The new PRIMUS plate carrier is an extremely modular and rugged plate carrier ideal for Emergency Response Teams or Special Forces personnel. The PRIMUS plate carrier is made by LORICA Equipment out in British Columbia, Canada, and is constructed using only high-quality materials with an innovative design.
Being manufactured in Canada means that the PRIMUS tactical plate carrier could be primarily used by RCMP ERT or CANSOFCOM personnel such as CSOR Operators or JTF2 Assaulters.
The views expressed in this article are the personal views of myself and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of National Defence.
Table of Contents
Specs
- Durable laser cut laminated 500D/100D nylon construction
- Removable Internal antimicrobial and moisture-wicking
3D spacer mesh with A.M.Y.® and SORBTEK®
Performance Yarns for temperature control - Padded and ventilated shoulders
- Front and rear loop with dual side adjustments for maximum configuration
- Quick-release shoulder attachments
- Internal side pockets for mags or radios with bungee retention
- Compatible with standard placard systems
- Made in USA buckles
- Front and rear ID patch loop
- Durable and lightweight construction
Pros
- Rugged design
- Lightweight
- Laser Cut material
- Padded interior and shoulders
- Magazines fit snug
- Made in Canada
Cons
- Nil
Is LORICA Equipment worth the price?
At the time of this article, the LORICA Equipment plate carrier costs $498 CAD before taxes. LORICA is also offering a 15% discount for law enforcement, military, and first responders.
If you have any questions or you want to buy the PRIMUS plate carrier, contact sales@loricaequipment.com or maxx@loricaequipment.com.
Check out LORICA Equipment for tactical pouches and attachments!
Everything that LORICA Equipment has to offer isn’t on their website at the time of this writing, as they are in the process of revamping it, so if you’re looking for something specific, reach out to Maxx using the email above.
Plate Pockets
The plate pockets on the PRIMUS plate carrier are great, as the width and length can be adjusted by the Velcro tabs along the inside of the carrier. This allows you to configure the front and rear plate pockets to the exact dimensions of the plates you’re using.
The plates I’m using in the PRIMUS plate carrier are the MIRA Tactical Level 4 Plates. If you want to read up on my full review on those then click here.
On the inner side of the plate carrier are padded mesh material which offers a great deal of comfort and ventilation.
The front and rear plate pockets on the PRIMUS plate carrier uses a laser-cut system oppose to the traditional MOLLE webbing. Going with laser-cut material reduced weight and also makes the plate carrier less bulky. I personally find it gives the PRIMUS a sleek look.
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps on the PRIMUS plate carrier are fantastic. They have QR attachment points, and the one attached to the front panel aren’t sewn on, but Velcroed, which lets you adjust the height and angle of the attachment points.
The shoulder straps also have a padded mesh material (similar to the inner portion of the plate carrier) which keeps the shoulders comfortable and offers good ventilation, too.
Inside the padded shoulders are velcro tabs to allow for comms cables or hydration hoses to be routed through and secured.
Cummerbund
The cummerbund on the PRIMUS plate carrier is very well designed. It attaches to the back of the carrier with Velcro, and they have a few inches of elastic material to give it a bit of stretch, allowing for a nice fit on the torso.
It’s attached to the front of the PRIMUS using a QR system, but the QR hardware is adjustable on the front of the carrier using velcro, so you can lift the front placard panel and make minor adjustments.
On the inner side near the front of the cummerbund is an internal pocket with an elastic band which can fit a 30 round 5.56 magazine or small hand radio.
Laser-cut material allows for pouches to be attached, like the Double Pistol Mag Pouch and Dump Pouch.
Kangaroo Placard
The kangaroo placard is just a big open pocket with three bungee retention cords to keep your magazines secured. Inside the Kangaroo Placard I have the Triple Magazine Insert, but you can use a Single Magazine Insert or two, or perhaps a Pistol Magazine Insert, and then have another piece of kit inside the Kangaroo Placard.
Triple Mag Insert
I have my Triple Magazine Inserts inside the Kangaroo Placard which hold 5.56 magazines so snug that the bungee cords on the Placard aren’t even necessary. I’m still a fan of the bungee cords, and LORICA Equipment went with a plastic tab to pull the cords on and off. They’re large and easy to grab, making the great for working in low-light conditions.
As mentioned earlier, LORICA Equipment also offers Single Magazine Inserts so you can really customize your loadout.
Modular Task Pouch
The modular task pouch is great. There are two zippered compartments. The main compartment opens up a decent amount, and there’s an elastic cord inside that can reduce the amount that the pocket will open. In this compartment I personally carry some medical equipment like my Tourniquet, a Chest Seal, and Quick Clot. Stuff that I can quickly access to use on myself or someone else.
The front zipper is a smaller compartment and can be used to carry a notepad & writing stick, admin notes, a small map & compass, or some recce snacks.
IFAK Pouch
The IFAK Pouch (Individual First Aid Kit) comes in two pieces. The first piece is an exterior closure system with an elastic cord on top that can secure surgical scissors or a tourniquet. The second piece of the IFAK holds all the contents and has two large handles, one on either side, and this fits inside the closure system.
The IFAK can hold a ton of medical supplies like Sterile Gauze, Quick Clot, a Torniquet, and more. The two handles on the sides are large enough to grab even when it’s on my back (as shown in the photo above).
The First Aid Cross on the IFAK is fabric, but I would have liked it to have been made using IR reflective material so it could be easily seen at night with Night Vision Goggles.
Pistol Mag Pouch
The Pistol Magazine Pouch holds two magazines and utilizes both the plastic insert (similar to the Triple Mag Insert) and the elastic retention cords with a nylon webbing pull-tabs. Even without the bungie cord on the pistol magazines, the plastic insert keeps the magazines snug and secure.
GP Hanger Pouch
The General Purpose Hanger Pouch is something I’m finding more common on plate carrier setups. It’s almost like a trendy fanny pack. It attaches to the PRIMUS using velcro between the front of the panel and the kangaroo placard. It could also be attached on the back of the plate carrier.
The single compartment on the GP Hanger Pouch holds a decent amount of kit and can be used to hold any miscellaneous items. I personally keep some bug repellent, sun screen, ibuprofen, ear plugs, a pair of gloves, and other little things that can be useful when on long missions.
Zippers
This is something that can easily be overlooked, but I really like the zippers (also known as Pull-Fasteners) because they’re minimal but also very high-quality and durable. The pull-tab on the zipper is rubberized with the LORICA Equipment logo.
Final Verdict
Hands down the LORICA Equipment PRIMUS tactical plate carrier is the best plate carrier that I’ve used. The materials are high quality, the workmanship is exceptional, and the modularity and design is fantastic. Being able to insert body armour and snug the front and rear pockets tightly around the plates is something I haven’t seen before. And the ability to adjust the height and angle of the shoulder straps is an awesome feature.
All of the pouches are made to the highest standard, and the padding both of the plate pockets and shoulder straps adds a great deal of ventilation and comfort for those longer missions.
Again, if you’re looking for more information on the PRIMUS plate carrier, or you’re ready to purchase it now, then reach out to Maxx at maxx@loricaequipment.com.
Thanks for reading my review on the LORICA Equipment PRIMUS tactical plate carrier. I hope it’s been helpful to you in making a decision on what plate carrier to buy, helping you to Live, Fight, and Move.