Condor Cyclone RS Review: Rugged Quick-Release Plate Carrier

The Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier is an affordable, versatile, rugged plate carrier system and is made in the USA. The materials are very durable, and the quality of manufacturing is excellent. I’ve been using mine with MIRA Tactical Level 4 Body Armor and have had no issues.

I really like the design of the Cyclone RS. The Quick Release buckles are great for donning & doffing the plate carrier. The shoulder padding (which is sold separately) is great for added comfort on my shoulders for long periods of time.

Condor did an excellent job at creating a plate carrier system for anyone looking to purchase a plate carrier with magazine holders for under $300.

Full Disclosure

Condor did provide their Cyclone RS Plate Carrier for this review.

I’m also an affiliate with Condor which means any purchases made using the links I provide may earn me a small commission but at no extra cost to you.

Specs

Is the Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier Worth It?

At the time of this article, the Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier costs about $210 depending on the pattern. MultiCam will cost a bit more, closer to the $235 range.

Check Condor for the latest pricing here and use discount code TGG15 for 15% off.

For the price, the Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier is a fantastic budget friendly plate carrier. It’s also made in the USA, which I always feel better about.

The Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier is definitely worth the price. For less than $300 you can have a solid carrier system with magazine pouches that should last you for years.

First Impression

I’m very impressed with the Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier. Compared to the other Cyclone, I like this one even more.

I also recommend getting the extra padding for the shoulder straps. They’re fairly inexpensive around $15 and the extra comfort will make a big difference over time.

Made In USA

U-S-A! U-S-A!

Although some of Condor gear and clothing is made in China, their Cyclone Plate Carriers are made in USA.

Soon in 2024 Condor is even releasing a new line of products called ELITE, which are all to be manufactured in the USA.

Even their products that are made in China are of high quality. Not your cheap Amazon knock-off gear by any means. But having gear made in USA is something that people nowadays are considering when making a purchase.

Velcro / ID Panel

The Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier has a large ID Panel on the front and back.

Right now I have a 6″ x 3″ ID Panel which is made by Patch Panel. I have around 6 patches from Patch Panel and they are the best patches in my opinion. My military unit has had their patches made from them as well.

Patch Panel will also update you on each step of the process. When I had patches made for my unit, they would send pictures of each thread colour and would make sample products that contrasted differently in order to make the best patch possible.

I HIGHLY recommend going through Patch Panel, whether you need a single patch or if you need a large quantity for your unit.

Armor Plate Capabilities

The Condor Cyclone RS Plate Carrier is capable of using 10.25″ x 13.25″ hard armor plates in the front and back, as well as 6″ x 10″ soft armor plates in the sides.

At the time of this writing, I’m using the MIRA Tactical Level 4 Body Armor. They’re super lightweight (only 6 lbs per plate) and are multi-hit capable.

Accessories

Condor has a ton of accessories that are compatible with their Plate Carriers. Although the Cyclone RS is made in USA, their accessories for the plate carrier are imported.

Right now I’m running the Mesh Shoulder Pads and the Triple Stacker Magazine Pouch on my plate carrier, both of which are made by Condor. These particular items are made in China, but there’s no lack of quality.

The Triple M4 Magazine Pouches cost around $26. What’s interesting is that the Triple Stacker (which holds 6 magazines) is the same price as the magazine pouch that holds only 3 magazines.

The Condor M4 Magazine Pouches are very well-made. No issues with the quality and they use good strong materials. They are also capable of holding Magpul AK/AKM magazines.

MOLLE Webbing

The MOLLE webbing system is very high strength and keeps the accessories, like the magazine pouch, snug to the carrier. Nothing worse than running and having gear bouncing all over the place.

The MOLLE system is on the front and back. Even the magazine pouches have some MOLLE on them if you need to attach something like a tourniquet or admin pouch.

Carabineers are a great addition to have for attaching miscellaneous gear such as your tactical gloves or glow sticks.

The cummerbund also has MOLLE webbing for any extra pouches you want on your side. If you’re using a sidearm though, I recommend keeping that side clear of anything that could obstruct you from transitioning quickly.

Shoulder Straps

The shoulder straps on the Condor RS Plate Carrier are a simple design. It’s a 2″ wide webbing with velcro. There’s also a Quick Release System connecting them to the front panel in the event of an emergency and you need to get the carrier off.

On mine, I have the Mesh Shoulder Pads installed. They’re very easy to get on and are attached by 4 tabs of velcro. These Mesh Shoulder Pads are about $15 and in my opinion the best $15 you could spend when upgrading your carrier.

If you’re wearing a plate carrier for any length of time, eventually the shoulder straps are going to begin to cause some discomfort to your traps and shoulders. Especially if you’re running a couple of hard armor plates, a few magazines with ammo, maybe an admin pouch with other things. Every ounce of weight will add up.

Cummerbund

The cummerbund is adjustable from 30″ to 45″ measured at the navel. It uses an elastic cord that is woven through MOLLE webbing.

At first, I wasn’t a fan of this because of the time it took to make adjustments, but because of the elastic cord it allows the cummerbund to stretch, making the plate carrier more form fitting.

Quick Release System

The Quick Release system on the Condor Cyclone RS is amazing. This will be a feature I look for in all future plate carriers.

The quick-release system allows you to quickly detach the cummerbund and shoulder straps from the front panel and take off the plate carrier.

On other plate carriers, the cummerbund is secured with hook-and-pile. To remove those plate carriers, the front panel would have to be ripped open, which could have magazines inserted with ammo or gear. It’s also not very stealthy.

Emergency Handle

There’s an emergency handle on the upper back panel which is excellent for if your teammate ever needs to drag you out of harms way.

Video Review

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is by far my favourite plate carrier system by Condor. It’s comfortable, very durable, sleek design, and made in the USA.

You know you have a good setup when you have a difficult time finding something negative to say about it.

The only thing I could think of that was negative was that there is no inner padding material, but this isn’t a huge deal.

Remember to use my discount code TGG15 for 15% off your order!