PLATE CARRIERS & PLATE CARRIER VESTS

Plate carriers have become an essential piece of tactical gear for soldiers, LE officers, and tactical enthusiasts
over the past few years and brands like Crye Precision have met that demand with some amazing plate carriers.
Plate carriers can be as simple as a vest with two pockets to hold ballistic plates or as technical as the QRC, V2
by London Bridge Tactical where the whole unit can be doffed with the pull of a chord. Plate carriers are a crucial
piece of protective equipment because they protect your core and vital organs. If you're going into
the field where danger lurks, a plate carrier is a good item to consider buying for your personal protection.

MILITARY PLATE CARRIERS AND WHY YOU SHOULD BUY ONE

For most soldiers in the military, a plate carrier vest is an issued item. These are typically issued in coyote brown
and feature a blend of basic construction with technical features like MOLLE webbing, comms routing, and plate
retention. We think you should consider a military-grade plate carrier because, while they aren't the most feature-rich
plate carriers on the market, they do offer quality construction with some added features you won't find on an entry-level
outer vest carrier.

MULTICAM PLATE CARRIERS & MULTICAM BLACK PLATE CARRIERS

US Patriot sells plate carriers every day and MultiCam is by far our most popular color. Service members
often purchase a Multicam PC to replace their standard issue carrier for its added concealment and,
let's be honest, its badass looks! It's tough to look any more "tactical" than the guy or gal wearing a
Multicam Black plate carrier. In reality, Multicam does offer real benefits over your black, OD Green,
or Coyote plate vest as it blends in well with green surroundings. If you are in an arid or desert environment
we would definitely recommend coyote or even Multicam Arid.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MILITARY PLATE CARRIERS AND TACTICAL PLATE CARRIERS?

There are very subtle differences between military carrier vests and tactical plate carriers and most
of them are aesthetic. Tactical plate carriers are more likely to be black, OD green, or wolf grey than they
are to be coyote or MultiCam. That doesn't mean a Multicam carrier isn't tactical, it just means "tactical"
usually means "black" in the industry. You might also notice different features between the two. Military PCs
are more likely to have drag handles and more robust padding since bulk isn't as much of a concern. You're also
more likely to find laser-cut MOLLE on a tactical plate carrier and MOLLE webbing on a Military plate carrier
but they certainly aren't exclusive.

WHO MAKES THE BEST MILITARY PLATE CARRIERS?

It's tough to argue that Crye Precision doesn't make the best military plate carriers. Since the release of
the Crye JPC (Jumpable Plate Carrier) it has been the industry favorite over other top-notch plate carriers.
That being said, there are many examples of very high-quality carriers at US Patriot! The Agilite K19 carrier was
quickly adopted by many of our customers and other brands like High Speed Gear, Shellback Tactical, and Point Blank
make high-quality products.

PLATE CARRIERS WITH PLATES

It's a common misconception that plate carriers are sold with the plates they are meant to carry. Most plate carriers
are sold individually and you can choose to purchase plates separately. However, if you decide you want to purchase plates
with your carrier vest US Patriot sells them together! These combo packs are commonly referred to as active shooter kits,
although, active shooter kits sometimes sacrifice quality and features on the carrier to give you the plates at a great price!
If you want to explore these options give one of our service reps a call.

SHOULD I BUY A TACTICAL PLATE CARRIER OR AN ACTIVE SHOOTER KIT?

This is a great question asked by many of our customers and the answer is...it depends. If you are a soldier or
an LEO, we would usually recommend you purchase a high-quality carrier and plates separately since there is
a higher priority on fit, features, and tech being part of your duty setup. If you are wanting protection in
emergency situations or just looking to get your first plate carrier setup started an active shooter kit is a great
place to start!

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PLATE CARRIER AND A CHEST RIG?

The primary difference between a plate carrier and a chest rig is in the name; plate carrier. A chest rig serves
a different purpose than a PC. Chest rigs are primarily for MOLLE rigs, attachments, gear retention, and accessories
and plate carriers combine the modularity of a chest rig with plate holding. Chest rigs offer a lightweight, modular
solution for tactical use but if you need ballistic protection a plate carrier is the best choice.

MOLLE TACTICAL VESTS

If neither a plate carrier or a tactical chest rig suits your needs, you may want to look at a MOLLE tactical vest
instead. A MOLLE vest is as simple as the name implies, it's a standard vest with MOLLE webbing covering most of the
exterior to allow you to connect your favorite compatible accessories. This is the most lightweight and low-profile
option of the three and works for many users looking for an affordable solution for tactical gear transport without
the bulk of a full-sized plate carrier vest.