The “Roma 90'' flak jacket has been issued to the Italian Army since the early '90s, from Italy's UNOSOM II days to seeing action during the NATO led SFOR and KFOR missions during the Yugoslav Wars. Designed in response to the changing face of warfare, this line of armor's seen continual improvements to support Italy’s peacekeeping operations abroad. These days flak vests are mostly being phased out as militaries switch over to the more prevalent plate carriers. However, if you are worried about artillery strikes and fragmentation the flak vest provides much more coverage and protection for a fraction of the weight (and price) of a modern plate carrier.
Just remember that it’s for costume use only with a bonus roll for maybe not getting absolutely “flaked” by an airstrike…
While at a glance the Italian “Roma 90” flak jacket is just a slightly more pasta centric version of the PASGT vest, it has some significant improvements over the PASGT. The two hard sewn elastic mag pouches fit two STANAGs or one AK mag, in addition to the two grenade pockets on either side. Instead of exposed elastic like the venerable PASGT the Roma has its elastic encased in the same nylon material that covers the rest of the vest. Plus it comes in at a surprisingly lightweight 5.2 lbs overall.
In our (un)professional testing, we've found our sample stopped .22 and 9mm FMJ, which would be around NIJ level IIA. Of course, this jacket is strictly for costume purposes only, and we can only recommend the flak jacket for LARPing purposes only :)
Features
Sizing
Our batch are all approximately US Medium/Large sizing, but with the elastic sizing on the side could fit up to an XL, or down to a Small.
Condition
Flak Jackets are in excellent condition, with no signs of wear.
The vest came as advertised with the slight difference of my vest has no grenade pouches on ether side of the mag pouches, but besides that it completes my gulf war set!
Some folks are born made to wave the flag
Buy high quality surplus ( stops penetrations set uncle).
Fish fingers are done
Italian. Camo. Flak. What else dya need! Solid pockets for your pasta needs. Adjustable sizing from Luigi to Mario. Get it.
Once it arrived i found that it didn't quite match the images, mine doesn't have any grenade pouch and seems to have larger front pockets, not mag pouches. but they will easily hold more jolly ranchers than mag pouches so unsure if that's a good or bad thing really. also super greasy, like its been stained with something to subdue the pattern. again not the worst thing because its surplus and that's the name of the game baby. fits with my Alice gear so i can larp as an obese member of operation reforger.
