How To Make A Tactical Vest: Beginner Guide

Have you ever imagined that you are wearing a tactical vest made by yourself? Of course, it is possible after you read this article. So jump in here for instruction.

As shown in its name, a tactical vest is a great gear for people to attend any activities with convenience. It can be worn over regular clothing to provide both protection and a way to carry gear. It has a number of pockets of varying sizes to hold all necessary equipment. No matter who you are, you can find a tactical vest useful with the extra cargo room and stylish design of one of these vests appealing. 

If you see someone wearing a tactical vest with all essentials for their job or activities, you may consider owning one like that. People may grab a smartphone to shop online or rush to the offline shop to choose one. However, purchasing a tactical vest can be costly and remove your intention to take it. This article is for you to find out an inexpensive alternative by making your own.

Moreover, you can make a tactical vest to give someone as a present. While you must accept some available styles of tactical vests in shops, you can decide the color and the number or position of pockets in your tactical vest. Let’s discover it right now. 

Things You Need To Prepare 

• Vest
• Cloth
• Tape Measure
• Chalk or Other Non-Permanent Marker
• Pins
• Needle
• Thread
• Sewing Machine (optional)
• Fasteners (buttons, snaps, Velcro patches, etc.)

What do you think is the first thing you need to make a tactical vest?

A sewing machine. Obviously, I mean. If you don’t have one, your best bet is to borrow or rent one from a fabric store or borrowing it from a friend. If you don’t know anyone who has one, try to borrow one from a school or something. It might be noisy and awkward, but it’ll do the job.

It’s basically self-explanatory after you turn it on. You just have to set the stitch you want it to use, just remember to change the thread color so that it doesn’t get mixed up with the fabric and maintain a constant speed.
Just keep doing that on and on until you’re done and boom, your first tactical vest is complete!
And don’t worry if you’re not that good at sewing or if it’s not as neat as you want it to be, we’ll fix it on the next part on how to finish them…

Just make sure that you’re doing it neatly or else you’ll regret it later.

Now, if you want to make the vest look good, you got to use some other sewing techniques here.
And also, don’t sew for too long, otherwise, your fingers will feel like they’re about to fall off!

Instruction Video To Make A Tactical Vest In Detail 

Step 1: Choose a right vest

First of all, the thing that you need to prepare is a vest serving as your working platform. Before any modifications are made, this vest must make sure to fit and match well with you. Consider buying a vest made of strong fabric, because that material can withstand the loading capacity that a tactical vest will carry.

Step 2: Mark and measure

Then, use chalk or other non-permanent markers to make a mark on the part of your vest that you want to change. Bear in mind that a permanent marker can put you in trouble because it can not be washed away and make your tactical vest look bad.

 In this step, you need to wonder how many pockets you like to include and whether there are loops in a cartridge or a built-in sheath. Whatever changes you want to make, carefully measure them and mark them on the vest.

Step 3: Cut and stitch 

Measure and then cut out the extras from your extra fabric that you’ll need. Cut pocket panels slightly larger and fold the edges over so that they can be more reinforced. Sew the edges together to hold the raw cloth underneath. This way prevents the fabric from taking apart and strengthens the stitching.

Mark and attach the pocket fasteners before stitching your added parts to your tactical vest. Whether they’re Velcro patches, buttons, or snaps, it is easier for you to apply them before the pocket is stitched on than after, when there’s less space for needlework.

While you are stitching your modifications for the vest, things to consider at this point include how much weight will be supported and many lines of stitches will be applied before declaring the project finished. 

After you’ve added these extras and tested the fasteners to ensure they work well, your very own tactical vest is done. 

Tips For Making A Perfect Tactical Vest

It depends on your demand that you consider the style of pockets attached on a tactical vest. 

Assess what you will store in them so that you can add proper pockets to your vest. If you require immediate access, you can create an open storage area by removing the top flap of pockets.  If you intend to run or engage in other outdoor activities while wearing your vest, a flap is useful for storing gears in some ways. Keep in mind that any changes you make to your vest should be tailored to your activities while wearing it.

Oh, and I just remembered. Speaking of sewing, here’s a tip for you:

1. Use bigger needle to make the fabric go through easier.
2. If you’re using a plain weave fabric, use an overlocker to make it look better.
3. With the vest, and that’s what I said earlier and just another tip: sew it well.
4. If you’re using a leather material ,make sure that there’s enough leather to hold up the vest and it must be sturdy so that you don’t have to worry about your safety.
5. If you’re gonna put pockets on the vest, make sure they’re deep enough so that they can store essential items such as money, cell phone ,among others.
6. If you’re gonna put a patch of your favorite character, make sure that it’s durable so that it won’t get destroyed easily.
7. Choose strong-colored fabric to make sure that it can last for a long time and if you want to use a light colored fabric ,make sure that the fabric is of a high quality so that it doesn’t get damaged easily.
8. If you’re going to use a zippers, make sure that they’re strong enough so that they have a long life span.
9. Make sure that you can conceal your identity with the vest so that it’ll be easier for you to escape from an encounter with the enemy.
10. If you’re going to use a rank patch, make sure that you put a high quality one just to make sure that it won’t be destroyed easily.
11. The last tip I have is work on the railgun afterwards so that it’s easier for you to shoot it and keep your hands from shaking as you fire the weapon.

What are the different types of tactical vests?

There are many different types of tactical vests such as assault vests, cross draw vests, dump or butt-packs and even bat wings. If you don’t know what these things mean, then I recommend doing some research on the internet to find out more about them.

What is the best material to make a tactical vest out of?

The best material to use for a tactical vest is ballistic nylon or similar high-performance material. The vest should be made of a material that is durable and won’t rip or tear. The last thing you need is a tactical vest that will tear when you put the combat gear in it.

If you have ever been to a paintball course, you know how important it is to have a good vest. Back in the day, I used to play paintball all the time with my friends and we would run into each other countless times shooting each other until we were all covered in paintballs.

A good tactical vest will save you from that kind of situation. If your tactical vest is made with a rip-stop material, then it will most likely be able to take a lot of abuse and you will still be able to use it after years and years of use. Some tactical vests are made with Lycra and nylon which is often times very expensive and doesn’t last as long as some high-strength material. If you’re going to spend the money on a really good vest, then go for one that will stand up to years of abuse.

Women typically have a different body shape than men do and it is usually harder for them to find tactical vests that fit them right. Some companies make custom tactical vests and you can even design your own vest and order it online. Some of these custom tactical vests can cost a lot of money, but if you don’t mind paying the extra price, they are worth it.

How can I improve my sewing skills for making a tactical vest?

If you are planning on making your own tactical vest, then you should take some sewing classes or watch some sewing videos online to learn how to do it properly. Assembling the vest is only part of the process. You will need to hem all of the edges properly and know how to sew with this type of material. The last thing you want is a tactical vest that looks like crap because you didn’t know how to sew it right.

What makes a tactical vest a “tactical vest?”

A tactical vest is simply a vest that is designed to hold all your gear. A tactical vest can be made from many different types of materials and often times the more expensive the vest, the better quality it is. Tactical vests come in all different sizes ranging from extra-large to extra small. If you are planning on wearing a tactical vest under all your other clothes, then it is good to know the size of the vest so you can pick one that will fit properly.

Which features are more important than the others?

It is important to look at each feature and decide which one is more important to you. For example, you might want a tactical vest with shoulder and waist straps but you can live without the mesh lining if it doesn’t suit your needs. It is always better to take advantage of all the features instead of picking and choosing what you like and not taking advantage of the full potential of the tactical vest.

What are the most important things to remember while making a tactical vest?

There are several important things to remember when making a tactical vest such as having everything in place before you sew the edges, using the right seam allowance, and not cutting corners. You can watch several videos online that show you how to make a tactical vest and I would recommend that you do because even though it is very easy to make, you might miss something if you don’t watch someone else do it first.

What is the best size and weight of the tactical vest?

The last thing you want in a tactical vest is one that is too small or too large. Some tactical vests weigh as much as 5 pounds and if you’re carrying all your gear in it, then it may be too much. I recommend going with a medium-sized tactical vest (10-12 oz). If you carry the vest properly, then it will not weigh you down and make you sweat all over your clothes.

What is the easiest way to make a tactical vest?

The easiest way to make your own ballistic camouflage tactical vest is by watching some videos online on how to do it. You can even ask someone else how they made their tactical vest if you think you missed something. If you’re not comfortable with sewing your own tactical vest, then you can always send it to an experienced seamstress who will gladly do this for you for the right price.

How long will the tactical vest last?

The tactical vest has a lifetime warranty for the ballistic panel. This means that if you get a hole in your panel, it will be replaced for free for life. If you get a tear in the material, it is not covered by the warranty and would cost around $20 to fix. The lifetime warranty does not cover zippers or straps, but they can be replaced by an experienced seamstress.

What kind of gear can I fit in my tactical vest?

You can fit all kinds of items into your tactical vest such as pens, water bottles, sunglasses, cell phones, batteries and many more items. Tactical vests are designed to hold all sorts of gear and you can make your own tactical vest by filling it with your favorite gear.

What is the best way to travel with my tactical vest?

While it is possible to wear a tactical vest by itself, I would recommend carrying it in a backpack. This makes the weight feel much lighter and will allow you to wear your tactical vest longer without feeling like you’re going to drop your gear at any moment.

What are the different features that come with each type of tactical vest?
There are a variety of features such as shoulder and waist straps, quick-release buckles, mesh lining and many more. You can find tactical vests that have more or less features depending on the vest and the size you choose.

What can I do with a tactical vest?

Tactical vests are very useful for the outdoors, especially in the summertime. They are great for hunting, camping, paintball, hiking and even rock climbing. You can carry all your equipment in your tactical vest without having to carry anything extra.

How do I care for my tactical vest?

The best thing you can do with your tactical vest is clean it out every few months to maintain its appearance and keep everything fresh inside of it. You can also throw it in the machine wash whenever you take it out so you don’t have to worry about getting all your equipment sweaty.

Can I sleep in my tactical vest?

You definitely can sleep in your ballistic camouflage tactical vest, but I don’t recommend it. The reason is that you might feel like you’re going to fall out of the vest and this could make you uncomfortable and wake you up.