>>64388296
>Militech is just a company that will inform you if it has a cheat ring or not
Excellent, that makes them... *checks notes* better than RMA. They're setting a high bar with that one.
>The lack of certs is what saves you that buck
Sorta-kinda. People exaggerate the cost of obtaining NIJ certification and frankly any armor company should be able to eat that cost - especially one the size of Militech, it's really cost of materials. They use Chinese PE for less or equal money to American fiberglass. Their Silicon Carbide, a better ceramic, is similarly priced to the Bitossi Italian Aluminum Oxide used by Hesco. The prototype boron carbide Level IV they had Buffman shoot years ago was $500 and 4.5lb (1" ring). The equivalent model from Hesco with no cheat ring (4800) is over $1,200.
>Alternatively, someone somewhere said they'll never certify a Chinese offering without a continental US office
That's correct. Longfri has an NIJ cert on a very meh Level III polyethylene plate because they have an office in the US. The only realistic reason, I can think of, why Militech and the rest don't go rent a 500 square foot "office" in a strip mall is because they don't want to be subject to US jurisdiction if their shit fails and they get sued.
>by letting some old tard shoot it on youtube
Brand-affiliated old farts with affiliate links, so they get paid when people buy the plates they're testing, mind you. Buff and the rest could very well be getting handpicked ringers subject to extra quality control or possible RMA-style reinforcement. NIJ is how you know the plates you're getting are the same as the ones youtubers are shooting. The peace of mind with a Hesco 4403 is worth the extra weight, since the plates are now roughly price equivalent given Militech's exorbitant fees.
>Never had any luck with IDOGEAR
I have a couple of their pouches. Their quality is good but their IR compliance is wishy-washy.
>DMGear mostly offers unique pieces
That they do!