Yet another PLCE Question

[East Scout]

What causes this discoloration of the PLCE Webbing and also on the Bergens turninig it this yellowish tan shade? Its it ground in dirt or is the DPM pattern wearing off or both?

Anything to be done to prevent it or at least slow it down?

Brandenburger

[Scrim]

Hey Branden, where did you end up getting your PLCE? I remember you were looking for some awhile back.
I have an Arktis vest with the excact same thing. The DPM fabric on the back of the vest looks brand new, but the pouches have the same discoloration. I bought it used, and suspect improper cleaning with too harsh a detergent. Im sure one of our Brirish friends can elaborate though, as Im curious too.
I can tell you that the US OD Alice gear starts tuning yellow/orange after only a few trips to the pool from the chlorine. In Bootcamp you could tell all the swim failures by their bright orange jungle boots from all the time spent in the pool trying to re-qual!!!

[Pindeho]

PLCE cant be stopped from turning to desert cam. Things which speed up the process are Sunlight, water and frequent scrubbing and vigarous friction. I myself don't like PLCE, Assaut vests are quieter and they don't bounce like a Ohio whore. I have seen be being secured with utility straps to the legs like sky diving equipment, this is the only way to remove bounce(no movement whatsoever). Servicemen BS with stuff like just bungie it together on the outside, thats BS, because then you have 1 LARGE 20lbs wad of webbing which bounces together, still has bounce but pouches go as one. PLCE is best used with carrying light equipment such as mags and thats it. Stuff like waterbottles will cause it to bounce harder than a hooker even when secured. If only the pouches were deeper they could cover the A$$ and be wrapped round with bungie.

[Royal]

PLCE cant be stopped from turning to desert cam. Things which speed up the process are Sunlight, water and frequent scrubbing and vigarous friction.

True. I never clean mine with anything other than a hose pipe on the vehicle park and it still fades. I think it works better like that (detergents can affect the IRR proofing, water doesn't).



I myself don't like PLCE, Assaut vests are quieter and they don't bounce like a Ohio whore. I have seen be being secured with utility straps to the legs like sky diving equipment, this is the only way to remove bounce(no movement whatsoever). Servicemen BS with stuff like just bungie it together on the outside, thats BS, because then you have 1 LARGE 20lbs wad of webbing which bounces together, still has bounce but pouches go as one. PLCE is best used with carrying light equipment such as mags and thats it. Stuff like waterbottles will cause it to bounce harder than a hooker even when secured. If only the pouches were deeper they could cover the A$$ and be wrapped round with bungie.

Utter crap. I've carried 40lbs of kit in my belt rig with no problems (still never wear a vest or chest-rig in the jungle). If it's put together properly, with the utility straps and a bungee used it's fine. If you can't put it together, maybe you should ask someone.

[East Scout]

Scrim,
I ordered mine from a place in Yorkshire UK..I had to go with the Web-Tex. I was asking around before as i wanted to upgrade to MOD issue. Some WT fans spoke up and said thiers was fine and not to worry over an upgrade. Most of the guys that sounded off to that thread with spare gear to offer up never came through on thier claims so i never got what i was looking for. Ill stick to the Web-tex till it proves itself a POS kit. Hasnt yet with a year of good use. But the camo is starting to fade on-top the mag pouches and it really pisses me off to no end considering what i payed for the lot...

Pindeho,
Desert camo..Thats an interesting way of putting it..LOL

Royal,
Thanks for your input mate..Is the fade a reason to turn your kit in for a fresh version or only the actuall destruction of a peice of kit only reason enough? Also: Might you have a picture of this bungee cord deal? I have seen it on the P58 and used it myself but not on the PLCE kit..

Thanks for the input Gentilmen..

Brandenburger

[Royal]

This is my rig from an old thread that Mantis dug up recently.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53583&page=2

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/RoyalPhoto/IMG_1409.jpg

It's empty so you don't get a view of the bungee in action, but you get the idea.

As I tried to say in my last reply (not very well ;)) I prefer webbing that's been round the block a few times - the pouches are more comfortable because they flex better and you get a better camm effect (especially in dryer or mountain terrain) IMHO.

[East Scout]

Royal,
Very good...Thank you very much for the information. Link was very helpful as well. Just by the visual i can see MOD is of a better quality. Ill continue my search to get some MOD issue kit. Id give anything to get a DPM resporator pouch. I have the OD version. I just painted it but a snap gace way so ill need a new one anyhow. Makes a great butt pack and holds loads of gear.

Your Webbing camo has faded nicely and look to still be effective...Those bungee cords would be an super easy way to attach foliage as well if the situation warrented. My WT PLCE has those loops and i often wondered what they were for. Now i know...

Again thanks for taking the time to help me.

[Royal]

We aim to please :)

[digrar]

I always prefered old, faded gear to stiff, new gear. And I'd be more confident in the cam ability of old gear compared to bright shiney new kit.

[East Scout]

I always prefered old, faded gear to stiff, new gear. And I'd be more confident in the cam ability of old gear compared to bright shiney new kit.

Used worn salty gear can donates that you get off your butt and get things done and arnt just a Picture Poser Kitchen Kommando..

. We had a guy in our Bushcraft/Survival group that absolutely refused to get his BDUs or Kit dirty in any way and wouldnt use any peice of Kit that didnt look like it was just pulled from Supply...He cried endlessly..He only lasted a few outtings and i tossed him in the bin...

I have a Temperate Weather set of DPM trousers i was doimg a durabilty test on and hadnt washed them since the summer before last. So that is well over a year...I just washed them a few days ago and i was amazed how they came back to life after one wash. Not to mention they smell better too.....

Im rammbling.,,,,Sorry

[Sabre]

PLCE cant be stopped from turning to desert cam. Things which speed up the process are Sunlight, water and frequent scrubbing and vigarous friction. I myself don't like PLCE, Assaut vests are quieter and they don't bounce like a Ohio whore. I have seen be being secured with utility straps to the legs like sky diving equipment, this is the only way to remove bounce(no movement whatsoever). Servicemen BS with stuff like just bungie it together on the outside, thats BS, because then you have 1 LARGE 20lbs wad of webbing which bounces together, still has bounce but pouches go as one. PLCE is best used with carrying light equipment such as mags and thats it. Stuff like waterbottles will cause it to bounce harder than a hooker even when secured. If only the pouches were deeper they could cover the A$$ and be wrapped round with bungie.

You've just not set it up correctly. 20lbs IS light mate! My belt kit weighs that with a minimum of ammunition in. Two things about PLCE are bad though. The first is the belt, although it is sturdy enough the plastic buckle can break. Second is the yoke, with carrying a lot of weight it doesn't offer much padding! Especially if you've got your bergen on top. So I use a roll pin belt and a US LBV to replace these. The lbv is much more comfortable and has space for some more mags and odds and ends (torch, chemlite, knife). Otherwise, I find PLCE to be superior in quality to a lot of other kit. Assault vests have their place for drivers/vehicle ops, but I would prefer a simple mag rig and a grab bag. Vests are too bulky, you can't get at kit without taking them off, the issue mag pouches are dire, they get in between you and the ground and they're hot to wear, to name a few problems.

[East Scout]

I never carred much for any vest of chest rig...Dosnt leave enough room for proper venting of the body for temp regulation when on long hard patrols. They are just hot to wear and dosnt leave much room to be as flexable as i want to be...But this is just me..I used the US LBV-1vest in the Army plus the normal Y straps LBE...PLCE is far superior IMO. The LBV-1 was ok and offered unrestricted movemnet but was FUKING hot and a PITA to re-adjust...

[Irish]

http://img433.imageshack.us/img433/204/dscf00098wz.th.jphttp://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3638/cefo9ah.th.jpg (http://img433.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf00098wz.jpg)ghttp://img313.imageshack.us/img313/3873/cefo11hy.th.jpg (http://img313.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cefo11hy.jpg) this is how i have secured my PLCE,Cable ties on the top and bottom,

[Sabre]

I never carred much for any vest of chest rig...Dosnt leave enough room for proper venting of the body for temp regulation when on long hard patrols. They are just hot to wear and dosnt leave much room to be as flexable as i want to be...But this is just me..I used the US LBV-1vest in the Army plus the normal Y straps LBE...PLCE is far superior IMO. The LBV-1 was ok and offered unrestricted movemnet but was FUKING hot and a PITA to re-adjust...

Yeah, it's adjusted to fit without body armour, so wearing body armour means it's spread open at the front. But your pouches always end up further round the side wearing BA so it doesn't really matter. I never have it fastened at the front anyway. I think I might add some zip pockets on the front panels though, they're about the only good things on the PLCE vests.

[East Scout]

I have a PLCE vest like this one:


I was going to use it for the first time this weekend for a survival outting with my mates in the swamp but after i loaded all the gear into it i felt like the vest was going to reach the swamp 10 minutes before me..It was just TO fat/bulky for winter use. I put it on over my smock and it was just absolutely to much so i put all the gear back into the trusty webbing.......Its a nice vest and will probably serve good for summer hiking/survial use with the Bergen pouch attached to the back but Its not for me for winter use... I looked like I gained about 30lbs and it was fuked to move around in..I figure for summer use over T-shirt or blouse it will be fine..I like the mesh its made from..Look and feels like it will breath rather well..

[East Scout]

Good pictures Irish.......

[2/1kiwi]

PLCE cant be stopped from turning to desert cam. Things which speed up the process are Sunlight, water and frequent scrubbing and vigarous friction. I myself don't like PLCE, Assaut vests are quieter and they don't bounce like a Ohio whore. I have seen be being secured with utility straps to the legs like sky diving equipment, this is the only way to remove bounce(no movement whatsoever). Servicemen BS with stuff like just bungie it together on the outside, thats BS, because then you have 1 LARGE 20lbs wad of webbing which bounces together, still has bounce but pouches go as one. PLCE is best used with carrying light equipment such as mags and thats it. Stuff like waterbottles will cause it to bounce harder than a hooker even when secured. If only the pouches were deeper they could cover the A$$ and be wrapped round with bungie.

instead of bungeeing have you tried sewing the pouches to the comforter, that stops bounce when running etc

[Hydro]

Bungee on the outside, utility strap on the inside. That's my set up and it's nice and tight with very little bounce.



Quick question: At the moment it's SOP for me to have my spade (entrenching tool my arse) and cover on my PLCE, in the middle at the back as it should be, though soon I can bin the fecking thing. What's a good replacement storage wise, a pair of utility pouches? Maybe an old ressie haversack?

[kayaker]

Assault vests are way too hot. Even in winter (like the recent trip to Scot - beltkit thread) I wear a vest under a waterproof and thats warm! zip goes down, gloves and hat come off too... god I wouldnt want a restricting AV in front of me, making me leak like a bitch... esspecially when water is limited.

[Sabre]

Bungee on the outside, utility strap on the inside. That's my set up and it's nice and tight with very little bounce.



Quick question: At the moment it's SOP for me to have my spade (entrenching tool my arse) and cover on my PLCE, in the middle at the back as it should be, though soon I can bin the fecking thing. What's a good replacement storage wise, a pair of utility pouches? Maybe an old ressie haversack?

Another utility pouch or two, depending how 'large' you are. Don't bother with the resi pouch, too big and bulky.

[Irish]

Good pictures Irish.......

thanks,hoped they helped in some way:)

[Royal]

Another utility pouch or two, depending how 'large' you are. Don't bother with the resi pouch, too big and bulky.

Seconded.....

[Hydro]

Cheers guys, I'll see about tracking one down. Two would be nice, but I'm a pretty lean guy and two may not fit.

[bluffcove]

Hydro, the ETH pouch makes an excellent 58Pattern waterbottle carrier, and if you are skinny saves space on your belt to enable you to pack pouches more tightly.

[East Scout]

I found some MOD issue "kayak" pouches when i was in Plymouth, UK last year. They make great buttpacks with a simple modification to the straps..

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m210/eastscout/RIGS/p1013171.jpg