Team SNAFU

Towards the end of last year I looked at putting together a loadout suitable for use in colder weather, and especially in woodland areas. I looked around the usual image sites and eventually settled on a certain look - a light chest rig, something like a SPEAR fleece and a fleece/wool patrol cap, DCU pants (exchangable for BDU pants for woodland use) and my trusty Liberator-II comms setup.

The rough look together, it was time to add smaller details and make some tweaks - I added a sidearm, in this case a 1911A1 in a Safariland 6004 holster. I settled on an MP5A5 for my primary because I wanted something light, and although they're being phased out due to lack of penetrative power, they are still seen on occasion due to operator preference or operational requirements. Besides which, penetrative power is hardly an issue in airsoft, which is of course the main use of this kit in the first place!

The biggest change in look came from my acquiring a TAD Gear Stealth Hoodie (2nd Gen.), a superb soft-shell jacket perfect for this impression as well as daily use. It really seems to top the kit out nicely.

For the sake of the photos here I've finished it all off with a Lightfighter/TAG RAID Pack, although obviously whether I run this or not depends on if I need to lug that much kit around or not.

The final impression is actually suprisingly accurate to the kind of stuff being used out in Iraq and Afghanistan at the moment, and it's also a really good loadout for airsoft - not too heavy or clunky, and quite versatile - warm in the winter but layers are changeable to make it work in warmer weather as well.

KITLIST:

Thinsulate Fleece Watch Cap, Black
TCI Liberator II Headset
Oakley Canteen Glasses, Black Frame w/ Warm Grey Lenses

Underarmour Loose HeatGear T-Shirt, Army Brown
The North Face TKA100 Fleece, OD
TAD Gear Stealth Hoodie, Gen. 2, UE Grey

Eagle Industries Rhodesian Recon Vest, Tan
Camelbak Thermobak 3l, CB
3no. Tactical Tailor Triple M4 Mag Pouches, Tan
Tactical Tailor GP Horizontal Pouch, Tan
HSGI Double Pistol Mag Pouch, Tan
Tactical Tailor Small Radio Pouch, OD
Maxpedition MM Dump Pouch/Medium Rollypolly, OD

Strider DB-L NSN w/ CB G10 Grips & CB CSM Sheath, #93 of 100 (Fixed-blade Knife)
TAD Gear Survival Capsule, Whistle Component, Black
F|S Utility HAK v2, Tan Cord Wrap
Surefire Z2 CombatLight
Gerber Compact 400 Sport (Multitool), Black
Kenwood TK3101 PMR446 Radio
Sharpie & Notepad
EMT Shears
Buck-Strider 889 (Folding Knife)
MS2000 Strobe
IR Chemlights
Grimlocs, Foliage Green

TAG RAID Pack, OD
TT Multi-Purpose Pouch, OD

Ex-US Issue DCU Pants (100% cotton cold-weather type)
TAG Rigger's Belt, OD
Safariland 6004, Dark Earth (Tan/CB)
Spyderco Clipit Dragonfly (Folding Knife)
SWMS Max Grip NT Gloves, Sage Green/Black
Bijan Knee Protectors, Medium, US Woodland Camo
Meindl Desert Fox/Safari Boots, Tan

Primary is an MP5A5 w/ flashlight foregrip and 10 30rd mags.

Sidearm is a 1911A1 w/ 3 mags.

<<< Back to Articles	Written by HaVoC, 3rd February 2007
IMPRESSION OVERVIEW : US ARMY SF - COLD WEATHER
CLICK TO ENLARGE	Towards the end of last year I looked at putting together a loadout suitable for use in colder weather, and especially in woodland areas. I looked around the usual image sites and eventually settled on a certain look - a light chest rig, something like a SPEAR fleece and a fleece/wool patrol cap, DCU pants (exchangable for BDU pants for woodland use) and my trusty Liberator-II comms setup. The rough look together, it was time to add smaller details and make some tweaks - I added a sidearm, in this case a 1911A1 in a Safariland 6004 holster. I settled on an MP5A5 for my primary because I wanted something light, and although they're being phased out due to lack of penetrative power, they are still seen on occasion due to operator preference or operational requirements. Besides which, penetrative power is hardly an issue in airsoft, which is of course the main use of this kit in the first place! The biggest change in look came from my acquiring a TAD Gear Stealth Hoodie (2nd Gen.), a superb soft-shell jacket perfect for this impression as well as daily use. It really seems to top the kit out nicely. For the sake of the photos here I've finished it all off with a Lightfighter/TAG RAID Pack, although obviously whether I run this or not depends on if I need to lug that much kit around or not. The final impression is actually suprisingly accurate to the kind of stuff being used out in Iraq and Afghanistan at the moment, and it's also a really good loadout for airsoft - not too heavy or clunky, and quite versatile - warm in the winter but layers are changeable to make it work in warmer weather as well. KITLIST: Thinsulate Fleece Watch Cap, Black TCI Liberator II Headset Oakley Canteen Glasses, Black Frame w/ Warm Grey Lenses Underarmour Loose HeatGear T-Shirt, Army Brown The North Face TKA100 Fleece, OD TAD Gear Stealth Hoodie, Gen. 2, UE Grey Eagle Industries Rhodesian Recon Vest, Tan Camelbak Thermobak 3l, CB 3no. Tactical Tailor Triple M4 Mag Pouches, Tan Tactical Tailor GP Horizontal Pouch, Tan HSGI Double Pistol Mag Pouch, Tan Tactical Tailor Small Radio Pouch, OD Maxpedition MM Dump Pouch/Medium Rollypolly, OD Strider DB-L NSN w/ CB G10 Grips & CB CSM Sheath, #93 of 100 (Fixed-blade Knife) TAD Gear Survival Capsule, Whistle Component, Black F\|S Utility HAK v2, Tan Cord Wrap Surefire Z2 CombatLight Gerber Compact 400 Sport (Multitool), Black Kenwood TK3101 PMR446 Radio Sharpie & Notepad EMT Shears Buck-Strider 889 (Folding Knife) MS2000 Strobe IR Chemlights Grimlocs, Foliage Green TAG RAID Pack, OD TT Multi-Purpose Pouch, OD Ex-US Issue DCU Pants (100% cotton cold-weather type) TAG Rigger's Belt, OD Safariland 6004, Dark Earth (Tan/CB) Spyderco Clipit Dragonfly (Folding Knife) SWMS Max Grip NT Gloves, Sage Green/Black Bijan Knee Protectors, Medium, US Woodland Camo Meindl Desert Fox/Safari Boots, Tan Primary is an MP5A5 w/ flashlight foregrip and 10 30rd mags. Sidearm is a 1911A1 w/ 3 mags.