Replica vs. Authentic Gear

[Skladfin]

all this discussion about wearing gears..

all you need to wear are camo shirt, camo pants, an AEG, Goggle, and probably one backup hi-cap and ur done.

Beats wearing all those gear and run around in an armour of useless stuff. I'd rather be quick on my foot then die like a knight in armour.

If you do live by the "practical" rule that is.

[Ronan]

Originally Posted by Farmboy

1) Has your replica gear every survived an IED blast? We have had TAG rigs come through withought much damage.

I hope never to find out O_o
It's airsoft not real war... I might be wrong but doesn't the Government provide the gear for their soldiers? So replica/authentic wouldn't really matter...

[Groombug]

Originally Posted by Ronan

I hope never to find out O_o
It's airsoft not real war... I might be wrong but doesn't the Government provide the gear for their soldiers? So replica/authentic wouldn't really matter...

Where do you think all that gear comes from? Did you not read my post at all?

Moreover, depending on what government you work for and what unit you're in, you might get shafted with all sorts of useless issue shit. Yes, there's authentic shit too. In such cases, soldiers are forced by necessity of survival to go outside and purchase kit.

[Lakonian]

Originally Posted by Skladfin

all this discussion about wearing gears..

all you need to wear are camo shirt, camo pants, an AEG, Goggle, and probably one backup hi-cap and ur done.

Beats wearing all those gear and run around in an armour of useless stuff. I'd rather be quick on my foot then die like a knight in armour.

If you do live by the "practical" rule that is.

True, but I don't like looking like a turd-face.

Also, where do you store your used mags? Cargo pockets don't like carrying mags.. A dump pouch sure beats a backpack, or pockets.. And that's just one example!

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Ronan

I might be wrong but doesn't the Government provide the gear for their soldiers? So replica/authentic wouldn't really matter...

Winnar.

[Gish]

Personally for me i've got nothing but Authentic gear. Why? Because i'm a
Russian collector and there isn't a single replica piece made.
In addition some people also like to collect gear and strive for the best kit possible. And sometimes that involves buying nothing but real gear.

Oh fer fucksakkes. I can't stand it anymore.

Its GEAR. Combat GEAR. SINGULAR. Not "GEARS". Gears are made of metal and they're in your fucking MECHBOX, or the transmission of your VEHICLE.

COMBAT GEAR:








COMBAT GEARS:

Lastly, if you don't want to "look the part", then fuck off and play paintball. You won't be missed. Nothing wrecks a good milsim game for me like some asshat in sneakers.

[pizzainthemorning]

Everybody is getting silly upset and missing the point.

First - I'm not insulting authentic gear. I said originally that I'm sure it IS better. Done and done.

Second - Can someone please, please tell me when you would EVER run into a high explosive blast, real bullets, or have the need for your vest to be hooked up to a chopper or something else along those lines?

For those reasons, YES, authentic gear IS better. That's why the armed forces of the world don't go looking for their gear at a hobby shop in HK.

As stated by a few people already, airsoft, like I said too, is a REPLICA sport. Meaning we don't run into explosives and bullets etc. so there is no need for a vest that can do that. It's like wearing a winter coat in the summer. Sure, it has great potential in keeping you warm, but why?

Conclusion: In the context of airsoft, why would authentic gear have much of an edge (keeping in mind the huge price tags)? I understand that some people get authentic gear because they can afford it, or they simply "like" the fact that it is guaranteed for life, or they don't make replica models or whatever (Note also about R&D: Replica manufacturers don't have to do R&D because it has already been done, hence the name replica. It sucks for the guys who did all the work fisr but that's how it is). But in terms of performance, in the airsoft world, do you still think that pricey piece of material is worth it?

[swatt13]

its about getting as close to the real thing as you can, takeing pride in your work. replica is usally cheaply made, doesnt look right, fit right and to the enthusiest is half assed. its nice to be able to say this is what i went for and have all the real/ proper associated stuff as apposed to this is what i was trying for and haveing knock-off, impropper stuff. its all in showing respect and takeing pride in yourself and what your doing. some people are into this just to play a game, others are into this to pay homage to the soldiers that do this for real. decide which one you are and build your kit accordingly from there.

[Groombug]

Originally Posted by pizzainthemorning

In the context of airsoft, why would authentic gear have much of an edge (keeping in mind the huge price tags)?
But in terms of performance, in the airsoft world, do you still think that pricey piece of material is worth it?

It's a free country. We buy what we want, when we want, in quantities we want, however we want. If you don't like shelling out pennies for authentic gear, then don't. No one is forcing you to buy it. Go with the replica.

Some people want to pattern their kit after real examples. Others have the excess cash to spend on authentic versions. Some just like to collect real stuff. Others use their authentic stuff for authentic situations in their day jobs. The list goes on. There are plenty of reasons why one would prefer authentic kit over replicas. If you can't find one, then don't buy authentic kit.

Originally Posted by pizzainthemorning

Everybody is getting silly upset and missing the point.

People get upset when noobs trumpet that their $50 Asian knockoff can do everything its $500 real counterpart can. Don't equate airsoft "abuse" with real-world SHTF. It's like comparing JG (or whatever the flavour of the month is) with TM. It's not the bloody same.

Originally Posted by pizzainthemorning

Note also about R&D: Replica manufacturers don't have to do R&D because it has already been done, hence the name replica. It sucks for the guys who did all the work fisr but that's how it is).

Do you read?

Originally Posted by Groombug

What R&D did Phantom do for its CIRAS? It was one guy scouring ebay for a cheap REAL CIRAS, having it shipped to Asia, where a bunch of guys fondled and took it apart, reverse-engineered it, and then promptly made their own. Ever wonder why Chinese antibiotics look remarkably similar to Pfizer's, but is exponentially cheaper? Skipping R&D is a great way to cut costs. Why develop your own shit when you can copy someone else's, and you know there is a definite demand for that product?

[Yuxi]

Originally Posted by Skladfin

all this discussion about wearing gears..

all you need to wear are camo shirt, camo pants, an AEG, Goggle, and probably one backup hi-cap and ur done.

Beats wearing all those gear and run around in an armour of useless stuff. I'd rather be quick on my foot then die like a knight in armour.

If you do live by the "practical" rule that is.

I can say the exact same thing about guns and accesories, because much like gear, all that is really "needed" is a basic AEG and a highcap.

Airsoft is simply not about "need" Airsoft is a hobby and its facets are many, need is just not a real factor in airsoft other than your first primary weapon and its power source and ammo. Anything thereafter are ALL accesories and by their nature not "needed".

[Yuxi]

I will with this post just demonstrate what using one's own belief of what airsoft to judge others looks like when it is done by me through the lense of a geardo! PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU READ THE NEXT PART!

For anyone who believes in using the lightest gear possible to play airsoft at a high speed. Quit airsoft. Buy a paintball gun.

To those who do not take pride on how their kit is setup, and do not attempt to achieve perfection in all they participate in including their hobbies. Leave public airsoft. Stick to private games in your backyard.

Here is what my team looks like. I am willing to bet anyone here who argues for shitty gear that if you send pictures of setups from my team versus your own, the overwhelming amount of your friends would tell you ours look cooler (Whether they think we are just wasting our money is another issue altogether) and since for me getting a setup perfect is as important as a game, any other style of interst in airsoft is inferior and it is hard for me to understand why anyone would partake in it.










All of what was said above are not really my opinions, but when one tries to push their own ideas of what airsoft is on to others who see the sport in a completely different light, it can be pretty offensive and agitating, as all of us have spent quite large sums to enter this game, and no one likes to be told they are somehow making the wrong decisions. So why engage in such language or topics of discussion? As this thread shows, it is clearly touching nerves.

[lupo]

Im gonna throw down here. In all honesty if your on a budget and need something then yeah the knock off stuff is ok. But the truth is that the difference between knock of gear and the real stuff is not as great as you have posted. Other then paraclete who are rediculously overpriced.
Brands like BHI (although lower on the foodchain) Tactical Tailor , TAG , TAS/PPM Are very reasonably priced and honestly not much more money then a knock off rig , and when you consider the warranty on the product and the quality its usually worth the difference. Yes you arent gonna get hit by bullets or bombs BUT you are still going to be dragging your gear on the ground , getting hooked on branches , possibly wood or nails (depending on where you play). I started with knock off gear and upgraded when pouch flaps were torn off from branches or utility pouches wore through because i crawled around alot. Im sure that some of the knock off stuff is good but at the heart of it all real gear is made for field usage and knock off is mostly made for looks.

[Ronan]

Originally Posted by Groombug

Where do you think all that gear comes from? Did you not read my post at all?

Moreover, depending on what government you work for and what unit you're in, you might get shafted with all sorts of useless issue shit. Yes, there's authentic shit too. In such cases, soldiers are forced by necessity of survival to go outside and purchase kit.

Didn't you read my post at all? I'm not even talking about your post. 2 kind of replica gear, the one thats a exact replica and the one thats the cheap replica that i wouldn't even use for airsoft (but thats just me). Don't assume which one i'm talking about (especially when i'm generalizing).

I don't know about third world government, but you will never see the US, France, England or any other big country issue REPLICA gear to their soldiers. They might issue useless shit, but no one is talking about that. If you are issued something wrong (wrong item, wrong size, etc), you don't go buying it, you go to your supply depot, or what ever it is called and you get the mistake fixed. If they don't have what you want/need i'm sure theirs way to work around the problem, but buying it with your own money? That only happens when something is NOT issued (aka the bullet proof vests that should have been supplied for soldiers in Iraq) and thats when you buy it (which is wrong but not what this thread is about).

So yeah, if they don't give/issue it, well yeah you have to buy it. If you are issued something wrong, they fix the mistake.

[Vince]

Yuxi, good to see some other Issuedgearwhore!

I only own issued stuff (except maybe some replica helmet because a MICH costs nearly 400$...) and there's nothing that'll make buy repros.

I saw some guys telling me they had a full impression for the cost of one of my vest. Yeah so what, your gear is going to come apart in a month.

I recently bought my 4th issued IBA, all being Point Blank and damn this stuff is though! All were straight back from Iraq and one still had sand in one SAPI pocket.

But I'm more a regular infantry type so no comparison exists with your loadout haha