The best plate carrier
Quick answer: the Shellback Tactical Rampage 2.0 (around $130) is the best plate carrier for most people of small to average build. Shellback rates its pockets for 10 x 12 inch or medium ESAPI plates, and it comes with a cummerbund with six magazine or radio pockets, laser-cut MOLLE and a removable front placard; reviewers on OpticsPlanet rate it 4.2 out of 5 from 48 reviews. Its limit is size: Shellback fits this version to T-shirt sizes small to large, and several taller reviewers say it runs small. On a budget, the Condor Sentry (around $60) takes medium or large swimmer or ESAPI plates up to 10.25 x 13.25 inches. For 11 x 14 inch plates or a bigger frame, the Condor Exo Gen II in L/XL. For a one-handed quick release, the 5.11 TacTec, and for the most built-in storage, the Shellback Banshee Elite 2.0.
A plate carrier is not armor. None of the carriers on this page comes with plates, and the carrier on its own stops nothing. As 5.11 puts it on its product safety page, "This product, alone, offers no personal protection."
A plate carrier is a vest that holds hard armor plates, and often soft armor panels, front and back, with webbing for pouches. Choosing one comes down to the plates you will put in it: pocket size and cut first, then body size, the cummerbund, and whether you want a quick release. Every card names the exact model we checked, and we read the maker's own page for Shellback Tactical, 5.11 Tactical and Condor Outdoor. We do not rate armor: this page covers the carriers only, and says nothing about which plates to trust.
Plate carriers compared
| Carrier | Best for | Plate size and cut (maker) | Sizing (maker) | Cummerbund | Quick release | Material | OpticsPlanet rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shellback Rampage 2.0 | Overall | 10 x 12 in or medium ESAPI | T-shirt S, M or L (this 10x12 size) | Six bungee pockets, soft insert pockets | No | 500 denier nylon | 4.2 (48) | around $130 |
| Condor Sentry | Budget | M-L swimmer or ESAPI, up to 10.25 x 13.25 in | 32 to 54 in around the navel | None listed | Yes, buckles | Not published | 4.6 (25) | around $60 |
| Condor Exo Gen II (L/XL) | 11x14 plates, big frames | Up to 11 x 14 in, 1/2 in thick (BALCS/SPEAR cut) | 42 to 50 in around the navel | 6 x 12 in soft armor pockets | None listed | Not published | 4.6 (30) | around $100 |
| 5.11 TacTec | Quick release | Medium and large ESAPI | S-XL | Stretch waist bands | Yes, one-handed cable | 500D nylon | 4.8 (25) | around $250 |
| Shellback Banshee Elite 2.0 | Built-in features | 10 x 12 in shooter's cut or SAPI cut | One size; cummerbund fits up to 48 in | Removable, six bungee pockets, soft insert pockets | Yes, shoulder buckles | 500D Cordura nylon (Shellback's table) | 4.3 (17) | around $260 |
Plate, sizing, cummerbund, quick release and material entries are from each maker's own product page; Condor does not list a fabric on either product page. The retailer lists the Rampage 2.0 as One Size; the sizing shown is Shellback's own guidance for the 10 x 12 size. No maker lists an empty carrier weight on the pages we read, so weight is not compared. Ratings are OpticsPlanet's, shown with the number of reviews. Prices are bands; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks
Best plate carrier overall: Shellback Tactical Rampage 2.0 Plate Carrier
Carrier only, no plates · 10 x 12 in or medium ESAPI pockets (Shellback) · six-pocket cummerbund · laser-cut MOLLE · card: SBT-9031-NB, Navy Blue, One Size
around $130exact price on OpticsPlanet
The carrier most people of average build should start with. Shellback says its bottom-loading front and rear pockets hold 10 x 12 inch or medium ESAPI plates, and in the retailer's Q&A Shellback answered that it takes shooter or SAPI cut plates up to 10 x 12 x 1.2 inches. Around that it packs features that are often extras elsewhere: a cummerbund with six bungee pockets for magazines or radios, pockets in the cummerbund for 13.75 x 5.5 inch soft inserts (not included), laser-cut MOLLE front, rear and on the cummerbund, a removable front placard on QASM buckles, 3D spacer mesh padding, a rear drag handle and 500 denier nylon, with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing and material defects. The catch is size. The retailer lists it as One Size, but Shellback sizes this 10 x 12 version for people who wear a T-shirt in small, medium or large, and makes a separate X-Large for 11 x 14 inch plates that the listing we link does not include. In the 48 reviews, 10 say it runs small or tight, and five of the six of them who give a height are 6 feet or taller, while 16 say it fits them well. The cummerbund magazine pockets split opinion, and it has no quick release.
Pros
- Cummerbund with six bungee pockets for magazines or radios, plus pockets for 13.75 x 5.5 in soft inserts (Shellback)
- Removable front placard on QASM buckles for quick loadout changes, praised by several reviewers
- Laser-cut MOLLE front, rear and cummerbund, with 3D spacer mesh padding
- Lifetime warranty against manufacturing and material defects (Shellback)
Cons
- Runs small for big frames: one owner at 6-3 writes "It runs somewhat small and should be used by smaller stature individuals."
- The cummerbund magazine pockets split reviewers, 8 critical to 6 positive; one says "the mags ride up to the armpit"
- No quick release in the stock carrier; one owner lists "No pull quick release" as a con
- Four reviews report loose threads or a ripped seam on arrival; one owner found "Lots of loose threads, uneven length sections/parts"
Best for: shooters of small to average build running 10 x 12 inch plates who want magazine pockets and MOLLE without buying extras. Over about 6 feet with a big chest, look at the Condor Exo Gen II L/XL or the Banshee Elite 2.0.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Shellback Tactical |
|---|---|
| Plates included | No; Shellback lists it as carrier only |
| Plate pockets | 10 x 12 in or medium ESAPI, front and rear, bottom loading (Shellback); shooter or SAPI cut up to 10 x 12 x 1.2 in per Shellback's answer in the retailer Q&A |
| Sizing | Retailer: One Size. Shellback: this 10 x 12 size fits T-shirt sizes small, medium or large; a separate X-Large (11 x 14 in plates) is not on this listing |
| Cummerbund | Six integrated bungee pockets; accepts 13.75 x 5.5 in soft inserts (not included); an XL cummerbund (44 to 60 in) is sold separately by Shellback |
| Quick release | None on the carrier; Shellback sells an optional quick release cummerbund separately |
| Attachment | Laser-cut MOLLE front, rear and cummerbund; removable front placard on QASM buckles |
| Padding | 3D spacer mesh on front, rear and shoulder pads |
| Material | 500 denier nylon |
| Empty weight | Not listed on Shellback's product page |
| Warranty | Lifetime, against manufacturing and material defects; wear and tear excluded (Shellback) |
| Made in | Imported (Shellback names no country) |
| Spec source | Shellback's Rampage 2.0 product page; package contents from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | SBT-9031-NB, Navy Blue, One Size (UPC 810030244011); other colours are separate rows at different prices |
“The padding in the shoulders is a godsend.”
AriesMC357, owner (CO) via OpticsPlanet
Best budget plate carrier: Condor Outdoor Sentry Plate Carrier
Carrier only, no plates · M-L swimmer or ESAPI plates up to 10.25 x 13.25 in (Condor) · 32 to 54 in around the navel · quick release buckles · card: 201042-006, Navy
around $60exact price on OpticsPlanet
The budget pick, and the simplest carrier here. Condor rates its front and back pockets for medium or large swimmer or ESAPI plates up to 10.25 x 13.25 inches, and three reviews by two reviewers say it holds 10 x 12 inch plates. It is one size, adjustable from 32 to 54 inches measured around the navel, with quick release buckles, an emergency drag handle, removable padded shoulder pads, a breathable 3D mesh liner and MOLLE webbing. What it leaves out is the point: there is no separate cummerbund, no side armor pockets and no admin pocket listed, and one reviewer likes that "This carrier comes with none." Its 25 reviews have no rating below four stars, and several come from people using it for weighted workouts. Fit is the trade-off. Two reviewers say the shoulder straps rub or dig into the neck, one lean reviewer says it has to be cinched almost all the way down, and one owner found it difficult to put in hard plates.
Pros
- Quick release buckles and an emergency drag handle at the lowest price on this page
- One size with the widest published adjustment here, 32 to 54 in around the navel (Condor)
- Removable padded shoulder pads and a 3D mesh liner
- No rating below four stars in its 25 reviews; one owner says it "fits a small frame like mine"
Cons
- Two reviewers say the straps rub the neck; one writes "this plate carrier will rub your neck"
- No cummerbund, side armor pockets or admin pocket listed: you add every pouch yourself
- One lean reviewer (two reviews) says it runs out of adjustment: "Limited adjustments for thin folks"
- Condor's product page lists no fabric or empty weight, and one owner found it "difficult to put in hard plates"
Best for: a first carrier, a spare for the vehicle, or a weighted-vest workout carrier. If you want side armor pockets or built-in magazine pockets, step up to the Rampage 2.0 or the Exo Gen II.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Condor Outdoor |
|---|---|
| Plates included | No; the retailer package contents list only the carrier |
| Plate pockets | M-L swimmer or ESAPI plates up to 10.25 x 13.25 in, front and back (Condor) |
| Sizing | One size, adjustable from 32 to 54 in measured around the navel (Condor) |
| Cummerbund | None listed; no side armor pockets |
| Quick release | Quick release buckles (Condor) |
| Attachment | MOLLE webbing; front and back patch areas 3 x 6 in (Condor) |
| Padding | Removable padded mesh shoulder pads; breathable 3D mesh liner |
| Material | Not listed on Condor's product page |
| Empty weight | Not listed on Condor's product page |
| Made in | Imported (Condor names no country) |
| Spec source | Condor's Sentry product page; package contents from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 201042-006, Navy (UPC 022886272593); other colours are separate rows |
“Great carrier, easy to adjust and fits a small frame like mine.”
soldierof4cheese, owner (MI) via OpticsPlanet
Best for 11x14 plates and bigger frames: Condor Outdoor Exo Plate Carrier Gen II, L/XL
Carrier only, no plates · L/XL: plates up to 11 x 14 in and 1/2 in thick (Condor) · 42 to 50 in around the navel · side soft armor pockets · card: 201165-002-L, Black, L/XL
around $100exact price on OpticsPlanet
The pick for 11 x 14 inch plates and for big frames. The card is the L/XL size, which Condor rates for large BALCS or SPEAR cut soft armor and plates up to 11 x 14 inches and up to 1/2 inch thick, adjustable from 42 to 50 inches measured around the navel. Condor also makes an S/M (34 to 42 inches, plates up to 10 x 12.5 inches). The cummerbund has built-in pockets for 6 x 12 inch soft armor on the L/XL, and the carrier adds a front map pocket, a back auxiliary pocket, MOLLE webbing, removable padded shoulder pads, a 3D mesh liner and an emergency drag handle. Eight reviewers who give a large size or weight, from 240 to over 300 pounds, say it fits, and one at 5'11 and 270 pounds says there is room left for a larger frame. The trade-offs are fit at the other end and plate fit: a 5'5 reviewer found the small huge, a 3-star S/M reviewer says a 10 x 12 plate sat loose, and one owner had the Velcro panel under the front flap start to pull away after a few uses. Condor lists no quick release.
Pros
- Takes plates up to 11 x 14 in on the L/XL, the largest plate size on this page (Condor)
- Fits big frames: eight reviewers from 240 to over 300 lb say it fits them
- Cummerbund pockets for 6 x 12 in soft armor, plus a front map pocket and a back auxiliary pocket
- Removable padded shoulder pads and a 3D mesh liner at a mid-range price
Cons
- Smaller plates can float: an S/M reviewer says "the carrier compartment is much too large for a standard 10x12 hard plate"
- One 5'5, 135 lb reviewer found the smaller size too big: "I ordered a small but it was huge on me."
- No quick release listed by Condor, and Condor caps plate thickness at 1/2 in on the L/XL
- One owner reports "the large Velcro panel under the front flap has started to rip away from its stitching"
Best for: bigger shooters, and anyone running 11 x 14 inch plates or soft armor panels in a BALCS or SPEAR cut. If your plates are 10 x 12 inches and you are average size, the Rampage 2.0 or Sentry fits them more closely.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Condor Outdoor |
|---|---|
| Plates included | No; the retailer lists "Ballistic plates/soft armor not included" |
| Plate pockets | L/XL: L BALCS/SPEAR cut soft armor and plates up to 11 x 14 in and up to 1/2 in thick (Condor). S/M: up to 10 x 12.5 in |
| Sizing | L/XL adjusts from 42 to 50 in around the navel; S/M from 34 to 42 in (Condor) |
| Cummerbund | Adjustable, with built-in pockets for 6 x 12 in soft armor on the L/XL (6 x 10 in on the S/M) |
| Quick release | None listed |
| Pockets | Front map pocket with snap and hook and loop closure; back auxiliary pocket |
| Attachment | MOLLE webbing; patch areas 11.5 x 3 in front, 3 x 6 in back (Condor) |
| Padding | Removable padded anti-slip shoulder pads; breathable 3D mesh liner |
| Material | Not listed on Condor's product page |
| Empty weight | Not listed on Condor's product page |
| Made in | Imported (Condor names no country) |
| Spec source | Condor's Exo Plate Carrier Gen II product page; package contents from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 201165-002-L, Black, L/XL (UPC 022886265403); the listing also has S/M rows and other colours |
“I am 5'11 and 270lbs, this carrier fits perfectly and there is still a great amount of adjustability for an even larger frame.”
Dennis, owner (MI) via OpticsPlanet
Best one-handed quick release: 5.11 Tactical TacTec Plate Carrier
Carrier only, no plates · medium and large ESAPI plates (5.11) · one-handed quick-release cable system · sizes S-XL · card: 56100ABR-019-1SZ, Black, ESAPI cut
around $250exact price on OpticsPlanet
The carrier to get if fast doffing matters most. 5.11 lists a one-handed quick-release cable system and an extendable GrabDrag handle, and says it accommodates medium and large ESAPI plates, giving the medium as 9.5 x 12.5 inches and the large as 10.25 x 13.25 inches; it also fits Rogue weight vest plates, and four reviewers mention fitness or weight training, two of them as their main use. It is 500D nylon, with a back yoke and padded shoulder straps, padded front and back panels with airflow channels, laser-cut loop MOLLE and web MOLLE, a top admin front pocket and adjustable stretch waist bands for sizes S to XL. Reviewers on OpticsPlanet give it the highest rating on this page, with no review below four stars and build quality and comfort the most common praise. Two cautions: 23 of its 25 reviews are from December 2021 or earlier, and setup takes work. Five reviewers find adjusting it awkward, one owner says "it's a pain to get the plates in" behind the internal straps, and it is the second most expensive carrier here. 5.11's own safety notice says it plainly: "This product, alone, offers no personal protection."
Pros
- One-handed quick-release cable system and an extendable drag handle (5.11)
- Highest OpticsPlanet rating here; build quality and comfort draw the most praise
- Fits medium and large ESAPI plates and Rogue weight vest plates for training (5.11)
- Top admin front pocket, laser-cut loop MOLLE and web MOLLE
Cons
- Old review record: 23 of 25 reviews are from December 2021 or earlier
- Fiddly setup: five reviewers find adjusting it awkward, and one lists "Adjusting it can be a pain" as a con
- Getting plates in behind the internal straps takes effort, per two reviewers
- No magazine pockets listed by 5.11 (magazines go on MOLLE pouches), and the second most expensive carrier here
Best for: anyone who wants a proven quick release, and people who train with weight vest plates as well as carrying ESAPI plates. If you want magazine pockets built in for less, the Rampage 2.0.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | 5.11 Tactical |
|---|---|
| Plates included | No; the retailer package contents list only the carrier |
| Plate pockets | Medium (9.5 x 12.5 in) and large (10.25 x 13.25 in) ESAPI plates (5.11); also fits Rogue weight vest plates |
| Sizing | Adjustable skeletonized waist bands with stretch, sizes S-XL (5.11) |
| Quick release | One-handed quick-release cable system |
| Attachment | Laser-cut loop MOLLE and web MOLLE; Web ID loop |
| Pockets | Top admin front pocket with hook and loop closure |
| Padding | Back yoke shoulder straps, perforated mesh, padded front and back panels with airflow channels |
| Material | 500D nylon |
| Empty weight | Not listed on 5.11's product page |
| Spec source | 5.11's TacTec product page and product safety page; package contents from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 56100ABR-019-1SZ, Black, ESAPI cut, one size (UPC 888579884777); other colours are separate rows |
“Of all six, this carrier is the most comfortable and easiest to put on and take off.”
Sean, owner (TX) via OpticsPlanet
Most built-in features: Shellback Tactical Banshee Elite 2.0 Plate Carrier
Carrier only, no plates · 10 x 12 in shooter's cut or SAPI cut (Shellback) · admin pouch, hydration pocket, quick release shoulder buckles · card: SBT-BANELT-RD, Range Red, One Size
around $260exact price on OpticsPlanet
The carrier with the most built in. Shellback's comparison table lists 10 x 12 inch shooter's cut or SAPI cut plates and 500D Cordura nylon, and the spec list adds an integrated zipper admin pouch on the chest, a rear hydration pocket for most common bladders, Hypalon shoulder straps for radio wires and hydration tubes, quick release buckles on the shoulders and PALS webbing on the front, back and shoulders. The removable cummerbund has six bungee pockets for magazines or radios, PALS inside and out for side plate pockets, and pockets for 13.75 x 5.5 inch soft inserts, and Shellback says it fits up to 48 inches. It carries the same lifetime defect warranty as the Rampage. Reviewers praise the comfort, and one owner who found the Rampage 2.0 slightly too small says "The Banshee has way more adjustability". The trade-offs: four reviewers say it is too big for slim builds, two owners say the shoulder buckles sit where the rifle stock goes, and it is the most expensive carrier here. Its 17 reviews run from 2017 to 2025, and one 2018 reviewer compares it with an earlier version.
Pros
- Zipper admin pouch, rear hydration pocket and Hypalon routing shoulder straps built in (Shellback)
- Quick release buckles on the shoulders
- Removable cummerbund with six magazine or radio pockets and soft insert pockets, fits up to 48 in (Shellback)
- Roomier than the Rampage 2.0 for bigger shooters, per an owner who tried both
Cons
- Too big for slim builds, per four reviewers; one writes "If you are anything under a 36 waist dont even think about it."
- Shoulder buckles can get in the way of the rifle stock: "the shoulder buckles are right where you shoulder your rifle"
- The most expensive carrier on this page
- Small review record (17), with some reviews from before 2020 that may describe an earlier build
Best for: a bigger shooter who wants admin, hydration and magazine storage in one carrier. If you are slim or shoulder a rifle a lot, check the buckle placement first, or choose the Rampage 2.0.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Shellback Tactical |
|---|---|
| Plates included | No; Shellback lists it as carrier only |
| Plate pockets | 10 x 12 in shooter's cut or SAPI cut, bottom loading (Shellback) |
| Sizing | One size; cummerbund adjustable, fits up to 48 in (Shellback's comparison table) |
| Cummerbund | Removable; six bungee pockets for magazines or radios; interior and exterior PALS for side plate pockets; accepts 13.75 x 5.5 in soft inserts (not included) |
| Quick release | Quick release buckles on the shoulders |
| Pockets | Integrated zipper admin pouch on the chest; rear hydration pocket |
| Attachment | PALS webbing front, back and shoulders; loop areas front and rear for ID placards |
| Padding | 3D spacer mesh |
| Material | 500D Cordura nylon, per Shellback's comparison table |
| Empty weight | Not published on Shellback's current product page |
| Warranty | Lifetime, against manufacturing and material defects; wear and tear excluded (Shellback) |
| Spec source | Shellback's Banshee Elite 2.0 product page and comparison table; package contents from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | SBT-BANELT-RD, Range Red, One Size (UPC 810126170071); other colours are separate rows at different prices |
“The Banshee has way more adjustability so I could make it fit much easier.”
John Hayes, owner (CA) via OpticsPlanet
How to choose a plate carrier
- Start with plate size and cut. Makers describe their pockets by plate dimensions and by cut names such as SAPI, ESAPI, shooter's cut, swimmer cut or BALCS. Here, the Rampage 2.0 and Banshee Elite 2.0 take 10 x 12 inch plates, the Sentry plates up to 10.25 x 13.25 inches, the TacTec medium and large ESAPI plates, and the Exo Gen II L/XL plates up to 11 x 14 inches. Check your plates' own dimensions against the maker's limit.
- Do not oversize the pocket. A plate that is much smaller than its pocket can slide. One Exo Gen II reviewer put a 10 x 12 inch plate in the S/M, which Condor rates for plates up to 10 x 12.5 inches, and found "at least 2 inches of carrier material at the top that had no plate behind it at all".
- Then fit your body. Condor publishes waist ranges measured around the navel: 32 to 54 inches for the Sentry and 42 to 50 inches for the Exo Gen II L/XL. Shellback fits the 10 x 12 Rampage 2.0 to T-shirt sizes small to large, and one owner who outgrew it writes "I had the Rampage but it was just slightly too small or I would have loved it." before switching to the Banshee.
- Decide what the cummerbund should do. Both Shellbacks have magazine pockets built into the cummerbund, which saves buying pouches but splits Rampage reviewers on where the magazines sit. The Exo Gen II has side pockets for soft armor. Condor lists no cummerbund for the Sentry.
- Quick release. The TacTec has a one-handed cable release, the Sentry quick release buckles and the Banshee quick release shoulder buckles. The Rampage 2.0 and Exo Gen II list none.
- Weight. None of the makers lists an empty carrier weight for these carriers on the pages we read, so we do not rank by weight.
- Budget. The Sentry costs least and has the fewest features; the Banshee Elite 2.0 costs most and has the most built in.
A note on review records
The TacTec and the Banshee Elite 2.0 have review records that are mostly old. Of the 5.11 TacTec's 25 reviews, 23 are from December 2021 or earlier, so its high rating says little about recent production. The Banshee Elite 2.0 has 17 reviews from 2017 to 2025, and a 2018 reviewer compares it with "the 1st version", so older complaints may describe an earlier build. The Rampage 2.0 has the largest and most recent record here, 48 reviews from 2021 to 2026. Some reviewers wrote before they had put plates in (two Exo Gen II reviews and two Sentry reviews say so), so we count plate fit only where a reviewer describes it.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We started from the retailer's plate carrier category and left out kits sold with plates, so every card is a carrier on its own, sold without plates, and this page makes no armor or protection claim for any of them. For each carrier we opened the full model list to find the new, orderable model each card links to and read every review on the listing, including every low-star one. We checked plate size, sizing and features against the maker's own product pages for Shellback Tactical, 5.11 Tactical and Condor Outdoor. Where the retailer and the maker disagree, we use the maker and say so, and we leave out what the sources contradict, such as country of origin for the Banshee Elite 2.0 and the TacTec. Our scores are our opinion; ratings are shown attributed to the retailer that collected them. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best plate carrier?
For most people of small to average build with 10 x 12 inch plates, the Shellback Tactical Rampage 2.0. Shellback rates its pockets for 10 x 12 inch or medium ESAPI plates, and it comes with a cummerbund with six magazine or radio pockets, laser-cut MOLLE and a removable front placard; it carries 4.2 out of 5 from 48 reviews on OpticsPlanet. On a budget, the Condor Sentry. For 11 x 14 inch plates or a big frame, the Condor Exo Gen II in L/XL. For a one-handed quick release, the 5.11 TacTec, and for the most built-in storage, the Shellback Banshee Elite 2.0.
Do plate carriers come with plates?
Not these. Every carrier on this page is sold as the carrier alone: Shellback lists both of its carriers as carrier only, the retailer listing for the Condor Exo Gen II states that ballistic plates and soft armor are not included, and the package contents of the other listings name only the carrier. Plates and soft armor inserts are separate purchases. A carrier on its own is not armor; 5.11 says of its carrier, "This product, alone, offers no personal protection."
What size plates do I need?
Plates that match the pockets of your carrier. The makers state the limits: the Shellback Rampage 2.0 holds 10 x 12 inch or medium ESAPI plates, the Banshee Elite 2.0 10 x 12 inch shooter's cut or SAPI cut, the Condor Sentry medium or large swimmer or ESAPI plates up to 10.25 x 13.25 inches, the 5.11 TacTec medium and large ESAPI plates, and the Condor Exo Gen II L/XL plates up to 11 x 14 inches and 1/2 inch thick. A plate much smaller than the pocket can slide around, so match the plate size to the carrier size rather than buying the biggest carrier.
Is a plate carrier the same as body armor?
No. A plate carrier is a vest that holds armor plates or soft armor panels; the carrier itself is fabric, webbing and padding. None of the carriers on this page includes plates, and 5.11 states that its carrier, alone, offers no personal protection. Rules on buying and owning body armor vary by state, so check your local law before you buy plates.
Which plate carrier fits a big guy?
Of these, the Condor Exo Gen II in L/XL, which Condor sizes from 42 to 50 inches around the navel; eight reviewers from 240 to over 300 pounds say it fits them. The Shellback Banshee Elite 2.0 has a cummerbund that fits up to 48 inches per Shellback, and the Condor Sentry adjusts from 32 to 54 inches. The Shellback Rampage 2.0 on our card is the 10 x 12 size, which Shellback fits to T-shirt sizes small to large, and several reviewers over 6 feet say it runs small.
Which plate carriers have a quick release?
The 5.11 TacTec has a one-handed quick-release cable system, the Condor Sentry has quick release buckles, and the Shellback Banshee Elite 2.0 has quick release buckles on the shoulders. The Shellback Rampage 2.0 has none on the carrier, though Shellback sells a quick release cummerbund for it separately, and Condor lists no quick release for the Exo Gen II.
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