Find the best plate carrier you can afford is more important today than ever. There’s an increasing threat of individuals entering homes, schools, or the public space with a firearm to cause as much harm as possible. This therefore calls for others to stand up in the face of evil and defend others. Other than having a reliable weapon system to fight such evil, having the best plate carrier you can buy is essential to keeping you in the fight.
There’s a lot of factors when it comes to purchasing a plate carrier. Things like low-profile design, side protection, the price, the shoulder straps, MOLLE attachments, etc. Below is a list of what I believe is the best plate carriers you can buy in order to protect yourself, protect others, and fight the evil of the day.
So what are the best plate carriers you can buy?
1. Condor Cyclone Plate Carrier
Price
The price of the Condor Cyclone Plate Carrier depends on the color pattern you want. The MultiCam pattern is priced at around $210 while the other colour patterns are priced around $185.
Check out the latest prices here!
Condor only ships within the United States at this time, and they offer free shipping on $99+ orders. If you’re like me and live in Canada, there are retailers across the country who do sell Condor Outdoor gear.
Specs
Colour: Black, Coyote Brown, or MultiCam
Material: Mil-Spec 500 Denier Cordura Fabric
Size: Adjustable 30″ to 45″ around navel
Features: Heavyweight Webbing (MOLLE)
Quick Release: Buckles on Shoulder Pads
Body Armour: 10.25″ x 13.25″ Hard Armour & 6″ x 10″ Soft Armour
Pros
Affordable
Lightweight
Side Armor Slot
MOLLE system
Made in USA
Cons
N/A
Overview
The Condor Cyclone Plate Carrier is a very affordable plate carrier with excellent quality. It’s side plate compatible and has an emergency drag handle on the back so someone can drag you to safety.
People who have purchased the Condor Cyclone Plate Carrier have given it very positive reviews. It’s constructed from Mil-Spec 500D Cordura fabric, which is an excellent combination of flexibility and durability.
If you can’t afford the top-of-the-line plate carriers, but still need that protection to fight for freedom, the Condor Cyclone Plate Carrier will get the job done for you. There are also loops on the shoulder straps for either a hydration hose or your communications system.
Constructed using high quality materials, fits 10″x13″ plates, a MOLLE system for your plate carrier accessories, padded shoulder straps for added comfort, and an affordable price at around $200, the Condor Cyclone Plate Carrier has all the top-of-the-line features and Made In USA quality you want without breaking the bank.
2. AR500 Testudo Gen 2 Plate Carrier
Price
The AR500 Testudo Gen 2 Plate Carrier is the more affordable plate carrier that Armored Republic has to offer, with the same exceptional quality.
Check the latest prices for the Testudo here!
Keep in mind that you’ll pay a little bit extra for the MultiCam pattern.
Specs
Material: 500D Cordura
Supported Plate Size: 10″x12″ & 11″x14″
Sizes: M to 3XL
Weight: 3.6 lbs
Features: Side Plate pouches, kangaroo pouch, admin pouch
Manufactured: Vietnam
Pros
Affordable
Lightweight
Durable
Lots of coverage
Side protection
Cons
Not made in USA
Overview
The AR500 Testudo Gen 2 is a great option for anyone looking to buy a plate carrier, especially for the price. It has full coverage, it’s lightweight at 3.6 pounds when empty, you can fit armor on the sides for added protection, adjustable shoulder straps, the list goes on.
Armored Republic makes arguably the best plate carriers and body armor available to the public, so if dropping $500 isn’t an option for you, the Testudo is still an excellent plate carrier at a fraction of the cost of the higher end carriers.
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3. 5.11 Tactical TacTec Plate Carrier
Price
The 5.11 Tactical TacTec Plate Carrier is your middle ground as far as pricing. And MultiCam isn’t substantially higher in cost either.
Check 5.11 Tactical for the latest pricing.
5.11 Tactical also offers free US Ground Shipping on orders $99+ which is nice to have.
Pros
Excellent Quality
Affordable
Lightweight
Low Profile
MOLLE system
Cons
No side protection
Overview
5.11 Tactical is well-known around the world for it’s exceptional tactical gear. The TacTec Plate Carrier has an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on the 5.11 Tactical website with over 120 reviews. If you’re looking for the best plate carrier for a good price, you’ll be happy with the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier.
The TacTec Plate Carrier is lightweight, comfortable, has a low-profile, and is very easy to setup. The webbing that wraps around the sides is able to be quickly adjusted by lifting the front flap and moving the webbing accordingly.
The shoulder straps have a lot of cushion and sit high up on the trap muscles, which takes strain off the shoulders. There’s also an emergency drag handle on the back. The material used is 500D Cordura, which has excellent durability and flexibility.
4. Crye Precision Jumpable Plate Carrier (JPC) 2.0
Price
The price of the JPC 2.0 is going to be in the mid to higher price point, but for good reason. It’s incredible versatile and one of the most popular selections for operators. There’s no extra charge for MultiCam either.
Check CRYE PRECISION for the latest pricing!
Pros
Top-of-the-line
Afforable
Lightweight
Low-profile
Made in USA
Cons
No side protection
Overview
The Crye Precision JPC 2.0 is used everyday by Special Forces Operators, making it possibly the best plate carrier you can buy. It has a low-profile design which allows the user to move with ease and not be restricted by a bunch of kit. Keep in mind that means no side protection, so keep your chest to the target!
Like most plate carriers, there is an emergency handle that can support up to 400 lbs! There is a ton of possibilities with accessory attachments, mag pouches, etc. The JPC 2.0 also features a high performance stretch material that allows plates of varying thickness.
As far as cost, as mentioned before, it’s not super cheap but also not the most expensive carrier on the list. But the Crye Precision is a tested carrier that is used by Special Forces Operators.
5. AR500 Valkyrie Plate Carrier
Price
The AR500 Valkyrie is by far the most expensive plate carrier on this list of best plate carriers. If you’re only going to buy one plate carrier in your life, and you can afford it, then buy the best.
Check AR500 for the latest pricing on the Valkyrie Plate Carrier.
Specs
Material: 500D Cordura
Supported Plate Size: 10″x12″
Sizes: M to 2XL
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Features: Admin pouch, Collapsible carry handle, Velcro ID panels
Manufactured: USA
Pros
Top-of-the-line
Ultra-lightweight
Durable/Rugged
Padded shoulders
Made in USA
Cons
More expensive option
No side protection
Overview
Armored Republic’s Valkyrie Plate Carrier has a low-profile design and is ultra-lightweight at only 2.2 lbs when empty! It’s constructed from 500D Cordura which has both great durability and flexibility. Anything above 500D would be a bit stiff.
The Valkyrie can use plates 10″x12″ in dimension, and has a collapsible carry handle. All the materials for the Valkyrie are from the US, and manufactured in the US, making it Berry Compliant.
Another key feature of the AR500 Valkyrie Plate Carrier is the shoulder straps are fully padded all the way across which would keep you performing comfortably as long as you got your plate carrier on.
Conclusion
This is the list of the best plate carriers that I could come up with. I hope it has at least helped you at researching options out there as well as giving you the ability to make an informed purchase.
I tried to offer plate carriers from a range of prices, without sacrificing reliability. All these companies have been around for years, and all these plate carriers have been tested by hundreds or thousands of people with great results.
Remember, having a firearm to fight and protect is essential, but having a plate carrier to protect yourself and keep you in the fight as long as possible is critical. I’ve heard many stories of men taking a round to the plate, and staying in the fight. A plate carrier will help you to live, fight, and move.