Which Plate Carrier Should I Get?

A common question that we receive when asked about our plate carriers is: Which plate carrier is the best?

Before you start your carrier search, consider some of the following questions to help determine what type of plate carrier you need:

• Protection: Do you want a concealable carrier for soft armor or an external carrier for rifle-rated plates?
• Modularity: How much real estate and modularity do you need for tool and gear storage (magazine pouches, medic kit, etc) on your carrier?
• Price: What is your budget?

Taking the time to answer these questions should help you narrow down your best option. Keep in mind a plate carrier is just a catalyst to hold armor against your body and is just a piece of fabric with no armor in it. This means aside from a few key features like a cummerbund, buckle and quick release functions, plate size compatibility, and padding - aesthetics will ultimately play a factor in your decision. There may be 4 or 5 different carriers that all provide the same features but look slightly different. 

We stand by all our carrier models as well-crafted and durable. But what are some of the differences between each model? Let’s start off with our simplest and one of our lightest carriers as we give you a description of each one.

AR Concealment

The Concealment Carrier is one of our lightest and lowest-profile carriers at 0.54 - 0.6 lbs depending on what size you get. It's an excellent choice if you need a discreet carrier for soft armor to protect against common handgun threats. 

Features:

• It’s easy to wear under your clothing to protect against 95% of ammunition used in shootings.
• Gives you a snug, comfortable fit from the thin, cummerbund wrapping.
• Made from a moisture-wicking, breathable tactical polyester fabric blend.
• Designed to move with your body without chafing.
• The Medium size will fit body types M to XXL, and the Large will fit up to 3XL.

Note: The Concealment Carrier is only for use with soft armor. If you're interested in a lightweight, minimalist setup for hard armor, you should check out the Invictus. 

AR Invictus

Latin for Undefeated, the Invictus is a minimalist, but rugged model. It fits 10”x12” plates while weighing in at only 1.3 lbs. This is our lowest-profile hard armor carrier. 

Features:

• Low profile Hypalon shoulder straps allow the overlay of a rucksack or 3-day assault packs 
• The thin profile of the plate pocket allows you to get as low as possible to the ground when needing to prone out 
• Nylon laminate cummerbund with elastic anchor points allow the cummerbund to flex when you breathe 
• Side plate pocket accommodation gives you the option of more coverage.
• Laser-cut molle webbing keeps the PALS/MOLLE interface as low profile as possible, further aiding in reducing your overall profile for vehicle and doorway egress.
• For sizes ranging from M to XXL.
• Features a reinforced “fist pack” drag handle with a 3D texture - making it easier to grip someone and drag them out of the fray.
• Compatible with aftermarket Pontoon Pads for cooling.  
• Made out of 500D Cordura: a load-bearing and IR reducing material.

What if you don’t need a carrier for large plates? We’ve got that covered, too in our AR Freeman Carrier. 

AR Freeman

The AR Freeman is a minimalistic approach for anyone who does not want or need a large plate carrier. It's compact enough to fit in your daypack or under your vehicle seat. Yet this carrier can still fit 3 magazine pouches via the PALS channels. We designed this carrier to be no-frills and offer everything you need with nothing you don't to help keep size and cost to a minimum

Features:

• Compact carrier and plates, intended for operators below 5’4” or anyone needing a compact and affordable set of armor.
• Low profile Hypalon® shoulder straps allow the interface of rucksacks and 3-day assault packs.
• Laser-cut PALS system to accommodate up to three magazine pouches or other MOLLE-compatible accessories.
• For sizes ranging from S to XL.
• Quick on/off with the rugged, impact-resistant side buckles 
• Made out of 500 D Cordura, a load-bearing and IR-reducing material.

Note: The AR Freeman carrier is specifically designed to work with our proprietary 9”x9” armor and is sold as a complete setup.

Testudo

Named after the Roman army’s impenetrable formation, the Testudo is our flagship plate carrier. We designed it with maximum coverage in mind, right out of the box.

It is considered the everyman's carrier: everything you need with nothing you don't. It has an under-buckle system that will allow you to use it without a cummerbund, similar to the Veritas, or with the buckle system removed for a low profile and comfortable cummerbund interface. The testudo is the only carrier we provide that also has the ability for side plate usage with no additional side plate pouch. Lastly, keep in mind the Testudo will house either 10”x12” -or- 11”x14” main plates

Features:

• A fully-adjustable cummerbund provides a tight fit and optimal mobility.
• A generous amount of PALS webbing gives you plenty of space for attaching magazines, medical kits, and other accessories. All PALS webbing has the addition of Loop material for the additional compatibility with hook pouches and morale patches. 
• Internal Admin and Kangaroo pockets allow for the storage of small gear and kangaroo insert dividers for a triple magazine pouch conversion.
• 3D mesh foam spacer padding creates an excellent layer of breathability between you and the carrier
• The shoulder buckle system when combined with the side buckle set-up allows for super quick donning and doffing
• With the side buckle system removed, the carrier is set up for all-day comfort such as needed on an 8-hour foot patrol. 
• Side plate pockets give you extra coverage with plate sizes 6”x8” and smaller.
• For sizes ranging from M to 3XL. Note that the cummerbund uses a lace and shock cord system that can be modified with a longer or shorter piece of cord to increase or decrease size outside of the standard range. 
• Made out of 500D Cordura material which is a load-bearing and IR-reducing material.

Interested in the Testudo, but want something slightly more minimal or more affordable? Check out the Testudo’s little brother, the Veritas.

Valkyrie

The Valkyrie is our top-of-the-line, military-grade carrier. This is for military, law enforcement, or anyone interested in such a high-quality carrier at a reasonable price.

Features:

• The Valkyrie is Berry compliant, meaning it is 100% designed, sourced, and manufactured in the USA.
• Has a removable side buckle system under the cummerbund so the carrier can be used as a quick don/doff type or can be used with just the cummerbund for low profile all-day comfort. 
• Cummerbund is compatible with our Side Plate Pouch system and has a layer of mesh for additional venting. 
• Plate pocket thickness is compatible with all ESAPI and composite armor-type plates.
• Compatible with all chest rigs, MOLLE style pouches and gear, and Placards. 
• Low profile Drag handle can be secured to the rear plate bag when not in use.
• Internal Admin and Kangaroo pockets on the front plate pocket for storage of small gear and the addition of our Kangaroo Magazine Insert to divide the space up into a triple mag pouch.
• Quick Detach buckles are located in the front of the shoulder strap for maximum comfort. 
• Made out of 500D Cordura which results in load-bearing and IR-reducing material.
• For sizes ranging from M to XXL.

Conclusion

In summary, you must pick the carrier that works best for your needs. You can’t always just go off of reviews, because what’s right for someone else might not be right for you. Once you have narrowed down what main features you are looking for aesthetics will have a lot to do with your selection. The main features you always want to assess from top to bottom will be: 

• Shoulder Strap Style or Shoulder Pad
• Plate Pocket Size
• Padding
• Carrier Profile 
• Cummerbund or Side Buckle System
• Carrier Material
• Carrier Color 

We hope this guide has helped you figure out which carrier is right for you. As always, please contact us with any questions and we recommend finding a good trainer in your area who can train you on firearm and body armor integration and usage. 

View All Armored Republic Plate Carriers.