SGT RARDON,
Wow, I hope when they occured you got in touch with Mike and let him know about those problems. He is 100% behind the consumer and his products.
I guess things have changed since you used his gear. I'll comment in order.
1. I Was just playing with my vest, it's pretty darn hard for me to hear it. I've crawled around a bunch of beaches and never had a problem with it.
2. What the hell is limejuice? If it gets nasty during an op, I just hose mine off. Still going strong.
3. Like I said, no problens with sand, even when sugar cookied.
4. Custom made? It adjusts, girth and height. I can fit it for just a shirt underneath, or body armor with front and back ceramic plates in. Pretty darn adjustable I'd say.
5. Can't change the pockets, but I can add 'em on the back and belt. If I wanted to change 'em, I guess I'd buy Blackhawk's modular vest.
6. Never had a seam problem with any Blackhawk gear, nor has anyone on my team or any other SF trooper I know.
7. I've hung from mine (I was drunk at the time, it seemed like a good idea
) The handle held up just fine, no pun intended.
With the problems you mentioned, I'd have dumped the gear also. I haven't, nor anyone I know, experienced any problems.
I'm not so attached to a brand as I'm attached to staying alive. I try to pick the gear that will do the best job keeping me this way.
I understand where you are coming from. I also understand that your reputation is a good one. I feel Blackhawk has an excellent one, but posts like this that call me misleading and the one by Mr_Joshua on my one day old forum,
here just seem like mudslinging.
If that makes him happy, tell him to go for it. I'll leave his post up, but it makes him, and his associates (
allow me to quote him "I work for SOE, so I am obviously biased),
look a bit unprofessional.
I'm all for open discussions, just like I'm all for trying out new gear (I wasn't kidding 'bout trying out SOE if you want to send some up north, Oceanside is a bit out of my way) If I get my hands on your stuff and it's as good as you say, I'll sing praises for it also. I'm only biased against crap gear. So, understand where I'm coming from. You say you're surrounded by operators that had problems, well I'm surrounded by operators that swear by Blackhawk gear.
Any more discussion, let's either start a new post, send e-mail or give me a call, phone #'s on the
Go Get em Gear's website. We've twisted this poor guy's post askew enough
.
Dan