Let me take a guess – you truly have been searching for the best and more tactical plate carrier that could add to your protection in a life-threatening situation. Good news!!! This buying guide is just for you. You might have probably been using a chest rig before. Still, if you feel it is not giving you enough protection and functionality in a combat situation, then why not invest in more tactical plate carriers.
Perhaps you are a paintball lover just like me, you probably know how it weighs someone down when hit in the chest, and you don’t want to miss out on the fun; a soft plate carrier is all you might need.
There are a whole lot of reasons why you should have a plate carrier. For military simulation, law enforcement, tactical needs in the field, sports, or you are just paranoid about life, a plate carrier could give you the protection you needed at the moment.
Choosing a plate carrier or quality chest rigs will make a difference, but it can be difficult to choose. This is because there are lots of plate carriers on the market today with varying factors, which might not be the best for you regarding what you do or its purpose for use. Therefore, choosing the best plate carrier is not an option but a MUST.
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The Best Plate Carriers Reviewed
Below are some of the best plate carriers and their reviews
1
GFIRE Tactical Vest Modular Vest
Let us start this review with the Gfire brand. Gfire has been know to produce tactical vest with amazing features. This tactical vest provides breathability when it comes to combat training. It is a lightweight tactical vest that can be adjusted to different sizes. So, no need to worry if you are a big person as this vest will perfectly fit and comfort you.
Key Features:
- 1000D polyester: This solid vest is made of 1000D polyester. This makes the vest abrasion-resistant and also water repellant, which offers the vest more durability. It feels lighter with even 1000D polyester and also sturdy. Stitches are made of nylon
- MOLLE Design: It is made of high-grade MOLLE with heavyweight MOLLE loops for all modular attachments. With the MOLLE design, functionality is enhanced, and you will be able to hold as many tactical gears you need
- Adjustable Shoulder Straps: The adjustable and removable anti-slip padded shoulder with hooks and loops guides is one of the best features of this vest. This because while wearing the vest, the high-quality padded mesh interior lining allows the anti-slip shoulder strap to give maximum comfort without any stress
- Adjustable Waist Straps: This feature adds more to fitness. With the side release buckles on shoulders and waists, sizes can be adjusted depending on your size.
- Storage: This vest has front and side pockets that are easily accessible to hold important items. It also has an adjustable cummerbund to allow for the perfect snug fit of the vest.
Specification:
- Brand: Gfire
- Color Black, Tan, Green
Pros
- High-quality fabric and good stitch
- Abrasion-resistant
- It offers enhanced functionality of the MOLLE designs
- The adjustable systems make it easy to wear and perfect fit
- Highly durable
- Lightweight
Cons
- It might be a little bit pricey
- It might ride low for some people
2
vAv YAKEDA Tactical Vest Military Chest Rig Airsoft Swat Vest for Men
This is a very versatile tactical vest with a multi-use platform. It should meet all your tactical needs. It is made to fit all body sizes and shapes, all thanks to the Velcro height adjustment. The 1000D nylon fabric gives it an excellent wear resistance, lightweight but with strength and waterproof capabilities. This is a real deal!
Key Features:
- Adjustable system: It has a very cool adjustable system for different sizes. With this adjustment system, you can make all necessary adjustments to your shoulders and abdomen area using the pull straps and UTX buckles. It features a padded cross-back shoulder strap with some added feature not commonly found in other vests such as webbing and D-rings.
- 3D Mesh Spacer: It has a 3D mesh spacer that allows for ventilation. With this feature, you feel comfortable during action when wearing this vest
- MOLLE design: These features provide easy accessibility to all your tactical gears. It has an upper section that can be folded to give access to the pockets. You can attach additional pouches with this MOLLE designs and have easy access to them. You can carry up to 9 magazine pouches with the four removable, closed top or open top magazine pouches that are all adjustable with Velcro straps. Elastic loops on the shoulder straps are present to secure communication devices.
- All-weather protection: It has a tactical MOLLE porch that is integrated with Yakeda bags and packs to give watertight storage.
- Storage: There is an administrative storage pouch feature that gives extra space to hold tactical tools like a map, tactical flashlights, IR markers, and so on
Specification:
- Brand: Yakeda
- Color: Camouflage, black-1, black CP, black
Pros
- It has a fully adjustable system for different body sizes and shapes
- It offers breathability
- It offers functionality with easy access to all tactical gears
- It has a wealth of pockets to hold different tactical tools
- Lightweight
- Highly durable
Cons
- You might want a more streamlined tactical vest
- It might be costly
- It is only for men
3
OneTigris Tactical Laser-Cut Vest
OneTigris nightmare tactical vest is primarily designed for airsoft, paintball, and war games. It is made of 500D Condura nylon, which is a high-quality fabric that is water and abrasion-resistant.
It has laser-cut MOLLE webbings on both sides, which makes it a lightweight tactical vest suitable for activities. With the MOLLE webbings, you can attach extra pouches and other tools. This vest is comfortable for usage all thanks to the high-quality EVA padding
Key Features:
- 500D Condura nylon: This feature makes the vest good for airsoft because it gives extra durability and water resistance
- Laser-cut MOLLE webbings: It is present on both sides to aid attachment of pouches or tactical tools
- High-quality EVA padding: The inner layer of the vest is padded to improve comfortability during usage
- Kangaroo magazine pouch: This is present in the front to store your M4 magazines
- Adjustable systems: The vest comes with adjustable and removable shoulder straps plus an adjustable waist strap to fit different body shapes and sizes.
Specification:
- Brand: OneTigris
- Material: 500D Nylon
- Dimensions: 11”*13”/28cm*33cm
- Weight: 25.3oz/720g
- Color: Black, multi-cam, tan
Pros
- It is durable and water resistance
- It is lightweight
- It is comfortable to wear
- It can be worn by different people of different body sizes and shapes
- It makes the attachment of pouches and other tools possible
Cons
- It is not meant for real combat
- It is not bulletproof
4
Helikon-Tex Range Line, Training Mini Rig
This training mini rig is made in the US and can also be imported. It is made of authentic materials with a good stitch plus a high-quality fabric of 500D Condura nylon. It can be used with a battle belt for more ease. It has removable and adjustable H-strap harness plus Velcro ID panels. The long straps make it easy for this rig to be used on a plate carrier.
This rig is constructed for shooting at a range, instructors, shooting enthusiasts, and competition shooters. This is because all the gears required can all be stored in the rig. It can house four carbine magazines plus an impressive weight distribution.
Key Features:
- 500D Condura nylon: This feature makes the rig abrasion-resistant and also water-resistant
- H-strap harness: This harness is removable and adjustable plus there are three Velcro ID panels: on the main pouch, med insert pouch, and at the back of the harness
- Storage / MOLLE design: It has an insert for double rifle magazine, which also includes AR/AK magazines. The main pouch has an internal organizer and a zippered mesh pocket. It also has about four fixed pouches for handgun magazines and other tactical tools.
- Spacious central Cargo pocket: It spacious enough to house a pistol holder insert, PALS, for medical insert.
Specification:
- Brand: Helikon-Tex
- Material: 500D Nylon
- Dimensions: 10.2 x 2.75 x 5.9 inches
- Weight: 28.8oz/817g
- Color: Adaptive green, black, shadow Grey A, coyote brown, olive green A, flecktarn, grey, melange blue, melange grey, PenCott Wildwoods, shadow grey, black A, US woodland
Pros
- It is durable and water resistance
- It is lightweight
- It can be used over a plate carrier
- It has an impressive weight distribution
- It has a wealth of pouches
- Many colors to choose from
- Modular design
- Great replacement of plate carriers
Cons
- It cannot be used as a plate carrier but can be worn over one
- It lacks other functional tactical designs
5
BYHai Tactical CS Field Vest Breathable Combat Training Vest Nylon Adjustable for Unisex Adults
This is an all-purpose tactical vest. It is great for outdoor activities like camping, cycling, mountaineering, and even military. This is possible because the vest is made of 600D waterproof oxford cloth, which confers both water and abrasion resistance. There are multiple colors for you to choose from. It is lightweight; hence maximum mobility is assured.
It also has pouches to store and hold magazines plus an adjustable waist strap and padded shoulder straps to give you the fitness and comfortability you desire. It is perfect for somebody’s sizes and shapes.
Key Features:
- 600D waterproof oxford cloth
- This feature confers water resistance and impact resistance to the vest with strong tensile strength. It is a flexible tactical vest
- Adjustable waist straps: This tactical vest can be sure to fit perfectly on anybody because of these adjustable waist straps.
- Padded shoulder straps with Velcro and buckle: This feature allows the vest to fit comfortably, and the Velcro provides an easy and fast way to disassemble the vest when not in use
- Chest coverage: It is minimally designed to aid mobility
- MOLLE design: The front of this tactical vest is designed to make other attachments possible with the vest
Specification:
- • Brand: Byhai
- • Material: 600D oxford cloth
- • Dimensions: 14 x 13 x 3 inches
- • Weight: 28oz/793g
- • Color: black, green, mud, camouflage
Pros
- It is durable and superlight
- It is perfect for outdoor activities like camping, mountaineering
- It has multiple colors to choose from
- It is unisex
- It offers functionality
Cons
- It might be too small for a big body to wear
- Pouches are too small to hold magazines
6
WarTechGears Tactical Fast Vest WITH MOLLE and PALS
Next on the list, WarTechGears tactical fast vest with MOLLE and PALS. This vest supports a plate size of 11″ x 14″ plates. The vest is a perfect fit for all standard plates, plus it is durable, comfortable, and has excellent coverage for people with more oversized body shapes and sizes.
With the MOLLE and PALS, it provides a sturdy look, and it is incredibly lightweight, coming in various colors such as black, green, or tan. It is easily adjusted on both sides, which makes it a perfect plate carrier for different people with different body sizes and shapes.
Key Features:
- Adjustable systems: It has adjustable side straps with large quick connect plastics fro extension from 30″ _L out to 60″ L plus an adjustable buckle belt and adjustable shoulder straps.
- Velcro flap holding systems: The holding systems provide the necessary support to hold the plates in places
- Padding layers: This feature is present at the back to make the plate carrier easy to wear and improves comfortability.
- Hook and loops fastenings: This feature makes the vest easy to wear and take off
- PALS webbings: For MOLLE attachment
- High-quality fabric: It made of 1050 nylon materials with a double and reenforcement cross-stitching
Specification:
- Brand: WaterTech gears
- Material: 1050 Nylon material
- Color: Black and tan
Pros
- One size fits all
- Compact design
- It is lightweight
- It is durable
Cons
- It might be a little bit expensive
7
DMAIP Hunting MOLLE Tactical Vest Combat
One of the best things about the tactical vest is the mechanical design of the vest and still super light. It is made of 600D oxford material, which has a strong tensile strength with water resistance capabilities plus it is durable. It adopts a front and back MOLLE design; hence it makes every attachment possible.
It is suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking, airsoft, paintball, hunting, wargames, and combat security tool. You can pick from a different color.
Key Features:
- 600D Oxford material: It is made of high-quality fabric that has strong tensile strength, and it is water and wear resistance
- MOLLE design: The front and back section of the vest adopt a MOLLE design to carry other necessary tools
- Tape and buckle design: It is found on the shoulder and waist sides. It is pretty adjustable
- Hook and loops fastenings: This feature makes the vest easy to wear and take off
- Detachable bags: It has three detachable bags
Specification:
- Brand: DMAIP
- Material: 600D Oxford material
- Dimensions: 50.00 x 40.00 x 6.00 cm
- Weight: 1.6 kg
- Color: Black, tan, army green, and ACU
Pros
- It is a reasonably priced
- It is tactically easy to adjust
- It is lightweight
- It is durable
- It has water and wears resistance capabilities
- It can be upgraded for more attachments
- Perfect for a civilian
Cons
- It might not fit everyone. Do well to check for your perfect size
8
Jipemtra Tactical airsoft Vest
If you are looking forward to getting a tactical vest that could also carry a plate, this could be your pick. It is mainly designed for games to protect your kids during outdoor activities such as airsoft paintball training, wildland fire, camping, and others.
With an 800D Oxford, you get protection plus it is very comfortable, breathable, durable with a strong tensile strength that offers a wear resistance. It gives maximum mobility because it is designed to cover the chest and hence lightweight.
Key Features:
- 800D Oxford material: It is made of high-quality fabric that has strong tensile strength, and it is water and wear resistance
- Adjustable systems: It is adjustable at the shoulders and waist to fit different body sizes and shapes
- MOLLE: It is a MOLLE vest that has chest coverings
- Games design: This is perfect for only games
- Attachment: It can accommodate pouches to contain tactical gear
Specification:
- Brand: Jipemtra
- Material: 800D Oxford material
- Dimensions: 14.6 x 13.4 x 3.9 inches
- Weight: 1.75 pounds
- Color: Tan
Pros
- It is well constructed with a great fit
- Perfect for kids
- It is durable
- It has water and wears resistance capabilities
- It aids mobility
Cons
- It might not fit everyone.
- Adults cannot use it
9
DLP Tactical Phantom Low Profile MOLLE Vest
This is one of the best plate carriers that can be used in the field. It can also be used for the harsh games of paintball. It offers functionality and utility. It has a mesh and comes in different colors. This lightweight vest gives a kind of low profile fit, and it is incredibly comfortable during training. The customization of this makes it perfect use for tactical high mobility operations
Key Features:
- 600D Invista cordua nylon construction: The high-quality fabric is water resistance and abrasion resistance
- MOLLE designs: It has MOLLE webbing on the front, back and sides. It also has capabilities to accept other MOLLE accessories on the surfaces of the vest.
- Adjustable systems: It has hook and loop closure cummerbund that gives it an adjustable size which is comfortable to wear and take off
- Skeletonized cummerbund: This feature, reinforced with Kydex, provides maximum stiffness
- Built-in kangaroo pouch: With this feature, the vest can hold about 220 magazines, plus it has an admin pouch found on the chest to hold other tactical tools like flashlights.
Specification:
- Brand: DLP Tactical
- Material: 600D Invista Cordura nylon
- Color: Multi-cam, green, coyote, black
Pros
- It is well constructed with a great fit
- Perfect for high mobility operations
- It is durable
- It has water and wears resistance capabilities
- It is lightweight
- Front and back coverages with easy access
- A wealth of storage pouches
Cons
- It might be quite small for some user
10
GZ XINXING Black Tactical Airsoft Paintball Vest
The last but not the least of plate carriers on our list is the GZ XINXING black tactical airsoft paintball vest. This vest is mainly for airsoft and paintball but can also be used for other purposes. It is a comfortable vest with a sturdy look. It is made with an outstanding 900D high-density nylon construction, which has high tensile strength.
It comes with various colors for you to pick from, including the dark army green. One exceptional characteristic that other plate carrier lacks is the money-back guarantee. You can return it if you feel it is not good enough for you.
Key Features:
- 900D high-density nylon: It is made of high-quality fabric that has a strong tensile strength and hence wears resistance
- Adjustable system: It has an adjustable buckle and Velcro on the shoulder and waist to conveniently wear and take off easily and also to fit different body sizes and shapes
- Maximum chest side: It has a maximum chest size of 125 cm, which is also adjustable to fit different sizes
Specification:
- Brand: GZ XINXING
- Material: 900D high-density nylon
- Color: Black, CP, green, grey, Italy camouflage, khaki
Pros
- It is a reasonably priced
- It is tactically easy to adjust
- It is lightweight
- It is durable
- It has water and wears resistance capabilities
Cons
- It might not fit everyone. Do well to check for your perfect size
Buyer’s Guide
Here are some of the important factors to consider when choosing a plate carrier.
Purpose
This is the first thing to consider. You must determine why you need plate carriers. Knowing the purpose ensures your protection. If you are into paintballs, a light weighted plate carrier will be best for you. A marine will need a more sophisticated and advanced tactical plate carrier than a paintball lover.
Weight
You must consider the weight of the plate carrier once you know its purpose. Perhaps you want to wear it for a longer period, and then the weight is a necessary factor. If you are looking for a plate carrier for a workout, you need to choose a heavy one. In contrast, someone in law enforcement will need a lightweight plate carrier to aid mobility.
Protection
The level of protection must also be considered. You will need to check out the features of the plate carriers on how they can offer full protection. If you are in the military, you will want to consider if your plate carrier has MOLLE attachments where you can add ammunitions and other tactical gear. This will enhance functionality and ultimately provides protection.
We have carefully selected the best plate carriers based on customers’ recommendations and reviews, and what they offer, including their pros and cons that will ultimately guide you to picking your best plate carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Having a good quality plate carrier for different purposes, whether in real combat training, military simulations, law enforcement, or airsoft paintball training, goes a long way in protecting you from any harm or injury that could occur. This buying guide should have given you a lot of insights and provided you with the best plate carriers on the market.
Therefore, it is our express hope that you find the most suitable plate carrier that is best suited for your purposes. However, there is a possibility you might have some objections and doubts; therefore, this question and answer section will give you all the clarification you need regarding any issue.
What is a plate carrier?
A plate carrier is typically a tactical vest that is used in conjunction with armor plates. The tactical vests used are commonly thought of to be bulletproof vests, but they are not. Therefore you must load a plate carrier with armor plates before usage. Plate carriers provide a level of protection, for instance, protection against rifle threats.
Plate carriers are used majorly in the military, but civilians can also use them. It is completely easy to accessorize when it comes to a MOLLE design. They offer protection to the vital organs from front to back, and they are relatively easy to adjust and remove
There are different types of plate carriers; we have the concealable plate carriers, low profile plate carriers, and minimalistic plate carriers, all with other functions
Using a carrier plate vest at the gym is an excellent alternative to weight vests, provided the tactical vest fits you properly and efficiently distributes the load you’re carrying. Carrier plates can be worn to do planks, sit-ups, lunges, and more.
If you’re using low-profile plate carriers for law enforcement purposes, like body armor, you’ll know that your department or unit will have regulations for the type of lightweight plate carrier you’re allowed to wear. So always refer to your superiors before making a choice. Weight and protection are the two critical considerations for law enforcement plate carrier vests.
Who makes good plate carriers?
There are a lot of brands that make good plate carriers, but from our list, the brands that make good plate carriers include Gfire, Yakeda, OneTigris, Helikon-tex, Byhai, Wartech Gears, DLP tactical, and some other brands listed in this guide
What brand plate carrier does the military use?
The military uses the KDH vests. The KDH company manufacture quality plate carrier that has a lot of outstanding feature such as a cummerbund style main vest that has removable side plates. It also has 360 degrees MOLLE attachment points, an emergency drag handle, an adjustable system, modular attachments, and other features. There is a lower chance that civilians can use it.
What plate carrier do Navy Seals use?
The navy seals use the Crye precision jumpable
What is the best color for a plate carrier?
According to most customer reviews, the best color chosen is coyote brown. It matches with almost anything, and it is given in a cool blend.
What plate carriers do the Marines use?
Marines use the scalable plate carriers, but the newly approved plate carrier is the USMC plate carrier. It is a cummerbund style main vest that uses an IMTV groin and lowers back protection. It is also a 2-point cutaway system with features like side protection, communication tools, and a MOLLE attachment point to give an excellent, efficient weight distribution.
Can Civilians Buy level IV body armor?
Yes, provided you have not been convicted before, and it also depends on the rules and regulations of the country.
What should I have on my plate carrier?
As a fact, all plate carriers cannot be the same; therefore, there are some essential features you have to check out on your plate carrier to identify it as a good one. This include:
MOLLE webbings – They are majorly loops sewn onto the plate carrier. They provide room for the attachment of tactical gear. It gives you more functionality
Build quality – This involves the fabric and the stitch of the plate carrier. You have to check for the quality of the fabric. Mostly, 500D Cordura nylon is the standard used for most plate carriers. Stitching also has to be good to prevent your tactical vest from getting damaged easily. Nylon mesh should be used for MOLLE webbings, and the Velcro should also be used.
Plate distribution – This is very crucial because the essence of using a plate carrier in the first instance is for the protection of vital organs. You must check if the plate covers and distribute maximally to all your vital organs and also check for the weight distribution if you want to add a side coverage.
Do plate carriers stop bullets?
Yes, they do, but they shatter when struck with a bullet. Therefore, it offers protection in just a single spot once hit. They crack once they absorb the kinetic energy produced as a result.
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Conclusion
Finally, there are still a lot of plate carriers out there, so you can do more research to find one that meets your preference, purposes, and needs. Also, all the plate carriers listed in this buying guide are approved, tested, and trusted by customers. Feel free to check them out using the link provided. We hope this buying guide has provided you with lots of information about the best plate carrier.
However, if you still need more information about any plate carrier, do well to let us know, and we will be sure to answer. You can as well check other pages that interest you on our website.
If you have any queries feel free to reach out in the comments section below.
Surviving in a situation seems like a daunting task if you don’t have all the information. We have compiled complete guides for you to follow in every situation. CLICK HERE to check them out.
