Royal Robbins Vest Questions

[Billy Sparks]

At the last big IDPA match I shot I saw alot of the shooters are wearing the Royal Robbins vests for concealment. My question is how are these in weight and thickness to the the photographers vests that everyone used to wear? I usually wear a photographers vest but by the end of a long match in the Carolina sun it is hot and heavy so I am looking for a concealment garment that is light but I can still carry stuff in.

 

[SJG26]

Comfy so far...........

The RR vest is vented in back-------cotton/canvas seems to breathe pretty well. We;ve had more rain than sun in Eastern PA so I cant vouch for overheating yet. Definitely a pluss for carry room-pockets everywhere. My only quip is with the left side pocket mag carrier------can hold 3 mags- its ok for a double stack (my Beretta) but the thinner single stack mags will slip thru (My Sig)

 

[Kor]

I've been wearing one here in S. AZ for a couple of weeks, and I don't really see it as being any cooler or warmer than my previous concealment garment, a untucked cotton button-down shirt. The thing to keep in mind with the R-R vests, shorts, pants, etc. is that they start with heavier-than usual fabric, and double-stitch it in double (and, in places, quadruple) layers...so it's gonna be pretty heavy as it is. If you want the carrying capacity, the vest has that in spades, but you gotta put up with a little more weight than an untucked rugby shirt. If you don't want to deal with the weight, either wear that shirt(which can't carry jack) or don't carry so much stuff in the vest. One thing you can do to drop some ballast from the R-R vest is to pull out the big velcro panels inside the concealment pockets - that should drop the (unloaded) weight of the vest from 2.5# to just under 2#.

 

[MolonLabe416]

Concealed Clothiers at http://www.concealedcarry.com/home.php

make an excellent light weight vest. I have a couple and they work well, although I've never been bothered by the heavier vests.

 

[BerettaNut92]

At the last big IDPA match I shot I saw alot of the shooters are wearing the Royal Robbins vests for concealment. My question is how are these in weight and thickness to the the photographers vests that everyone used to wear? I usually wear a photographers vest but by the end of a long match in the Carolina sun it is hot and heavy so I am looking for a concealment garment that is light but I can still carry stuff in.

They seem 'thicker' and 'beefier' than photo vests because of the Velcro panels in the vest. The Velcro panels are for attaching holsters, magpouches, etc. The vest is neat for shooting long guns, but I wouldn't wear it out, since people don't seem to wear vests around here much anymore unless you're doing hiking, at the beach, etc. where lots of tourists are around (Southern California) and everyone has a fanny pack, etc. anyway.

I ordered a pair of Royal Robbins Coolmax shirts, they have a crossdraw pocket that's NOT reinforced but I may throw my P7 in there for when I'm in the car, but the P7 may be a skosh heavy.

I only wear it now at the range. Actually I hardly ever wear it out anymore...sticking out in a crowd is untactical.

 

[Billy Sparks]

I wouldn't wear it out, since people don't seem to wear vests around here much anymore unless you're doing hiking, at the beach, etc. where lots of tourists are around (Southern California) and everyone has a fanny pack, etc. anyway.

In my area of NC you wear a vest and you get a LOT of weird looks. Same thing with the fanny pack.

The main reason I wear a vest if for concealment at IDPA matches. The photographer's vest I have by the end of a match with the wonderful NC humidity is feeling like a wet, soggy blanket. From what I could see the Royal Robbins vests look a little lighter.

 

[BerettaNut92]

The RR vest FEELS heavier...definitely. Also feels a bit bulky, but the medium (their smallest size) wears large on my subcompact frame.

The pocket placement, IMO is all wrong, I wish the magpouches were on the left side and the upper chest pockets were secured, so the cell phone and/or PDA/whatever don't fall out. Water bottle things are nice, but I always have my Camelbak on.

If they had a 'tactical' jacket, with more secure pockets, a more water resistant material, and magpouches on the right side, that would be nice, so I don't have to wear a vest around.

 

[Billy Sparks]

Thanks I think I will stick with my photographer's vest...now what to use the money I was going to spend on the RR vest...then again I wasn't expecting to have to purchase a Camelbak BFM.

You are sized similar to my squad's training officer. We kid her she is wearing "Fischer Price" rescue gear....try to explain to a salesman that you really want fire boots in XS...

 

[stevelyn]

What is the material like compared to a pair of Carhartt work pants?

 

[Roadrunner]

Try a light weight button-up short sleeve shirt for concealment. I have mine one size larger (XXL) and leave it unbuttoned, unless the wind is blowing. With the oversized shirt, I don't think anyone has noticed my G23 and dual mag holder on my hip.

Personally, I really don't like the RR or photographer vests for concealment. When it's cooler and I use a vest, it's a lightweight fleece vest.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Thanks I think I will stick with my photographer's vest...now what to use the money I was going to spend on the RR vest...then again I wasn't expecting to have to purchase a Camelbak BFM.

How do you like the BFM? I like my Motherlode a lot, the BFM is just a little large to bring on an airline though. Does it come in black?

 

[Billy Sparks]

The reason I bought the BFM was for land/wilderness Search and Rescue class I am taking. After this weekend I will let you know. Monday I figured out that my USAR pack couldn't do double duty and a buddy of mine in the class bought a BFM and I really liked it so I bought me one. Camelbak's literature shows it in Olive Drab, Woodland Camo and Desert/Sand Camo. Because I needed it post haste I had to go with what someone close to me had in stock which was Olive Drab.