pants A-TACS FG, First thing I noticed was the comparability to the Russian Army Boonie Hat A-TACS FG was 100% correct hands down. The pattern sizing was spot on, the coloration was spot on, the vibrancy, the material, the craftsmanship, everything exactly the same. AMAZING accomplishment, good shit fellas! These pants have me swooning I have to say they are fantastic for the price. Arctic Leopard is the same company that makes the famous Gorka Suits, and the quality in their products are really highlighted with these. These are also made of a durable (mid-weight) ripstop material but do still offer some flex and stretch which make them plenty comfortable for regular use. The belt loops are fine, they aren't over built like some tactical pants but feel plenty durable enough for long-term use with a battle belt or EDC belt without tearing or stretching. The waist closure system is not the traditional button and fly, but instead has been replaced with a Velcro strap which at first I didn't think I would like but have since really come to enjoy. The Velcro paired with the elastic let out bands woven into the waistband really accommodates multiple body positions to be held comfortably for extended amounts of time. They are a simplistic design that feel great, look great and held up great to the shit storm I ran them through. 

Any Complaints? Yes, the front thigh pockets are seriously an egregious oversight. They must have been added last second as a solution to a problem you didn't know you had. They are 100% functional, but the size is seriously limiting to what you can use them for, double stack magazine? Yes, they fit perfect actually! However, I caution you before you put one in each side and go do some low crawls, or shoot from the prone, or hell just shoot from a kneeling position. It is restrictive, uncomfortable and so so painful. There's no toughing it out either, have you ever fallen down with keys in your pocket? Its that same type of senseless unbearable pain, that is often reflected upon in Soviet Literature. I would have preferred the pocket have been relocated to a strange area like the calf or left off entirely before adding them in their current location. However I stand by the fact that these are amazing pants and have two easy solutions for these pockets either A. only put soft things like a fresh Pastila in those pockets or B. pretend they are not there at all and enjoy these pants for everything else that they are. At the price point these are set, plus the 100% product guarantee from RCC, There is no reason not to give these a try.

 The fit, Russian Cold Camo has bar none the best sizing chart of any outdoor/tactical brand clothing company I have ever dealt with and honestly would even claim its more accurate the 90% of mainstream retail brands on the market today. I followed the size chart and did in fact receive the CORRECT size, this is in stark contrast to tactical or outdoors brands that you have to order 4 sizes larger then advertised. Both Arctic Leopard Urban Pants A-TACS FG and Arctic Leopard Urban Pants Multicam are essentially the exact same item, save for the camo print. I did order the same size waistband for both however I ordered the Arctic Leopard Urban Pants Multicam in the next size up for leg length and found due to the true taper of the pants, it lets out slightly at the thigh without leaving a frumpy area. This is a perfect solution if you have thick thighs and are old-school like the bastard, still blousing your bottoms, the extra length is unnoticeable with this method. As previously mentioned, the legs are tapered nicely without getting tight on any portion of the leg or crotch, they stay comfortable in most hot weather conditions and body positions and appear to be slightly water repellent. They may not be as soft as those FR Cammie's or as durable as Crye Precision, but they are a fair mid-point and get the job done without breaking the bank. These are very fairly priced Mid-weight pants, that I would have no issue adding to my kit.

  Special Mentions:  For this review I did do a testing portion, a Synopsis would include: Hiking (Rocky Mountain Trails & Sandy Equine Trails), Sprints, Low-crawls, Lunges, Forward rolls, Shooting Prone, Shooting Kneeling, Traversing thick brush, Dragging brush, Extended primitive camping (4 days). During all of these activities I really tried to be rough on these pants to get them to rub and pull as much as possible to expose any deficiencies in the design, materials or overall quality. I'm happy to say I haven't experienced any real issues, just a couple of invisible stitch pops. I have dedicated these pants to being hang dried as I enjoy them so much I really don't want to take a risk on them shrinking in the wash I would also recommend this method to potential customer interested in purchasing these as they are 35% cotton.

  Final Thoughts: Russian Cold Camo is a phenomenal website you should feel comfortable using, They offer loads of rare products from surplus and outdoor gear to tactical gear and clothing. RCC is run by genuine people that market their products in an ethical and honest way to consumers. They offer a 100% quality guarantee, free shipping, and a 60 day return policy with genuine goods made in Russia. I cant think of a single reason not to give these guys a try they are so friendly and stand behind their products whole heartedly. They have some business practices that I believe a lot of larger companies should observe and try to emulate, for that I'd like to thank them for sponsoring this review and sincerely hope to work with them on more reviews in the future.

-Rat Bastard

@russiancoldcamoreal

https://russiancoldcamo.com/