RAID mod
 

I'm looking into RAID'ing my woodland BDU. Basically I will:
- Remove the lower pockets and move them on the sleeves,
- Replace all pouches buttons with velcro,
- Replace the main buttons closure (to close the jacket itself) with a zipper.

Anyone has tips before I do it? RAID-style mods aren't always identical, so I wasn't sure... Do you think what I planned makes sense?

Should I replace cuffs buttons with velcro? Is there anything specific I should to to the collar?

Google'ing didn't give me anything useful in the first 10 pages.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/...b19bf104_o.jpg

Thanks!
Conker

I think that you are supposed to moove the upper pocket since they are the one not accessible with armor on.

My Woodlands are RAID'd, I fucking love it. Just having the pockets on the sleeves makes me feel like it's all fitting better too, I don't know what it is, or how it works, but having that square there just feels nice. Plus I can keep my smokes there. But yeah, my BDU's still have their lower pockets, you want to use the uppers.

I don't have the zipper on the front, or Velcro cuffs, so I can't speak to that. But I hate zippers, and Velcro can be loud when you wanna be sneaky. Maybe instead of a strip of Velcro across the entire pocket flap, just use a couple squares on each end of the flap. Cuts down on the noise.

That's what I had in mind exactly.

For the zipper, I'd rather have it than the 5 pressure points the buttons creates when wearing it with BA.

I also prefer to get rid of buttons as much as I can as these are a pain in the ass when wearing gloves.

@Phil_Black: Can't speak for everyone, but I always wear the BDU shirt tucked in my pants, so both are inaccessible for me.

I have been interested in this for a while also - let me know how it works out ;)

Too many pics to take (not enough time lol)

but I take the tops like you said and angle on the sleeves and then use the lower ones and add them to my pants at the bottom. I like the front smooth and pocket free so I can tuck them into my pants.

Ooooh. I like that idea. I've never thought of taking the bottom pockets and putting them on my pants... that's nifty.

I found this guy on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/RAID-Modified-DCU...item2c5995f8dd

Has some good pics for reference if you are going to to do the mods yourself.

Nice find Milan! Any good source for local OD Velcro purchase? OR anyone doing an online order deal, order a bit extra and I can EMT for it?

Conker, the lower pockets will be too big for the sleeves. What I've seen (my buddy has a beauty RAID jacket in woodland ripstop), is the bottom pockets moved to the chest and the top pockets on the sleeves.

You might try to position the large pockets on the chest in a manner similar to the Crye R6 jacket. Remove the pocket, and with some extra material sew a back panel to it before you replace it on the jacket. Then secure the pocket to the jacket with sitiching on the top (careful not to sew the thing shut; just stich along your new back panel), bottom, and center edges. Leave the outer side unstitched, and you have a slash pocket accessible through the arm hole in your armour.

It will also be easier to put back on the jacket than a backless pocket, since with your new back panel it will retain its structure and 'footprint' while you're messing with the sewing machine.

The other option is one of the old woodland aircrew jackets, popular for their FR capabilities. Maybe eBay? Or just go for a Tru-Spec ACU jacket in woodland. Plenty of guys go that route, but I think they're useless.

most of mine are done so the smaller top pockets are on the sleeves however my woodies have the bigger pocket on the sleeve. Most of the first raid mods were done this way back in the day, so yes it does work.

http://www.atlanco.com/catalog/tacti...rm-tru,111.htm

I have this type from a gear trade a few months back, works great for me.

Those are replica Multicam combat shirts and jackets you linked.

He is interested in modifying his existing woodland bdu top and bottom by removing the lower pockets and moving them to the shoulders and adding velcro for patches and tabs, etc.

Thats looks EXACTLY like Gunk... After he trims his beard, and its not full of weed ashes and doritos. And after he takes a shower...

Hes even got pretty much the same kit. lol