REVIEW: Spetsnaz GRU Body Armor

Privjet! The comrades at Toy Soldier have heard the prayers of all Russian MVD reenactors and have brought a suitable replica Body Armor to market. The original Kora-Kulon is produced by Classcom. We at SPARTANAT have taken a closer look at how the replica performs for you. (All images clickable to enlarge)

The shell is made of nylon, with the material feeling different from Cordura. One should therefore handle it carefully to avoid risking any tears. The principle of the Kora-Kulon is simple: pull the vest over your head, fasten the stretch cummerbund from the left and right with Velcro on the front, and the piece is secure.

The stretch bands on the sides are double-layered, which further increases stability. Generally, if one wants to close the vest overlapping at the front, it is quite tight. This makes it suitable for more delicate statures, but for those with more girth, the Velcro must be fastened quite far out on the front panel.

Inside, Toy Soldier has made the effort to provide a proper replica as well. Like the original, there is padding attached in a linear fashion, allowing for some airflow and making wearing it more bearable.

If one wants to forgo this (e.g. in winter), the panels can easily be removed as they are only attached with Velcro at the top and bottom. This also makes cleaning easier if one has sweated excessively.

If one wants to add plates in addition to the foam inserts already integrated into the replica, there are corresponding zippers at the front and back (left). Like the original, the replica also has adjustable shoulders (top and bottom right), allowing for a good fit even for taller individuals.

As mentioned earlier, the Body Armor is almost exclusively used by units of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). It is often worn together with the Smersh belt system.

CONCLUSION: Finally, a solid and affordable replica of the classic MVD Body Armor. All functionalities are present (except for ballistic protection), the only question is whether the nylon can withstand rugged use.

You can purchase the Kora-Kulon replica at Toy Soldier in Hong Kong. The price is USD 75, which is a real bargain compared to the approximately USD 500 one would have to pay for the Classcom version (if one can even get it).