5 Best Plate Carriers

The Grey Ghost Gear SMC Body Armor Plate Carrier is Grey Ghost Gear's most advanced carrier design to date. Secretly in development for the past 2 years, the SMC (Shoot, Move, Communicate) is everything you've wanted in a lightweight, combat-ready plate carrier. Designed to carry a pair of 10x12 hard plates or most large SAPI plates (no plates included with this carrier), the cummerbund features MOLLE/PALS style webbing for the addition of pouches for side plates if you prefer your kidneys remain non-perforated. The front panel also features an open pocket for maps, water/cable retention or enough room for a fleece watch cap or gloves. This carrier is “one size fits most” thanks to its adjustable shoulder straps and cummerbund, ensuring a snug fit for just about every warrior’s body type. Should you find yourself on fire, trapped in a tight spot or unexpectedly going for a swim, the new ROC buckles on each shoulder strap and either side of the cummerbund can be rapidly released in case of emergency. These also make putting on the carrier much more convenient when you are in a hurry. The secret sauce behind the SMC is literally in the back.  All these panels are compatible with SOCOM issued carriers with zippered back panel systems. View the whole line in the SMC Back Panel collection. As for the SMC carrier, breathable mesh is built into the cummerbund and inside faces of the carrier body for enhanced comfort. Interior padding enclosed in tweave gives the wearer additional comfort and air channels to wick away moisture.  Longevity is also increased as cut edges do not fray after they are heat sealed with the laser.

Features

• YKK Zippers and webbing on the back panel
• Six rows of MOLLE/PALS style webbing with built in matching loop material
• Laser cut laminate nylon gives you all the modularity of traditional MOLLE webbing at a significant reduction in weight
• Designed to carry 10" x 12" plates
• Weight without plates: 1.5 lbs.

The Blue Force Gear PLATEminus 6 Plate Carrier is built with the same fully MOLLE compatible MOLLEminus platform as the original PLATEminus. This provides fully modular load carriage capability but significantly reduces weight and bulk over traditional armor carriers. PLATEminus 6 is designed to hold ESAPI/SPEAR armored plates and has fully enclosed plate pockets which protect the plates. “Plate 6” provides users with built-in 6”x6” side plate pockets and cummerbund side closures. It also has a flat admin pocket behind the front loop field and a drag handle on the back.

Features

• Ball Loaded Index Points
• Drag handle and Eyelet for Radio Back
• Able to carry two magazines
• Fits 6" x 6" side plates
• Medium fits 9.5" x 12.5" plates
• Large fits 10.125" x 13.25"

The AR500 Veritas (Latin for “Truth”) is the smaller and more modular design of its big brother, the Testudo. The Veritas is comfortable, well-ventilated, and lightweight plate carrier for 10”x12” hard armor plates. Although the carrier has a minimalist profile, it doesn’t sacrifice real estate. There are plenty of PALS webbing on the front of the carrier for attaching MOLLE-compatible pouches, holsters, and accessories. It is also easily customizable with the possible additions of a skeletonized cummerbund, multi-caliber Kangaroo triple mag pouch, padded side plates, and much more.

Features

• Constructed of genuine 500D Cordura nylon and bar-tacked at all stress points
• Padded 3D mesh for comfort and ventilation
• Military-grade, impact resistant American-made buckles
• Vertical chest rig mount adapter webbing, vertical rear backpack mounts
• Dual admin pockets with Hypalon easy-to-grip pull-tabs, upper admin pouch features elastic keepers for utility, front & rear hook and loop ID Panels.
• Designed for 10" x 12" trapezoidal plates and will not work with square plates

The Mayflower Assault Plate Carrier (APC) is designed to provide the wearer with a high degree of mobility while providing ample surface area for mounting mission essential pouches. The upper front of the APC contains an integral admin pouch with internal elastic loops to retain pens, pencils, chemlites or similar items. The front lower half of the APC has an integrated kangaroo pouch sized to hold up to three M4 sized magazines. The shoulder pads are made of a stretch woven material that allows enough elasticity to permit room for cable/hydration tube routing. The plate pockets are sized to accommodate Stand-Alone or ICW ESAPI or Swimmer cut plates. The APC comes with the Standard MOLLE, Plate Pocket Cummerbund (CBN3). The Standard MOLLE, Plate Pocket Cummerbund (CBN3) is designed to accept 6"x 6" hard armor plates or side soft armor inserts. All hook and loop material used is color matching hook-and-loop Fasteners.

Features

• Plate pockets are sized to accommodate Stand-Alone or ICW ESAPI or Swimmer cut plates
• Integral admin pouch with internal elastic loops hold small accessories
• Integral kangaroo pouch can hold up to three M4 magazines
• Stretch woven shoulder pads offer elasticity
• Hook and loop material is color matching hook-and-loop fasteners
• Standard MOLLE, Plate Pocket Cummerbund (CBN3) model

Notes

• S/M APC fits size small, medium and 10"x12" sized plates
• L/XL APC fits large and X-large plates
• Armor/Plates Sold Separately 

Sizing

• All Plate Carrier sizes S/M comes with Medium size CBN3 which fits (40”-50” Waist)
• All Plate Carrier sizes L/XL comes with Large size CBN3 Which fits (44”-54” Waist)

The SCARAB LT features Velocity Systems patented swivel shoulder straps that were designed to alleviate common fit issues with traditional fixed angle shoulder straps (US Patent No. 9,894,962). The narrow ULTRAcomp shoulder straps articulate on a D-ring allowing them to sit correctly and comfortably on any user, regardless of neck thickness or shoulder broadness. The ULTRAcomp Shoulder Straps are adjustable for length and have a padded sleeve, that can also be used for cable routing. There is a color matching hook-and-loop Panel on the upper chest, a front expanded kangaroo pouch, and Integrated SwiftClip buckles for rapid on/doff of auxiliary chest worn equipment such as Chest Rigs and SwiftClip Placards. Color matching hook-and-loop on upper rear for Identification. The SCARAB LT also accepts Zip-On Back Panels. The SCARAB LT is sized to hold plates of corresponding sizes to the carrier, for example a size large carrier holds size large ESAPI Plates.

The SCARAB LT/LE Cummerbund has a hook-and-loop One-Wrap fingers that slide inside the button holes on the rear of the SCARAB LT carrier and affix to the interior wall of the plate pocket. 1” of Multi-Layer Elastic is built into each cummerbund finger to give some stretch. Each finger can independently be let in or out of the plate bag to accommodate different body figures, and they can be angled for correct armor placement. All hook and loop material used is color matching hook-and-loop fasteners. SCARAB LT Cummerbund is a lightweight and breathable cummerbund with MOLLE webbing on the exterior and interior. The SCARAB LT Molle features three rows of MOLLE webbing on the outer side / Three internal elastic mag pouches / Soft armor pocket with hook-and-loop closure / Plate pocket holds 6”x6” side plates when Side Plate Retention Strap is used. 

Features

• Patented swivel shoulder straps with D-ring attachments (US Patent No. 9,894,962)
• Narrow ULTRAcomp Shoulder Straps
• Sized to hold plate of corresponding carrier size
• Front expanded kangaroo pouch
• Integrated SwiftClip buckles for rapid on/off
• Color matching hook-and-loop Brand Loop Panel on the Upper Chest
• Accepts Zip-On Back Panels
• SCARAB LT/LE Cummerbund
• Large fits 10.25" x 13.75" plates
• Medium fits 9.5" x 12.5" plates