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By Toby Melville
November 29, 2024
What is the Chinesium Paradox? The term Chinesium is a term I’ve coined about the litany of products that can be obtained on Amazon (aka The Evil Empire). While Amazon is not evil, I use this reference due to its overwhelming global reach. The paradox is derived from the fact that quality products that are rip-offs of US and European products are close, or in some cases, as good, as some of their Western competitors. However, the overwhelming majority of products do not hold water when compared wonton to wonton against their Western counterparts.
Consider the volume of products manufactured in China. Now, think about how many quality products are made in China. a vast majority of US goods derive directly or indirectly from China. Often the factory that produces one product rebrands it for another company that, in some cases, is the Chinese company making the same product. There might be a few corners cut, but in many instances regarding simple products, the Chinese knock-off may be a quality product. In this article, we’ll assess a few that are so close to their Western competitors that they’re a good 90% solution.
I should preface this article with the fact that I’ve actually deployed with some Chinese products. I’ve run these products in hostile and semi-permissive or non-permissive environments and have found them not wanting. This may not prove true with most. However, in this case, as I sort through, I can attest to some products. I’ve also conducted inspections of material, stitching, design, and fit only to find that, again, depending on the respective company, the products are well made. How is this possible? What environmental, social, and economic conditions allow for cheap combined with quality? This is not the norm, but there’s a growing number of exceptions.
Platforms and Belts
The platform or base for your operational needs will vary based on what you’re planning to do, and what your budget is. By and large, I’ve advocated for individuals to spend the money up front to save in the long run. That said, I’ve found that there can be exceptions. Regarding plate carriers, I would advocate for an individual to purchase a western-designed and manufactured carrier from a known and reputable manufacturer. A simple carrier may be well sewn, depending on the company, but you do get what you pay for. And, if you’re going to attach all your pouches to it, the platform must be well sewn. The use of chest rigs may have more flexibility. But, again, equipment needs to be sewn with good stitching and base materials, properly seam taped, and properly bar-tacked. Finally, the subject of belts; I used to believe that a good belt should be acquired from a Western manufacturer. I then purchased a tactical belt from a Chinese manufacturer, and I was more than surprised at the material quality, sewing, and fit and finish. I’ve since been using the belt professionally for almost a year and I can attest that the $45 belt (equivalent to a $100-$120 US made belt) has been performing well and exceeding my expectations. Do some research, read the reviews, look for those regularly using the equipment professionally, and take a chance. You may find that the manufacturer is producing a decent product.
Placards, Mini Chest Rigs, and Pouches
There are numerous diverse companies I have explored for pouches and placards, or in some cases, even mini chest rigs. Let us start with the companies whose products I’ve experimented with. Specifically, I’ve had success with Petac, Krydex, One Tigres, Petac, IdoGear, Excellent Elite Spanker (I know I know), and Emerson Gear. The quality of the material and stitching on these products is impressive given the price, and I can attest to the overall build quality, the use of proper edge seams, stitching, bar tacking, and materials, and have not had these products fray or come unstitched. Whether or not the materials used are the same brand as their Western counterparts, the material appears and feels to be of the same quality. That being said, this alone does not mean your order won’t have a defect. I’ve seen US-made quality products have defects or fail. I’ve even witnessed MK18 uppers issued when I was in Special Forces blow up due to manufacturers’ defects. It does happen.
The placards and mini chest rigs I’ve used have been sufficient, and it should be noted that these products are copies of the gear innovated by Western companies. Don’t expect innovation from Chinesium companies. The ability to revolutionize technology isn’t a modern Chinese strength, but their ability to replicate technology and products, to varying degrees, is. The interface for placards and mini chest rigs remains the standard fair of interlacement. Fastex and G Hooks are the name of the game, while the use of Velcro is also in standard use. Magazine sizing has been remarkably accurate for fitting, and hardware has held up under use, and remains on par.
Just like the placards and mini chest rigs, Chinesium pouches are replications of Western gear, quality clones, if you will. It bears repeating, the companies previously listed have shown a consistent level of quality. However, I can’t speak to other brands. The respective product performances vary, but I’ve experienced a surprisingly high level of quality replication. Fitment remains well done, but there’ve been some small aspects of Western designs that have occasionally missed the mark. For example, on one Chinesium copy, a Velcro insert that allows a kangaroo pouch to have a zipper opening was too short to run the full length of the kangaroo pouch, leaving the pouch with a gap on either end. Now, this may appear to be trivial, but due to this oversight in design, the kangaroo pouch tends to want to open back up when packed with accessories and items.
Therefore, limited use of such gear is important in my humble opinion. Chinesium accessory pouches and gear should be limited to backup/support use only. I would only trust Western gear for serious use, and as the basis for building your loadout. That said, some Chineseium pouches are indeed holding up well. For example, lately I‘ve been running Emerson Gear lumbar horizontal magazine pouches and pull-through bleeder kits, both lumbar mounted. These pouches have been holding up very well, and I’ve been training with them for some time. There’s an excellent color swath to choose from to match your kit, and they’re serving their intended purpose well. These pouches are however limited to 5.56mm NATO magazines only. For a more flexible built kit, I’d recommend using a bungee-supported magazine pouch that’ll expand for AK or 7.62mm/.308 Win. magazines. I’ve taken some steps in this direction, and will be testing this in the near future. The flappers or tactical fupas that’ve become popular are another pouch I commonly run on my kit. Compared to American brands like Ferro Concepts or Velocity Systems, the Chinesium knockoffs are well made, and have shown great durability.
Knockoff G Code Scorpion pouches in particular have been surprising. There are minor differences, however. The G Code is a superior pouch, but the 95% Chinesium solution is pretty good. There are small but significant differences between the two products like the polymer sides that do not flare out on the G-Code pouch, making it easier to mount side by side. There’s also the slightly better material of the pouch itself, and the improved mounting hardware. That said, the Chinesium knockoff is almost as good…not quite, but very close. I’ve been using these Chinesium pouches extensively for some time now. They’re robust, and hold up extremely well. Again, for Chineseium alternatives, use a well-known manufacturer that has shown quality over time, I use Ido Gear or Krydex for these pouches.
Regarding some other heavy-duty pouches for medical use, radio pouches, or even some other larger utility pouches I’ve found the previously named Chinesium companies to meet and exceed my expectations. Another company that’s shown great resolve is Excellent Elite Spanker. I know, I laugh even now as I type their name out. This company is either a genius or the victim of a “lost in translation”-style branding debacle. Regardless, their water bottle, medical, dump pouches, and utility pouches have proven to be well-engineered, well-sewn, made of quality materials, and have proven to be reliable.
I could discuss many other pouches I’ve been using for some time now, but let’s not make this article any longer than it needs to be. I won’t advocate that one should build an entire kit of Chinesium products and expect tier-one level performance, but I can and do advise you to peruse them, do your due diligence, experiment, take a chance, and put some of these products through their paces for your own requirements. If you do that, I’d imagine your experiences and conclusions may just end up being similar to mine. Quality can be found in Chinese companies’ products. The use of cheaper-than-dirt labor, the fact that Cordura material is made in China, these companies are using quality materials, and some of them have quite good quality control means you don’t have to spend two months’ salary to put together quality kit. Wantons for wantons, the West is the best, but we can safely save some coin by doing a little digging, and we can find some pretty decent kit for a very fair price.
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