Tactical Gear
Shop tactical gear from Rothco and other brands across six departments, built for load carrying, training, airsoft, security work and everyday carry. Each department below focuses on one job, so you can build a loadout piece by piece.
- MOLLE gear: magazine pouches, utility and medical pouches, chest rigs, battle belts and drop leg panels.
- Plate carrier vests: MOLLE, laser cut, lightweight and low profile carriers, plus cross draw and assault vests.
- Military and tactical helmets: ABS MICH-2000 replica, airsoft and base jump helmets, covers, pads and chin straps.
- Concealed carry: belly band, inside-the-waistband and ankle holsters and a hook and loop holster panel.
- Public safety: expandable batons, handcuffs, pepper spray, duty belt cases and reflective PT belts.
- Tactical accessories: badges and holders, whistles, knee and elbow pads, EMS shears and trauma kits.
Much of the range uses nylon webbing and the MOLLE attachment system, so pouches, holsters and panels from different departments mount to the same vest, belt or pack.
A note for service members: your body armor, helmet and load-carrying equipment are issued as OCIE. Commercial tactical gear is for training, airsoft and personal use, and our guide below explains where DA PAM 670-1 applies.
How to Choose Tactical Gear
Work outward from the role. A loadout for a full airsoft day looks different from a security officer's duty belt or a civilian's concealed carry setup, so decide what you need to carry and where before buying pouches.
Load Carriage: Vest, Rig or Belt
Three platforms do most of the carrying. Plate carrier vests spread weight over the shoulders and give the most MOLLE real estate. Chest rigs are lighter and cooler, holding magazines and small tools up front. Battle belts keep weight on the hips and pair well with a light carrier. Many people end up with a belt plus either a carrier or a rig. If you're new, start with one platform, wear it for a full day, and only then decide whether you need the second. It's cheaper than buying a closet full of half-used gear.
Pouches and Attachments
Once the platform is set, fill it from the MOLLE gear department. PALS webbing uses 1-inch nylon strips with rows spaced 1 inch apart and bar tacks every 1.5 inches, which is why pouches from different makers usually fit the same panel. Put the items you use most where your hands fall naturally.
Head and Face Protection
The helmets department is built around airsoft, costume and reenactment use. Be clear on what these helmets are: the Rothco ABS MICH-2000 replica, airsoft and base jump helmets are plastic shells and do not provide ballistic protection.
Duty and Everyday Carry
Security, corrections and public safety buyers will find batons, cuffs, pepper spray and molded belt cases under public safety, and badges, whistles and pads under tactical accessories. Concealed carry holsters have their own concealed carry department.
Tactical Gear and Military Regulations
Field gear falls under OCIE (organizational clothing and individual equipment). DA PAM 670-1, paragraph 4-3, lists OCIE "as determined by the commander" in accordance with the common table of allowances among the items worn with the combat uniform. Paragraph 4-1 authorizes Soldiers to wear OCIE in UCP, OEF-CP and OCP patterns, with OCP items procured as replacements as older gear wears out.
In practice, your unit issues and configures your armor, helmet and fighting load. Commercial tactical gear like ours suits training at home, airsoft, MILSIM events and personal use, and shouldn't be swapped into an issued setup unless your chain of command allows it. DA PAM 670-1 also makes anyone buying uniform items commercially responsible for ensuring they meet military specifications.
Hydration and Bags in Uniform
Paragraph 4-7 lets commanders authorize a camouflage, black or solid color personal hydration system in the field, in high-heat areas or on work details, and limits carrying bags with the combat uniform to garrison.
Body Armor and Weapons Laws
Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 931, bars people convicted of a violent felony from buying, owning or possessing body armor, and some states add their own rules on armor, batons, pepper spray and carrying firearms. Laws vary by location, so check your state and local rules before you buy or carry. This page isn't legal advice.