PLCE Webbing and its Manufacturers : eBay Guides

After receiving lots of questions on webbing I thought it was worth writing this guide

 Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE) is currently used by British forces personal as there tactical webbing system, although some units operating using Osprey Webbing attach pouches to the outside of this using the MOLLE type system, however this can be both uncomfortable and awkward. Yokes are now available to wear webbing under the Osprey Armour proving very comfortable.

PLCE webbing would normally be made up of Belt, Standard Yoke, 2 x Double Ammo Pouch, 2 x Utility Pouch's, 1 x Water Bottle Pouch. This would be the standard issue(some units only issue 1 Double Ammo pouch). Other units will issue Hip Pads and Minimi (LMG) pouches, Personal Role Radio (PRR) Pouch, and Patrol Medics may get issued the trauma pouch, to name but a few, and it is possible to buy just about every conceivable extra now to go with your PLCE webbing.

You should be able to survive comfortably on your webbing alone for 24 hours, and also you should be able to survive relatively comfortably on it for 48 hours without resupply, below is one units recommended kit to carry in your webbing. This is for an Elite Unit, so most will not carry this amount of kit however it is a good example of kit that is carried in your webbing.

"8 x A2 Magazines, Waterproof A2 Weapon Cleaning kit, Oil bottle, Water-bottle + Metal Mug, Shemag x 2 Sewn Together, Mini Binoculars/Monocular, Pace-counter, Sling, Mini-Magnifying glass, Mini Tape Measure, Dictaphone, Mossy/Ambush Net, Gloves Green Fingerless and Durable, Mini Sharpening Stone, Sacateurs/Mini Saw, Windspeed Indicator/Temperature Gauge, 24 Hour Rations, Brew Kit in min bottles, Loop Line, 3 x Nails, Hexamine broken down into quarts, First Aid kit & Field Dressings, Karribiners x 2, Survival Kit, DZ Marker, Command Equipment Complete, Model Making Kit, Communication chord reel, Helo-Graph, Immprovised Signals Copper Braid, Head Torch, Compass, Torch with IR filters, Sewing Needle & Cotton Industrial, Improvised HLS marking kit, 30 Mts Ambush Chord, Spare Socks(Seal Skin)."

Some users of PLCE prefer to use a Roll Pin belt instead of the issue belt which users a Quick Release(QR) Buckle, this is because these are hard wearing and will NEVER break (most QR buckles dont break either these days), Roll Pin belts can be easier to adjust and do allow for immediate release. Even though a lot of PLCE belts don't have the T-Bar Holds if you are using a Double Role Pin Belt with four Utility pouches they will sit comfortably together without any risk of slipping. You will also need PLCE belt loops to ensure you have yoke attachments.

Many sellers of PLCE webbing do complete sets, these include all pouches stitched to the webbing in conjunction with a hip pad, this type of webbing is extremely comfortable when Tabbing/Speed marching and is proving a favorite with a lot troops, the only real drama with this type of webbing is that you can not change your configuration, an example of this would be you could not add a Medics pouch if needed, also if you where in an operational theatre and one of your pouches ripped or the buckle broke you would be unable to just exchange the pouch with your QM's Department. This will fall down to personal choice but many sellers now sell webbing that has been put together without any stitching required and these are comfortable and allow you to change pouches if need be and will allow you to have your webbing customized for your exact need. Most sellers will set up any type of configuration you need on purchase, just send them a message.

The main manufacturer in the UK are Web-Tex, Vanguard, RangeMaster and Highlander. There are others although I will concentrate on these 4.

Web-Tex
In previous years there have been complaints about Web-Tex webbing pouches due to buckles and its IRR capability which has seen many users of PLCE staying away from it, this is very much unfounded these days as Web-Tex has a strict quality control  process in place and it is very uncommon now to hear of a complaint in regards to Web-Tex kit. One of the key benefits of Web-Tex kit is the price, the kit is cheaper than most others and is sometimes favoured by those on a budget. A wide range of pouches are produced by Web-Tex including AK Ammo pouch. Currently most poches only available in DPM with a few available in Black.

Vanguard/Wyvern
Vanguard produces all kit in the UK and has many different designs including the exceptionally produced All Arms Belt Kit and Double Roll Pin Belt, Vanguard produces PLCE webbing in both DPM and Desert pattern and uses ITW Nexus(Regarded as the best around) clips on most of its kit. Vanguard supplies most common Items associated with PLCE webbing but also a wide range of innovative designs to meet the needs of modern operations. Vanguard kit always recieves Excellent Feedback

Range Master
All Range Masters webbing is produced in the UK and it manufacturs many issue Items, Range Master has long been regarded as the premier supplier of PLCE webbing with many of the shops in the UK supplying there kit. Like Vanguard, Range Master have many usefull extras to the PLCE range including designing a more comfortable thicker webbing yoke to take any extra load. Range Master produce the custom designed Special Forces webbing and also supply the Role Pin Belt in both a Stone colour and Olive green. Range Master Produce PLCE webbing in both DPM and Desert.

All manufaturers use MOD specification material or better and your choice of both complete sets and individual parts will rely on yourself and your role within the Armed forces. With such a massive range of Kit available from the above manufacturers many buyers will mix and match to their own preferences and needs.

PLCE is also popular with Airsofters and Paintballers again the choice of webbing that is used will be dependent on individuals needs and more so on cost as it is unlikely that an Airsofter or Paintballers life will depend on the quality or composition of webbing. If using the above manufactured webbing you should have no problem.