I've started shooting some IDPA matches. Looking to pickup a 'photographer' type vest for competition. Is there anyplace in the H-town area that keeps these in stock? I made the G-Mountain, Academy, and Bass Pro rounds yesterday. I also stopped by the former DJ's place out on Huffmeister. Zip, Nada.
As I'm pretty tall, I've never had much luck with mail order.
Any leads appreciated!
Photographer Vest
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Skiprr
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+1 on ProDefense. They had some 5.11 vests on the racks when I was there last weekend, but since I wasn't shopping for one, I didn't pay attention to the size selection.
I just use a Guide Series vest from Gander Mountain. Less expensive than a 5.11 or Wollrich, and serves my purposes nicely. It has four pockets on the left side (one zippered), three on the right, cartridge carriers on both sides, and a big, zippered pocket across the back with three separate compartments. It doesn't have Napoleon pockets, though. The other drawback is that the side adjustments are inside the vest, not outside, and they use metal "O" rings...quickly cut out so they didn't clank against my gun.
If your were up at Pruett's store on Huffmeister, I assume you go the Gander at Hwy 6 and 290. Locate the wide east-west aisle between the gun safes and the field clothes, and these vests are near the corner of that aisle and the aisle that faces the guns and ammo area. (Suddenly, it strikes me that I'm there far too often...
)
A lot of the Gander Guide Series stuff comes in extra-tall, but I don't know about the vests. I don't think 5.11 or Woolrich come in XT, either. But they're all cut pretty long. I just checked mine and, on a hanger and measuring from the center of the shoulder, it's 35 inches long, about three inches longer than my sport or suit coats. I think they go up an inch in length for each step in size, so you could probably try one size larger than your normal if you needed to pick up extra length.
For IDPA, when you stand arms outstretched at 90 degrees, your concealment garment has to cover your weapon, mag holders, etc. With a vest, unlike a jacket, its hem really doesn't raise when you lift your arms. My carry is a full-size 1911 OWB, and the vest is an XL; based on my height and the length of the vest, my guesstiment is that you'd be IDPA-legal concealed up to 6'6" or 6'7"; so a 2XL up to 6'8" or thereabouts. Carrying IWB should buy you another three inches or so.
If none of that works, I don't think it would be too difficult or expensive to have a local place that does alterations sew on a double-thick border that matches the canvas of the vest.
Shoot safe and have fun!
I just use a Guide Series vest from Gander Mountain. Less expensive than a 5.11 or Wollrich, and serves my purposes nicely. It has four pockets on the left side (one zippered), three on the right, cartridge carriers on both sides, and a big, zippered pocket across the back with three separate compartments. It doesn't have Napoleon pockets, though. The other drawback is that the side adjustments are inside the vest, not outside, and they use metal "O" rings...quickly cut out so they didn't clank against my gun.
If your were up at Pruett's store on Huffmeister, I assume you go the Gander at Hwy 6 and 290. Locate the wide east-west aisle between the gun safes and the field clothes, and these vests are near the corner of that aisle and the aisle that faces the guns and ammo area. (Suddenly, it strikes me that I'm there far too often...
)A lot of the Gander Guide Series stuff comes in extra-tall, but I don't know about the vests. I don't think 5.11 or Woolrich come in XT, either. But they're all cut pretty long. I just checked mine and, on a hanger and measuring from the center of the shoulder, it's 35 inches long, about three inches longer than my sport or suit coats. I think they go up an inch in length for each step in size, so you could probably try one size larger than your normal if you needed to pick up extra length.
For IDPA, when you stand arms outstretched at 90 degrees, your concealment garment has to cover your weapon, mag holders, etc. With a vest, unlike a jacket, its hem really doesn't raise when you lift your arms. My carry is a full-size 1911 OWB, and the vest is an XL; based on my height and the length of the vest, my guesstiment is that you'd be IDPA-legal concealed up to 6'6" or 6'7"; so a 2XL up to 6'8" or thereabouts. Carrying IWB should buy you another three inches or so.
If none of that works, I don't think it would be too difficult or expensive to have a local place that does alterations sew on a double-thick border that matches the canvas of the vest.
Shoot safe and have fun!
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CaptDave
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Pro Defense has a good selection of 5.11 gear.
Cabelas (not withstanding what you said about mail order) has the photgraphers/safari vest which tends to be a good "summer" idpa / concealed carry vest as it is lighter than the 5.11 stuff.
Donna Vandermolen (CompVest on this forum) makes a custom vest for IDPA that alot of the guys around here use and that would probably be the best fit of them all, as I believe she can tailor it to your measurements.
FWIW: they have the 5.11 camo vest on closeout for @ $16.99 (desert camo only) at http://www.lapolicegear.com look in the "closeouts" section.
Hope that helps,
Dave
Cabelas (not withstanding what you said about mail order) has the photgraphers/safari vest which tends to be a good "summer" idpa / concealed carry vest as it is lighter than the 5.11 stuff.
Donna Vandermolen (CompVest on this forum) makes a custom vest for IDPA that alot of the guys around here use and that would probably be the best fit of them all, as I believe she can tailor it to your measurements.
FWIW: they have the 5.11 camo vest on closeout for @ $16.99 (desert camo only) at http://www.lapolicegear.com look in the "closeouts" section.
Hope that helps,
Dave
"An armed society is a polite society"
You might also check the camera pro shops in your area.
Photographers vests are nearly identical to "tactical" vests and are almost always less expensive.
I started out with a vest that was given to me by Fujifilm at a trade show several years ago.
Looked just like a 5.11 vest.
Photographers vests are nearly identical to "tactical" vests and are almost always less expensive.
I started out with a vest that was given to me by Fujifilm at a trade show several years ago.
Looked just like a 5.11 vest.
"Superior firepower is an invaluable tool when entering into negotiations." - G. Patton
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longtooth
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Good vest sites.
Since the holster sites were helpful to a lot of folks, I also have this on vests. I wear a lot. Mom makes most of mine but we get ideas frome these. Hope this is helpful to some of you looking at vests as cover.
LT
http://www.concealedcarryoutfitters.com/
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/a_apparel_vests.asp
http://www.omegamanenterprises.com/c...carryvests.htm
http://www.theconcealmentshop.com/vests.html
http://www.smithandalexander.com/apparel.html
http://www.botac.com/coomveve.html
http://www.lapolicegear.com/saphve.html
http://walkabout.com/shop/coat-ff-vest.asp
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...REI_S EARCH:C
http://www.exofficio.com/product_det...0-37620393d10f
Since the holster sites were helpful to a lot of folks, I also have this on vests. I wear a lot. Mom makes most of mine but we get ideas frome these. Hope this is helpful to some of you looking at vests as cover.
LT
http://www.concealedcarryoutfitters.com/
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/a_apparel_vests.asp
http://www.omegamanenterprises.com/c...carryvests.htm
http://www.theconcealmentshop.com/vests.html
http://www.smithandalexander.com/apparel.html
http://www.botac.com/coomveve.html
http://www.lapolicegear.com/saphve.html
http://walkabout.com/shop/coat-ff-vest.asp
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...REI_S EARCH:C
http://www.exofficio.com/product_det...0-37620393d10f
Carry 24-7 or guess right.
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I ordered one of these and should get it this week, I give a quick review on it once I receive it.CaptDave wrote: FWIW: they have the 5.11 camo vest on closeout for @ $16.99 (desert camo only) at http://www.lapolicegear.com look in the "closeouts" section.
Dave
Wes