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Posted: 2/19/2008 4:14:32 PM EDT
I have a business opportunity to be a stocking dealer with the condor line of tactical gear. I was wondering if there would be enough interest from the shooters here on AR15.com to invest in this line for sale here as a dealer? I have not read aany negative reviews on these products and have several stock samples that seem to have double stitching in all the right places and compared to other gear brands its nice gear. I would be able to sell these products and they would be a bargain on here for interested people. Your input is appreciated. Feedback or personal experiences with condor a plus as well.
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I checked out a lot of their gear at Shot Show. I was impressed with the build quality from surface inspection. Dimensions seemed to be in spec and there is a pretty good variety. However, it all seemed to be a copy of gear that was designed by another company. I saw very little that was original. The material seemed to be real cordura from the feel of it, but I didn't see any tags that said "genuine cordura" and there weren't any "genuine multicam" tags either. This lead me to be a bit suspect of what I was looking at. Also, I'm not sure if they are using bonded thread since the only way to know is if they tell you. The rep I spoke to said that all the design work was done in the states and all the production was in China. Not what I wanted to hear. Their gear seemed to be aimed towards airsofters more than actual operators because they sell fiberglass MICH/ACH helmets too. Please do not take my comments about cordura and multicam as fact, since they could have just removed the tags for the show. I've heard a bit about their gear on the Lightfighter forum and it has been positive, so I would still give them a chance. |
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Even if they did use real Cordura, and had all their sizes/webbing in dimension-spec, if they use crappy thread, or lighterweight thread, it won't matter if they used 2000D Cordura or "plain" 1000D we're all accustomed to, since it will fall apart when the thread fails. You want to make sure they used bonded Nylon thread, not polyester or cotton. Personally, I'll never stock it because none of my non-airsoft customers would buy it, and even my airsoft customers would prefer to spend a bit more for quality gear. But, as a potential competitor, I encourage you to carry it. :D |
It's real licensed Multicam. |
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I have used 3 or 4 of their products, 2 pretty heavily. So far I've had zero problems. The first one is about 2 yrs old, I carry my call out gear in it. It's been treated pretty rough and held up well. Not dragged through the sand every day, but kicked around and tossed alot. Overall a good impression. |
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Here's a link to a thread a few pages back. I was checking out some of their stuff at a local gun store and for the most part was pretty impressed. There are a couple pages of reviews and feedback for your perusal. www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=231709 ETA hot link |
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some people cant tell them apart.. just like thinking the local PandaWonton express is a cultural experience. eh... Condor to me will always be a boot company who decided to jump onto the gear market in the last few years, but rather than come up with their own, they DUPE the designs of others, and that practice IMO is a dealbreaker. Nor was I impressed with their shot display - don't get me started about Jtech or FOX outdoors if someone has a good experience with their kit, great, good on ya may it continue to work and not fail on you when the need arises. |
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I bought one of their armor carriers and if it is an exact dupe design, the original design is flawed. I modified mine to an extreme. The neck gusset was straight across in the front, the plates rode too low, it was far too large, and the side closures being just velcro they wanted to pop open. I saved a lot of money going with it as it was only $50 but I have a lot of time in it. Gives me something to do I guess. List of mods: -Cut a rounded gusset in the front for the nect so it didn't dig into the neck -Raised the front up so the plates rode correctly and used straps to secure the shoulders better -Trimmed a bunch of fat from the sides so it actually fit my frame (slim athletic) -Attached 3x fastex buckles to each side closure so it stayed closed securely and didn't constantly give that 'velcro tearing sound' when I'd bend over or turn -Attached velcro attachment points for my IBA collar, yoke, and groin protector After all of this, I am very satisfied with it and unless you have a sewing machine and know what you're doing, if you are a thinner guy, stay the hell away from it! Here's some pics sans the fastex buckles and IBA stuff.    |
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the only things they make i would have consider getting would have been their plate carrier (just fits a plate and has MOLLE on it, looks like a rectangle on your chest) or one of their padded rectangle gun cases. The only reason I won't now is because I realized how much cheaper it is to make all that stuff yourself. as for it being a copy....well everything is a copy of a copy of a copy with some changes and modifications being made to it. The basic premise of most tac gear is all the same and similarities can be found when you really rip them apart (metaphorically speaking) to their design components. |
How did you realize this? how much cheaper is it? Materials and time? You mean the 7000.00 in restock velcro / hardware / cordura materials I just got in could have been had for cheaper? 
and some are blatant copies |
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How much cheaper, to me it's infinitely since everything I make for myself is my design and fits me exactly how I want it. I'd imagine that paying someone to do that for me would cost and arm and a leg. As for my time, I'm not selling anything so it's done as a hobby in my free time when I have it, if it helps me unwind at the end of the day then it's worth it. eta: Plus I get to tinker....and it seems I can't ever stop doing that or I go nuts....to bad my wood carving skills haven't gotten any better 
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I bough one Condor Multicam pouch at a gun show. I put it on my rig. It FAILED the very first day. I have a padded gun case that sits in the closet, its great. But am I ever going to buy another condor product? Nope. Not anything that will be abused slightly. But if you've reached that point, why bother? |
+1 I was going to ask that also. the only 2 pouches of theirs that I have, I use for generic utility pouches on my backpacks, so they would not get hard use for doing that. 
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Actually, the PALS on my Esstac Bush Boar 'sawed' through the MOLLE strip on the Condor pouch. This was after one day....of airsoft.  Seriously, if it can't stand up to one day of Rubber Knife Ranger-ing, then what good is it? |
Yup. One of the fabric MOLLE strips on the pouch was damn near cut in half. After maybe 4 hours running around on the field. The PALS webbing on my Boar is tough shit. It was a little GP pouch. Its not like I had anything heavy in it. ETA: This was when the Condor Multicam first came out. Maybe I gotta a fluke. Maybe they resolved QC issues. I dunno. I'm not trying to piss in anyone's Cheerios. IMHO, there are plenty of stateside gear makers to stock. Tactical Tailor Eagle Esstac HSGI OSOE |
The point is that Condor is a MUCH cheaper alternative to the gear folks stateside you listed. It provides a gear alternative to folks that may not otherwise consider purchasing Multicam kit, because of cost. Up until your post the bulk of reviews on Condor equipment I've seen have been very positive. That said, I'm sure there are QC issues and almost postive there were when they first started production of their various lines. |
Agreed. The guy told me it was some of the first to get to the States. But, "I heard it a a gun show..." Like I said, maybe mine was a fluke, I was just relating first hand knowledge. With that said, I still think there are better alternatives. I don't think Tactical Tailor is too pricey at all, and they offer a lifetime warranty. A Condor 5.56 shingle will be about $16. TT shingle is $16.50, Esstac $17 at SKD. Some of the other stuff is a bit more, but I think the lifeime warranty is worth it. Just my opinion. |
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The ONLY reason I use a few Condor shingles is because they fit AK-74 magazines as well as AR15 mags. I started with Tactical Tailor stuff, but wanted one rig for both my weapons, so Condor got the nod for that reason. The rest of my setup is TT, Emdom, Safariland, SDS.... |
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well this must be your first day in this forum as there has been many hate/love Blackhawk threads. and this part here:" you know the gear that everyone hates, but they don't know why" is ment to be sarcastic. you did see the smilies right   unless you are trying to be sarcastic, then....   and FWIW, I have some Blackhawk gear that I have no problems with. |
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I've seen the shingle going for around $14 and change on the net (not counting shipping of course). Their 3-Day Assault Pack though can be had for as low as $130.00, which is hell of a lot cheaper than similiar sized packs in Multicam. Their hydration pouch is also pretty darn reasonable price wise. I'll spend a bit more for life time warranty on items that are pricey, but dealing with warranty hassle over something that cost ya less than $50 is PITA in my opinion. I'd rather just save money if I can on the initial purchase and if stuff goes wrong within the limited warranty period deal with that. If I have it and three years later it rips I'll just get something else. |
I have been looking at that same holster as a possible solution to some of my needs, since it offers a universal fit. It is hard to find a tac holster that will fit some of my handguns (like Ruger). So this may do the trick. Since this is legit Multicam and in 1000D cordura, it should be a good holster as long as they use quality thread. So if you buy one of the Condor "Tornado" holsters before I do, please give us a review. |
| I(was) a Condor dealer and after the crap they gave me on trying to return a Drag bag that fell apart I will no longer be dealing with them. Also a FYI if you buy anything made by Condor and it takes a dump before its time they will not make good on it directly and make you go through the original vendor you purchased it from. I guess they figure their stuff is cheap enough that they can have crap customer service. |
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I use Condor 2 mag ouches and a badder pouch on my Blackwater I-O plate carrier. I have 3lb weights in each pouch and 3 each, 3lb weights in the Camelback carrier. I use it as a weight vest. I road march about 9-12 miles a week and have no issues with the pouches. I don't like how far out the 2 mag pouches hang so I ordered a bunch of single mag slab pouches. The weights make the front flap that velcros over the cumberbund in front, make a scritching sound as the velcro comes undone off and on as I force march. Single mag pouches will hopefully fix that annoying sound. The camelback bladder carrier is holding up fine with 9 pounds of weights in it but I keep checking the stitching to make sure. |
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I have a Condor rifle case and a MOLLE hydration backpack. They seem good enough for my non "operator" purposes. I like the cheap Chinese stuff because it enables me to test a concept out for cheap without dropping the bigger dollars on one of the big names, if I don't like how it works. |
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