Plate Carriers

A plate carrier holds your front and back plates and gives you a place to mount gear. The right one keeps the plates where they belong and stays comfortable through a long day at the range.

Labeled plate carrier showing shoulder pads, plate pocket, cummerbund and MOLLE
The parts of a typical plate carrier

What to look for

  • Plate fit: pockets sized to your exact plate size and cut, so plates do not slide around.
  • Adjustable shoulders: lets you set the front plate at the right height.
  • Cummerbund: holds the carrier snug and can hold side plates.
  • Mounting: MOLLE webbing or laser-cut panels for pouches.
  • Weight of the carrier itself: a heavy carrier adds up fast once plates go in.

Carrier styles

Minimalist, full-featured and low-vis plate carriers
Minimalist, full-featured and low-vis carriers

Minimalist carriers are light and fast. Full-featured carriers hold everything you need for a long day. Low-vis carriers are slim and plain enough to wear under a jacket.

Set it up right

Adjust the shoulder straps so the top of the front plate sits near the notch at the top of your breastbone, then snug the cummerbund. See our sizing and fit guide for how to measure.

Diagram showing correct front armor plate placement on the torso
Front plate height matters more than carrier style

Videos

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