A classic example of an idea that was born spur-of-the-moment in the meeting room and escaped. The proposition was simple, "What if we made the DIY IDEA Rig from Escape from Tarkov but made it not suck?" A few months later and the realization that you can't get the official Tarkov rig anymore and here we are.
What we did different was start from scratch but keep the soul of the IDEA rig intact — It's the same poly composite tarp fabric as a certain swedish furniture store's iconic totes (but far thicker and sturdier), and the rig carries the classic motifs right over from the game.
Then, we moved on to improvements. The silhouette of our rig is inspired by the more contemporary "Chicom" style webbings on the market with its octagonal base panel and 4 mag cell configurations. The OG was much larger, more awkward, and with no magazine retention.
The mag cells snugly carry standard capacity mags from AR & AKM platforms with ease, and anything similar in size to those will work too. The shock cord retention was much needed as the original rig had almost comically loose pouches, and we added extra-large tabs to move the shock cord easily even with the use of thick gloves. The pouches have added reinforcement with our custom-run "IDEA" webbing nylon for added durability.
Lastly, the nylon for the shoulder harness and back strap is extra-wide and more comfortable than this wacky rig has any right to be. One size fits most here, we based it off measurements of our best-selling surplus & new production chest rigs.
The result is something so high quality we can barely laugh at its hilarious looks. It's actually comfortable and functional, not just a joke piece. And at a price that matches some canvas "Chicoms" on the market, we've achieved Slavic perfection...
Specs
Easily the most comfortable and versatile one-hole on the market, this design became famous for appearing on Obi Wan Nairobi himself and being persona defining for Administrative Results on YouTube, but why is it so good? Apparently, a certain company from Canada didn't know because you're not allowed to buy it anymore.
Civilians have long been upset with LEO/MIL Restricted product constraints, but where high powered infrared lasers for the layman at least have some reasoning behind it due to their inherent danger, How the heck can you justify restricting a piece of clothing?
This FR Balaclava with its familiar looking design is the result of us being upset with the new state of military contract manufacturers giving the middle finger to us civilians. We threw down the gauntlet, sourced the same materials, and made our own.
Don't Fix the Materials That Aren't Broken
The body fabric is the most breathable Flame-Retardant material on the market we're aware of. It's the exact same stuff as the original, made in the USA. No reason to switch. There's a difference between chemical treatments for FR and being inherently FR - as you can guess the latter is far better at doing its job. Being inherently FR means it's excellent at self-extinguishing under high heat and even direct contact with flames - important for any firearms enthusiast dealing with hot suppressors and stray casings.
Inherently FR fabric can get expensive But every penny spent is worth it here. It's extremely comfortable in any weather condition, quick drying, low bulk, and it doesn't itch if you have sensitive skin or a big 'ol beard.
But as a disclaimer, stay safe when dealing with anything that gives off sparks, open flames, or radiates a large amount of heat. While the FR Fabric is the same as the original and could theoretically be a last line of defense, we have not yet submitted the balaclava for testing and certification.
Making It Fit Better
But one of our main complaints about the original, which you can even see on the famous pics of Mr. Craighead are the sometimes floppy fit. We dialed in the shape of the neck drape for easy owl-headed movements and the facepiece is much better at actually hanging out on your face. It's still super comfortable and snag free under helmets and ear protection too!
But don't be alarmed by "One Size Fits Most" - We really mean most. We've done some "independent testing" on the largest and smallest heads we could find in the warehouse and couldn't find someone it fit poorly on. Big-Brained Chads or Compact Kings, there's no need to worry.
Ways to wear
Unlike traditional balaclavas, the hood-and-facepiece design allows this one to be worn in a few different ways. You can either go full-ninja with the eye slot, pull down the facepiece to still cover your head and ears, wear the facepiece with the top-hood scrunched down in back, or even go "gaiter" mode with it just covering your neck.
Specs
If a product is marked as a "Pre Sale", it means that inventory is already in production, and you're reserving the item ahead of time.
"Pre Sales" also mean there is limited inventory available to reserve. If it's sold out, it's sold out, and you'll have to wait for the next restock or backorder to begin.
At any point in time before we ship it to you, the item is 100% refundable. After it ships to you, you're covered by our 30-day return policy.
