A plate carrier, often referred to as a ballistic plate carrier used in conjunction with ballistic plates, serves as body armor or a "bulletproof" vest. The military, police, and other tactical forces typically wear detachable plate carriers to protect them from numerous blows and drop them in an emergency.
With carrier holes for holding steel, composite, or ceramic body armor plates, tactical plate carrier vests are worn in combination with armor plates. The terms "body armor" and "body armor plate carrier vests" are commonly used interchangeably. Plate carrier vests come in various designs and sizes to address a range of potential threats.
Depending on your operation, area, or circumstances, you can select from a range of varieties, ranging from lightweight tactical body armor for clandestine and plainclothes operations to more robust tactical armor for defense against high velocity, large caliber rifle fire.
When you get shot in the upper body, armor plates that protect your essential organs are meant to be held in a plate carrier. The basic design consists of a front panel, a back panel, shoulder straps, and a cummerbund. Each panel has a plate bag and a thin sleeve like a laptop slot on a backpack. However, several plate carriers go above and above that level by providing comfort, mobility, load-bearing capacity, and durability.
Why Do You Need One?
The most significant benefit of tactical vests is the extra storage to save your valuables on adventures. You can keep stuff close at hand, including your radio and ammo. Yes, it will be hefty, but that is the case with all tactical setups. The simple access to your sidearm provided by these vests is another significant advantage. The holster may be used to safely secure the sidearm while keeping it concealed.
With these tactical vests, you may also readily reach your spare rifle magazines. Up to 5 or 6 additional magazines can be kept conveniently and are more than plenty when needed. Additionally, these vests frequently have webbing on both sides so that you may connect or place additional bags and compartments.
Do They Come with Plates?
Body armor plates are often not included with plate carriers; they must be ordered separately. But it's great that such a wide selection of body armor plates is available. Lightweight foam plates are available that are great for training and can protect you from paintballs or BBs. Also, steel plates may decelerate and prevent an absolute bullet from penetrating. Anything that falls somewhere in the middle is also a thing.
What are the Different Types of Plates?
There are also different types of plates for a plate carrier that you need to be aware of, like polyethylene plates and ceramic plates. Polyethylene plates are a different preferred material among law enforcement and military personnel besides ceramic. In addition to being lightweight, it has a higher bullet resistance than a ceramic plate.
Ballistic plates made of polyethylene are around 50% lighter than those made of other materials since they don't require supporting materials. High-pressure treatment is typically applied to this material, increasing its durability and reducing its weight. Polyethylene plates also withstand the impact of bullets without breaking. Because it is more malleable than ceramic, it is a better choice for conflicts and high-risk situations like school shootings. The cost of an HDPE plate is one thing a user needs to keep in mind. It costs more than a plate made of ceramic.
Ceramic tiles on ceramic plates can deflect an approaching bullet. The ceramic is supported by many layers of supporting materials, including steel and Kevlar, which are absorbent agents to shield it against unintentional breaking. Luminous oxide is a common ingredient in ceramic plate production. Choosing a silicon carbide-made plate will make it lighter.
Please be aware, though, that it is far more expensive than alumina oxide. The best material is boron carbide, which has a level IV NIJ protection rating and a high density while being lightweight and dependable. A typical plate measuring 10 by 12 inches weighs around 7.5 pounds. As a result, the combined weight of the two plates (front and rear) will be 15 pounds.
How to Fit One?
Before going to the gym to work out or out into the field of duty, ensure you know how to wear your plate carrier. Otherwise, it may be useless. For hands-free access, insert your ballistic or weighted plates and any safety or utility devices you require. You can fasten the plate carrier to your body after filling your vest to ensure optimal protection.
Body armor must fit correctly to provide enough protection while also being somewhat comfortable, whether worn externally or under a uniform or other clothing. Mobility should have enough room, but it shouldn't be overly loose.
Too-tight plate carriers might make moving difficult and leave tiny gaps between the plates, leaving the wearer open to potential attacks. Plate carriers shouldn't be too long or too short because they might interfere with a duty belt or combat equipment if they are too long. Plate carriers that are too short give insufficient protective covering.
Since you must choose one that fits around the top portion of your body, from the chest to the waistline, plate carriers are pretty easy to set up. While wearing it, you must ensure it is a comfortable fit for your body. It would help if you tried several sizes until you found the right fit. It will help if you put them in the inserts of the carrier. It may be necessary to adjust the plate carrier's shoulder straps so that the front is in line with your chest and does not droop. Have a companion assist you in making the required modifications before you head out into the field.
Additionally, filling up every bag on the plate carrier is not required. You need to carry enough equipment to complete the mission's objectives, so you can quickly access your accessories as necessary. Use chest rigs in the field if you don't want to carry ammunition and prefer not to wear protective plates.
What Size Should I Get?
The size of your armor plate will determine what size plate carrier you should purchase, according to this general rule of thumb. It doesn't matter what size t-shirt you wear. Choose the carrier size that supports the plate you already have if you do. Pay attention to the manufacturer's size specifications while looking at carriers. They'll be able to tell you just what size plates fit in that model of your plate carrier.
If you don't already have plates, obtain the size you require and then base your carrier size decision on that. Don't go too big. There is a belief that you should size up your plate carrier and get a size larger than what you actually need to provide yourself with additional coverage.
Avoid doing that. Your added plate and substance will make you heavier—good luck carrying a heavy load designed for a person of a different size across a long distance. Additionally, getting into your shooting position will take longer, which might have apparent consequences.
There may be many more questions on your mind, so why not get all the answers at Shield Concept?
