First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier Review

The First Tactical Specialist Plate Rack is a very durable plate carrier system and can take 10×12” plates easily. The MOLLE webbing is great for attaching a mag pouch to the front, and the velcro upper is nice to have for adding some ID patches.

Is First Tactical worth it?

First Tactical is a very well-known company and they make awesome gear for the tactical community. Their kit is made with good materials and quality workmanship. If you’re looking for both durable and affordable tactical gear, then First Tactical is definitely worth the price.

Special thanks to Brad over at tacticalgear4life.com for wearing this plate carrier for my photos. Check out his site for more tactical gear reviews.

Full Disclosure

For the sake of transparency, First Tactical sent me this plate carrier to review. I’m also an affiliate with First Tactical, meaning any purchases made using the links in this article may earn me a small commission, but you don’t pay anything extra.

Specs

• Material: 1000D Nylon
• Colours: Black, Grey, Coyote, Green
• Hard Armour: 10×12 Plates

Pros

• Affordable
• Durable
• Four Color Options
• Simplistic Design
• Padded Shoulders
• Padded Interior

Cons

• Narrow Shoulder Straps

Price

At the time of this article, the First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier costs around $170.

Check the First Tactical website for the latest pricing.

Material

The First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier is constructed from durable 1000D Nylon. I’m sure other materials have been used for the interior and the cummerbund, but I haven’t been able to see those listed. Everything is very well built and durable though.

Indexing Closure System

The First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier features what’s called the Indexing Closure System, which allows you to easily attach and detach the cummerbund system with one hand.

I wouldn’t necessarily call this a quick release system, but it is definitely useful in removing the plate carrier. The plastic piece slides nicely into the pocket attached to the front, followed by pressing down on the Velcro portion.

The plastic portion itself isn’t so tough that it won’t crack over time, as mine has. But this is minor and doesn’t affect the usability of the plate carrier.

MOLLE Attachments

The amount of MOLLE on this carrier is perfect for attaching your magazine pouches to the front or any sort of admin pouches on the back.

Again, very well made and durable materials used for this plate carrier. I tend to be pretty aggressive on my MOLLE webbing and these haven’t shown any signs of breaking or coming undone.

ID Panel

On the upper front and back are very large Velcro areas which can be used for attaching your ID patches.

This patch seen above was provided to myself by a company here in Canada called Patch Panel. I’ve purchased numerous patches from Patch Panel myself and the organization that I currently work for has also had patches designed and made by Patch Panel. So if you’re looking for a quality patch, definitely go check them out.

I really like the surface area available on this plate carrier for the ID patch. It allows for so many options and you’re not limited to using very small ID patches.

Armour Capabilities

The First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier is capable of holding 10×12 hard armour plates in the shooters cut. I’ve personally been using the MIRA Tactical Level 4 Body Armor plates and they fit perfectly.

Check out my full review on the MIRA Safety Level 4 Body Armor here.

Some plate carriers out there will say they can hold 10×12 plates, but you end up struggling to get them inside the pocket. This carrier though isn’t an issue at all. The 10×12 plates slide in just nicely.

Cummerbund System

The cummerbund attaches to the front using the Indexing Closure System, but is adjustable on the back using a Velcro panel. The cummerbund is very flexible as well, and gives the carrier a nice snug fit around my torso.

The mesh material on the cummerbund is nice as it allows for more airflow, preventing heat and friction on the side of your torso.

Rotating Shoulder Straps

The shoulder straps are very comfortable and come included with padding. They also have the ability to rotate because of the attachment point on the front.

I will say that this is probably one of the only problems that I have with the First Tactical specialist plate carrier is that the shoulder straps are pretty narrow. If they were moved outward by even an inch, it would be a good improvement.

Although, with the shoulder straps so narrow, it allows for myself to shoulder the rifle with the buttstock seated right in the pocket of my shoulder. Some other carriers make it difficult to seat the rifle properly.

Yoke Rescue Handle

This is something that is pretty common among plate carriers, and that is having an emergency rescue handle for your guys to drag you out if necessary. It also acts as a nice carrying handle too.

This Yoke Rescue Handle is very durable, and I have problems with it coming apart at all. Having it a couple of inches up the rear of the shoulder straps makes it easy to located in low-light conditions.

Conclusion

The First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier is a durable, well built, quality plate carrier system at an affordable price. It has a ton of MOLLE webbing on the front and back for your attachments, padded shoulder straps, and a nice cummerbund system with the Indexing Closure System.

I’ve been really happy with this carrier setup. It’s absolutely solid and I know it’ll keep going for years to come.

If you’re looking for a good quality plate carrier without breaking the bank, definitely check out the First Tactical Specialist Plate Carrier.