KIT REVIEW:

The Wyvern All Arms Assault Vest

By Ian (Lance Jackass on Arnie's Airsoft)
Photos by Roger Stenning

I got this 2 years ago in a trade for a set of DPM PLCE webbing with an RSM at cadets. Basicallly the swap was because, being somewhat short, he found it uncomfortable wearing a bergen without the support of the rear PLCE pouches. So he got the webbing, and I got the assault vest for a pittance compared to its retail value.

(Ed: Photos are of a more recent version of this vest)

The vest can be fully adjusted on the shoulders for height and on the front for chest and waist size via 3 quick release clips. Also on the inside of the vest there is 5-6 belt loops to wear a belt with it - for pistol holsters? The assault vest is of mesh construction inside allowing ventilation, but the front and sides are made of DPM fabric to which the pouches are stitched.

Starting with the left hand pouches.... The first pouch is a dedicated ammunition pouch that takes 3x SA-80, m16 or other 5.56mm variant mags. The next pouch can take 3 mags again but doesnt have the mag dividers, so it can be used for anything. This pouch was the home of my SA-80 cleaning kit and hexistove throughout most of its life. The last pouch can again take three mags, but its position is quite awkward to get them out of as it is close to the small of your back.

These three pouches all have quick release clips on the front as well as a velcro fastening that can be covered up. The velcro is best used in those quick mag change moments. The "dump empty down smock, load and run moments."

Above these three are two field dressing pouches. These are just a little bit too big for gbb mags to be held safely. These two are secured by press-studs and are best for.....field dressings lol. Above this is a small strap that can hold a smoke grenade or torch etc. I normally use this one for a right angled torch or to attach a field dressing to (Ed - the new version of the vest, instead of having the additional FFD pouches, has a velcro-terminated strap that's just the right size for a single S'95 rank slide - see photo on left, fingers are seen holding the rank-slide-sized strap).

On the right hand side there are three utility pouches at waist level, all of which can take a waterbottle or similar sized objects. These pouches have the fast release clips as well as drawstring closings to them. Above this is a rectangular pouch closed by a zip and velcro flap which drops over it. This pouch is great for absolutely anything small you can think of: knives, cam cream, combi tools, ear defenders, etc.

Both sides of the vest have a large dump pouch that zips all the way down. The one on the left handside has a press-stud closed holster sewn into it. Originally intended for a Browning, but a glock 19 will fit in with a squeeze (Ed - new version of the vest do not have the press-stud fastening - see photo below on left).

There are only two problems that I've found with this vest. Firstly the stitching is starting to undo itself on the dump pouch. This started becuase I wore a 349 patrol radio under the vest - the extra bulk started to tear the vest. The other place where the stitching is undoing itself is on one of the right hand pouches. This was again because of years of abuse, where I've landed on that side everytime I've had to take cover.

Another problem that I could see squaddies having - not airsofters - is that there is no place to put an SA80 bayonet. I managed to get around this by attaching the PLCE bayonet frog to the rear adjustment straps. Hopefully it will stay there lol (Ed - The new version of the vest now has two loops on the rear left of the left panel of the vest, into which an SA-80 bayonet sheath will fit, behind the ammo pouches - see photo to left, also showing back fit adjustment straps).

After having tried out chest rigs, 58, PLCE and this assault vest I would easily say that this one is my favourite. It takes 9 STANAG 5.56mm mags (plus 1 in your rifle so a grand total of 10) and all the gear you would possibly need to carry for a days skirmish. After looking at various webtex copies I would have to say that the Wyvern version is better. The material is soo much more hard wearing and will take much more abuse. If only the price tag was a little lower......

I hope this helps anyone looking into assault vests. http://www.flecktarn.co.uk/dptav1na.html Looks like wyvern no longer make my version of the vest. The new one only has 1 field dressing pouch.

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